there weren't any Calvinists or Armenians? Then what would you have to talk about? Is it necessary to debate Theology when the world around us needs Truth? What will Jesus find us doing when he returns? Will we be bickering among ourselves about how many angels can stand on the head of a pin or will we be discipling others in the Truth of the Scriptures and teaching them to be followers of Jesus? I have little or next to no use for Theologians if their theology is all they can talk about. They are no more good than the Pharisees and Sadducees they sound like! How about putting your "mytheology" aside and rolling up your sleeves and getting a little "dirty" digging for Truth instead of scratching the surface for theory?
I don't have any use for it either, if people insult and name call and loose focus of the joy of their faith. I grieve about it, and it makes me mad what some people have said. Then I see a new believer and the purity and joy of their faith. I wonder how God looks at us, myself included when I have fallen short.
Anytime our talk is more than our walk we need to re-focus. That being said, I do see benefit in it if it is done with humility and mutual respect, if we put ourselves aside and do it in an organized manner, with God's word as the focus and we do it in an attitude of "lets find this out together". If that is the case, I find it challenging, fun, and helpful in my own understanding of God's word.
Agreed Thunder, I wished there was another category for Calvinists and Armenians because I really dislike entering a topis and this blaa is what�s spued out.
Calvinism and Arminianism (more ism�s) is nothing short of man worship, idolatry, and can very easily relate to heavenly images (praying hands, angles with wings, crosses with christ on them, crosses and even pictures of christ (notice the small c)), the Bible strictly forbids these heavenly images yet most all Christians has them in there homes and has their excuses for them. I say when you invited Jesus Christ into your heart, you now have no need for any heavenly image because you now have the biggest heavenly image of all in you, the Holy Ghost (GOD), trust in Him!
Some will have you to believe the Bible is more difficult than it really is, always remember (Mat 11:30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
well, first off there would be about 3 million people missing, because Amenia is a country southeast of Turkey!
Thunder continues:
Then what would you have to talk about? Is it necessary to debate Theology when the world around us needs Truth?
James replies:
We would still have PLENTY to talk about, and debate.
I am guessing you have not read much church history?
One reason it is necessary is because of heretics,
Heretics have been attacking the church since the VERY beginning, and Paul even wrote about this in His letters.
Jesus SAID this would happen and it has everyday for the last two thousand years. That is WHY we have creeds, and confessions, to rule out heretical teachings and keep false teachers out of our churches.
Thunder continues:
What will Jesus find us doing when he returns? Will we be bickering among ourselves about how many angels can stand on the head of a pin or will we be discipling others in the Truth of the Scriptures and teaching them to be followers of Jesus?
James replies:
Jesus said that on Judgment Day, that "MANY" would say to him that they did many WORKS and that they did them in His name.
Jesus said He would say to them "depart from Me, I never knew you".
Now, Thunder, you have millions and millions of JW's, Mormons, and Roman Catholics, and Orthodox believers, etc, in this world, right now. PART.....of the Christian life, is being able to defend your faith, and give a reason for the hope that is within you.
Thunder continues:
I have little or next to no use for Theologians if their theology is all they can talk about. They are no more good than the Pharisees and Sadducees they sound like! How about putting your "mytheology" aside and rolling up your sleeves and getting a little "dirty" digging for Truth instead of scratching the surface for theory?
James replies:
1. This is a discussion board. And to put a finer point on it, this is the SECTION of the discussion board where we discuss the Bible and what it teaches us. To pray for others, is a another section of this board. So we are SUPPOSED to use this PART of the board for Biblical and theological discussions.
2. I don't understand your last comments about "dirty" digging for the truth. I think that for Christians who come from Arminian churches that EXAMINING the deeper truths about God and Mankind's fallen nature, IS "digging for truth" because Calvinists present SCRIPTURE VERSES that are completely ignored in Arminian churches.
3. Personally, I like to focus on THREE things on discussion groups, because I think there are three things that are MOST needed in Modern American Christianity>
a. The rules of interpretation
b. Church history
c. The writings of the Reformers and the Puritans
So, Yes There ARE other topics besides the deepest divide in Christiandom, the divide between Arminian and Christians who are Creedal and Historic Protestants, and I am ready to discuss them. But, if you are just whining about Calvinists showing Arminians the TRUTH about WHO saved them, And HOW secure they are in Christ, you will be dissapointed. Arminianism is a stunted, and false belief and steals the glory or God, and pretends that it belongs to man.
One other important point, theology is not theory. it is the study of God. It is derived from the Greek Theos, meaning God. So, do you still think theology is useless?
Up until fairly recently, it was the main requirement for Pastors and Ministers in the Christian faith. When untaught people started being ordained, that was the beginning of heresy in the churches. Just like Peter warned.
In a way, you are right. Hyper-Calvinism, which denies that man has any choice, is as false as complete free will. Both are heresy when taken beyond the scope of scripture.
Charles Spurgeon explained it well when he said, (paraphrased) election and free will seem to exist side by side because it would be equally ridiculous to claim man does not have a choice to do evil as it would be to say that Jesus died for all people, yet there are some in hell even now.
