Differences in Christian Doctrine

[FaithfulServant]

Hmmm... what if your spouse believes that it is wrong to eat meat from the only butcher in town, because he's a pagan and may be dedicating the meat to idols... and you believe that it's fine to buy and eat his meat? Which one of you is doctrinally correct, and how would you prove this by scripture? And having proved which person is correct, what do you do? Buy meat from him, or not?

If your spouse is a pagan, thats a whole different issue lol

Meat isn't an important doctrinal issue that you must teach your children - if you're going to use an example, use a relevent one like tounges or eternal security or predestination to something.

 

[SirKenin]

It's one thing when you are a pagan and a Christian, that's for sure. They are dramatically different doctrines. However, if both are Christians, both should have similar points of view. In here we may disagree on who can divorce and who can play with themselves, but we all believe that Jesus died and was raised again so that we might have eternal life. We all believe that God exists and that He is preparing a place for us. Although some of us twist the Bible and take it totally out of context, we all believe that the Bible is God's Word.

I think what matters, then, is that you sit down and reconcile with your spouse what it is that you are going to teach your children. If you are a Christian/non-Christian couple the Christian should establish the curriculum.

However, to say that one spouse is right and the other one is wrong is deadly. I wouldn't get started on that track. You see what it does in here. Everybody is convinced that they are right. We have all these denominations in the world today. Which one is right? To follow this crazy logic even further, that means you can't marry outside your own denomination. That's just stupid. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ. Let's be sensible. Learn to reconcile your differences.

 

[CDN Red Raider]

However, to say that one spouse is right and the other one is wrong is deadly. I wouldn't get started on that track. You see what it does in here. Everybody is convinced that they are right. We have all these denominations in the world today. Which one is right? To follow this crazy logic even further, that means you can't marry outside your own denomination. That's just stupid. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ. Let's be sensible. Learn to reconcile your differences.

You see this mentality in here that everyone thinks they are right, however somehow you dont think that this will transfer over to marriage? When you believe something is right, it means the other person is wrong? How is that gonna come across on the children. Reconciling differences is a great plan, but not with children as pawns in the discussion.

 

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

Flame meant the butcher was pagan - NOT the spouse.

For what it's worth, a lot of stuff in the Bible (in my opinion), is superfluous stuff, and not 'benchmarks for salvation'. So long as the benchmarks are met and agreed upon within our relationship, then a differing opinion on the importance of tongues, or how God created the world, or whatever, is really 'by the by' for us.

When it comes to our children, we've agreed that in these areas of the Bible where there is disagreements between denominations (ie tongues, birth control, how God created the world, etc), we will just share purely from the Bible what is said, and explain it to them in a way that they are free to make up their own mind on what they believe. I'm willing to be taught if my belief is off, and I think, that if my FH and I raise our kids to ask questions, challenge traditional belief, and to study for themselves what the Bible says, it won't be that much of a drama.

The important thing, as SK said, is HOW you resolve the issue. My partner and I don't have identical beliefs (which is great in my opinion - allows a lot of conversations!), but we don't go around trying to 'educate' each other to change their minds. We ask for explanations, and so long as their explanation can be backed up biblically, then it's all good.

Some people can't do that though, and think if their partner doesn't have an identical belief pattern as them, there is no way for a relationship to grow and flourish. I tend to think that kind of relationship is unhealthy.

Sasch

 

[FaithfulServant]

Some people can't do that though, and think if their partner doesn't have an identical belief pattern as them, there is no way for a relationship to grow and flourish. I tend to think that kind of relationship is unhealthy.

Sasch

My boyfriend and I have very similar belief patterns - as do many couples, and I wouldn't say that these are unhealthy relationships.

Okay - maybe this is just me but - To teach your children by presenting the information in such a way that they can make up their own minds - come on, they are going to want to know what mommy and daddy think - and most children tend to agree with mommy and daddy. To think that someone can raise their child with such an open mind on tons of issues (only teaching them foundational beliefs, not superstructural beliefs) - is impossible if you ask me. Your child is going to be influenced by your own personal beliefs - unless you choose to not share them.....which would be.....silly lol

I agree some issues may not matter to some people (speaking in tounges or whatever), but maybe to other people they are VERY important. It's all up the couple to determine which are important to them - and which are important to God ...(ahem, they all are).

I still stand by my belief that there are absolute truths.

God Bless,

Steffani

 

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

I hope you didn't read my post wrong.

I didn't mean having the EXACT SAME beliefs as being 'unhealthy', but rather the attitude that if you don't agree on EVERY SINGLE doctrinal belief the relationship is wrong is 'unhealthy'...

Hope that clears things up!

My feelings come from my ex-fiance who questioned my faith every time our beliefs came into conflict (ie he thought that because I didn't believe in a literal 6 day creation, I couldn't possibly believe then that Jesus died on the cross, so obviously I wasn't a Christian... ), and that's why I think that a couple who believe something like that, MAY have to do a fair bit of counselling, and may be trapped in some unhealthy belief patterns...

Sasch

 

[plum]

no I don't personally think it should make or break a relationship! I do think however, that it is good to talk about and at least reach a point where you can respect each other and each other's beliefs. I'm Messianic and my man isn't. This brings a bit of friction, but only when we're not listening to each other and honestly talking to each other from our hearts. We disagree, and that's okay. We know that we have thought it through or ARE thinking it through... and that is fine. We all come from somewhere. We can meet our SO's where they are and love them right there if they change, they change. If we change, we change. God is good.

 

[InTheFlame]

Meat isn't an important doctrinal issue that you must teach your children - if you're going to use an example, use a relevent one like tounges or eternal security or predestination to something.

Why are these important doctrines? Where in the bible does it state that you must understand exactly how God works in these ways, in order to be part of his family?

When you think about it, meat IS just as important as those other doctrines. 'You shall have no other gods but me' ... the question is, does buying meat from a pagan who you suspect of dedicating or sacrificing that meat to idols, mean that you're participating in that ceremony? Or are you condoning his practices? I think that in its day, this was a MUCH bigger deal than whether tongues would be used by God in the centuries to follow, or eternal security. Hmmm?

 

[bliz]

Both parties can't be right - either one is wrong or they are both wrong.

The Bible contains absolute truths, there is no way around this. If people interpret thing 'differently' and by differently I mean oppositely or opposingly, they are not both correct.

Oh, if only matters were so simple! There are certainly issues about which there is only one right answer - Is Jesus the Son of God? - Yes! - but there are so many more that are not crystal clear. Take the matter of eternal security. There are verses that state clearly that God holds our salvation and it can never be lost. There are also verses that are just as clear that we can lose our salvation. As much as you may believe one position is right and one wrong, it's essentially unproveable this sided of heaven. The question at hand is, can a couple who do not agree on this or other issues, make a marriage together?

Meat isn't an important doctrinal issue that you must teach your children - if you're going to use an example, use a relevent one like tounges or eternal security or predestination to something.

Paul kind of thought it was a rather important issue, otherwise he probably would not have spent so much time discussing it, and since God inspired all Scripture, that indicates that God probably thought it was important, too...
I don't think there are any unimportant or irrelevant passages in the Bible.

 

[A Brother In Christ]

My boyfriend and I didn't come from the same Christian background. We disagree on some doctrine - specifically about the workings of the Holy Spirit which includes speaking in tongues. I believe in it, speak in tongues, and believe there is such a thing as being baptised and annointed in the Holy Spirit. He is skeptical/doubtful (of its existance) and doesn't see the necessity of such things.

Is this a reason that should really concern us? Is it something that may cause marital problems if we were to get married? What do you think? What sort of measures should be taken, if any at all, in our relationship because of this?

As long as Christ is the boss. and not the husband and not the wife

You need to get in the scriptures and do word studies from the bible.
find out what you believe together so God and weave you guy together if you get married

tongues have jews there everytime...check it out in the scriptures
signs,
Baptism ! how many differnt ones?, only one saves
works of the flesh...everyone notices the buns but take heed to the meat.
gifts...singular or plural ....do you know yours...do not worry if you do not comes with maturity,

remember that if you disagree that is work of the flesh..division
be faithful that God will mature them in His time


if not getting married... go your seperate ways

 

[Ave Maria]

Nah, it's not a big deal. My significant other is a Non-Denominational Christian while I'm Catholic. That's a pretty big difference there. Non-Denominationals are generally considered to be Protestant so you have a Catholic and a Protestant there. That's some big differences there.