What is your opinion in regards to Calvinism?
484767
We all like to like we have free will, but calvinist believe that everything is pre-determined before it ever happens, hence taking away our free will?  I myself like to believe that we do have free will, that God gave us the ability to choose our own path..not one that has been already chosen for us.
481661
I think marriage is wonderful! It is absolutely amazing to me.  My husband and I will be married 5 years this July (Lord's willing) and it seems like we are still in the honeymoon phase.!!!\n\n\nI also think that if more people would incorporate what the Bible says about marriage into their life, that there would not be so many divorces.
741345
My source of morality growing up (and up until Pangel helped me to see things differently) has been what was drilled into my head by very conservative Christianity, as it relates to the Bible.  I'd probably consider it my church teachings first, ego second, Bible third, and fear of damnation fourth.\n\nNow, however, I still consider myself a Christian, but I would call human decency first, and the Bible second (interpretted very differently than before).  They practically go hand in hand.  I now interpret the Bible based on the world I see around me.  How do the teachings of the Bible fit with the observations I see in my day-to-day life?\n\nGod bless!
162561
The question was asked in our Sunday night Discipleship Training class about where our teacher stood on the topic of predestination. He came back the next week and gave us this.\n\n  The two viewpoints\n    1.Armenianism\n      a. believes in freewill or human ability and that man has not been left in a state of total spiritual hopelessness\n      b. man has the FREEDOM to chose good over evil\n      c. man has the FREEDOM to chose to cooperate with God's Spirit and regenerate or to refuse it and perish\n      d. believes that faith is mans act to God and not His gift to man.\n      e. man plays the major part in salvation\n      f. Gods choice of certain idividuals was determined by and upon what man would do. It was not given to the sinner by God, but was left up to man.\n      g. God chose those who would choose Him by their own freewill\n  2. Calvinism\n      a. man has total inability because of the fall\n      b. man is unable of himself to to accept the gospel\n      c. mans heart is decietful and his will is not free\n      d. it takes regeneration for a man to be saved\n      e. faith is NOT something man contributes to God, it is part of salvation. it is not mans gift to God it is Gods gift to man!\n      f. man resisted His soveriegn will. It is not based on any forseen response.\n      g. God gives faith and repentance to those He selects. The election is not based on man.\n      h. God brings those He selects to Him and the ability to be saved comes from God!<based on God>\n   \n    Scripture references:\n   \n      -Romans 8:30\n      -Romans 11:5-6\n      -2 Thess 2:13-14\n      -2 Timothy 1:9
8283
The debate is an age old one, commonly known as Calvinism (pre-destination) and Armenianism (free will).  Christian theologians such as John Calvin support the idea that man kind suffers from complete moral depravity (the inability to chose right over wrong).  Because of that, it is by God's grace alone that any person is saved, and there is nothing we can do to achieve salvation.  Therefore, because humans are unable to make any correct moral decisions on their own, those who are saved are saved only because they were predestined by God to be saved.\nOn the other hand, theologians such as John Wesley support the idea that humans indeed do have the ability to choose, and therefore have a moral responsibilty to act morally and conduct themselves with holiness in mind.  \nBoth concepts seem to have their strong and weak points.  Ultimately, this debate will probably not be resolved in this life.  I personally think that predestination and free will are not mutually exclusive, seeing as God's ways are greater than ours.  Hope that helps.
613317
I believe in Christianity and unpopular as it is, I believe if you do not believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior you are condemning your self to eternal damnation.  It's your choice, but don't complain about the consequences, when you make the choice.  And yes, if you sign a contract that binds your beliefs and your soul to anything other than God, you are in effect signing a contract with the devil
329285
I personally agree with much of what you are saying. The bible was written by many different men, and is missing parts that were in it many y&#92;centuries ago. We have the English version (thanks to Henry VIII0, and that is a translated version from thee original Hebrew, Arab and Greek. It is therefore, in my opinion, ridiculous to take it literally. I also believe in God but not in the bible, per say. I believe in the golden rule and being a good person but do not allow myself to be bullied into certain behavior and beliefs by the church out of fear.\nBelieve whatever you want, in the end you have to live with yourself, and should therefore be true to yourself. Who cares what anyone else thinks? Many of the people who would "bash you" for not believing in creationism are just narrow minded people who believe what they were brought up to believe and never questioned any of it.
1106713
I am Presbyterian, a different for of Christianity. I attend a Catholic school( and have been for most of my life) and I can tell you that I agree with the Presbyterians better.\n\nwe only have communion once a month, so it doesn't get to routine.\n\nwe believe in praying directly to God, and not to the saints.\n\nWe believe that faith alone can get you into heaven, and not good works.\n\nThose are only a few for starters.
936296
The doctrine of eternal security does not negate Paul's teaching to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.\n\nThe true Calvinist would certainly preach that you must be diligent in your faith and show forth fruits "meet for repentence", etc\n\nLikewise, the true Arminian would certainly preach that we are secure in Christ and that we are utterly dependent upon God and His help.\n\nJohn Wesley (the Arminian) and George Whitefield (the Calvinist) were both extremely gifted ,extremely fruitful, extremely used by God to win souls.... they had their disagreements about such doctrines.... but God used them both mightily and they were, off and on, very close friends.\n\nThis isn't to say that some preachers don't preach a watered-down dangerous type of "eternal security" message to their congregations.  But it is just as true that some preachers preach a terribly distorted message about having to do this or do that to earn God's blessing....\n\nGod bless!!  And I'm glad He is control!!!
302673
Why, Theology WITHOUT Sociology is like a peanut butter sandwich without the peanut butter! How can one understand religious ideologies, choices, and freedoms without understanding the separate cultures from which they spring?\nMost certainly the latter must be woven into any Theological study, in my opinion.
371076
Facts ... I believe in "God". I am not able to accept the Christian version of monotheism. I consider it illogical and it makes no sense to me. I do not lie awake at night not believing. The Bible is not perfect. It has been mistranslated by numerous translators in various translations. Christianity is not the worlds longest running religion. There was Judaism and Hinduism and several others prior to 2000 years ago that are still alive and well. You asked for facts. Those are facts. I'm not Christian. That doesn't bother me. You are Christian. That doesn't bother me either. Instead of worrying about others and their relationship with "God" or their lack of same maybe there's something else you need to be looking at? Just a thought. And that's a fact. :-)
923478
I disagree with them, I think it is rather fanatical for my taste.\n\n\nGod Bless You
206710
Hope I'm not out of topic but I joined the Seventh Day Adventist a few months ago.  I believe they observe and follow the bible and teachings of Jesus a lot closer than most denominations do. The Seventh Day Adventist keeps all the commandments including the four one(which alot of denominations ignore) and abstaining from pork and other unclean animals.  So far I am happy being a Seventh Day Adventist and so far I havent seen any major flaws in their doctrine.  I'm on my way to Sabbath School now but I'll definately check out that link to the former Adventist Yahoo group when I get back and view some of the opinions on there.  May God Bless.
230912
I read through your paper and I must admit that it must have been difficult to cram so much into something so little. Theological debate can go on and on. Just the history of Christianity can even be volumes. \n\nNow, I don't know where you stand with God, I just know that one thing you failed to mention was (well I guess you touched on it a little) was the fact that Christianity is spiritual, hence, "God is Spirit, and His worshippers must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24) Ones own relationship with Jesus Christ cannot be by or through the intellect. There's where faith come in. With all do respect, your presentation was accurate, however, we MUST remember that we cannot bring God down to OUR level, we must assend to HIS level through the Holy Spirit and the only way the Truth can be discovered is by faith alone. Good job, and God bless you.
291706
Though I myself DO support the use of musical instruments in music, I am sad to see how many people who are not informed about the historical debate on this quickly toss the "LEGALIST" label a person whose views differ from their own. \n\nFolks, this discussion goes back centuries, and for many centuries congregational worship, in fact, did NOT use instruments.   So don't be so dismissive.  Try to figure out WHY people have this view, and even if you don't share it you may learn something.   And it has specifically to do with God's commands concerning the organized WORSHIP of HIM, not every specific thing we do in our lives.   \n\nSOME FONDATIONS:\n\n1) The core issue is HOW does God himself direct us to worship in ways that are in keeping with his revealed character?  Whatever "freedom" we have in worship, we are NOT free before God to decide to use any and every form we dream up or see others using.  That's what is behind the second commandment prohibition of idols -- not simply of worshiping other gods, but of trying to use idols to worship the TRUE God!  And the Law also declares "you are not to worship me in the way they worship their gods", that is, God's people are not simply to adopt whatever worship practices they may see the pagans doing.   \n\nThese basic truths DO still apply, even if the OT sacrificial-temple system does not.  They are expressed in Jesus' words "God is SPIRIT and those who worship him must worship him in s/Spirit and in t/Truth [Jn 4:24, cf Phlp 3:1-2 which relates this to the Spirit of God and to worshping CHRIST... who is the Truth].  In other words, the WORSHIP of God must be consistent with the revealed NATURE of God.    \n\n2) An other thing to keep in view --as the questioner properly points out-- is that the OT Temple system of worship involving animal sacrifices and ritual washings has been done away with in Christ (see esp Hebrews). \n\nThis is sort of related to the first point, for the CHANGE that comes with Jesus' death & resurrection brings a new, fuller revelation of God --in Christ-- AND, tied in with that, changes in how we worship God (though we DO, at heart STILL come to God by means of atoning blood sacrifice -- the finished sacrifice of his Son! --and by a cleansing work)\n\nLet's also grant that the use of musical instruments is NOT, like idolatry, ALWAYS wrong and inconsistent with God's nature.  It was deemed perfectly appropriate in the OT system and considered an appropriate image to be included in Revelation's picture of heaven's worship.\n\n-----------------\n\nPerhaps the most important question then, is whether the use of instruments in our congregational worship is itself inconsistent with the NEW revelation of the fulfillment of the Law, and esp. of the Temple-sacrificial system, in Christ.   If the Word anywhere says this OR implies it.  I think you will agree that it does not expressly forbid this practice.  \n\nHere is, I think, the key.   And I do NOT believe Scripture anywhere teaches us that the use of musical instruments is at its court bound to the TEMPLE-ritual-sacrificial system, anymore than the use of the OT's PSALMS (which the church continued) is so part-and-parcel of that system as to be inappropriate to the New Testament revelation/fulfilment in Christ.\n\nRather, I believe that the use of musical instruments is not itself an "element" of worship (that is, one of a list of specific things we are called to do, as, for instance, praying and reading the Word are), nor something (like idols) that is  itself central to the CONTENT of our worship.  Instead it is, to some degree like singing, a WAY in which that worship is carried out.\n\nIncidentally, the two main passages that "command us to sing" in worship (Eph 5:18-19, Col 3:16) actually begin with our 'SPEAKING' the Word. Tbat is, what is key is our verbally expressing the content (to encourag
918941
In Protestant (liberal) theology there are several "middle grounds."  There is the notion that the Bible "contains God's word" and also that is can "become God's words."  These are of course nuanced meanings of how Scripture communicates God's message through a supposedly imperfect text.
577996
No I don't, I am Christian and I consider it a moral guide with some truths and a good book, but it isn't the end all to end all. I consider myself Christian because I follow many of Christ teachings and lets face it I was raised to be so. Nature vs. nurture, what can I say? Oh and you don't have to follow the Bible to follow what Christ taught, even he was against being ruled by laws.  I love God, not the Bible, if I did I would be a follower of books not of Christ. Ever wonder why Jesus never wrote about himself? Think on that for awhile. Like the bible says we are all Gods. Follow your heart not a book.