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Post by Josh on Dec 1, 2013 20:19:45 GMT -8
The subject of Christian Scientists (adherents of the Christian Science religious group) came up today, especially their relation to "authentic" Christianity.
I'm curious to hear other's input.
Mine, from my exposure, is that they should not be classified an authentically Christian sect because of several of their beliefs, the most fundament being that they perceive of physical reality/ the material world as illusory. But also their denial of the status of Jesus as the unique, exact representation of God, and that He truly and physically suffered and died on the cross for our atonement. There are other aspects of Christian Science that I find pretty objectionable, but these are some of those that place them in my mind outside the pale of orthodoxy (which for me is a pretty wide pale
That is not to say that individual Christian Scientists may not have a valid relationship with Jesus. It's just that their systematic theology is not Christian.
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Post by robin on Dec 2, 2013 13:59:36 GMT -8
The whole idea of being an "authentic christian", seems to come down to Lordship. When people voluntarily submit to any religious authority other than that of Jesus Christ, I don't see how it can be said that they are "authentically christian". This is why I have problems with many religious groups that claim be be Christians, including Catholics, Mormons, JW, and many others.
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Post by Josh on Dec 2, 2013 15:07:27 GMT -8
However, what do you do with a group or sect that claims the Lordship of Jesus but nevertheless teaches in direct contradiction to the main and plain things in Scripture?
I'm sure all of the sects mentioned (I'm not including Catholics as a sect, but that's for another thread) would claim the Lordship of Jesus in various ways. But their teachings contradict Scriptural authority.
Keeping the topic on Christian Scientists, I am willing to be persuaded otherwise that their teachings do not contradict the plain meaning of Scripture. There have certainly been theological viewpoints that I once thought contradicted Scripture only to find that my understanding of Scripture on certain points was too shallow or overly simplistic. However, I have investigated Christian Science doctrine to a decent degree and find numerous claims which I consider heretical (in the truest sense of the word)
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Post by robin on Dec 3, 2013 14:24:43 GMT -8
"However, what do you do with a group or sect that claims the Lordship of Jesus but nevertheless teaches in direct contradiction to the main and plain things in Scripture? "
This is the problem, these groups that I have mentioned don't understand Lordship in a biblical sense. In many cases these folks may believe that Lordship means doing and believing as Jesus would desire, and they derive these notions from outside of what most of us understand as unreliable sources, generally a single individual or their writings on the subject. In most cases their belief in their system is quite strong, and I'm afraid only God can convince these people by speaking directly into their lives.
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Post by Josh on Dec 3, 2013 21:02:31 GMT -8
Are you saying you have a different definition of Lordship or are you saying that the problem is that they have other "authorities" clouding their view of what Jesus' will is?
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Post by robin on Dec 4, 2013 10:51:06 GMT -8
Are you saying you have a different definition of Lordship or are you saying that the problem is that they have other "authorities" clouding their view of what Jesus' will is? Both. There can be no ruling religious authority that is placed between God and His people. If people are basing their understanding of Gods intentions for their lives on what is dictated to them by some kind of elite religious class, that ruling class is in fact their Lord, and not Jesus. Especially when questioning that authority is not allowed without the threat of excommunication. All of the groups mentioned above have this distinction. Unfortunately religion in this form leads to religion being used as a tool for mind control, and social engineering.
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