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Originally Posted by joshua  Have you ever seen me say or imply such a thing toward a person? I'm not setting you up for anything...I'm just trying to follow your logic, specifically with consistency. It's my thinking that if a credo believes paedobaptism is not biblical, he should consider it sinful, since according to the credo it's going beyond what scripture teaches. Turn the tables, I think the paedobaptist should see it as sinful that the credo is not doing what they think the Bible teaches as well. But, more specifically to this thread, you implied that if one things independency is sin, then he believes that Baptist churches are sinning. You then said that if the Baptist church is sinning, it's not a church. Maybe I'm misreading something... |
First...dear brother I am not accusing you of labeling me a heretic. That is why I used the emoticon. I was trying to make a funny. My bad.
Second...I honestly believe that there are areas of doctrine that have systemic disagreements within the church. These areas of disagreement have to be weighed as to whether they are inherently sinful or whether they are a difference of interpretation. There is a very good possibility that I am trivializing the momentous. From the bottom of my heart, I believe that if two opposing theological systems are in disagreement that does not mean one or the other is sinning. I am convinced that our limited, finite mind is not able to grasp complete theological truth in every area. That does not mean we fail to seek the truth. We continue the quest for truth until the Lord calls us home. I believe sin creeps in based on how the disagreements are articulated. Often times the niches we create in order to hold to our positions are the real culprits.
Regarding what I said about Baptist churches and sinning, allow me to explain. If Michael actually believes independent Baptist churches are sinning by being independent, perhaps he should ratchet up the argument a bit and consider whether Baptist churches are actually true churches. I mean after all, if a professed believer continues in willful and unrepentant sin we would question his profession. Should it be any different for a church that is made up of believers? I guess I am asking that we send our true colors up the mast for all to see.
P.S. I am not suggesting that every theological issue is open to liberty.