Forgive me my lack of charity. I spoke of no one in particular - only the concept. We are called to unity, and we can already see the first fruits of the coming reunion of Christians. I did not help in this regard by my post, and for that I am sorry.No generalization here
Ditto, brother/sister. I am the chief of non charity many a time.Hahaha what a great scene that was! Absolutely, completely agree. People throw everything that the Church has taught and learned out and then invent new ways to be Pelagian. Sigh.Good for you, dave! Give those Southern Baptists the business, man! LOL…After reading your post I was thinking of “Fletch Lives.” Remember that hillbilly televangelist on there with that phony ministry? That guy F. Lee Ermey played the evangelist, the guy from Full Metal Jacket. Oh man…
Pastor Farnsworth: “Erwin, admit that you are a sinner.”
Fletch: “Uh. Well, I’ve sinned. I didn’t take any Polaroids or anything. But, yeah, I’ve sinned.”
Farnsworth: “The Lord forgives ya! Do you have any other sins, Mr. Fletcher?”
Fletch: “Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Amen. What? Other sins? Uh, I parked in a handicap spot on my way up here. Actually, on a handicap person. I told him I’d be back in five minutes, so that’s not such a big deal.”
I’ve always found it fascinating how these folks can throw away thousands of years of church polity, theology, ecumenical councils, liturgy, sacraments, and dress up in these turqoise suits with tons of hairspray grabbing heads and thrusting people with “anointings” and amens and making “being saved” a one-time event…sigh…
I wouldn’t be too hung up on the semantics of the message though. In the end it all leads to the same conclusion right?You do raise a valid point about being hung up on the semantics! I guess I can get a little hung up on them, mainly because of the traditional Christian principle that “the law of prayer is the law of belief.” There are certainly well-meaning people who use, well, sloppy language to describe salvation or conversion. I have no doubt that God honors their intent, as long as they realize that salvation isn’t speaking the “magic words” of the Sinner’s Prayer. Meanwhile, however, I’ve also been around many, many pastors who arive at a new church with their idea that they choose God whenever they see fit (instead of recognizing that Christ is choosing them, keeping the Law and dying in their place, and calling them to himself and to his Church). Such people are the ones who change everything in their church to revolve around their very anthropocentric religious views, and thus theology buffs like me fight their semantics to keep our old ways and language alive.As per the OP, I can’t say I have
My turn to thank you! The personal part doesn’t bother me as much as the “have you accepted” part. Pardon the Lutheran in me, but I received Christ as my savior, because He loved (accepted) me while I was still in my sin. By grace I have faith, and because I have received that gift of faith, and have not rejected it, I respond to His grace by trying to follow His commands.Exactly right! So the way the topic’s title question is usually framed down here in the Deep South (sigh) is: “Have you asked Jesus to come live in your heart as your personal Lord 'n Savior? If not, you can make Him your Savior today. Repeat after me…”
Last time I was asked when I “got saved,” I said “before all worlds.” I think it fell flat due to the non-creedal environment around here. But I thought it was simultaneously amusing and true. I guess I’m too Augustinian to like the “Personal Lord and Savior” Revivalist line!
Absolutely!That is allright CHoy, the protestants are an individualised Church that is why you get the differene sense off their manner then you do from Catholics, on the other hand the wolf can pick protestant sheep out one at a time, and the other sheep will just stand there looking at them. Protestant sheep don’t heard or fun or flock together they just stand there and let the wolf take sheep from the flock…
Its a man made tradition that has really taken hold. Its a shame. As fundamentalists, some of us are as guilty as anyone else of using phrases in an attempt to have “short-cuts”.
Is the phrase “personal Savior” in the Bible? Since that is a rhetorical question, it isn’t, cite what verses you believe support the use of the word please. I am looking for verses that use the phrase “accept” and “savior” in the same sentence for starters.
Amen, Rightly. The emphasis in Scripture is repent i.e., turn away from, your sins and believe the gospel. Not the Pelagian theology of Finney, wherein the sinner just has to receive the right emotional motivation to “make a decision” for Jesus. Anxious bench pietism.
I’m going to use the old Catholic standby. Where is the word “trinity” in the Bible? Its not but we use the word anyway without support from verses. Show me where it says in the Bible that “infants are to be baptized.” It doesn’t but its done anyway. So your point is?
Why would you do that instead of answering the question?
I did answer your question but here is a direct answer, its not. Now would you please answer my question.
You’re very comical Rev, thanks for giving me a chuckle this evening
Amen and Amen!
Thank you. I’m glad you got a laugh out of it. Yes I have fought tooth and nail against infant baptism and will continue to. So I can’t use it to my benefit to prove a point. Why because the statement is true and you don’t like the truth brought up. Since when am I not allowed to use it to prove a point about it not being in the Bible? Are we only allowed to us something that we believe in to make a point that its not in the Bible? You make me laugh.You’re very comical Rev, thanks for giving me a chuckle this evening
In another thread you are fighting tooth and nail against infant baptism and now when it’s to your own benefit, you use it to promote something you want to believe in so desperately.
hehehe You’re such a comedian
My thoughts exactly! If we could accept our Lord on behalf of others, the entire world would be saved! We could maybe relax just a bit then…
I do not use the word very often except when discussing the concepts and biblical truths with those who do use the word. While we agree, we make it a habit to not use words too often that do not appear in scripture. Its a choice to be sure but in my estimation most people do not know what they believe about this issue and I prefer the substantive discussion involving it. Now chances are if you have orthodox Christian beliefs concerning the relationship of Christ, God, and the Holy Ghost (and I am sure you do) we believe the same thing. On to the topic at hand though