So what do we have in common?

[herev]

We spend so much time on the differences, I'm curious to see:
What do we all have in common?
YEC'S OEC'S GAP THEORISTS AND THEISTIC EVOLUTIONISTS--what can draw us together?

 

[Vance]

We all believe that the Bible is the Holy Word of God which contains God's message to us, yesterday and today. The message it contains is inerrant and holy and not to be denied.

We all believe that God created everything we see, the entire universe and everything in it, and that Scripture confirms this fact. He is in complete control of all.

We all believe that God, being omnipotent and omniscient, could have created the world using any method and over any time period He wanted. He could have created it in six days, six minutes or all in one nano-second. He is not constricted in any way.

We all believe that God created Man to have a special relationship with Him, as distinct from all the rest of His Creation. But that, after having lost that communion, we have need to regain that communion through redemption, specifically by accepting the redemptive gift of His Son.

I *think* all would agree on these points, and many others I am sure.

 

[gluadys]

We all believe that the Bible is the Holy Word of God which contains God's message to us, yesterday and today. The message it contains is inerrant and holy and not to be denied.

We all believe that God created everything we see, the entire universe and everything in it, and that Scripture confirms this fact. He is in complete control of all.

We all believe that God, being omnipotent and omniscient, could have created the world using any method and over any time period He wanted. He could have created it in six days, six minutes or all in one nano-second. He is not constricted in any way.

We all believe that God created Man to have a special relationship with Him, as distinct from all the rest of His Creation. But that, after having lost that communion, we have need to regain that communion through redemption, specifically by accepting the redemptive gift of His Son.

I *think* all would agree on these points, and many others I am sure.

The only term I would quibble with is "inerrant". I prefer the Reformation formula which says that scripture is "an infallible guide in faith and morals". Meaning that it gives us true guidance in all matters of salvation and Christian living and nothing (such as church dogmas on fasting, purgatory, etc.) need be added to it.

Outside of those matters, I think it is possible that scripture can err, and in fact does err in some respects e.g. alleged non-motion of the earth. However, I do not see this as a fault in scripture or in God, but as a gracious condescension of God to provide his Word in the cultural context of the hearers.

 

[Vance]

Yes, that was a purposefully vague phrase. What I mean when I say it is that the Bible is inerrant in its message, not in the details of its presentation.

 

[United]

The truth is that the creation / evolution debate does not affect the basis of Christianity. I think it is important to study and form a belief on the topic, but love for one another is far more important. The moment we fail to show respect for another believer in our posts is the moment we should examine our motives.

I’m sure there will be many surprises when we meet Jesus face to face at the end of our lives. Not one of us will be right on everything - and none will be exactly right on how God formed this universe. I think Herev’s attachment is very true: “Can you imagine how God must laugh when He hears us discuss theology with such smug assurance of our own accuracy”

 

[Vance]

True, even given the thousands of Christian denominations, can you imagine ANY of them having it completely right? I believe that the simple odds are that every single denomination going to day has at least one major flaw in its doctrine. But most would find this concept very disturbing.

Ask your pastor/priest/minister what he thinks may be the significant flaw in the denomination to which he/she belongs. You will get a blank look, maybe even an indignant reply. Ask if he believes, then, that this particular denomination happens to be the ONE which has gotten it correct on all significant particulars, to the exclusion of all the other thousands of variations of Chrsitianity.

 

[herev]

Ask your pastor/priest/minister what he thinks may be the significant flaw in the denomination to which he/she belongs. You will get a blank look, maybe even an indignant reply. Ask if he believes, then, that this particular denomination happens to be the ONE which has gotten it correct on all significant particulars, to the exclusion of all the other thousands of variations of Chrsitianity.

ask most UM pastors and they'll gladly admit to errors and to possibilities of errors, I'll bet ya'

 

[United]

True, even given the thousands of Christian denominations, can you imagine ANY of them having it completely right? I believe that the simple odds are that every single denomination going to day has at least one major flaw in its doctrine. But most would find this concept very disturbing.

Ask your pastor/priest/minister what he thinks may be the significant flaw in the denomination to which he/she belongs. You will get a blank look, maybe even an indignant reply. Ask if he believes, then, that this particular denomination happens to be the ONE which has gotten it correct on all significant particulars, to the exclusion of all the other thousands of variations of Chrsitianity.

Hi Vance,
I suspect many of us (myself included) will be in for a big and humbling shock at the end of our lives. But at the end of the day, I don’t really think it will matter who is right if our foundations are correct. Doctrine has it’s place & we can be led astray with the wrong one. But God looks at the heart. I have read many books about martyrs and great heros of the faith – but the common thing is not their doctrine. It is their heart for God & their willingness to do anything he requires.

 

[herev]

Yea, I heard a preacher say once that the most often heard words in Heaven are, Ooooohhhh, really?

 

[Word of Peace]

Agreed!