The potential conceit of doctrinal individuality

[St. SteVen]

Exploring the many facets of the issues of doctrinal unity and individuality.
Issues range from the dictates of religious institutional tyranny on one extreme end of the spectrum,
to freewheeling excesses of biblical interpretation on the other extreme end.
Seeking balance somewhere in the middle.

Another issue that presents itself is: The potential conceit of doctrinal individuality.

This is manifested in a person that thinks they ALONE have the correct biblical interpretation.
Since they believe that God has informed them, there can be no other answer. Right? (wrong)

Typical statements of biblical/doctrinal conceit:
- "Haven't you read the Bible?"
- "God told me..."
- "Who should I believe; you, or God?"
- "God's Word disagrees with you."

Such statements are usually used to win a debate.
Playing "the God card" to end the discussion.

This same conceit plays out in the defense of denominational beliefs as well.
The use of a religious organization as an unquestionable authority in matters of faith and practice.

And one might reply that "The Bible is the unquestionable authority in matters of faith and practice."
Unfortunately, there is no consensus on what the Bible says. What to do, what to do... ???

Related topics:

Unity of the faith - at what cost?

The call for doctrinal unity has gone out across the centuries. Are we there yet? (not by a long shot) Where is the problem? Perhaps it is in the assumption that the unity of the faith is doctrinal unity. - Can there be unity of the faith that overlooks doctrinal differences? - Does the Body...

www.christianityboard.com

Would you surrender your own beliefs in the cause of doctrinal unity?

This is a follow-up to the previous topic: Unity of the faith - at what cost? Link below. Probably the biggest roadblock to Christian doctrinal unity is holding on to the freedom we have to determine our own beliefs. Would you surrender your own beliefs in the cause of Christian doctrinal...

www.christianityboard.com

The tyranny of doctrinal unity - "Join or die."

A follow-up to the two previous topics: https://www.christianityboard.com/threads/would-you-surrender-your-own-beliefs-in-the-cause-of-doctrinal-unity.56191/ https://www.christianityboard.com/threads/unity-of-the-faith-at-what-cost.56095/ - Do you have the right to allow the Holy Spirit to...

www.christianityboard.com

 

[GISMYS_7]

Unity in believing the truth of God' Word!! Forget and ignore little man's ideas and opinions!!

 

[Lambano]

Another issue that presents itself is: The potential conceit of doctrinal individuality.

This is manifested in a person that thinks they ALONE have the correct biblical interpretation.
Since they believe that God has informed them, there can be no other answer.

Imagine seeing that on a "Christian" forum.

 

[St. SteVen]

Imagine seeing that on a "Christian" forum.

All too often. (for shame) LOL

Very clear to me why people hate Christians.
Too many of them are completely unlovable.
Gandhi said it best.

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” ― Mahatma Gandhi ​

 

[GISMYS_7]

All too often. (for shame) LOL

Very clear to me why people hate Christians.
Too many of them are completely unlovable.
Gandhi said it best.

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” ― Mahatma Gandhi ​

And you????

 

[St. SteVen]

And you????

That saw cuts both ways.
Have you ever had a kind word for anyone here?
I haven't seen it.

 

[GISMYS_7]

• Mark 9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying to him, You dumb and deaf spirit, I charge you, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

 

[Behold]

Exploring the many facets of the issues of doctrinal unity and individuality.
Issues range from the dictates of religious institutional tyranny on one extreme end of the spectrum,

Pauline Theology (doctrine) provides and defines "unity".

Accept no substitute.

 

[Keturah]

Does  everybody have their STINGER OUT on here ?
Are we bees setting out to damage our brethren by our arsenic words ?

Where is the love, peace & unity that comes only through believing on the shed blood of Jesus & the GIFT OF SALVATION ?

The longer ya let folks talk, the more THEY reveal their true selves!

Lol, I sometimes feel like the "Grinch" when he was standing on mount Crumpet with the phone book........".this one, don't like ' em, them either, nope not this one, don't like ' em @ all."
I'm beginning to LIKE less & less of the personalities I see here on CB.

 

[quietthinker]

.

 

[quietthinker]

I'm beginning to LIKE less & less of the personalities I see here on CB.

with respect, but does that reflect something happening on the inside?

 

[Lambano]

The longer ya let folks talk, the more THEY reveal their true selves!

Yeah. This is what we REALLY are.

There's an old quote that some attribute to G.K. Chesterton (among others): The doctrine of Human Depravity is the one Christian dogma that is empirically verifiable.

 

[St. SteVen]

Does  everybody have their STINGER OUT on here ?
Are we bees setting out to damage our brethren by our arsenic words ?

Great post.
Please weigh in on this new topic, thanks.

The Treachery of Doctrine > My way, or the highway >

Follow-up to the topic: The potential conceit of doctrinal individuality Got it all figured out? - You read the Bible cover-to-cover. Good for you. Kudos. - You read up on doctrine and apologetics. Good. - You arrived at a position on nearly any biblical topic, or doctrine. Check. - Now...

www.christianityboard.com

 

[St. SteVen]

There's an old quote that some attribute to G.K. Chesterton (among others): The doctrine of Human Depravity is the one Christian dogma that is empirically verifiable.

Funny, but true. (ouch)

 

[St. SteVen]

Keturah said:
I'm beginning to LIKE less & less of the personalities I see here on CB.

with respect, but does that reflect something happening on the inside?

Yup, it's a challenge.
I find interesting the doctrinal hairsplitting that happens on this subject.

As Christians we HAVE to LOVE everyone.
But that DOES NOT mean we have to LIKE them. - LOL

 

[marks]

As Christians we HAVE to LOVE everyone.
But that DOES NOT mean we have to LIKE them. - LOL

Well, only if you want to be mature.

2 Peter 1:5-8 LITV
5) But also in this very thing, having brought in all diligence, having fully supplied in your faith virtue, and with virtue knowledge,
6) and with the knowledge self-control, and with the self-control patience, and with the patience godliness,
7) and with the godliness brotherly love, and with brotherly love, love.
8) For these things being in you, and abounding, they will make you not idle, not unfruitful in the full knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Brotherly Love, "fraternal affection".

You have to be able to live out God's love for others without letting your own fleshy dislikes to get in the way. There is the person whom God created, and there are the things that person does. We have to separate those.

And "Have to love" isn't love.

Much love!

 

[St. SteVen]

And "Have to love" isn't love.

That's my point.
"Like" is better than "I have to love you." (even though I really hate you)

 

[marks]

That's my point.
"Like" is better than "I have to love you." (even though I really hate you)

If you don't like, if you don't love, just be honest about it. But recognize, that's the flesh, and you need to repent from sins of the flesh.

If you hate someone . . . bring that to God.

Much love!

 

[St. SteVen]

If you hate someone . . . bring that to God.

Of course. Take captive every thought.

My point is, we see this "The Bible says I have to love you," attitude a lot.

 

[marks]

My point is, we see this "The Bible says I have to love you," attitude a lot.

Maybe hang out in different circles?

Much love!