GOD - Mainly judge (Fundamentalists); mainly love (Liberals)
Etc etc etc
Now, I reckon there's a 'fatal flaw' in each broad
position (see the article 'Was Jesus a Christian? I doubt it'
in my home page).
Shalom!
Rowland Croucher
Much of the 'heat' in discussions on this newsgroup
derives from two basically conflicting views of Christian reality.
In my ministry as a consultant to all churches this polarization
is evident everywhere. Here's a rough summary: you might like
to add other categories -
BIBLE - Inerrant Word of God, rulebook for all of life (F's);
God's message through fallible humans (L's)
GOSPEL FOR SINNERS - 'Go and sin no more' (F's);
'I do not condemn you' (L's)
EVANGELISTIC MOTIVE - Prevent
souls going to hell (F's); Share God's love (L's)
HELL - Majority of humans (F's); Non-existent or non- eternal (L's)
DOUBT- Lack of faith (bad)(F's); Essential for faith (good) (L's)
AMBIGUITY -
Bad (F's);Good (L's)
CHURCH - Exclusive - conform to our beliefs (F's); Inclusive: all-comers/practices welcome (L's)
DOCTRINE - Inflexible: black and white (F's);
Flexible: shades of grey (L's)
ORTHODOXY: Creedal (F's); Covenantal (L's)
BIBLICAL SCHOLARSHIP - Be wary of it (F's); Welcome it (L's)
HOMOSEXUALITY - Worse than most
other sins (F's);
Pride, greed etc. worse (L's)
APPEALS GENERALLY TO - Less well
educated (F's); Better educated (L's).
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