[wmfights]

Paul goes back a little further than Darby and the Plymouth Brethern. Or Schofield.

It's just the same old tactics. First separate one group then try and marginalize them and finally argue that Christians never believed what you post from the Bible, or it is a recent invention. Instead of just reading the words you must read it as allegory when it doesn't fit their beliefs.

[don-o]

It's just the same old tactics. First separate one group then try and marginalize them and finally argue that Christians never believed what you post from the Bible, or it is a recent invention.

Dang! You saw right through me. The response seems to be to blithely ignore the inconsistencies and contradictions inherent in the sola belief as they are pointed out.

I have a question on the table about water baptism to another poster. Stay tuned in for the answer.

[Mad Dawg]

Wait. Our making arguments against what somebody says is evidence FOR what they say?

If the same old tactics WORK, then they are "same" and "old" because they are good. If they DON'T work, then let's see them not working.

I can see the someone charging against machine guns saying, "It's the same old tactics, same old automatic weapons." Yeah, it is.

Not all non-Catholics are dispensationalists, isn't that correct? So is it your expectation that we NOT marshall arguments the different arguments marshalled against us? And as to separating, it seems the dispensationalists have separated themselves. Unlike the assaults mounted against us, our assaults against them will try to be against the position they actually occupy, not against one they don't.

And I won't find their position stronger because I have also question the Anabaptist's claim to archaic strength.

What, when you all say we were started by Constantine may I say, "It's just the same old tactics," as a way to avoid the need to argue another point of view?

[boatbums]

The Lord gives us teachers of his word to help us in our spiritual growth. He has also given us his Spirit in our hearts to help us in discerning truth from lies. Some people have a hard time believing that they have freedom in Christ not just from the slavery of sin but in making decisions about what we call "minor" issues. For example, we are told that each man should be fully persuaded in his own mind about what feast days or sabbaths to observe. We are told God loves a cheerful giver and we should give out of our love for God and not out of obligation. There is a liberty in Christ and we are ALLOWED to discover what "works" for us in our walk with the Lord. What might be okay for some people (i.e.; drinking) may not be for another.

This in no way is saying we can just believe whatever we want about major doctrines of the faith. There ARE certain non-negotiable doctrines but we do NOT need to have every little detail spelled out for us. We are told:

Ephesians 4:11-16

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

This is why, I believe, we can have unity as Christians while not necessarily agreeing about every single detail. Like I've said many times, on the major things we should have unity, on the minor things, liberty and in all things, love.