Cactus Game Design Message Boards

State your beliefs on the following, but don't argue or put down those of others or this guy will smack you:

Denomination?

None. Attending a Presbyterian church.

Rapture/return of Jesus?

Amillennial (the millennial reign and the prophesies in Revelation have already happened (Jesus' "body" ruled, not Jesus himself); Jesus will not rapture us but rather will return to judge the world at its end).

Views on speaking in tongues?

Appropriate in the proper church tradition; never thought it practical or useful myself.

Views on prophesy?

Still happens today, but isn't always so "mystical". When prophesying, one should never prophesy "doom and destruction" or point at anything negative in that person's life, for it could become self-fulfilling (instead speak a positive blessing against the foreseen negativity).

The Bible?

Written by men, attributed to God inductively based on the belief that the Church is the body of Christ. Theologically accurate, but contextually contingent. Each book must be understood as a separate work, reflecting the views and biases of the writer.

The Apocrypha?

Also written by men, very useful historically and contextually. Theologically limited compared to the other works.

Justification?

Through grace, not by work or choice. Quite possibly universal.

Sanctification?

A result of true faith. May be subjective.

Right and wrong?

Based on the virtue of the action in accordance with the ends desired (and the goals of one's various traditions and societies), not on whether or not the action is classified as a "right or wrong" action itself.

What is heaven and does one experience time there?

A long and complex explanation that would require a background in Kierkegaardian and Hegelian philosophy, but suffice to say, heaven is a kind of eternal "reservoir" of consciousness. One is not conscious nor existent in heaven, rather one "is" (which means that there is no making up in heaven time wasted on earth). One doesn't necessarily "experience" time (because one isn't conscious or existent), but heaven itself "moves" along with time.

The thing I find interesting is that I think 60% of these questions (excluding "Justification?"/"Sanctification?", "Right and wrong?" and "the Bible?") are irrelevant.  Do you really find them important?

Formerly I enjoyed getting into theological debates about similar subjects, but then I realized that they really don't matter for the most part, so I just decided not to care.  It's not my place to decide the details of what Revelation means, for example.  I may have my own opinions, but they are in no way central to my belief in Christ.  To me, "Christianity" is fairly simple, and is based on faith, grace and having a relationship with Jesus.  Denominations, theologians and philosophy are unnecessary and (in my opinion) may only distract a person from pursuing what is really important.  I wouldn't say that it's my goal to live a "Christian life" in the generally accepted sense, but rather to live life with and through Christ.

Quote from: MichaelHue on May 29, 2009, 04:25:50 PM

The thing I find interesting is that I think 60% of these questions (excluding "Justification?"/"Sanctification?", "Right and wrong?" and "the Bible?") are irrelevant.  Do you really find them important?

Formerly I enjoyed getting into theological debates about similar subjects, but then I realized that they really don't matter for the most part, so I just decided not to care.  It's not my place to decide the details of what Revelation means, for example.  I may have my own opinions, but they are in no way central to my belief in Christ.  To me, "Christianity" is fairly simple, and is based on faith, grace and having a relationship with Jesus.  Denominations, theologians and philosophy are unnecessary and (in my opinion) may only distract a person from pursuing what is really important.  I wouldn't say that it's my goal to live a "Christian life" in the generally accepted sense, but rather to live life with and through Christ.

Well, the question of justification asks the question "what must one do to be saved", while the the question of sanctification asks how shall we be made holy, now that we have been justified? I think "right and wrong" then comes out of this question.

Those questions were excluded from the list of irrelevant stuff.