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To: topcat54; Pyro7480; XeniaSt
I need to apologize and clarify my comment. I didn’t mean to lump orthodox yet aberrant groups like (trinitarian) messianic Jews with heretical groups like the JWs and WWCOG splinter groups like the United Church of God which deny the orthodox formulation on the Trinity. Not all restorationists are heretics. Those which accept the early church councils’ pronouncements on the nature of the Godhead are far removed from modern cults which deny the councils.

If following the bible and believing what Christ believed is heretical than I'll gladly take the title. I think it's ironic that traditional Christianity has made a belief in orthodox confession a prerequisite for being a Christian.

Here is one biblical definition of a Christian, from the mouth of Jesus:

Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Thank God Christ said we can't be Christians unless we confess belief in a man made creed formalized in 381 AD. We would all be wise to not give heed to commandments of men:

Tit 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

42 posted on 01/09/2008 7:40:42 AM PST by DouglasKC
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To: DouglasKC; Pyro7480; Matchett-PI; XeniaSt
If following the bible and believing what Christ believed is heretical than I'll gladly take the title. I think it's ironic that traditional Christianity has made a belief in orthodox confession a prerequisite for being a Christian.

Here is one biblical definition of a Christian, from the mouth of Jesus:

Every heretic and cult begins with the Bible. Then they proceed to either add to it or subtract from it. E.g., the definition of a Christian is not found in any one verse, or subset of verses. It is found by systematically studying and interpreting the entire Bible within a comprehensive framework.

Likewise, the nature of the Godhead, the Trinity, and the person and work of Jesus Christ were all worked out by the early church after coming together and seeking the mind of the Holy Spirit as given to the church in Holy Writ. Every sort of heresy, from various forms of Arianism to modalism to Pelagianism, denies some portion of the Bible when it is properly interpreted within the context of the rest of the Bible.

The creeds serve to state in a comprehensive way what the Bible teaches. They do not share the same authority as the Bible, but tell us plainly what is essential for one to be called a Christian.

If you do not believe in the concept of the Trinity as stated in the Bible and articulated by the early church you are not a Christian, pure and simple. You are a heretic.

43 posted on 01/09/2008 8:19:27 AM PST by topcat54 ("The selling of bad beer is a crime against Christian love.")
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