Christians, I know you've got lots of ideas about the Saints that don't matter. Show me just one that does! (your answer must include an explanation of why)
2007-09-23 15:24:07 · 23 answers · asked by Atom 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Father K, I ask for principles. It is my contention that no Christian could possibly possess a knowledge of the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, like a Mormon can.
What does that mean? Get rid of your scriptures. They are useless except to show your beliefs are consistent with an "interpretation" of scripture. But if I do not share your "interpretation," no amount of scripture quotes will help your position.
Instead, I have concluded that the way to approach gospel truth is to build on common beliefs, starting with the very principles we believe in. And principles do not need scripture for support. Principles can be taught through mere reasoning, once common beliefs are identified and built upon.
Take God, for instance. Who is he, or it? If we cannot start at this one point to build from, nothing else we say matters.
And so it is, that men will go on and on in vanity trying to establish what will never be, so long as they do not reason out their doctrines commonly
2007-09-23 17:50:15 · update #1
Here's two BIGGIES:
The LDS has a "different gospel and another Jesus"
A "gospel" of works vs. the Christian Gospel of Grace. A Spirit Brother of Lucifer vs. God the Son, third person of the Holy Trinity.
As St. Paul warns us: 2 Cor. 11:3-4 "But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted-- you may well put up with it. (you will have to endure it, or you wear it beautifully, and some do)."
another Jesus - (allos) is a primary word; "else," different (in many applications) The name is the same, its the name Jesus from the Bible but it is not the Jesus of the Bible. He is different one, with some similarities on the surface level.
A different Spirit -(heteros)-to number as opposed to some former person or thing the other of two; referring to quality: that is, one that is not of the same nature, form, class, or kind, to be different.
Another Gospel (heteros) of uncertain affinity; different: altered, strange. It is not the same one Paul preached, it has a qualitative difference.
2007-09-23 15:33:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 4⤋
Many may not understand your question but I do. Some denominations, particulary the Catholic church calls certain christians "saints" categorizing them for excellence.
Is this appropriate and Biblical? No, or else the Bible which was written to saints would only be for a a select few:
2Cor:1:1: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
Now there are scripture which seem to call christians to become saints. But then the term christian also seems to denote a level of faith.
Rather than argue these points, because its not very important, as names and terms are not, but what God actually desires us to be is more important. Therefore I use the term christian vs disciple.
Many christians are not disciples, and are not actively seeking spiritual growth thru the plan of God.
2007-09-23 22:48:11 · answer #2 · answered by Doma 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
All Christian's are saints. Saints are consecrated to God--see Ephesians 1:1. Who is the Apostle Paul talking to--the Christians in Ephesus, faithful in Christ Jesus.
2007-09-23 22:42:40 · answer #3 · answered by conni 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The word "saint" can refer to:
1. any believer of Christ
2. someone canonized by a church (such as St. Francis)
3. adherants of the Latter Day Saints Movement (who should also qualify under the first definition)
The biggest difference between Catholicism and Mormonism is that Mormonism teaches that there was a great apostasy necessitating a restoration while Catholicism teaches that they have an unbroken chain of Popes leading back to St. Peter.
2007-09-23 22:53:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
All the Saints are those that are followers of Christ Jesus. Therefore, if a Christian is a follower of Jesus, then the Christian is a Saint. Saint is simply another word as a descriptor of a follower of Jesus Christ
2007-09-23 22:33:45 · answer #5 · answered by Gardener for God(dmd) 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
My one idea... okay, easy. The first time I remember meeting missionaries I must've been about 10. They told me that LDS and Catholics believe the same thing. My idea is that they needed to go back to "school" for a refresher course.
The flip side of that idea is that the last time I had missionaries at my door, they were very polite young men who, thankfully, didn't give me a dirty look when I mistakenly offered them a coffee for the road since the weather was turning bad. (I had forgotten about the caffeine thing.)
Why does any of this matter? Like any other religion, there are people who represent it well and others who don't. Unfortunately, those who don't (of ANY religion), tend to leave a bad taste in the mouth.
2007-09-23 22:42:08 · answer #6 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
According to the Scriptures, Christians are the saints.
Act 9:13 And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how many bad things he did to Your saints in Jerusalem.
Act 9:32 And it happened, passing through all, Peter also came down to the saints dwelling in Lydda.
Rom 1:7 to all those who are in Rome, beloved of God, called-out saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 1:2 to the assembly of God which is in Corinth, those having been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called-out saints, with all those calling on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours:
2007-09-23 22:35:51 · answer #7 · answered by BrotherMichael 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
All true christians are saints (bible).
No man can pick someone to be a saint.
The blood Jesus shed for sin makes someone a Saint (first called christians in Antioch).
2007-09-23 23:06:09 · answer #8 · answered by robert p 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The letters of the apostle Paul were to the saints at various locations. They were alive and saints. They were Christians just as Christians are saints today.
2007-09-23 22:35:02 · answer #9 · answered by mesquiteskeetr 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Seriously when I first read it, I thought it was a sports question lol.
So you're saying that Christians have a lot of ideas about the Saints that don't matter.
First of all, you have to tell people what those ideas are, at least an example or two.
Then why they don't matter to you.
THEN Christians will be able to tell you some ideas that MIGHT matter to you.
In the meantime, it will be difficult for people to answer you because you haven't given enough information.
2007-09-23 22:35:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋