I was invited to attend church with a girl I met in Starbucks when I was wearing my ever popular “Jesus is my BFF” shirt. Tonight while looking up directions and times, I started reading the doctrines of her church.
There were things that I disagreed with, but there are doctrines within my church that I do not completely agree with.
Does this pose a problem, this inability to completely agree with the doctrines not only of another church, but also my own?
Should we agree with every doctrine of a church, or is that impossible for some people?
As I grow in my faith and gain new wisdom and perspective on things, I find many of my own personal doctrines are still being formed and shaped, and what I believe now is different than what I believed last year. There are certain parts of doctrines that I will always believe; that the Scriptures are divinely inspired by God, for instance.. and that God exists eternally in three persons; the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.. but there are other doctrines that people have debated over for years. Things like “once saved always saved” and our ability to attain holiness that I haven’t yet decided on. Perhaps this is because I was raised in two churches with slightly different doctrines.
Thoughts??
Stephanie,
I have come to the conclusion that when we get to heaven we are going to find out that every Christian church had some erroneous doctrine. I don’t think that anyone is going to get everything perfectly right. I guess its just the result of living in a fallen world.
Hey Stepho –
Coming to grips with your personal beliefs is an important part of our spiritual development. What is key is that we hold on to the historic articles of faith that are common across the Christian spectrum – documents like the Nicene Creed.
As far as ascribing to a set of doctrines as set forth by a particular denomination, that’s part of the journey. You must wrestle with what you’ve learned and continue to discuss your thoughts with people who are familiar with said doctrines.
Everyone has an issue with number 9…
“Once saved always saved” is irrelevant. God does not exist on a timeline, nor does our salvation. If you died with Jesus confessed by your mouth and believed in your heart then you will be saved (scriptural). If you died and you did not believe in your heart Jesus to save you, will you be saved? Case closed. What’s the argument?
If I jumped out of an airplane with a parachute on, would I be saved? What if halfway through my fall I didn’t believe in the parachute and I took it off? Would I still be saved? Once parachuted, always parachuted right? Faulty logic.
I see Number 9 as an extension of James 2 “Faith and Deeds.” A continued state of faith is dependent on a continued state of deeds that reflect the faith.
To believe anything else is detrimental to morality. To think you are always saved by words alone (minus faith), to take repentance and Jesus’ forgiveness so lightly means “You can do whatever you want, heaven’s a given! Woo hoo!”
So let’s go over number nine one more time:
“We believe that continuance in a state of salvation by wearing of a parachute depends upon continued wearing of the parachute.”
I have yet to hear a logical debate stating otherwise.