That's the problem. Who gets to define "Christian"? There are a lot of protestants who don't think Catholics are Christian, do we let them define? Do we let the Christian homosexuals say that people who don't like homosexual marriage can't be Christian? Or do we accept that homosexuals by definition can't be Christian? Can you be Christian and support the death penalty? Maybe Phelps cares so deeply about the danger homosexuals pose to our country that he is trying to protect us from damnation by ridding us of them (yes, warped IMHO, but the guy really believes he's doing the work of God).
I can definitely accept that their actions are not Christian in the way I see the religion, or in the way that you or any of my Christian friends see it. But then nobody gave us the power to proclaim with definitive authority who is or is not Christian (unless maybe you're a strict Catholic, then the Pope can, in your opinion).
AR,
While see post 112
I am no theologian and I will do my best to address this post, then well table it for a religion thread..
“That’s the problem. Who gets to define “Christian”?”
Christ, but in lew of him handing me a Christian detector we have to look at scripture:
Generally if you follow a heresy your not a Christian e.g.
# Adoptionism- God granted Jesus powers and then adopted him as a Son.
# Albigenses- Reincarnation and two gods: one good and other evil.
# Apollinarianism- Jesus divine will overshadowed and replaced the human.
# Arianism - Jesus was a lesser, created being.
# Docetism- Jesus was divine, but only seemed to be human.
# Donatism- Validity of sacraments depends on character of the minister.
# Gnosticism - Dualism of good and bad and special knowledge for salvation.
# Kenosis - Jesus gave up some divine attributes while on earth.
# Modalism - God is one person in three modes.
# Monarchianism - God is one person.
# Monophysitism- Jesus had only one nature: divine.
# Nestorianism - Jesus was two persons.
# Patripassionism - The Father suffered on the cross
# Pelagianism - Man is unaffected by the fall and can keep all of God’s laws.
# Socinianism - Denial of the Trinity. Jesus is a deified man.
# Tritheism - the Trinity is really three separate gods.
There are *alot of them* Then there are other things which may cause disagreements but dont rise to that level (Pre-Vs port Tribulation Rapture for example).
“Do we let the Christian homosexuals say that people who don’t like homosexual marriage can’t be Christian?”
Given that there is explicit scripture in the old and new testament condemning homosexuality as sin no.
“Or do we accept that homosexuals by definition can’t be Christian?”
Practicing, unrepentant sinners are likely not Christian the goes for murderers, homosexuals, and tax cheats.
“Can you be Christian and support the death penalty?”
Sure, you might be wrong but it does not change the nature of God.
“Maybe Phelps cares so deeply about the danger homosexuals pose to our country that he is trying to protect us from damnation by ridding us of them”
Phelps feeds on hate, thats unchristian, Phelps also says his church is the only church and thats a *BIG* red flag. I love my church and my pastor but if I walked in there tomorrow and he said ‘only the baptist church has elect in it I would seriously think about leaving on the spot, short of that I would address it with an elder.
“But then nobody gave us the power to proclaim with definitive authority who is or is not Christian”
Of course we cant say with authority who is, but we *can* say who is not. e.g. OBL is *not* a Christian..