Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/26/83; site ihuxi.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!eagle!mhuxt!mhuxi!mhuxa!houxm!ihnp4!ihuxi!rcj1 From: rcj1@ihuxi.UUCP Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: Re: Various comments Message-ID: <549@ihuxi.UUCP> Date: Fri, 2-Sep-83 14:21:34 EDT Article-I.D.: ihuxi.549 Posted: Fri Sep 2 14:21:34 1983 Date-Received: Sat, 3-Sep-83 08:52:16 EDT Organization: BTL Naperville, Il. Lines: 95 Not responsible for spelling between the asterisks(sp?)!!!!! ********************************************************************** There is a common tactic of saying "well anyone who is doing X, Y, and Z, all of which we know to be rotten and calls himself a Christian isn't really a Christian, and shouldn't call himself one". All this does is define "A Christian" as "someone who doesn't do anything abominable/sinful" or at best "someone who is TRYING to do nothing which is abominable/sinful" There is of course, the constraint of accepting Jesus Christ. ********************************************************************* Comment: This could partly define a Christian, but in my opinion, more importantly, it's what he does that really defines a Christian. (e.g. the story of the good Samaritan.) ************************************************************************ Also, it provides Christians with a mechanism for 'abandoning' their mistaken bretheren, although it is genrally claimed that the mistaken ones have 'abandoned' the faith. Is it not now obvious that what various Christian sects are using to differentiate themselves is their own INTERPRETATION of what Christianity is all about. ************************************************************************ Comment: It appears obvious to me that's exactly whats happening. But obviously there is only one true interpretation. (HUH?) ************************************************************************ This leads to problems. What do you do when your interpretation of Christianity differs from your neighbour's? In practice, many people shuffle from one Christian sect to another, and thus we have Catholics who become Baptists in hopes of finding a more 'earthy' faith, while other ex-Baptists are now Catholics due to the more 'intellectual' attitude of traditional Catholicism towards religious matters. *********************************************************************** Comment: It depends on what exactly his interpretation is, or more accurately, what interpretation he was taught, for problems begin when individuals begin to come up with their own interpretations. As for shuffling from one sect to another, people have a tendency to look for appealing religions rather then a religion which teaches the truth. (e.g. someone who likes to booze it up on weekends would not find an anti-alchohol church appealing...) (i know I'm gonna catch it for this but imagine the Catholic church suddenly preaching against alchohol and bingo?) ************************************************************************ What if this is not good enough? Suppose you want to keep your brand of Christianity but sincerely believe that the Church leaders are wrong in believing X which is a matter of doctrine? You have a real problem, here. ************************************************************************ Comment: I myself am going through a problem of this sort, although its not that I believe the church leaders are wrong, but perhaps not 100% correct. This could be a problem of Faith... ************************************************************************ In general, if you persist in opposing your Church leaders, you will get yourself excommunicated (or its equivalent). This is nothing more than an official abandoning with either regret or hatred. Generally, Church officials are claimed to be 'closer to God' than the other bretheren (though this is not universal) and thus their interpretation is deemed to be more correct than that of the excommunicated member. ************************************************************************* Comment: The church I attend does not have excommunication, or an equivalent. You do not "sign-up" to be a member. The Pastor is kinda his own boss. I don't believe he reports to anybody higher up. His doctrine is strickly KJV. ************************************************************************* Since time makes such a difference in interpretation it may be a little early to define what 'THE ONE TRUE CHRISTIANITY' is. For instance, at my mother's church, people on 'pre-marital courses' who admit that they intend to practice birth control, are not allowed to marry with this sin unrepented. Clearly, today's ministers believe that they have 'THE ONE TRUE CHRISTIANITY', but in 100 years, their interpretaion, too may be considered a grave error. ************************************************************************** Comment: The thing to remember is in 100 years the Bible will still mean what it did 200 years ago... If an interpretation says birth control is wrong, then in 100 years, the same interpretaion should apply... Ray ihuxi!rcj1 -- Ray