No one asked but I thought I would...

[All Becomes New]

I thought I would just outline my position on some controversial theological positions. This is for informational purposes and not debate purposes.

• I believe in a post-trib rapture
• I don't know if the "7-year tribulation" is a literal 7 years (In fact I don't see any reason why it has to be).
• Beyond the above, the way I read the book of Revelation is akin to Isaiah 53 before it happened, meaning we are probably not going to have answers for it until after the fact as that is typically how prophecy works.
• Date setting for Christ's return is lame.
• I'm agnostic on the age of the earth but I much prefer Intelligent Design to Macro Evolution.
• My soteriology is probably most like the Lutheran understanding, but the way I say it is that it is like Calvinism superimposed onto Arminianism.
• IDK where I stand on the topic of Deification and/or Theosis. I am somewhat amenable to the position, meaning I think we will grow closer to God into eternity starting at conversion.
• Our good works are enabled by the Holy Spirit, not the Gospel. If you get what I am talking about here, great! If you don't, don't worry about it.
• I believe we can lose our salvation but I believe initial conversion is monergistic.
• I don't believe God is done with the Jews. The promises for the Jewish people remain. Anti-Semitism is lame.
• I don't have a settled position on the Filioque. Monarchical Trinitarianism or Social Trinitarianism are both fine and I view this as a matter of conviction.
• The USA is not the Great Babylon. I don't believe the Bible mentions the USA at all (though you could probably bend my ear if you wanted to talk about passages about the West).
• I am not a cessationist in the slightest. I believe in tongues, prophecy, and even that apostles are around today. These are gifts and not something anyone can will themselves to have.
• Christ talked in the common vernacular so I am not at all into KJV-onlyism. In fact, I think the KJV is actually not that great of a translation. My preferred translation is the CSB though I do not think any translation is perfect. I just like the prose and simplistic language of the CSB.
• If someone can say, "Jesus is Lord" and truly mean it with their whole heart, they are saved.
• Atheists cannot be saved. One must place their trust in Christ to be saved. Some people think that because a person doesn't hear the name of Jesus they can still be saved. If that's the case, then it's dumb to evangelize, which goes strictly against the Great Commission.
• My view of God's sovereignty is that God does not need to micromanage the universe for his will to be done. Nor am I a Molinist. Rather I view Christ as King and as such, his Kingdom functions based on hierarchial structures. He does not need to stick His hands in every pie, but he can involve Himself in whatever He wants whenever He wants.
• God has complete foreknowledge of past, present, and future. God can see into eternity because he is eternal. So I don't buy that Open Theism nonsense.
• I am for sure not a universalist. Nor do I believe in Universal reconciliation or any other nonsense like that. Some people are judged and not found in Christ at the time of their death (or Christ's return).
• I am agnostic on ECT and Conditionalism. I haven't done much research on this topic, but I've heard some good arguments on both sides.
• I think people should worship God on whatever day works for them whether Sunday or Saturday. I don't think we are under the command of Sabbath rest any longer. If I did think we needed a day to rest, I would probably say it should be Saturday but you could probably talk me out of that.
• I do not believe in praying to dead people.
• I do not believe in icon veneration.
• IDK if I believe in praying FOR the dead or not. I could probably be persuaded either way.
• Christianity is a religion, not just a relationship. It's just that it is a religion empowered by the Holy Spirit.
• Oh, and obviously, I believe Jesus Christ is God.
• I lean toward the idea that the Holy Spirit is a "He" but it might not be a good idea to say the Holy Spirit is gendered at all (apart from the horrible argument that the gender of the words represents the gender of the Holy Spirit).
• God the Father is the source of all things (Filioque notwithstanding).

I feel like I am missing some things so if you think I missed something, feel free to ask.

 

[FutureAndAHope]

I thought I would take a leaf out of your book and reply in kind.

• I also believe in a post-trib rapture, that the church will not be taken away before the beast is revealed (2 Th 2:3, Math 24: 29).
• I don't know a lot about the seven years, but I would imagine it will not be longer than seven physical years.
• I agree with your statment that: Beyond the above, the way I read the book of Revelation is akin to Isaiah 53 before it happened, meaning we are probably not going to have answers for it until after the fact as that is typically how prophecy works.
• I agree: Date setting for Christ's return is lame.
• I'm agnostic on the age of the earth it could have been around before man was created, I very much believe in Intelligent Design and in no way have any leaning toward Macro Evolution.
• My soteriology is strongly focused on the free agency of man, that God gives his goodwill to all, but man's actions in response to God's offer of grace determine whether or not salvation occurs (Job 36:10-12, Rom 2:6).
• I believe we can grow more Christ-like, but God will always be God.
• I believe God gives us the ability to escape the corruption of this age, by giving us the Holy Spirit, but this is coupled with our desire for it John 14:22-24).
• I believe we can lose our salvation.
• I also, I don't believe God is done with the Jews. The promises for the Jewish people remain. Anti-Semitism is lame.
• Not sure what Monarchical Trinitarianism or Social Trinitarianism are.
• I don't know if the USA is the Great Babylon. I could be convinced it is the Western system, that is falling away from God.
• I also agree with your statment: I am not a cessationist in the slightest. I believe in tongues, prophecy, and even that apostles are around today. These are gifts and not something anyone can will themselves to have.
• I agree that: Christ talked in the common vernacular so I am not at all into KJV-onlyism. In fact, I think the KJV is actually not that great of a translation. My prefered translation is the NKJV.
• I agree. If someone can say, "Jesus is Lord" and truly mean it with their whole heart, they are saved.
• ALthough I believe that Jesus is the only way of salvation, and a person exposed to the gospel must accept it. I believe God judges us according to how we have lived before our conscience, if a person has not heard of Christ, they still have the internal witness, and by it God will judge rightly.
• I am not 100% sure to what degree God manages things, He seems to write at least part of our story. But I believe our free will guides our pathway through it. David wrote that God had a story written down for him (Psa 139:16), but God altered his story when he sinned (2 Sam 12:10).
• I believe God does not have foreknowledge of past, present, and future. - Gen 6:5-6 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
• I agree that: I am for sure not a universalist. Nor do I believe in Universal reconciliation or any other nonsense like that. Some people are judged and not found in Christ at the time of their death (or Christ's return).
• I believe in a literal and persistent hell, and eternal life for those who follow Christ.
• I love the idea of the Sabbath, but I don't keep it religiously, but I agree there should at least be one day of rest in the week.
• I know a minister who raises the dead, I am happy to do it is God allows it (Math 10:8).
• I also I do not believe in icon veneration.
• I do not believe in praying for the dead (1 john 5:16).
• Christianity is reverence for God, it is firstly respect, then it is obedience, and then it is relationship. Relationship is very minor.
• Me too: Oh, and obviously, I believe Jesus Christ is God.
• I believe the Holy Spirit is a seven-fold spirit, that is why creation was 7 days, and miracles occurred in 7's (Zec 4:10, Rev 5: 6).
• Not sure of the physical makeup of God, but I know in Christ all things consist (Col 1:17).

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Is God in control of absolutely everything? I am not talking about the free will of men. I am talking about events that occur in our lives and in the world in general. Seemingly random events. The tree that fell in the woods. That rock that fell and hit your head. Did God orchestrate these events? FYI I do not believe so. There are accidents and the "course of nature."

 

[DragonFox91]

• I believe in a post-trib rapture
  • I attend a church that teaches the rapture tho I myself question it.
• I don't know if the "7-year tribulation" is a literal 7 years (In fact I don't see any reason why it has to be).
  • I don't know enough about interpretations of Revelation / Daniel to have an opinion on this
• Beyond the above, the way I read the book of Revelation is akin to Isaiah 53 before it happened, meaning we are probably not going to have answers for it until after the fact as that is typically how prophecy works.
  • Some prophecies have full & parital fulfillments. I believe the partial fulfillments were meant to have the answer in advance. The full ones, no.
• Date setting for Christ's return is lame.
  • I agree. Not b/c people are wrong about it, but b/c I think it's trying to limit God. I think it's trying to act as God. We can have ideas, but not know for sure.
• I'm agnostic on the age of the earth but I much prefer Intelligent Design to Macro Evolution.
  • I trust in an old earth because Genesis describes the earth as already existing right from the start. I trust in a literal 6 day creation of everything else tho, including life. I don't trust macro evolution
• My soteriology is probably most like the Lutheran understanding, but the way I say it is that it is like Calvinism superimposed onto Arminianism.
  • I'm not super-clear on the differences between Calvinism & Arminianism, but from what I understand, I'm Calvinist
• IDK where I stand on the topic of Deification and/or Theosis. I am somewhat amenable to the position, meaning I think we will grow closer to God into eternity starting at conversion.
  • I've never heard these terms
• Our good works are enabled by the Holy Spirit, not the Gospel. If you get what I am talking about here, great! If you don't, don't worry about it.
  • I've never heard this debate. Why not both? But yeah, definitely Holy Spirit
• I believe we can lose our salvation but I believe initial conversion is monergistic.
  • I believe those who lose their salvation never had the Holy Spirit, or allowed him to the fullest. They never had their salvation to begin w/ but thought they did because 'they felt good' or 'went to church'
• I don't believe God is done with the Jews. The promises for the Jewish people remain. Anti-Semitism is lame.
  • I agree
• I don't have a settled position on the Filioque. Monarchical Trinitarianism or Social Trinitarianism are both fine and I view this as a matter of conviction.
  • I've never heard of those Trinitarianism beliefs. I've heard of the Filioque but haven't looked into it
• The USA is not the Great Babylon. I don't believe the Bible mentions the USA at all (though you could probably bend my ear if you wanted to talk about passages about the West).
  • I think Apostate Churches are the Great Babylon. Or a future one world government. I don't believe the Bible mentions the USA either & it doesn't have to
• I am not a cessationist in the slightest. I believe in tongues, prophecy, and even that apostles are around today. These are gifts and not something anyone can will themselves to have.
  • I agree. Cessationism doesn't believe God can do miracles today. But these things aren't every-day occurances either. That is, they're not common.
• Christ talked in the common vernacular so I am not at all into KJV-onlyism. In fact, I think the KJV is actually not that great of a translation. My preferred translation is the CSB though I do not think any translation is perfect. I just like the prose and simplistic language of the CSB.
  • I've read NIV most of my life but am getting into the ESV. Some 'thought-for-thought' vs 'literal' passages are clearer in the ESV. I find the translation debate largely insignificant
• If someone can say, "Jesus is Lord" and truly mean it with their whole heart, they are saved.
  • I disagree. It takes more than saying 3 words from your heart to be saved. This isn't to say your works save you. I think you need to let the Holy Spirit & let him work in you.
• Atheists cannot be saved. One must place their trust in Christ to be saved. Some people think that because a person doesn't hear the name of Jesus they can still be saved. If that's the case, then it's dumb to evangelize, which goes strictly against the Great Commission.
  • Atheists are doomed, yes. They hear Christ's calling & reject him. So why should he save them when they say no. He says he won't
• My view of God's sovereignty is that God does not need to micromanage the universe for his will to be done. Nor am I a Molinist. Rather I view Christ as King and as such, his Kingdom functions based on hierarchial structures. He does not need to stick His hands in every pie, but he can involve Himself in whatever He wants whenever He wants.
  • I believe he does micromanage the universe. Without him micromanaging it, it would all fall apart. It means things really are by our own hand, not his. It means there's accidents & mistakes he just lets happen. I don't believe in accidents & mistakes b/c I believe those he has chosen are too important to him.
• God has complete foreknowledge of past, present, and future. God can see into eternity because he is eternal. So I don't buy that Open Theism nonsense.
  • I have no idea what open theism is, but yes, I agree on others.
• I am for sure not a universalist. Nor do I believe in Universal reconciliation or any other nonsense like that. Some people are judged and not found in Christ at the time of their death (or Christ's return).
  • I agree. God says he won't save those who reject him (him & his commands)
• I am agnostic on ECT and Conditionalism. I haven't done much research on this topic, but I've heard some good arguments on both sides.
  • I've never heard of ECT or conditionialism
• I think people should worship God on whatever day works for them whether Sunday or Saturday. I don't think we are under the command of Sabbath rest any longer. If I did think we needed a day to rest, I would probably say it should be Saturday but you could probably talk me out of that.
  • From what I understand, a day was Saturday evening to Sunday morning. So Saturday evening or Sunday morning are valid. I believe people don't hold the Sabbath like they should. The whole day should be spent in prayer & worship. It's not. I believe the Sabbath rest is designed for our well-being. A 'just take a day off & refresh in God's truths.' I don't think this is easily done these days. I think people s/ always be in worship of God
• I do not believe in praying to dead people.
  • I agree, b/c we cannot know if they are w/ God. If we could, I could see it being okay once in a while, but we can't know where they are. & I don't think just b/c Jews did, it means God says we s/ be doing it
• I do not believe in icon veneration.
  • I agree. I believe early churches were originally against it b/c it was to show they worshipped an invisible God, then pagans wanted to bring it in, & the churches caved
• IDK if I believe in praying FOR the dead or not. I could probably be persuaded either way.
  • I think it's okay, but we can't guarantee whatever we're praying for for them.
• Christianity is a religion, not just a relationship. It's just that it is a religion empowered by the Holy Spirit.
  • Christianity is more than a religion: it is the Truth. It is the religion It is everything.
• Oh, and obviously, I believe Jesus Christ is God.
  • I agree. There's a list of evidence: in what he did, who he claimed to be, who others claimed him to be
• I lean toward the idea that the Holy Spirit is a "He" but it might not be a good idea to say the Holy Spirit is gendered at all (apart from the horrible argument that the gender of the words represents the gender of the Holy Spirit).
  • The Holy Spirit is no more a He than God is, but 'he' is how the Father & Son has revealed themselves to us.
• God the Father is the source of all things (Filioque notwithstanding).
  • makes sense to me.

Fun list! Do you have more?

 

[anetazo]

The rapture theory is false doctrine and false brethren are condemned. Documentation, Ezekiel chapter 13.
Those who worshipped antichrist near future, will go to sheol.
Revelation chapter 13. It's all nations in one world political system. It receives deadly wound 6th trump. Satan as antichrist heals deadly wound. By establishing world peace. Its 5 month period.
Revelation chapter 9:5 . Time was shortened to 5 month period.
The rapture theory will land many people in satan's camp. The false brethren are lying to people.
Many people are setting themselves up for downfall.

 

[All Becomes New]

Some other things I believe that I don't think I said...

Salvation is of course possible without being baptized. That does not mean that a person CANNOT be saved by being baptized. I think the normal way a person is saved is not through baptism, but I believe it can happen. I believe something spiritual happens in baptism, but I am not sure what.
I believe that something spiritual happens with communion/eucharist as well. Again, I do not know what.

Why I left these topics out of the discussion is a complete brainfart on my part as they are so important to Christianity.

 

[DragonFox91]

Salvation is of course possible without being baptized. That does not mean that a person CANNOT be saved by being baptized. I think the normal way a person is saved is not through baptism, but I believe it can happen. I believe something spiritual happens in baptism, but I am not sure what.
For adults being baptized: baptism is a symbol of their dedication. For babies being baptized: it's a symbol of God making the first move. Both are visible signs of God's invisible grace. I don't believe either save. I believe you should get baptized, the same reason God asks you to do anything else


I believe that something spiritual happens with communion/eucharist as well. Again, I do not know what.
Churches I attended have always taught it's just a celebration meal & purely symbolic. I agree w/ you. I think it's more than that: Something spiritual does happen but I don't know what. But I don't believe it becomes literal flesh & blood.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

• I believe in a post-trib rapture
• I don't know if the "7-year tribulation" is a literal 7 years (In fact I don't see any reason why it has to be).

Just curious, what difference does this make in the way you live your life?

 

[Wings like Eagles]

@Jesse Dornfeld, I may or may not agree with what you wrote/believe, does not matter.
You sir are not lukewarm!

 

[All Becomes New]

@Jesse Dornfeld, I may or may not agree with what you wrote/believe, does not matter.
You sir are not lukewarm!

Thank you for the compliment.

Can I ask what I said in the OP (or wherever else) that you are concluding that?

 

[Wings like Eagles]

Thank you for the compliment.

Can I ask what I said in the OP (or wherever else) that you are concluding that?

The fact you took the time to think through and write down this list, I think it shows what you believe is important to you. A cold or lukewarm person would not think to do something like that.

 

[DragonFox91]

The fact you took the time to think through and write down this list, I think it shows what you believe is important to you. A cold or lukewarm person would not think to do something like that.

I agree. A lukewarm person thinks theology doesn't matter