Denominations?

[jms.mills]

Originally Posted by AnthonyB

However an alternate view is that the redemption will not just bring a restoration of NT unity but somehow a transformation of our sin of disunity into a blessing to God’s people. That through the redemptive work of God He is transforming our disunity into a diverse unity. That recognizes that we are one church with various expressions.

I know many will see my next question as negative. This is an honest question. Hopefully I can receive an honest answer.

How do "mainstream Christians" rationalize the above statement with Scriptures such as Matthew 7:13-14?

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

Just curious?

JMS

[Islander]

I suggest that itis profitable to read the scriptures with a clear and present understanding that even the Hebrews read and understand the OT in a different way. The Hebrwe translation of the Torah reads quite differently, for example, than the KJV.

The Savior pointed again and again to the Hebrews, His contemporaries, that if they read the scriptures they were not understanding them correctly, in the least. The NT comes from the Greek, translated 600 years ago and we are trying to make sense of it with a 21 st Century lexicon. Caution is called for, if not reflection when it comes to interpretation. The myriad of positions and interpretations present across denominations points to the vast differences in positions the same text has for the Christian community.

The Latter day Saints position is quite simple. We have modern revelation and new insights into the scriptures that come from it. Without contention and with all reverence and respect for the position our Christian brothers and sisters have taken on a certain scripture, we invite ALL to search these truth and inquire of God if they are indeed what we declare.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by ErikJohnson

I submit that two of your three (one Church, one God) already exist, and your remaining desire (one culture) is un-Biblical. That last one makes me cringe a bit, suspecting that your cultural reference point may be LDS Utah (white shirts, white faces, organ music, caffeine-free Coca-cola).

Gospel culture, my friend. I won't bother posting reams of Bible quotes to prove it because given your knowledge of the Bible, you know that we are to embrace a Gospel culture. If you just can't figure out it out, read 1st Peter Chapter 3.

[ErikJohnson]

Originally Posted by Rico

Gospel culture, my friend. I won't bother posting reams of Bible quotes to prove it because given your knowledge of the Bible, you know that we are to embrace a Gospel culture. If you just can't figure out it out, read 1st Peter Chapter 3.

Perhaps Hemidakota will return to the thread and tell us what he means by "one culture." I don't think his readers would necessarily infer a 1 Peter 3 definition (wives and husbands/suffering for doing good). I'm not sure how you could either--unless you're his evil sock-puppet...


That's a joke, btw

[jms.mills]

I think the culture that others have alluded to is the list of attributes members of the Church of Christ should collectively have (1 Peter 3:8-17):

8) Be of one mind -- take care of your neighbor as you would take care of yourself (the golden rule)
9) Do not retaliate (evil for evil), God has a better plan!
10) In order to live a good life, one must speak kindly towards and about others (in my opinion this would include use of profanity)
11) Stay away from evil. Instead, surround oneself with and pursue only positive, holy influences.
12) The Lord will only answer the prayers of the righteous. If you want God on your side, walk in righteousness.
13-14) What's the worst that can happen to you if you are followers of Christ? Do not worry about the things of this life you cannot control.
15) When people ask, "Why you are happy?" Tell them your happiness is due to the Lord's many blessings in your life!
16-17) Even though people may speak ill of your testimony of Christ, Heavenly Father will reward those who are faithful to that testimony (compared to those who are not faithful).

That was, of course, my take (I am sure there are those who would interpret these scriptures differently). Who would not want to be part of a culture which had these principles at their core? Saying that one must be part of a culture that listens to the same music, all one race, is not what means to be of one culture (in the Gospel context). To be of one culture means to have the same world view: We are all children of Heavenly Father; as such, we must treat one another with respect and dignity. Music, literature, language, skin color, etc. are insignificant in the larger picture.

That is my take.

God Bless,
JMS

[Hemidakota]

Erik, after the initial period of the millennium, all countries and cultures will begin a merging into one class of people, one language, and finally do away with the hundreds of different cultures. Do you not think that missionary work will end in this telestial world? No! It will continue as we enter the terrestrial state in bringing the righteous from all corners of this globe into the Savior’s church.

Now, isn't the City of Enoch considered one culture, one class of people?

[bytor2112]

Originally Posted by ErikJohnson

Sorry, didn't mean to be ambiguous. I should have clarified that Baptists accept baptisms performed by Lutherans, Presbyterians, etc. when those baptisms were performed on adults (or children old enough to articulate their beliefs) as happens in the case of converts. If someone was baptized as an infant and goes to a Baptist Church, they may still recognize the baptism if that person's parents were believers (and not just going through the motions out of some misguided sense of tradition) and the person feels that by being "re-baptized” they would be dishonoring their parents.

--Erik

Does that include LDS as well....those baptized at 8?

[bytor2112]

That last one makes me cringe a bit, suspecting that your cultural reference point may be LDS Utah (white shirts, white faces, organ music, caffeine-free Coca-cola).

Don't cringe......some of us drink full flavored Coca Cola and where colored shirts and prefer the piano over the organ. I am guessing that Hemi means a Christ like culture...one of love, respect and reverence of the sacred...one without the profane or pervasive hatred that plagues humanity in this fallen sphere.

[abqfriend]

I disagree-as a former Lutheran. Adults that come into the Lutheran Church-and baptized as adults are not baptized by immersion. Water may be poured on their head-but no immersion.
Baptists reject baptism by any other means than immersion.
The Lutheran Sacrament of Baptism is similar to the Catholic Sacrament.

-Carol

Originally Posted by ErikJohnson

Sorry, didn't mean to be ambiguous. I should have clarified that Baptists accept baptisms performed by Lutherans, Presbyterians, etc. when those baptisms were performed on adults (or children old enough to articulate their beliefs) as happens in the case of converts. If someone was baptized as an infant and goes to a Baptist Church, they may still recognize the baptism if that person's parents were believers (and not just going through the motions out of some misguided sense of tradition) and the person feels that by being "re-baptized” they would be dishonoring their parents.

--Erik

[ErikJohnson]

Originally Posted by bytor2112

Does that include LDS as well....those baptized at 8?

No. While LDS use the words of a Christian baptism, they do not have a Christian intent when they baptize. Meaning they do not acknowledge the Triune God (Trinity) of Christianity. LDS do not worship Jesus as the Eternal God, as Christians do. Therefore LDS who convert to Christianity need to be baptized. It's really no different than if they were previously Muslim, Jew, or Atheist.