just for the record
May. 23rd, 2004 05:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
percivalAccording to my definition of Christianity, all denominations and all followers of non-denominational churches are Christians in the sense that they try to follow Christ's teachings.
Seeing people contrast Christians with Catholics, even if they don't wish to imply that Catholics disregard Christ's teachings, makes me angry. Please compare evangelical Christians with Catholics, or Baptists with Catholics, or Christians who believe in salvation through faith alone with Catholics who also emphasise salvation through works.
I for one don't like to perpetuate the myth that one denomination or one non-denominational tradition has The Truth, and that only one of the many approaches to Jesus Christ is The Right and Only Correct One. Many of you will feel differently, in particular some of you who have found a path to God through Christ that works for them, and that's fine with me.
However, what I will fight for is the right to approach Christ from many different angles and spiritual traditions, and the right to call oneself a Christian even if one is NOT an evangelical or believes in salvation through faith alone.
Seeing people contrast Christians with Catholics, even if they don't wish to imply that Catholics disregard Christ's teachings, makes me angry. Please compare evangelical Christians with Catholics, or Baptists with Catholics, or Christians who believe in salvation through faith alone with Catholics who also emphasise salvation through works.
I for one don't like to perpetuate the myth that one denomination or one non-denominational tradition has The Truth, and that only one of the many approaches to Jesus Christ is The Right and Only Correct One. Many of you will feel differently, in particular some of you who have found a path to God through Christ that works for them, and that's fine with me.
However, what I will fight for is the right to approach Christ from many different angles and spiritual traditions, and the right to call oneself a Christian even if one is NOT an evangelical or believes in salvation through faith alone.
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no subject
Date: 2004-05-23 11:47 am (UTC)This helps people like me, too, who have no official religious "training." Just because I'm trying to find a place where I belong doesn't mean that I'm not already "partway there", so to speak.
Personally, I think you could extend this to other faiths beyond Christianity - but that's a little more difficult to back up and the source of much controversy.
no subject
Date: 2004-05-23 01:15 pm (UTC)and God bless you, I think that you will find, because you seem to be seeking honestly.
Official training doesn't come into it, believe me - God will find a way of reaching you, and it sounds like you are open to making contact.
Training helps, but there are so many resources you can resort to, and so many people willing and able to help that this should be the least of your worries.
You have an open heart, that is what counts (at least in my experience)