Unless you have been living under a rock, you have heard bout the plans for a Mosques two blocks away from ground zero. Now I personally believe in freedom of religion...however it seems to me that since there is a mosques four blocks away from ground zero...that is only another two blocks. Whenever my dad and I discuss this matter he acts as if ALL Muslims are accountable for 9/11, but that just isn't true. My family are mostly German and Irish so I asked him "Are we accountable for Hitler" and he said "yes"...my mouth dropped to the floor. He would never have said that any other time. He refused to amit that we aren't accountability Hitler...even though we aren't.
That got me to thinking about how group AREN'T accountable for their worste members...are all Catholic priest accountable for the few bad ones? Are all Germans are accountable for Hilter (as stated above)? Are all the Japanese accountable for Pearl Habor...and for that matter are all people of ever nation accountable for their nation's wars? Are all Lutheran accountable for Ed Gein? I don't believe so!!!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Theological problems with Baptist
(Disclaimer:My Grammar might suck a bit)
I would like to discuss in this post about the differences between baptist Lutheranism. I have some personal Theological probalems with Baptist, but in this post I would like to dicuss the Theological differences.
Lack of universal Teachings: Most of the Christian denominations have universal confessions, creeds, and or statements of faith. Lutherans (even Lutheran who are not of the same denominations) have the Concordia. The Anglican/Episcopalian Church has The Book of Common Prayer. The Catholic Church has the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Orthodox Church ( Even those not of the same denomination) has the Teachings of the church fathers and the Ecumenical Council or Synod of bishops. Calvinist and Presbyterians and have the Three Forms of Unity (see wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Forms_of_Unity ). Baptist, on the other hand, have almost NO universal teachings... they have some teachings that most churches teach, but nothing universal. Here is an example: I was reading a Baptist web page when I read "There are two sacraments, these sacraments are the baptist and foot washing. Some churches hold the Lord's Supper is a sacrament but this just simply isn't true." Now at the Baptist church I went to when I was younger the pastor said "You should partake of the Lord's Supper whenever you can for it is the most important sacrament"...does anyone other then me see the contradiction.
Sacramental Theology
Baptist: This is one teaching that most all Baptist hold in common; they teach that Baptism is an outward sign and that is about it, but the Bible says otherwise. Lutherans, Catholics, Orthodoxs, and Anglican/Episcopalians teach that Baptism is much more then just a sign. Here is a great quote about baptism. "It (Baptism) works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declares."- Luther's Small Catechism. Baptism does in fact work to forgive sins and here is some passages from the Bible to prove it: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS"- Acts 2:38
"Get up, be baptized and WASH YOUR SINS AWAY."- Acts 22:16.
''But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."- 1Cor. 6:11
"he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."- Titus 3:5~7
I believe these to passages are enough to back up the claims of the denominations that believe it is more then just a sign.
The Baptist of Children: Children should be Baptized. First of all Christ said to baptize "all nations" (Matthew 28:19) and children even in those day were counted as member of nations, and "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. THE PROMISE IS FOR YOU AND CHILDREN."- Acts 2:38~39. Lets not forget the Jesus invites little children to come to him: "People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Babies, just like us, are sinful and need what baptism offers : "All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath."
"Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit"- John 3:5~6
And don't forget that in Judaism (the Christianity before Christ) babies enter the covenant with God at eight days old.
Communion: Most all Baptist teach that during communion the bread remains just bread and the wine remains just wine, however the Bible teaches otherwise. During the last Supper Jesus said "This IS my body'' and "This IS my blood" That seems plane and simple, and it is. See in all of Jesus' parables he uses the word LIKE, but when he at the Last Supper he doesn't use the word like. Here are some Bible passages that support that Christ body and Blood are present:
"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the body of Christ?"- 1Cor. 10:16
"Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD"- 1Cor. 11:27
In fact the Bible says it is important to recognize that Christ is present in Communion:
"For anyone who who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself."- 1Cor. 11:29
"accepting Jesus as my personal savior": Baptist claim that one can "accept" Jesus, and that if one doesn't accept him that person will go to hell, but this concept is unbiblical. They quote "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hears my voice, I will come in"-Rev. 3:20. but this passage doesn't says anything about accepting Jesus Christ...in fact this passage sounds more symbolic then any passage about Communion... I mean really what door is this passage talking about. We are dead to sin (Eph. 2:1-3) Just as a dead person can't do or even "decide" to do anything, so a spiritually dead person cannot "decide" to become a Christian by the power of his or her own will. Jesus says "You did not choose me; but I chose you"-John 15:16. and the Holy Spirit latter says through St. Paul: "No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit"-Cor. 12:3. For further reading on how the LCMS stand on this matter (http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=569).
I would like to discuss in this post about the differences between baptist Lutheranism. I have some personal Theological probalems with Baptist, but in this post I would like to dicuss the Theological differences.
Lack of universal Teachings: Most of the Christian denominations have universal confessions, creeds, and or statements of faith. Lutherans (even Lutheran who are not of the same denominations) have the Concordia. The Anglican/Episcopalian Church has The Book of Common Prayer. The Catholic Church has the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Orthodox Church ( Even those not of the same denomination) has the Teachings of the church fathers and the Ecumenical Council or Synod of bishops. Calvinist and Presbyterians and have the Three Forms of Unity (see wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Forms_of_Unity ). Baptist, on the other hand, have almost NO universal teachings... they have some teachings that most churches teach, but nothing universal. Here is an example: I was reading a Baptist web page when I read "There are two sacraments, these sacraments are the baptist and foot washing. Some churches hold the Lord's Supper is a sacrament but this just simply isn't true." Now at the Baptist church I went to when I was younger the pastor said "You should partake of the Lord's Supper whenever you can for it is the most important sacrament"...does anyone other then me see the contradiction.
Sacramental Theology
Baptist: This is one teaching that most all Baptist hold in common; they teach that Baptism is an outward sign and that is about it, but the Bible says otherwise. Lutherans, Catholics, Orthodoxs, and Anglican/Episcopalians teach that Baptism is much more then just a sign. Here is a great quote about baptism. "It (Baptism) works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declares."- Luther's Small Catechism. Baptism does in fact work to forgive sins and here is some passages from the Bible to prove it: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS"- Acts 2:38
"Get up, be baptized and WASH YOUR SINS AWAY."- Acts 22:16.
''But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."- 1Cor. 6:11
"he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."- Titus 3:5~7
I believe these to passages are enough to back up the claims of the denominations that believe it is more then just a sign.
The Baptist of Children: Children should be Baptized. First of all Christ said to baptize "all nations" (Matthew 28:19) and children even in those day were counted as member of nations, and "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. THE PROMISE IS FOR YOU AND CHILDREN."- Acts 2:38~39. Lets not forget the Jesus invites little children to come to him: "People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Babies, just like us, are sinful and need what baptism offers : "All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath."
"Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit"- John 3:5~6
And don't forget that in Judaism (the Christianity before Christ) babies enter the covenant with God at eight days old.
Communion: Most all Baptist teach that during communion the bread remains just bread and the wine remains just wine, however the Bible teaches otherwise. During the last Supper Jesus said "This IS my body'' and "This IS my blood" That seems plane and simple, and it is. See in all of Jesus' parables he uses the word LIKE, but when he at the Last Supper he doesn't use the word like. Here are some Bible passages that support that Christ body and Blood are present:
"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the body of Christ?"- 1Cor. 10:16
"Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD"- 1Cor. 11:27
In fact the Bible says it is important to recognize that Christ is present in Communion:
"For anyone who who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself."- 1Cor. 11:29
"accepting Jesus as my personal savior": Baptist claim that one can "accept" Jesus, and that if one doesn't accept him that person will go to hell, but this concept is unbiblical. They quote "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hears my voice, I will come in"-Rev. 3:20. but this passage doesn't says anything about accepting Jesus Christ...in fact this passage sounds more symbolic then any passage about Communion... I mean really what door is this passage talking about. We are dead to sin (Eph. 2:1-3) Just as a dead person can't do or even "decide" to do anything, so a spiritually dead person cannot "decide" to become a Christian by the power of his or her own will. Jesus says "You did not choose me; but I chose you"-John 15:16. and the Holy Spirit latter says through St. Paul: "No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit"-Cor. 12:3. For further reading on how the LCMS stand on this matter (http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=569).
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