Posted on 06/30/2009 3:49:51 PM PDT by liberty_eagle
“Perhaps I’m overly complex, but WHY does it have to be EITHER creationism OR Darwinism..... “
You’re not being overly complex—you are being completely rational. Evolution and Christianity coexist perfectly, as evolution says exactly nothing about the origin of life. Observational evidence convincingly points to the process of evolution as being “God’s way” of getting us here.
Unlike the pushers of Piltdown Man, The Haeckel embryo sequence, and any other number of frauds propagated in the name of science. I will take the Creation Scientists, thank you very much.
If you destroy Genesis 1-11 you destroy the Bible. No sin, no need for redemption from sin. No need for redemption from sin, no need for a Savior. Christ Himself took Scripture literally. You make Him into being a liar when you bow at the throne of Evolutionary hypothesis and set Scripture aside as just some nice moral stories.
Fine. Personally, I find creation science to be an even greater hoax than Piltdown as most Christians do—it’s certainly generating a lot more cash!
Just don’t teach science to kids. The curriculum is already weak enough.
The bible is allegorical. Someday, YECs will understand that “allegory” is not synonymous with “lie”. The necessity to adhere to the literal truth of the physical events in the bible is indicative of a weak faith.
Jesus did not interpret it as allegory. In fact, only since around the time of Augustine did that become a popular - but by far not definitive view of Scripture. In the 1800s, compromising preachers really gave it new life. And one day non-YECs will see that.
Most Christians? Surely you jest.
“Surely you jest.”
Not at all. Do you consider Catholics and Episcopalians to be Christians?
“And one day non-YECs will see that.”
There’s the threat again! The bible is allegorical.
No threat. A promise.
I can’t make a blanket statement like that. There are saved Catholics and saved Episcopalians. There are non Christian Catholics and Episcopalians as well. Scripture itself says narrow is the way and few there be that find it. It also says many will come to Christ in that day saying “Lord, Lord”. So to take a modern grouping such as Catholic or Episcopalian (particularly with the extremely liberal theological views in some of those groupings) is to paint with far too broad of a brush.
A wrong view of Creation does not mean a person isn’t saved by the way. It just means they are inconsistent.
Let me rephrase the question. If a Catholic follows Catholic teachings verbatim, partakes of the sacraments, and attends Mass every Sunday, would you consider that person a Christian?
No.
Works don’t do it. If that same Catholic was placing their full faith in trust in what Jesus did on Calvary - irrespective of personal works - for salvation, yes that Catholic is a Christian. Just because someone goes to church doesn’t mean they are a Christian any more than just because someone sets up camp in a garage makes them a car.
Then the faith that you define as Christianity is nothing of the sort. It is instead a cult sect. Denying the Christianity of entire Christian denominations is the projection of doubt owing to a weakly held faith.
No. The faith I define is already defined by Scripture.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved
Acts 10: 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
As to whether I deny the Christianity of an entire Christian denomination, you evidently weren’t reading closely enough. I did no such thing. I condemned a works salvation and nothing more or less.
Are you implying that Scripture itself denies the Christianity of Catholics?
“I did no such thing. “
Read your post #73.
Personally, I see nothing in the scripture that you posted that conflicts with the representative Catholic that I described in post 72.
I haven’t implied anything. I have made direct statements. No nuances. If a person is relying on their works be they Pope priest or Protestant layperson they are on their way to Hell. If that person is trusting in Christ ALONE for their salvation they are saved be they Catholic, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Charismatic or whatever. The scenario you gave was one of works. Works don’t cut it per Scripture. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God per Romans 3. All of our righteousness is as filthy rags before a Holy God according to Isaiah. If our reliance is on our own goodness, we will find ourselves saying “Lord, Lord” on that day and the judge will look down and say “depart from me you workers of iniquity, I never knew You.”
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