Subject: Slight historical skew? |
Bible Note: Dear orthodoxy, Please tell me who is being insulting? You have denounced every Christian that has Anabaptist, Baptist, or Pentecostal roots, and thrown in 'some' Charismatic, Methodist, and independents on the side, and declared them heretic for their non-traditional view of Scripture. Once you have aligned your tradition with the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, you are indeed in the majority, and state that 'majority rules, and others drool.' What a bigoted form of faith.(bigot-a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices-Webster) When you state that 'we all come from Rome.' you are saying that every Christian's faith rides upon tradition. I prefer to believe that personal faith in Jesus Christ and the personal revelation of the Bible by the unction of the Holy Spirit are still working in the church. Am I wrong to believe this? "...Almost exclusively in the US." Please tell me, how much have you travelled, and how many years of study brought you to this conclusion? We finally come to Scripture. Your doctrine is based wholly on the assumption that 'household' MUST include infants and children, and that NT circumcision is baptism, and must be done on the eighth day (or whenever it is convenient for infant-parents-church facilities). Is this generally correct? I am sorry to ask the 'utterly impossible' of you, but don't you think that a reference that Jesus instituted this rite, or the apostles practiced it is in order? Your extrapolation of Scripture is strained. Does not the Old Testament promise of a 'circumcision of heart' (Deuteronomy 10:16 and 30:6, Jeremiah 4:4) speak of faith on the part of the individual, as compared to a rite performed by religious officials with the parents consent? What I am saying is that the bulk of you argument rests on majority and tradition, not the Bible. You state that you "...cannot detect anything offensive..." in "proclaiming the truths of Scripture." I, the minority, heartily disagree. This Bible Study Forum is not a 'soapbox' for denominations, but a place for research of the tenets of Christian faith. I would be glad to discuss with you the doctrine of baptism in it's various forms, but please keep your label of 'heresy' and the like to yourself. If I 'cross the line' by denying the virgin birth, the Triune nature of God, the efficacy of the name of Jesus, the Blood of Jesus, or the like, then bring out your accusations, dear brother-in-Christ. Peace upon you in Jesus' name, charis |