Re: [asa] some questions on doctrinal differences

At 12:18 AM 7/20/2007, WENDEE HOLTCAMP wrote:

>I am working on a book proposal and wanted to ask if any of you
>knew if there is a standard number of the primary doctrinal schisms
>within Christianity. Obviously there are probably umpteen, but I'm
>talking about the main issues that divorce the various church denominations.

@ George made some good points that you can use in his post.

I will add that you can make your research and book writing easy if
you follow this principle:

There are only two bottom-line world-views from which all of ones
religious and political views are derived and from which decisions
are then made:

In one (the God-centered biblical world-view), Man is not basically
good and God alone is sovereign in everything

In the other (man-centered religion), Man is basically good, and God
is not totally sovereign in everything.

What is called "the one true church" (the wheat) will not be found in
any one "denomination" or any other temporal organization of men --
(in spite of the fact that two of those organizations claim to have
direct apostolic succession as they carry over many of the OT Jewish
Synagog traditions / legalistic teachings :)). The true Church (the
Bride of Christ) is invisible, CANNOT EVER BE DIVIDED, nor fail,
and is comprised of regenerate _individuals_ (some of whom have
died), who are/were scattered inside and outside of all sorts of
organizations of men (orthodox and unorthodox) all over the face of
the earth. Each regenerate individual's level of emotional /
spiritual maturity (on-going sanctification) will have a lot to do
with which organization he/she chooses to affiliate - including the
choice: "none of the above".

The false church (the tares) is visible and is comprised
of currently living _UNregenerate individuals_ who are also
scattered inside and outside of all sorts of organizations of
men. Many of these actually outwardly appear to be better
"Christians" than the regenerate because they also know "the rules"
and are really good actors.

Only God knows the difference.

As a regenerate individual grows in spiritual maturity - the freedom
he has in Christ will become more and more clear to him. This
individual will no longer need his "training wheels" -- (dos and
don'ts church organizations which have their place for baby
Christians of all ages) -- in order "to feel safe". (The
emotionally immature are "fearful of many things" and can never be
free - they prefer "security" to freedom).

When one half of a population is comprised of fearful children -
(like those suffering from BDS) - who have an emotional need to
believe man is basically good and the other half of adults who know
that man is not basically good -- division is the quite _natural_ result.

~ Janice ... "...the trinitarian curse on the left --[fearful lovers
of security over freedom] -- is found on any coin: Liberty, In God We
Trust, and E Pluribus Unum. For if the ACLU had their way, you can
bet that our coins would say Equality, In Matter and Collectivism We
Trust, and E Unum Pluribus. " ~ Gagdad Bob
http://onecosmos.blogspot.com/2006_12_10_archive.html

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Received on Fri Jul 20 11:40:59 2007