2007-12-20 11:12:53 · 8 answers · asked by Ethan M 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This is where Church history comes in. Christianity has a 2,000+ years track-record, starting with the Bible book of Acts through to Revelation. Then the problems start...
We all know that power corrupts so when the Church started gaining political power, it commensurately lost its spiritual power. Once established as the state religion, it began to persecute those who would not bend their knees to papal demands. The Church adopted the dirty trick of saying those groups believed heresies. Now, some of them did, but truly Christian groups who believed all that Christians should believe got tarred with the same brush. Therefore it's essential to work out from the Bible what the core of Christianity is - and it's not a set of doctrines but a person, Jesus Christ, and having faith in him. Unless the foundation of Christ is laid then built upon, nobody is going to get anywhere with what is 'mainstream' or 'orthodox'.
But the analogy of a flowing river might be useful. It has a current, a power, driving it to the sea. Along the way, rivulets develop and wander off to the sides. Some stagnate into back-waters. Others can keep going though heading in a different direction. Church history is like that ever-increasing river. Jesus is the living water of life. The Holy Spirit is the power of God bringing new life to believers in Christ. Hope that helps.
2007-12-21 23:58:23 · answer #1 · answered by Annsan_In_Him 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Good question. Can you rely solely on the Bible when it gets interpreted 80 zillion ways? I mean, if the Bible were totally clear, would the world just have one faith and one baptism as is mentioned in Ephesians 4:3-5
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
But this is not the case.
There are hundreds of denominations today. Trusting totally in the Bible can't be it. What about relying on God himself? Perhaps we need a prophet like in Biblical times....
2007-12-20 19:25:41 · answer #2 · answered by Kerry 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Councils of the Undivided Church (of which there were seven before the Great Schism of 1054 A.D.) set down canons and Creeds for the "basics" (call them "mainstream" if you wish.)
Basically, the beliefs contained in the Creed of Nicea/Constantinople contain all of the main doctrines of what a Christian ought to believe:
"I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen."
Other than that Creed, which has served Christendom for over almost 1,700 years, I don't see where any person or denomination can make any further arbitrary rules for what is "in or out" of the mainstream.
2007-12-20 19:19:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't know about mainstream. . . thats kind of just the "average Christianity". . . and furthermore, I don't care. . . we judge what is TRUE Christianity by what the Bible says. . .
2007-12-20 22:50:35 · answer #4 · answered by oddball.2002 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The popular Christian vote
2007-12-20 19:18:41 · answer #5 · answered by sportznut05 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not who, what. The Bible as 777 noted.
2007-12-20 19:18:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Holy Bible
2007-12-20 19:16:36 · answer #7 · answered by 777 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The Nicene council. Everything else is a fad.
2007-12-20 19:18:03 · answer #8 · answered by neil s 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋