NFL: God Must Be Real

[RnB]

(11-20-2011 11:37 PM)JDaveG Wrote:  That's not any part of "the Church." It might be a part of the Church of Christ (or some sects within it). I know it's part and parcel of some Baptist theology, but there again, that's not universally true (or probably even generally true) of Baptists either. But the Church pre-dates the sects, and the Church has never, ever taught anything remotely close to this.

For one, dispensationalism is novel. The teaching you reference is most closely tied to dispensationalism. When a teaching cannot be attributed to the entire Church throughout time, one ought be careful ascribing that teaching as a teaching of "the Church." The fact is, the vast majority of Christians do not believe what you wrote.

I know it's hard to separate that out. It's obvious to me you have issues with the Church of Christ and the teaching of your youth and with your family who have not treated you well. That doesn't, however, mean that this should color what the rest of us believe. I'd ask you to consider the possibility that what you reject is not Christianity in a broad sense, but a very narrow slice of Christianity.

Thanks for this post JDave.

I try to stay away from religious talk online. Simply because the anonymity that being behind a screen gives people usually brings out their worst.

I have to agree with KoG that I have seen quite a bite of Christian (not a specific denomination, mind you) bashing but rarely see devout people with a modicum of intelligence bash other religions. I have also rarely seen Christians I know try to convert unwilling people or search out persecution. Saying that Christians gladly take up a "victim complex" to fulfill some prophecy is just silly.

You have to be very careful painting an entire swath of billions of people with one brush stroke due to some negative experiences you went through on a personal level.

I was born and raised in the South and consider myself a Christian (Baptist), just for reference.