10-18-2007, 07:50 PM
Bears repeating. Thanks, Veritas Re.
veritas re Wrote:
Exclusionist thinking misses the spirit of the New Covenant that Christ set in place, because it forgets that the “key” to success in following Christ is not rules and regulations but rather in the conscientious and responsible exercise of free moral agency – which when expressed in a fully godlike fashion requires no rules and regulations.
In other words the perfect expression of Christ’s teaching to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is by definition inclusionist.
Paul nails this point down when saying that "14 For whenever people of the nations that do not have law do by nature the things of the law, these people, although not having law, are a law to themselves. 15 They are the very ones who demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts, while their conscience is bearing witness with them and, between their own thoughts; they are being accused or even excused. 16 This will be in the day when God through Christ Jesus judges the secret things of mankind, according to the good news I declare. " (Romans 2:14-16)
The ultimate expression of the precepts of Christianity is when persons are fully attuned to their own proper nature simply from having been created in God’s image. Under such a bold and beautiful arrangement even non-Christian persons can become correctly self motivated and don’t need any “law” – which includes the ability to not require of anyone else to adhere to some “law” - as a simple reflection using the natural implantation of conscience.
The Apostles' Creed seems to confirm what the early Christians viewed as “orthodox” or right teaching. The Creed are basic straightforward components of what to them apparently were “the more important things” that Paul the apostle spoke of.
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy *catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
notes
The basic creed of Reformed churches, as most familiarly known, is called the Apostles' Creed. It has received this title because of its great antiquity; it dates from very early times in the Church, a half century or so from the last writings of the New Testament. *The word "catholic" refers not to the Roman Catholic Church, but to the universal church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Focusing on “the more important things” allow persons to “all speak in agreement” – while at the same time holding divergent viewpoints in areas that could not be said to be “important” but rather along academic lines. Paul’s discussion of the meat sacrificed to idols debate illustrates an area that was not important – was not an article of faith.
Certain Christians felt eating the meat was wrong and others felt it was fine to do. No doubt neither side of the argument could comprehend the other side’s viewpoint and could have been inclined to exclusionist thinking – and taken to the extreme both sides would be guilty of promoting a sect by insisting that the other side was wrong and they were right. Paul closes the debate by saying both sides were right, and that neither side could rightly make the call that the other side was guilty of an un-Christian practice and deserving of exclusion.
In later centuries matters took a definite wrong turn when the exclusionists took over control of the ecclesias. Sure, this sounds very interfaith especially coming from the WT’s point of view. But the record of history clearly shows the folly of exclusionist thinking. It’s up to us as individuals to do what Christ said – “stop judging that you do not be judged”.
Our freedom in Christ is the freedom to allow others to do their own personal math in areas of non-importance. Persons with the ability to include rather than exclude are not being weak in the faith but strong, by their example able to walk in Christ’s footsteps and trust that the Lord knows who his sheep are and its just not their job to be exclusionist when our Lord was inclusionist to the point of laying down his life for ALL sinners - not just the ones who would accept him.
The interchange that takes place amongst the inclusionist crowd is the meaning of iron sharpening iron, so the face of one man sharpens another - as Proverbs says. Rubbing up against a wide range of divergent views creates persons that are spiritually astute as they seek to test every inspired expression.
The exclusionist camp forgot how to do that sort of “hard math” because they are stuck in their little exclusionist belief set that no one questions – "why would we?" they ask – “we HAVE the truth”. No one has all the truth or Christ would not have said to keep on knocking and seeking. Christ said the door would be opened, but he didn’t say when.
Our mission is to show love for one another and build one another up all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.
We can't do that if we exclude each other.
v
In other words the perfect expression of Christ’s teaching to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is by definition inclusionist.
Paul nails this point down when saying that "14 For whenever people of the nations that do not have law do by nature the things of the law, these people, although not having law, are a law to themselves. 15 They are the very ones who demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts, while their conscience is bearing witness with them and, between their own thoughts; they are being accused or even excused. 16 This will be in the day when God through Christ Jesus judges the secret things of mankind, according to the good news I declare. " (Romans 2:14-16)
The ultimate expression of the precepts of Christianity is when persons are fully attuned to their own proper nature simply from having been created in God’s image. Under such a bold and beautiful arrangement even non-Christian persons can become correctly self motivated and don’t need any “law” – which includes the ability to not require of anyone else to adhere to some “law” - as a simple reflection using the natural implantation of conscience.
The Apostles' Creed seems to confirm what the early Christians viewed as “orthodox” or right teaching. The Creed are basic straightforward components of what to them apparently were “the more important things” that Paul the apostle spoke of.
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy *catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
notes
The basic creed of Reformed churches, as most familiarly known, is called the Apostles' Creed. It has received this title because of its great antiquity; it dates from very early times in the Church, a half century or so from the last writings of the New Testament. *The word "catholic" refers not to the Roman Catholic Church, but to the universal church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Focusing on “the more important things” allow persons to “all speak in agreement” – while at the same time holding divergent viewpoints in areas that could not be said to be “important” but rather along academic lines. Paul’s discussion of the meat sacrificed to idols debate illustrates an area that was not important – was not an article of faith.
Certain Christians felt eating the meat was wrong and others felt it was fine to do. No doubt neither side of the argument could comprehend the other side’s viewpoint and could have been inclined to exclusionist thinking – and taken to the extreme both sides would be guilty of promoting a sect by insisting that the other side was wrong and they were right. Paul closes the debate by saying both sides were right, and that neither side could rightly make the call that the other side was guilty of an un-Christian practice and deserving of exclusion.
In later centuries matters took a definite wrong turn when the exclusionists took over control of the ecclesias. Sure, this sounds very interfaith especially coming from the WT’s point of view. But the record of history clearly shows the folly of exclusionist thinking. It’s up to us as individuals to do what Christ said – “stop judging that you do not be judged”.
Our freedom in Christ is the freedom to allow others to do their own personal math in areas of non-importance. Persons with the ability to include rather than exclude are not being weak in the faith but strong, by their example able to walk in Christ’s footsteps and trust that the Lord knows who his sheep are and its just not their job to be exclusionist when our Lord was inclusionist to the point of laying down his life for ALL sinners - not just the ones who would accept him.
The interchange that takes place amongst the inclusionist crowd is the meaning of iron sharpening iron, so the face of one man sharpens another - as Proverbs says. Rubbing up against a wide range of divergent views creates persons that are spiritually astute as they seek to test every inspired expression.
The exclusionist camp forgot how to do that sort of “hard math” because they are stuck in their little exclusionist belief set that no one questions – "why would we?" they ask – “we HAVE the truth”. No one has all the truth or Christ would not have said to keep on knocking and seeking. Christ said the door would be opened, but he didn’t say when.
Our mission is to show love for one another and build one another up all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.
We can't do that if we exclude each other.
v
much love to all as always
