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Originally Posted by OBW
I did not accuse you a being a sect. I suggested that you seemed to be trying to build a consensus for a different approach to scripture which would, by definition, be outside of what we are already, therefore another sect.
Now I was not using "sect" in a pejorative way. Just noting another division of believers to follow yet another variant in teaching.
What I believe concerning the means of salvation is not dictated by the majority or minority of its adherents. If I wanted to go with the majority view, I would not be Christian.
And I think that if you read what I am saying, I am not standing for a view of grace that is so simple. It is free. But it is not simple. Grace is not just a free gift. In Titus (I think that is the place) Paul refers to grace as teaching us to obey. So grace is even present in obedience.
Your spouting of warnings to Laocidea is really off-base. When it mentions being lukewarm, it is not talking about being uncertain about doctrines. It is talking about being blah about really following Christ. It is clear that the other 6 churches were not identical in their ways of following. And some of them had problems. But they were still churches of the redeemed. And no matter how much you may think that a particular doctrine (outside of the core of the faith) is important, it is not so important that you or we are in danger of finding ourselves on the outside looking in (unless the inside is some exclusivist group like the LRC). I am strong for Christ. I am strong in my seeking to be obedient to what I am called to.
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God loves to give us pictures and he does in the OT. The good land was promised to the children of Israel and I bet a lot of them thought it would be a cakewalk.
But look at how much *stuff* they had to endure to actually get there. All of the old generation was not allowed in because of their unbelief. Sure they believed in Jehovah-- but did they really *believe* in his promises? Did they have conviction God would deliver them from every trial based on the miracles he did before? I love the definition of faith in Hebrews 11 - the conviction of things hoped for. Our faith is not in vain because God has been working miracles in our lives and delivering on his promises according to his word like he did with the Israelites
And even when they entered the good land-- Oh my! It was filled with giants maybe 30 feet tall! Can you imagine what was going through the minds of Joshua, Caleb and the ten spies? But greater is the one who is in us than the one in the world (1 John 4:4). Appearances are deceiving, but when we have faith in God anything is possible as it was for a small shepherd boy to slay a giant many times his size.
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But doctrines are not Christ. Teachings are not Christ. Even meetings are not Christ. Traditions are not Christ. Ways are not Christ. We do not need uniformity in any of those other things to be unified in Christ. My admonition to you is not to change your mind on your doctrines, but to hold them a little less strongly so that you are not guilty of being divisive over something that is not Christ. Those in Christ are "IN." Others are not. Those who think certain doctrines are true are only in or out because of their position on/with Christ. Not because of their position on Arminianism v Calvinism.
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I never meant to bring up Calvinism and Arminianism and I apologize for that because I pasted a bunch of stuff from my website that brought it up. I think I'll just go back and scrub the term OSAS because it's so controversial and causes division. Actually I lean towards OSAS after you receive the HS and truly belong to Jesus and not after a mere confession of belief that hasn't reached the heart.
All I'm saying is that-- make sure you repent! Many Christians think of belief in Jesus as mere intellectual acknowledge that he exists as the son of God. I contend that you have to go further and repent and be born again of the Holy Spirit.