D-Fender, did you have to end the evening distorting what I've said?
Do you agree with the Catholic church on its pronouncements against Saddam Hussein's execution? Against the Iraq War? Did you agree with the church on its selling of indulgences during Luther's day? On Simony? On Pluralism? Did you agree with Alexander VI and his many mistresses and daughter Lucretia, while he was a man of the cloth?
Some of those examples are more extreme than others.
On the essentials, I agree with Calvin, Luther, my Seminary, and my church. It is only on secondary issues where I may disagree. Calvin, Luther, my Seminary, and my Church all have a very biblical view of salvation itself. There are disagreements on other issues - but gee, didn't Peter and Paul have a disagreement or two? Didn't Barnabus and Paul? Is Paul just a big old fuddy duddy who only wants to believe what he wants to believe?
The full and complete gospel is found in Scripture. Men & women of God, as they follow Scripture, will find no qualms with me. In reality, they will find I'm quite tolerant of diversity of beliefs because I know that there can be multiple views on certain subjects - just not the essentials.
In essentials - unity.
In non-essentials- liberty.
In all things, charity.
Have a good morning.
Do you agree with the Catholic church on its pronouncements against Saddam Hussein's execution? Against the Iraq War? Did you agree with the church on its selling of indulgences during Luther's day? On Simony? On Pluralism? Did you agree with Alexander VI and his many mistresses and daughter Lucretia, while he was a man of the cloth?
For sake of clarity, the policy recommendations of the Church are distinct from de fide doctrines of faith and morals. They are, of course, of great authority, but they are not dogmatic and disagreement with them confers no anathema. Personal behavior of popes is just that, personal behavior. One is free to form any moral judgement of it, including the severest of condemnations.
I'm sorry, I try hard to let each person state their own positions and not distort them. My apologies.
We still have a difference on what is "secondary." I disagree with that what God "does" is not essential. I think your support of much of Calvin is an essential difference with, say, Orthodox Lutherans.
I think the view of God you describe is closer to pre-Moses than it is to post-Christ, and that is a very essential difference with Christian Orthodoxy.
As for the other questions, they were answered sufficiently. I would that I could ask if you agreed with Luther on the Peasants War or on burning down Jew's houses, etc..
Apologies again for any offense not in the spirit of courteous, yet passionate, discussion and debate.
thanks for your reply...