Posted on 10/23/2018 11:25:09 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
American evangelicals are “deeply confused” about some core doctrines of the Christian faith—and the fourth-century heretic Arius would be pleased, according to a new survey.
For the third time, Ligonier Ministries has examined the State of Theology in the United States, conducted by LifeWay Research and based on interviews with 3,000 Americans. The survey, also conducted in 2014 and 2016, offers a detailed look at the favorite heresies of evangelicals and of Americans at large.
Ligonier wanted to know what Americans “believe about God, salvation, ethics, and the Bible.”
“Overall, US adults appear to have a superficial attachment to well-known Christian beliefs,” stated the ministry. “For example, a majority agreed that Jesus died on the cross for sin and that he rose from the dead.
“However, they rejected the Bible’s teaching on (1) the gravity of man’s sin, (2) the importance of the church’s gathering together for worship, and (3) the Holy Spirit,” stated Ligonier. For example:
Ligonier cites relativism for such a “casual outlook.” In the survey, 6 in 10 Americans agree that “religious belief is a matter of personal opinion [and] not about objective truth”—and 1 in 3 evangelicals (32%) say the same.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianitytoday.com ...
How is it false?
No one called God nor the Holy Spirit people...
Again, in theology, when referencing God, the term “person” does not mean “human being”. Caww, myself, and others are not calling the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit a human being when referring to the triune nature of the three persons of the Trinity.
You keep saying “person” must be used in the typical dictionary sense of the word to mean human being, but that is not necessary.
The terms “Father”, Son, “being”, “person” are descriptive metaphors. When Jesus said He was the “Door”, the Good Shepherd, He wasn’t literally meaning that He was made of wood and hinges or a literal shepherd. These are all metaphors - word pictures to help us understand an aspect of God’s nature and character. But, we all understand that God is much more than all these metaphors.
No one takes the meaning of the theological meaning of the word “person” of the Holy Spirit to mean that He is human being. You are the only one I’ve ever heard claim that that is the only possible meaning. That’s why everyone thought you were in one of the non-Christian cult groups because they all deny the autonomous, individual, personhood of the Holy Spirit.
I get that you think the term limits God to a human being status - but, that is not what the term means theologically speaking. Yes, the word, “person” is not used in the Bible in referring to God, just as “Trinity” and “being” are not as well. These are terms that have been developed by Christian theologians to help describe who God is.
Are they imperfect terms? Absolutely, but they are not necessarily inappropriate terms, when clarified in their theological meaning.
Anyway, take care and I pray you and your family all the best.
‘A majority of US adults (58%) said that worshiping alone or with one’s family is a valid replacement for regularly attending church. Only 30 percent disagree.’
Count me in that majority!
I have a lot of trouble with flawed church doctrine. Somewhere up the scholarly food chain something went wrong in doctrine, particularly tainting by leftists.
I felt the way you did once. I don’t any more. I found a Baptist church with a great congregation of very flawed people who all knew they were very flawed, but grateful to be saved.
It made a huge difference. Sunday’s at church are important to me. I feel it if I don’t go.
“People” is the same as “persons” in the dictionary
I don't read the dictionary but I DO read the bible...
I didn’t call them people, I called them persons. In a theological discourse person has a very specific meaning and it isn’t people. You are the one who introduced the word “people” into the discussion.
You were called. I’m glad.
But the ‘lift up serpents’ chapter makes it clear — seek miracles. Actual miracles. Most churches say to seek doctrine studies.
Jesus calls the Spirit *He*.
Your argument is with Jesus.
You are splitting hairs here.
The Holy Spirit is a being, just like God the Father and any other living being.
If by *person* you mean *human being* then be intellectually honest and clarify your definition.
Otherwise, you have relegated God the Father and the Holy Spirit to forces, not beings.
At which point, you demolish any claims Jesus made about Himself and you are left with nothing but a cult of false teaching about God.
Well said ...
Sounds as though individuals can and do ‘believe’ a certain teaching because they are taught to believe it within the church they are associated with. Of course that’s ok as one takes in the milk of the word.....but there comes a time when one does want to see the evidence and truth for themselves....Some never get beyond what they are taught to believe.
Do you understand that we are made in the image of God? A reflection of his being?
Do you understand your heresy?
What does being made in his image do you think that means?
Do consider that God who would become weak, dependent, and ‘human’ in the birth, life and death of Jesus of Nazareth. .....that the God of all creation would “wear human flesh” shows the personhood of God and all human life.... being made in the “image of God” is not just an abstract concept, but has a name and a face.
No, it does not, to me.
Read that link. God is only Spirit, period.
Well all I can add is you should read the statement of faith on the authors of your link
Which begins....”We believe in one God who has revealed Himself in three distinct ‘Persons’ yet who is one in being, essence, and glory....further....”We believe that Jesus Christ is truly fully God and truly fully man”...We believe in the deity and ‘personality’ of the Holy Spirit.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.