OUR FEATURED MEMBER ARTICLE: The Importance of Contending for the Faith: Bill the Cat

[Bill the Cat]

Have they survived through solid argumentation, or simply the weight of social/emotional/political/ideological force?

Both to be frank.

What empty tomb?

Umm.. the one He was in, and then not in.

[Bill the Cat]

Thats nice Mr. Bill the Cat. Tell me first what do you mean by Orthodox Christianity? Catholic? You did mention some of the contributors to that doctrine, like Origin.

I mean the core doctrines of our faith, like the Trinity, Virgin Birth, Deity of Jesus, future resurrection of the saints, the empty tomb... things like that.

The Catholic-pagan system of works doesnt work in Christianity you know.
sinner.

Never said they did. But, when we are commanded to contend for the faith and expose heresy, do we obey or not?

Thanks

Bill

[Pneuma1021]

Thank you for this article. If those who wear the label "Christian" were doing what you said in contending for the faith, and taking it to a deeper relationship with Jesus, rather than seeking a "worship experience", the fruit of the Spirit would start to become evident, and the only apologetics we would need would the our own lives as others would see Jesus in us.

[JoLonda]

Christ is the best remembered of all time. He must have taught us how to remember. Why do we not teach memory to our children to day. The only difference between the good person and the others is that he is taught to remember what is true and right.

Wyette,

How have you determined that "The only difference between the good person and the others is that he is taught to remember what is true and right."

Scripture does not say that. Jesus said, "You are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you." John 15:14.

Remembering what is good means nothing. It is the doing it which counts.

I know you mean well, but you need to live in reality, instead of La-La Land where things just sound "Nice."

JoLonda.

[Wyzaard]

Both to be frank.

I would diaagree on the former, and point out the horrors produced by the latter.

Umm.. the one He was in, and then not in.

Errr... you mean the one he was claimed to be in, and then claimed not to be in? Not very compelling, as I have no reason to believe any of those uncooberated accounts.

[Bernie]

I want to give my support for the original post and for Bill the Cat's defense of it, mostly. The first four of the original fundamentals of the faith remains, IMO, a steadfast beacon for men and women of faith to cling to. As to smaller's....I mean, Trollonda's.... emotionalistic wailing, it is good and proper for us to tell one another 'what to believe', to the extent the system one contends for is in unity with absolute truth. Of course, we're all corrupt beings, and there is falsity mixed in with the truth. We all struggle to see clearly.

I don't mind even Gnostics trying to sell me their religion; if we don't have the antithisis of faith upon which to sharpen true faith, the blade will get rusty and dull, and the Gnostic isn't without truth altogether. Everyone here feels that what he/she contends for is the proper thing to believe and wants to share it with others. If not, what is the point of debate?

There's no need to try to start a new organized religion, of course. In the end, birds of a feather will flock together, and no dyed in the wool Gnostic will stick around long at the Southern Baptist's church, nor will the universalist be made very welcome in the Calvinist's worship, nor does the Pentecostal fit in at a Wiccan celebration of beliefs. There is no perfect religion, including those (like me) who attend no church and sit back in the wings to criticise the corruption in organized religion. The fact is, this perversion of religion, true spiritual pathology, is in all. Can't get away from it by avoiding church or attending, either one. We are, for now, anyway, simultaneously and fragmentally at one with both Christ and the demon....the point is to throw in with spirit more than flesh, and I believe this is the major point of the OP.

The separation that is good and proper, the adhereing to one's version of Christ's call, is an internal thing and bears its fruit in our external circumstances, in experience. In the end, it may go better with the Gnostic whose spirit sought gentler waters than the Pharisaical, radical __________ [fill in the blank] who demands holiness from himself and others, but whose faith and love is sterile and fruitless. In the end, God wins, Christ wins, regardless of the filth each of us brings into the mix.

Me, I'll stick with the first four fundamentals as the base of faith's operation (the 5th, premillenialism, is not an essential of the faith), until Jesus shows me something better. There's lots of room for give and take within this framework.

[RanRan]

Hey Trout, that was an excellent article. Thanks