I commented
here "
In my opinion Christianity is rejected when it becomes brittle, too inflexible to allow multiple points of view." You replied thusly:
Okay, so are you saying then: you don't think a person can hear the premises of Christianity and reject them? You don't think that could happen? It must be the intolerance of some churches? I know people that leave very liberal churches that aren't 'brittle'.
It always strikes me as odd that some Christians seem to think no one could reject the logic of their religion.
I reply then "....keep it short...I think it is originally a matter of willingness to commit to and live in a particular way rather than a semantics game, yes. I do not think there are supposed to be tests like "Do you know where you will go when you die?" and "How many persons in the godhead?"
To which I will add several references that are merely representative of a huge body which you might find interesting, some from gospels, some from Pauline letters, some much older. The point is no way, no how are Christians supposed to thrive on Shibboleths, proper sayings and Ecumenical agreements.
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John 3:8 "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. (NIV)" That's Jesus talking about the nature of spiritual discipleship, sharply disagreeing with one common school about the spirit passing from teacher to student. Notice Jesus own disciples are not carefully chosen but are rather haphazardly added from the most unlikely of groups: uneducated mostly, one murderer, a fisherman and so forth -- a bunch also guaranteed not to get along together well.
This goes against one established theory of how the spirit is passed. Take for example Exodus 4:15 which says "You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do." Another theory draws from other sources and may refer to an account in Numbers 11:25-26. There is a tension about many things among various Pharisee groups. Jesus takes the side that the spirit goes where it will.
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Jesus is considered a 'Greater' prophet than John the Baptist (not to be confused with John the author of some items in the Bible) yet he gets himself baptized by him, specifically to make a point about discipleship. His point is that the lesser may baptize a greater. This has implications for Christians about holding various points of view don't you think? Here is the NIV account: But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. (Matthew 3:14-15) If you are well read you may notice how this account purposely imitates something that happens between Elijah and Elisha in a story in 2 Kings chapter 2. In that story the greater prophet is baptized by the lesser, and Jesus imitates this making his point.
In Matthew 3:11 John the Baptist declares that a greater prophet will come after himself.
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James is I think the most important NT book for this subject. Its short only 5 chapters and is about this same subject. It begins by talking about wisdom and how anyone who wants wisdom need only ask God (although it is implied that they are seeking in the Torah by the context and not merely talking to their toes). This has many implications for Christians holding various opinions. James says not many should be teachers and that the tongue is a world of evil among the parts of the body, setting everything on fire. Its really a great, great book.
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1 Corinthians 8:1 "Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that 'We all possess knowledge.' But knowledge puffs up while love builds up." Here is Paul talking about how knowledge -- as in the knowledge people pass to and fro -- is overrated. This has implications for people holding various opinions in Churches.
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Romans 3:4 another Pauline one "Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: 'So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.'" And the reference he makes is hard to find as it does not appear to quote any specific verse and shows Pauls view of many verses. The idea here seems to be that compared with ultimate truth you and I and everyone else are all at about the same level. Nobody is better than anyone else.
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Jude 1:9-10 "But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, 'The Lord rebuke you!' Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them."
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