a sad situation

This is a sad situation I discussed with my mentor before, and she agrees.

As I observed, some people here, or even a larger scale, many Christians, teens or adults in America, are really lack of the basic theological understanding of Christianity. You know, what is Christianity, what are Christians, what Christians believe, many Christians now a day don't really know (or down right don't care), let alone why they believe.

Many Christians now a day lack of these understanding of basic theology, and also some of the elements in gospel that cannot be taken out or ignored. They are not solid on what they believe, let alone knowing what's wrong in other countless cults, like Mormons (some still insist mormons are true christians), or countless version of twisted gospels, like the infamous prosperity gospel, and the preachers who are teaching it (Joel Osteen, TD Jakes, Crefro Dollars and others). Many people love Osteen (his church alone got 50k+ audiences) and have absolutely no idea what's wrong in this version of gospel that won't save people at all, and bring out false promises that God didn't give.

The most thing sadden me is, while many people are ignore about the gospel, many of them don't even bother to research more on their own. Since many liberal medias now a day are good at hidding the truth, so if we want to get it, we will have to really find it our ourselves. Given the atheistic/humanistic school teaching now a day, truth about God is really hard to find and countless kids are lose.

The good news is, there are tons of resources out there, books, audios and videos from many places, like Coral Ridge ministry, AFA and others. There are also tons of books available on street and online. All these resources can let people learn A LOT.

The bad news is, like I said, now a day many people, even Christians, don't seem to bother to learn more, either to equip themselves or to actively defend the gospel and get more people saved.

Better pray for these Christians that they are willing to learn about God more.

Many Christians now a day lack of these understanding of basic theology, and also some of the elements in gospel that cannot be taken out or ignored. They are not solid on what they believe, let alone knowing what's wrong in other countless cults, like Mormons (some still insist mormons are true christians)

Why don't you enlighten us, km.  What is a true Christian?

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simple put, Christians are who believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sin, and we are to put our faith on Him, and obey Him (trust and obey, there is no other way...), and follow him. The salvation is from gift from God's mercy, through our faith, not through any work.

It is certainly is not "accept Jesus as your lord and savior, and you will get peace, joy, happiness, fulfillment, or even health, money, fame, comfort..." but have no mention of suffering, sin, , judgement, and the cross.

This is just the core of the gospel, the theology is so much more (let alone God Himself is inifinite). For details, the Westminster confession of faith and the shorter catechism got much more details.

I think these two doctrines are must reads for every Christians, so they can know what they are believing.

This is just the core of the gospel, the theology is so much more

Oh, way more.

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that's what I am saying :)

those pastor/ministor to be study theology and going to get the M.Div. or alike is studying this whole thing, including the original Greek and Hebrew, in order to learn the OT and NT better.

kmcheng said:

that's what I am saying :)

those pastor/ministor to be study theology and going to get the M.Div. or alike is studying this whole thing, including the original Greek and Hebrew, in order to learn the OT and NT better.

Sometimes  you just need prayer and the spirit of the Holy Ghost, km,to find the truth.  Oh, and an open mind.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12z4dv...

Almost all religions have the same BASIC theology.  It is the extremists that cause problems.  And I take offense at the thought that Mormons are not  Christian.  They have a God as all religions do.  Each religion has a God.  I am not a Mormon..but they are downright good people from my experience.  Don't judge a religion from a cult like this polygyamist mess in Texas.  Mormons gave up polygamy many years ago. 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMjMDx...

justducky said:

Almost all religions have the same BASIC theology.  It is the extremists that cause problems.  And I take offense at the thought that Mormons are not  Christian.  They have a God as all religions do.  Each religion has a God.  I am not a Mormon..but they are downright good people from my experience.  Don't judge a religion from a cult like this polygyamist mess in Texas.  Mormons gave up polygamy many years ago. 

 

 

And I take offense at the thought that Mormons are not  Christian.

Before you take any offense, take some time to check out mormon's theology, which is whole lot of different. For starter, they deny the Trinity.

They have a God as all religions do.  Each religion has a God.  I am not a Mormon..but they are downright good people from my experience.

Each religion mat have their own God, but only Jesus can give out salvation.  And "good" people is not good enough to go to heaven.

Pal, this is exactly my point, if you are not clear on what you believe in (the basic theology), then you won't have any idea what's wrong with the cult's belief.

Justducky, you are exactly right.  Some people apparently are under the mistaken notion that they and they alone have the inside scoop on religion in general, and God and Jesus specifically.  And Mormons and Catholics, in their eyes, are cultist globalists.

Km, you've heard on here from Mormons who have told you that you are mistaken in what you THINK the Mormons believe.  Just what makes YOU think you know what they believe and what their church teaches?  Because you've read some wingnut webpage?  Because you once were Mormon yourself?  God appeared as a burning bush and told you? 

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dude, mormon beliefs and their doctrines is open to everyone, it's not like it is a class x top secret gov project or something.

If people are willing take some time and research it more, and compare to the mainstream theology, they will see tons of differences in between.

By the way, it's not like we don't know anything about God and have to kind of make something up and push it out, God revealed Himself in the bible already. And if people are willing humble themselves and pursue God, God promises He will open their heart and reveal to them. God against the pride but bless the humble.

This the main issue for many people now a day. The refuse to admit they are finite, sinful and fallable. They think that they are somehow smarter than all people, even God Himself, and "know it all already" (they probably won't say it out loud, but it is their altitude), so they don't need others to tell them otherwise.

These guys can never learn anything new since they don't think they need to. 

kmcheng said:

dude, mormon beliefs and their doctrines is open to everyone, it's not like it is a class x top secret gov project or something.

If people are willing take some time and research it more, and compare to the mainstream theology, they will see tons of differences in between.

By the way, it's not like we don't know anything about God and have to kind of make something up and push it out, God revealed Himself in the bible already. And if people are willing humble themselves and pursue God, God promises He will open their heart and reveal to them. God against the pride but bless the humble.

Dude, you don't seem to know a whole lot about the LDS beliefs, we do believe in the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  Christ is our Savior.

Oh, and how is it that you know that God was finished revealing things to us?

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So, in other words, it is your contention that you know it all because you've "researched" the matter.  Yet FW who IS a Mormon, doesn't have a clue what she believes, has no idea what her church stands for, or she's just a liar.  Like I said, must be wonderful to know everything and have the inside scoop and direct line to heaven.  Would that we were all so enlightened as you profess to be and to have the one, the only, the true interpretation of the Bible.  Your arrogance is astounding but I guess your God forgives you for that since you're doing His work here on earth.  By the way, calling everyone "dude" is a little childish.  Oh, wait, you're a child of God and just staying in character.

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By the way, in all your research, can you tell us exactly where in the Bible you find reference to "the trinity" and why you feel a belief in it is required to be a Christian?

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km, (dude), is not the only one here that thinks they have the whole truth for everyone.  Check out the Religious Discussions forum.  Phil C started a thread called "The Real Truth".  And apparently you and I, Patsy, don't have it.  I guess we're just SOL.

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Yes, well, that's what happens to pagan cultists like Mormons and Catholics, you know! I've seen the other threads and such arrogance just floors me.  Imagine anyone being stupid enough to think this stands for 3 names and is proof of cultism!!  But they think they're the enlightened ones!  Who knew!

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I'm not even familiar with that symbol, Patsy.   But they must be enlightened to know it all like they do!

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It's a symbol that's generally on the back of the vestments a priest wears.  One of them claimed it stood for Isaac, Hosea, or something stupid like that.  It's actually like a monogram of the Latin for "Jesus, Savior of Men"!! 

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What's wrong with using "dude", or "pal", "folk", "fellus" or alike?

Now I am "childish" because I use these expressions...

I never ever claimed to be "know it all" - no one can, we can know as far as what God had revealed to us from the bible. And that's where the confession of faith and the catechism is for, to group out points that what Christians believe.

and why you feel a belief in it is required to be a Christian

Well, to be a Christian, means it has something to do with Christ. What is that something? It goes back to the question, what is Christianity, what Christians believe. If a guy claimed to be a Christian, but doesn't believe in Christ's salvation (and unfortunately this situation exists for some reason), even not clear what he believes, then the term "Christian" means practically nothing to him. And unfortunately this situation too, is more common now.

I seriously think the confession of faith and and the catechism are must read for Christians after they got saved and grow up along the way. It is reasonable to understand further more what you believe and why you believe in Christ after you get the salvation.