Find out how Christians are supposed to act in the following study
https://christianforums.net/threads/charismatic-bible-studies-1-peter-2-11-17.109823/
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
Read through the following study by Tenchi for more on this topic
https://christianforums.net/threads/without-the-holy-spirit-we-can-do-nothing.109419/
Join Sola Scriptura for a discussion on the subject
https://christianforums.net/threads/anointed-preaching-teaching.109331/#post-1912042
Strengthening families through biblical principles.
Focus on the Family addresses the use of biblical principles in parenting and marriage to strengthen the family.
Read daily articles from Focus on the Family in the Marriage and Parenting Resources forum.
:o That's 3 for 3 Grazer - you are starting to worry meIt's the independent minds that get things done like abolishment of slavery, women voting rights. Sometimes orthodox inhibits
You have to be orthodox to be a Christian. Orthodoxy means "right belief," which would mean understanding the Bible and Christ's teachings as they are meant to be understood. Right belief is important because it informs orthopraxy, "right action." In other words, we behave based directly on what we believe.What is orthodox Christianity? What's so orthodox about it? What's good about it? What's wrong with a little liberalism? What's wrong with being a little radical? Was Jesus orthodox? Do I have to be orthodox to be a good Christian?
Hence I stopped calling myself a Christian. The problem with that is that many members just assume that I am an atheist...........It is one thing to think outside the box and quite another to make Scripture worthless. We simply cannot go about believing what we want about Scripture and the revelation of Jesus and expect to still be Christian.
Please read just a little closer as that is the very thing I was avoiding saying.I take issue a little with the assumption that 'outside the box' thinkers render Scripture worthless.
All Scripture is literal and meant to be literal, properly defined that is.Aardverk said:The more popular concept, probably from the majority of Christians, is that Scripture is simply not literal. If it were meant to be literal it would probably be easier to follow and not be full of contradictions and open to differing interpretations.
Whoops - that's just the sort of thing I object to other people doing. Please accept my sincere apologies. (Davies - was that yet another miracle?)Please read just a little closer as that is the very thing I was avoiding saying.
I note your opinion.All Scripture is literal and meant to be literal, properly defined that is.
No apology necessary.Whoops - that's just the sort of thing I object to other people doing. Please accept my sincere apologies. (Davies - was that yet another miracle?)
It is more than just my opinion. Scholars define "literal" so as to distinguish it from what they refer to as "literalistic." Here is something I have posted before:Aardverk said:I note your opinion.Free said:All Scripture is literal and meant to be literal, properly defined that is.
What is orthodox Christianity? What's so orthodox about it? What's good about it? What's wrong with a little liberalism? What's wrong with being a little radical? Was Jesus orthodox? Do I have to be orthodox to be a good Christian?
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Agreed. Semantics can cause so many misunderstandings. I will use your definitions below.To take the Bible "literally," means to take what was written in the way the author intended. "Literalistically," on the other hand, is what some people mean by the use of "literally."
Agreed. Metaphor is usually pretty obvious and even accepted by the law which otherwise uses words 'literalistically' and not as the author may or may not have intended. In law, what the author meant is irrelevant. What he actually wrote is the important thing - but I digress.For example, in John 10:9 Jesus says "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture." (NKJV)
To take that literalistically would be to understand Jesus as being an actual talking door made of wood. But of course that is absurd.
Oh I agree its not meant literalistically but literal based on your definitions (which I agree with, I've posted similar definitions myself) But I also believe there's room for interpretation based on the culture and the time. Paul often took verses about death and revenge in the OT and turned them into passages about love. Both would be right at the time they were written. So if Paul can do that, what does it say about us?
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I'm assuming you believe Paul and his writings were inspired by God and that Pauls thoughts/words are actually those of the Lord. I don't want to set you up to cross the ToS, so can we agree that the intent of Paul's writings was God's intent? BTW, you really didn't comment on the value of His Body here on earth to keep individuals from branching off into cultish belief systems. I believe orthodox Christianity is what is being referred to when we talk about Truth.
:o That's 3 for 3 Grazer - you are starting to worry me
Of course, that is not the issue here and has little to do with orthodoxy. Orthodoxy, as I pointed out, means "right belief." This includes right belief about the Bible, including what is relevant for the followers of Christ and how it is relevant.I'd worry about folks that claim to obey the Bible utterly in a 21st century world. Given all the commands relating to violence, prejudice, etc... would there be a Christian in America not bound for or already in prison, if they were Bible obedient orthodox?
That is the million dollar question. It can be very difficult and it is very weighty but, of course, that neither means we should abandon such a pursuit nor simply disregard what much of the Church currently holds as orthodoxy (not that you're suggesting either of those).I suppose the thing that's up in the air, then, is what is or should be considered orthodox. That is a very weighty subject.