tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354626964012460623.post2734936736482503968..comments2023-03-28T15:30:45.255-04:00Comments on Hammer and Nail: Church Reform - DoctrineErichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306854704766653209noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354626964012460623.post-76005453539192380432008-01-08T18:56:00.000-05:002008-01-08T18:56:00.000-05:00Alan,Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.Alan,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07306854704766653209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354626964012460623.post-63555233755535721802008-01-08T18:18:00.000-05:002008-01-08T18:18:00.000-05:00Eric,There is a new blog, not mine no shameless pl...Eric,<BR/>There is a new blog, not mine no shameless plug involved, that is discussing uniting reformed denominations. I think you could add to the conversation if you have time and are interested. The URL is:<BR/>http://ebenezererskine.blogspot.com/<BR/><BR/>In Christ<BR/>AlanAlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01152987444260369287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354626964012460623.post-22694242896208587412008-01-08T16:52:00.000-05:002008-01-08T16:52:00.000-05:00Jeff,Thanks for bringing up those two verses. My ...Jeff,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for bringing up those two verses. My understanding of what was going on with the Galatians was that false teachers had come in and told them that they had to follow the Jewish law in order to be saved. It appears, based on Paul's writing, that at least some of the Galatians were giving in to these demands. This would take the gospel of grace and add works to it. Therefore, it is no longer the true gospel. I think Paul's emphasis is that the false teachers are not providing a new gospel, but are perverting the real gospel so much that it no longer has saving power.<BR/><BR/>The point I am making in this post is that we should not divide over what we might refer to as secondary doctrines. Unity is too important for that. However, if anyone teaches a false gospel or distorts the true gospel, that is a real reason to divide. The heart of the gospel is the key.<BR/><BR/>I do believe there are some groups today who add to the requirements for salvation. For example, any group that says you have to speak in tongues to be saved is adding to the purity of the gospel. Any group that says you have to be baptized to be saved is adding to the gospel. We must reject these teachings outright.<BR/><BR/>I hope that answers your question. Thanks for responding.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07306854704766653209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354626964012460623.post-22107429250853050452008-01-08T16:43:00.000-05:002008-01-08T16:43:00.000-05:00Rhea,I'm glad to hear that I have helped. There a...Rhea,<BR/><BR/>I'm glad to hear that I have helped. There are certainly Calvinists out there who don't seem to care too much about the lost. That is very unfortunate. I'm happy to say that the vast majority of Calvinists that I have met have also been excited about sharing their faith.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for reading!Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07306854704766653209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354626964012460623.post-88243743485817265572008-01-08T12:56:00.000-05:002008-01-08T12:56:00.000-05:00Eric,Gal 1:6 I am amazed that you are so quickly...Eric,<BR/><BR/>Gal 1:6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; <BR/>Gal 1:7 which is {really} not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.<BR/><BR/>Do you think including these two verses previous to the ones you quoted(Gal 1:8-9)could change the context from an obviously contrary/different gospel, to "the true gospel" with a little added twist here or an extra burden there?<BR/><BR/>It seems Paul and Peter (2 Peter 3:16) both warn not only of contrary gospels but also of merely adding doctrines to the one true gospel they were teaching. Using weighty words such as "accursed" and "destruction" to those who distort/pervert.<BR/><BR/>I'm not suggesting that you are doing this, but a lot of people I encounter(all denominations) seem to think there are additional necessary and beneficial instructions than simply what the apostles were teaching. What do you think?<BR/><BR/>-JeffJeffrey E.W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15893809583461976912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354626964012460623.post-30844627807165884312008-01-08T11:29:00.000-05:002008-01-08T11:29:00.000-05:00Eric,I have to say that I was one of those people ...Eric,<BR/>I have to say that I was one of those people who thought that Calvinists were unfeeling intellectuals who didn't care for others, and have no interest in evangelism. That said, your blog (along with a few others) has really opened up my eyes. I now realize that I was simply stereotyping all Calvinists from a bad experience that I had with one or two people. I just wanted to say thanks for showing me the "caring side" of Calvinism. I honestly didn't think that it existed.00https://www.blogger.com/profile/05537409519473805118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354626964012460623.post-92052176375313638782008-01-08T09:10:00.000-05:002008-01-08T09:10:00.000-05:00Crazy Calvinist,Thank you for commenting. BTW - I...Crazy Calvinist,<BR/><BR/>Thank you for commenting. BTW - I really like your name.<BR/><BR/>Your quote from Calvin is right on. It is interesting that Calvinists are many times described as unfeeling intellectuals who don't care for others. Right or wrong, that is the perception of many. Maybe we Calvinists need to work even harder at serving others in order to change some of these misconceptions.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07306854704766653209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354626964012460623.post-47516112430066484932008-01-08T09:06:00.000-05:002008-01-08T09:06:00.000-05:00Alan,I wonder why Christians have such a tendency ...Alan,<BR/><BR/>I wonder why Christians have such a tendency to separate when there is disagreement. That is a sad thing. I suppose the reason is, at a most basic level, carnality. <BR/><BR/>It is refreshing to see Christians who do not agree on everything remain together and work things out. This does not mean that they will agree on everything, but will remain together nonetheless. I hope this is happening at Messiah Baptist.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07306854704766653209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354626964012460623.post-36612119170116042502008-01-08T07:34:00.000-05:002008-01-08T07:34:00.000-05:00Good points; and your third point is something I a...Good points; and your third point is something I am planning to address too in blogsphere, very shortly. John Calvin said thus: "Doctrine is not an affair of the tongue, but of the life; is not apprehended by the intellect and memory merely, like other branches of learning; but is received only when it possesses the whole soul, and finds its seat and habitation in the inmost recesses of the heart" <BR/><BR/> But unfortunately the two are often separeate distinct things and not co-existing. Understanding gets lost in knowledge. And so Calvinism looks like an icy intellectualism.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354626964012460623.post-2538323760396764322008-01-07T20:28:00.000-05:002008-01-07T20:28:00.000-05:00Eric,As you know, "doctrine" is usually defined as...Eric,<BR/><BR/>As you know, "doctrine" is usually defined as "whatever I or my group believes". This is where we run into problem. I agree that we must focus on the gospel. Yes, we need to consider and discuss other aspects of theology, but when we allow those aspects of theology - that is, those aspects which are not the gospel - then we are being divisivie, which is the biblical definition of heresy.<BR/><BR/>Of course, this means that we have to recognize, accept, love, and consider family those believers who do not agree with us in areas outside the gospel. This is not always easy to do, at least, not for us as humans. However, when we deny ourselves and consider others as more important, we can learn to be united with those who disagree with us.<BR/><BR/>Thanks again for continuing this discussion.<BR/><BR/>-AlanAlan Knoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07452247058550736803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354626964012460623.post-88902538530626128362008-01-07T18:08:00.000-05:002008-01-07T18:08:00.000-05:00Rhea,Thanks again. I agree with you completely.Rhea,<BR/><BR/>Thanks again. I agree with you completely.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07306854704766653209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354626964012460623.post-52727234342005904572008-01-07T18:03:00.000-05:002008-01-07T18:03:00.000-05:00"Third, many Christians view doctrine as simply a ..."Third, many Christians view doctrine as simply a set of beliefs rather than something to be actively lived out."<BR/><BR/>I think that part of the problem is that we (protestant Christians) are so afraid that someone might misunderstand us and somehow think that we "work" our way to heaven that we stray away from preaching from the book of James. I think that we must get over our fear and preach the Word of God. The truth is, if we have faith, then naturally there should be works that are a fruit of that faith. We shouldn't be afraid to say that.00https://www.blogger.com/profile/05537409519473805118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354626964012460623.post-79977892529932362942008-01-07T17:41:00.000-05:002008-01-07T17:41:00.000-05:00Rhea,It sounds like we agree. Thanks for your com...Rhea,<BR/><BR/>It sounds like we agree. Thanks for your comment.<BR/><BR/>EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07306854704766653209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354626964012460623.post-91557388009744390362008-01-07T17:27:00.000-05:002008-01-07T17:27:00.000-05:00"I’m not suggesting that what we believe is unimpo..."I’m not suggesting that what we believe is unimportant. I do believe, however, that based upon what we see in the bible, the line for division should be the gospel (click here for more on this). It should not be the ordinances, music style, eschatology, Calvinism, etc. that cause us to separate."<BR/><BR/>I couldn't agree with you more on this. Far too often it seems that we let "non-salvation" issues break us apart...we let what are really "minor differences" become the focus of our Christianity, instead of Christ. Don't get me wrong, I think that many things of these things that are used to divide us ARE important, but are they more important than the Lord and Savior that we all (Christians, that is) share?00https://www.blogger.com/profile/05537409519473805118noreply@blogger.com