Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!think!nike!sri-spam!sri-unix!hplabs!sdcrdcf!burdvax!devonst From: devonst@burdvax.UUCP (Tom Albrecht) Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc Subject: Re: Re: one more time... Message-ID: <2755@burdvax.UUCP> Date: Mon, 13-Oct-86 10:06:17 EDT Article-I.D.: burdvax.2755 Posted: Mon Oct 13 10:06:17 1986 Date-Received: Thu, 16-Oct-86 08:07:10 EDT References: <2fa71dcd.33cd@apollo.uucp> <2fa77b2f.46@apollo.uucp> <1500@mtx5a.UUCP> <2722@burdvax.UUCP> Sender: devonst@burdvax.UUCP Reply-To: devonst@burdvax.UUCP (Tom Albrecht) Organization: Burroughs Corp. - SDG/Devon Lines: 67 strickln@ihlpa.UUCP (Stephen D. Stricklen) writes: [I said] ># ># That's what you think religion is all about. That sounds a little to ># wishy-washy for me. I want to be a part of a group that knows where it is ># going and is willing to help others find the way. Christianity is a ># religion that has a foundation outside the mere imaginations of men. As it ># has been said of the Jews, so it is true also of Christians, we are a ># people of the Book. > >I find the above comments quite bigoted. Religious and belief systems are >extremely personal things. My church (a Unitarian Universalist congregation) >believes that one's religious beliefs are so important in life that no one >and no institution may be allowed to dictate them. We know exactly where >we are going and we have many ways (not just one!) to help individuals find >their path through life and their own personal truth. > ># ># Unitarian Universalists are most certainly not Christians, ... > >I am sure there are at least as many definitions of "Christian" and >"Christianity" as there are religious denominations. Some Unitarian >Universalists consider themselves Christian, just as some consider themselves >Deists or atheists. Most of us, however, want no part of getting caught up >in labels such as these. As for Jesus, we spend much of our church year >studying his teachings. We believe him to be one of the greatest prophets >to have ever lived. However, we believe him to be one of many, many >persons whose religious writings and teachings can offer us guidance and >fresh viewpoints of the world and universe about us. > >Steve Stricklen First of all, I apologize and ask forgiveness of all those Unitarian Universalists who believe that Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity and who also believe that He died as a sacrifice for our sins and rose bodily from the grave as evidence of His power over death and hell. I didn't mean to argue that all UUs were not Christians. My point should have been that the doctrinal formulations of the UU denomination, as I understand them, deny the Christian doctrine of the Trinity and all that goes with it. Secondly, I will continue to assert that the only correct definition of who is a Christian and what constitutes a Christian denomination is the Bible. Any group which claims to be Christian, but which refuses to use the Bible as sole authority over matters of faith and practice cannot be considered in the mainstream of Christianity. Jesus Christ, the Word of God, gave us His written word as a guidebook for the life of the church. Jesus prayed for the peace and purity of His church, but peace can only come about when members are willing to subject their every thought and action to the light of His Word. You may think this position bigoted. That is your privilege. Centuries of Christians have died for this belief. I stand with those faithful martyrs who believed that the truth of the Bible was worth dying for. The main problem with the Christian church today is that it is too willing to compromise on the truth. When denomination after denomination throw out the Bible as the objective standard we see the effects: a church that no longer knows what it believes. It's OK to believe (or deny) anything and be a Christian. Well I don't buy it. I think that there is an objective standard for faith and practice, I believe that it has been faithfully maintained for the church and I believe in the Spirit who guides the church in all truth. -- Tom Albrecht "Reformata, semper reformanda"