Liberal Christians

[A New Dawn]

Nope, not a requirement at all seminaries. More conservative seminaries place higher emphasis on the original languages. Others, like the liberal seminary I attend, do not require any language study at all...unless you're PCUSA, and the denomination requires that its ordinands pass tests on Hebrew and Greek.

Yes, that was my point. Thanks for making it.

 

[Norah63]

Most seminaries really are just a job application school.
Preaching the gospel is not a job it's a calling.
That to me is most of the difference between a conservative an liberal christian.

 

[A New Dawn]

Most seminaries really are just a job application school.
Preaching the gospel is not a job it's a calling.
That to me is most of the difference between a conservative an liberal christian.

I believe you are quite incorrect. And if that is what you really believe, and are suggesting that it is the liberals who view it as a calling, then you should not be posting in this forum.

 

[Norah63]

Freedom of thought, it is God given.

 

[A New Dawn]

Freedom of thought, it is God given.

However, this is the conservative forum. If you want to expound such views, you should do so in the Liberal Christians forum. Whosoever Will May Come.

To come into the Conservative Christians forum and assert that conservatives only go into ministry because it is a job is flaming. You are free to think it, you just are not free to say it here.

 

[Norah63]

Pardon me. I should have not posted on this part of the forums.

 

[A New Dawn]

Pardon me. I should have not posted on this part of the forums.

I am not suggesting that you not post here. I am suggesting that you remember which forum you are in and remember that if you are not a member of this forum that you post in fellowship, only.

 

[Alithis]

Most seminaries really are just a job application school.
Preaching the gospel is not a job it's a calling.
That to me is most of the difference between a conservative an liberal christian.

? by the term "Most seminaries " were you referring to conservative ones or the many bible schools /theological colleges /religious educational institutions etc ?
of many of your many posts that i know, it is outside of your character to purposely post something directly against other groups .
i think its the underlined bit below that you tripped up on i suppose

from the statement of faith

1. The Holy Scriptures are the inspired, written Word of God. The revelation of Scripture is completely reliable, inerrant and authoritative. Some conservative Christians also hold church tradition to be a source of authority.

but not all bad i did not know that about conservatives ..so iv now learned something more .
i wonder though if you only meant it as a generality .
ie-many people go to bible school or such like for the differing reasons .. such as viewing it as a career opportunity .while, others, go because they feel called to the ministry ...? rather then implying that the schools themselves were at fault ?

 

[Albion]

from the statement of faith

but not all bad i did not know that about conservatives ..so iv now learned something more .

This is not a statement of faith intended to define all conservatives; it is a statement that was included in the purposes of this forum so that conservative Catholics would not be excluded. The forum is intended for traditional, i.e. "conservative," Christians irrespective of denomination, and to do that it was necessary to state it broadly enough to encompass both conventional Catholics and mainstream Protestants (who, being standard Protestants, believe that Scripture Alone defines doctrine).

 

[Alithis]

again.. i learn more .. ty

 

[Motor City Christian]

I've always struggled with these forums because the word "conservative" can have so many different meanings. I believe in the inerrancy of Scripture and am pro-life and pro-traditional marriage, however I also think we need to show love to those who feel differently than we do. Am I saying put them in leadership in our churches? No. I am saying have ministries to reach them.

My good friend is a senior pastor at a sister church of mine. His congregation performed a play that showed how the church mistreats homosexuals(note: I am not encouraging debate on the issue of homosexuality itself). It opened up eyes, yet did not compromise Biblical truth. The play also highlighted how homosexuals also have misconceptions about us as Evangelicals. The proceeds went to a suicide hotline for gay teens who are often bullied and are on the brink of despair. His argument was if gay teens die without hearing the gospel, what good are we as the church before Christ?

Anyways, there is also the issue that one can read the Bible and have a conservative view and feelings towards the Scripture, yet be politically more on the moderate side or even liberal. I am not saying that it is me. I understand that we will have disagreements, but a lot of the time I find my views between Bridge Builders and this forum. I am not trying to belittle that sub-forum, but I am more conservative than they are. It makes it difficult to have a "home" forum.

 

[Albion]

I've always struggled with these forums because the word "conservative" can have so many different meanings. I believe in the inerrancy of Scripture and am pro-life and pro-traditional marriage, however I also think we need to show love to those who feel differently than we do. Am I saying put them in leadership in our churches? No. I am saying have ministries to reach them.

My good friend is a senior pastor at a sister church of mine. His congregation performed a play that showed how the church mistreats homosexuals(note: I am not encouraging debate on the issue of homosexuality itself). It opened up eyes, yet did not compromise Biblical truth. The play also highlighted how homosexuals also have misconceptions about us as Evangelicals. The proceeds went to a suicide hotline for gay teens who are often bullied and are on the brink of despair. His argument was if gay teens die without hearing the gospel, what good are we as the church before Christ?

Anyways, there is also the issue that one can read the Bible and have a conservative view and feelings towards the Scripture, yet be politically more on the moderate side or even liberal. I am not saying that it is me. I understand that we will have disagreements, but a lot of the time I find my views between Bridge Builders and this forum. I am not trying to belittle that sub-forum, but I am more conservative than they are. It makes it difficult to have a "home" forum.

I read your post carefully because I agree with you that defining a word like "conservative" is tricky, but I didn't find anything in it that I would consider questionable or a problem. What you outlined IS compatible with Conservative Christianity as this forum was set up to reflect.

You could also consider yourself a Bridge Builder Moderate, of course, since that forum is for Moderates only in the sense of speaking temperately, and your post here shows that demeanor. The Bridge Builders forum was not intended to be the home for any political or theological halfway POV.

 

[Spiritlight]

What I mean is the world seems to be filling up with liberal Christianity by the minute. Those who decide it is ok to drink in moderation or do drugs because God made them or date several people at once, look at inappropriate material because it "does not hurt anyone", accepting of worldly ways and things. Women not being submissive, men not taking the lead, woman dressing provocatively, men "checking out" every woman who walks by. Those are just a few examples. The list goes on for miles. Nobody seems to be concerned with avoiding the appearance of evil these days. Ok, just my two cents

Islam is doing good that way they forbid everything, there's heaps of die hard conservatives there. They even gift wrap thier women for their guys.

 

[Yahu]

I've always struggled with these forums because the word "conservative" can have so many different meanings. I believe in the inerrancy of Scripture and am pro-life and pro-traditional marriage, however I also think we need to show love to those who feel differently than we do. Am I saying put them in leadership in our churches? No. I am saying have ministries to reach them.

Being conservative can still have differing doctrinal positions. My family is very conservative but we don't hold the same views. For example, my eldest brother is involved in RTL on a national scale while I hold the view abortion is Yeshua's judgement on Jezebels to kill their children. We both see abortion as an abomination for the shedding of innocent blood but I see no reason to try to stop the judgement on women that live like a Jezebel whereas he sees it as his job to impose christian morality onto non-believers because we well be judged as a nation for it. It is not a Christians job to impose our will over any non-believer. You have to change the people's hearts, not force them to comply to Christian rulership.

Now a conservative can also be for 'non-traditional marriage'. For example, there is nothing opposing polygamy in scripture or taking on a concubine. There is a difference between following scripture verses traditions of man.

Now scripture, in its original form, can be without error but we are dealing with translations of copies. There are errors, the original manuscripts that our translations come from don't all match. Then you get things like mis-vowel pointed Hebrew from later Rabbis. A good example of that is some translations say 'king' in Isa 57:9 while others catch the error and correctly translate it as 'Molech', the pagan deity. Molech means 'shameful king' but both are spelled the same in the original non-pointed Hebrew. Later vowel points were added for pronounciation. The vowel points for 'shame' were added to those reference to the pagan god. In English, Molech is used as the proper name of that deity while in actuality, it is just one of his titles. My point is, the English translations can and do have errors which is why we have to do serious study of scripture in the original languages and why I learned to read Hebrew.

My point is, there is a wide variety of conservative views.

 

[Albion]

Being conservative can still have differing doctrinal positions....I hold the view abortion is Yeshua's judgement on Jezebels to kill their children. We both see abortion as an abomination for the shedding of innocent blood but I see no reason to try to stop the judgement on women that live like a Jezebel

It is admitted to right in the organization statement of this forum that Protestant conservatives who are guided by Scripture Alone and Catholic conservatives who are guided by both Tradition and Scripture are jointly accepted in the forum. But what is meant by the word "Conservative" is not without definition.

Now a conservative can also be for 'non-traditional marriage'. For example, there is nothing opposing polygamy in scripture or taking on a concubine. There is a difference between following scripture verses traditions of man.

Sorry, but there's nothing religiously conservative, by any definition, in that POV. It is, therefore, not appropriate for Conservative Christians. If you check the Statement of Purpose, you will see this:

2. Human life is sacred from conception to death, though some conservative Christians accept that the death penalty is justified, by judicial process, in capital or other grave cases.
Exodus 20:13

3. We believe that the Nicene Creed is an accurate description of the nature of God.

4.We believe in the literal authenticity of Christ's miracles, and the historical accuracy of events described in the Bible.
Acts 2:22

5. We believe in the judgment of God, and in a literal Heaven and Hell.
Acts 10:42 ; Mark 16:19 ; Luke 12:5

6. We have a traditional Christian view of morality. We oppose sexual activity outside a traditional marriage between one man and one woman, abortion on demand and euthanasia.
Genesis 2:24 ; Psalm 51:5

 

[toolmanjantzi]

Are there really any good old fashioned conservative Christians out there anymore? If so, I want to find you! lol. I am so sad to see the Christian population has become so liberal in their morals, thinking etc....

I'm here

 

[Chaplain David]

Subscribing

 

[lismore]

I've always struggled with these forums because the word "conservative" can have so many different meanings. I believe in the inerrancy of Scripture and am pro-life and pro-traditional marriage, however I also think we need to show love to those who feel differently than we do. Am I saying put them in leadership in our churches? No. I am saying have ministries to reach them.
.

That was very well said

1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

 

[korvus]

[EDIT: I overreacted, preface deleted.]

There are and will always be conservatives out there for you to mingle with.

Yes, society as a whole is more liberal today but it's for better for worse, just like the more conservative society of the past was for better for worse.

It's the social climate we have right now and it's not going to make a difference.

I think this is all a cycle and we're in the far (very far) future going to become more conservative as a society, just so another social revolution can happen among our descendants. (and we then can get their Fathers by then lol so cash)

Just relax and enjoy the ride .

 

[Soothfish]

Just relax and enjoy the ride .

I'm not going to enjoy it. Just going to try and protect my family and survive the rise of high level crime and corruption.