What are the main doctrinal differences between Jehovah's Witnesses and mainstream Christianity?

[TheHC]

i first want to hear from @ReChoired

Jesus was clear enough

 

[David in NJ]

Jesus was clear enough

i have no doubts about the words of God/Christ/Holy Spirit/Apostles/Prophets in the Holy Scriptures

the jw's have all the doubt/unbelief

 

[theJW]

It's a relief they aren't in the days of John! They would have joined the Pharisees against him!

 

[Aunty Jane]

That's not exactly the way I see it. Older organized Christian denominations do indeed lose their zeal over time, and can be infiltrated by doctrinal corruptions or stagnant religious observances. There are always churches who pray for spiritual revival, who wish to reform any corruptions that have entered into the Church.

“The church” is an ambiguous term, since it describes the many divided segments of what was, in the beginning.... “one Lord, one faith, one baptism”.
“The church” in the first century was divided into congregations, not denominations. Travel was often difficult, so congregations met locally to “incite to love and fine works” (Heb 10:24-25) But unity of belief and thought, as long as the apostles were alive, had to be maintained...as the circumcision issue proved.
It divided the Jewish Christians from their gentile brothers for many years, due to a lifetime of Jewish practice....but under a new covenant, the division had to stop. So the apostles and elders of the church met in Jerusalem to bring it to a finish once and for all.....their declaration in Acts 15:4-29 was accepted by all as coming from God himself by means of his holy spirit guiding the decision.
Unity was then maintained. (1 Cor 1:10) God’s spirit cannot dwell where there is contention and disunity.....that is a clear indication that God’s spirit is absent.

Yes, the same process that entered into ancient Judaism enters into the Church over time. That's why the OT Scriptures were written, to warn the International Church about how corruption can set in and must be resisted. The very heresies that existed in the Early Church reemerge over time and have to be dealt with in every generation. There is no one final fix, as long as this present mortal age continues. It is a constant battle.

Indeed it is a constant battle...but one that has to be won. “Love amongst yourselves” was to identify true Christians as much as doctrine. (John 13:34-35) Just as the Jewish brothers were not permitted to impose their old law practices on gentiles, so old apostate teachings of a counterfeit church could not impose their teachings on those whom God had released from their shackles. ‘The truth sets us free.’

Like the Jews returning “home” after 70 years of exile in Babylonian captivity....of the “remnant” that returned, the majority were born in Babylon and had to rid themselves of any of her traits that may have been adopted in that environment. We have a “greater Babylon” from which to be released, in order to “go home”. (Rev 18:4-5)

By "orthodoxy" I speak of the fundamental beliefs that define a particular religious entity. JWs have their "orthodoxy." And historic Christianity has its own "orthodoxy."

It is important to identify where our “orthodox” beliefs originate.....is “historic Christianity” the real “orthodoxy” or was it a product of a foretold apostasy that still impacts on people down to this day?
I have carefully examined every teaching of the church in which I was raised, and found every one of their beliefs grounded in Roman Catholicism, rather than in the Bible....a book that the common people were not permitted to read or possess.....kept in deliberate ignorance.

People have to understand the origin of the RCC in order to understand what this apostasy was going to do to “Christianity”.....to a people kept in spiritual darkness for centuries by apostate leadership, drunk with its own power and responsible for the majority of beliefs that all of Christendom holds as truth to this day......none of it is.

What is heterodox to traditional Christians may be orthodox for JWs. Arianism is heresy to traditional Christians. JWs embrace the idea that Jesus is a kind of "super human."

Jesus was no “super human”, he was the perfect sinless son of God, “sent” to redeem the human race by the sacrifice of his life, to redeem what Adam lost for all his children.....and he did so willingly.

His super human abilities were provided to this mortal servant of his God, by the holy spirit, which is God’s power, given to him immediately after his baptism, this gave Jesus the man, the power of God to heal the sick and raise the dead. After his death and resurrection, the apostles too were given this power.

No, the foundation of truth for the Church was laid by the apostles. That does not change. Conditions in the world change, requiring a change in methodologies, but doctrine does not change.

But that is just the point...it is “the church” that claimed apostolic succession, but history shows that the foretold apostasy was “already at work” at the end of the first century, so with the death of the last apostle, John, there was no longer any “restraint” against what was foretold...the “weeds” grew and spread into the whole world....taking the foundational doctrines of that apostasy with them.

No, Constantine tried to manage a semblance of unity by resolving a doctrinal crisis among Christians within the Empire. A Creed was established determining "orthodoxy" in the matter of Christology, but this was based on fundamental biblical teaching in the Scriptures. The Scriptures emerged as the basis of Christian orthodoxy before Catholicism had become the preeminent and exclusivistic.

Constantine was an astute politician...he was never a genuine Christian, being a worshipper of Zeus his whole life. What Constantine did was fuse apostate Christianity with pagan Roman sun worship. He turned Zeus in Jesus and maintained all the pagan festivals by calling them something else...something vaguely resembling “Christianity”.....he invented Roman Catholicism.
Christianity does not have a nationality....and the majority of the celebrations held in Christendom to this day are pagan makeovers, disguised as something “Christians” should carry on in their “blindness”. (2 Cor 4:3-4)...which they slavishly do.

 

[Aunty Jane]

The Protestant Reformation emerged to challenge some of the errors of Catholic doctrine. Again, the apostles laid the foundation of Christian doctrine--not Constantine, and not the Catholic Church. The Scriptures provide us with the proper rule for Christianity.

No! The apostles laid no foundation that remained in Roman Catholicism.....by the 4th century “the church” was far removed from the truth of Scripture. But the people had no way to know what Scripture taught, since they were prevented from reading it. It took a Roman Catholic priest to blow the whistle.
So is it Scripture that dictates Christian belief....or is it the false doctrines of an apostate church that still has people in divided as never before, in often hateful contention and division?

Yes, Arianism dominated for some time before it was expelled by the Church universally.

No, it was expelled by supporters of the trinity....elements within that church that gained ascendency.....
Arius was correct in part, but as you go on to say....

By your definition Trinitarianism is false, yes. But I don't use your definition.

The revelation, or Word, of God emerges within our realm from a transcendent realm that we, as finite beings, could never understand. The relationship of Father to Son, or of Father to Holy Spirit, can never be comprehended. It can only be experienced in our own finite way, and understood in our own finite way. We cannot comprehend God as a transcendent Being apart from the finite extensions of His Being that He gives us so that we can know Him.

You agree with Arius in the second part of his argument....that God is incomprehensible.....with the coming of the Christ, he no longer was. Jesus revealed God in a way no other human could.

Does trinitarianism have definitions? Is this not in itself again proof that it is not a clear Bible teaching?

I'll let God decide who is a "sheep" and who is a "goat." I have no doubt there are "sheep" among JWs and among conventional Christians. Sheep can be lost!

Indeed that is true.....some are not good examples and I lament that sometimes childishness can be a substitute for genuine intelligent debate. It has no place here.
But for the most part, Jehovah’s Witnesses are known for their preaching and Jesus sent his disciples out to the people...to find those “lost sheep”. (Matt 10:11-14) We are not out there to reel in the “goats” because they will be repelled by what we preach....it is the “sheep” who will see the truth, and nothing can prevent them from coming to the son, for one very important reason......
No one can come to the Father except through the son....and no one can come to the son without an invitation from his Father. (John 6:44; 65)

No, you can't find the Trinity in the OT Scriptures because the revelation of Christ had only come, in the OT era, in the form of theophanies and spiritual manifestations. As to who is a hypocrite in Christianity, I agree that we should all do the works Christ put before us. God will judge the failures.

If the only man in all of Scripture who was called “Jehovah’s friend” (Abraham) was unaware that his God was anything other than the singular entity he presented himself to be, then that in itself would be a red flag to me. The nations worshipped multiple gods....the Jews by contrast worshipped ONE God, “the Most High”, whose name alone was “Jehovah” (Psalm 83:18; Deut 6:4)....so it seems that satan created another multiple god, but presented him as one entity, so that the “Christians” could accept him. Polytheism in disguise.

If the very foundational doctrine upon which Christendom bases her beliefs is false, then everything she has built on that foundation will collapse. (Rev 18:4-5)

Nations are subject to "times." Sometimes they will welcome someone knocking at the door. At other times there is resistance to religious evangelization. Christians are called to exhibit the works of Christ to the world. That does not always require elaborate evangelism. We exhibit Christ by loving others in our society. People need to pick up on what God is saying to them--that is their responsibility.

I couldn’t agree more....but the reception of the people will not alter the outcome. Noah preached to deaf ears for decades whilst he constructed his ark....not a soul believed him, but instead ridiculed him and ignored his warning......Jesus told us that the same would happen when he returned. (Matt 24:37-39)

"Denominations" is simply "names," like naming your children. Since there are a diversity of political organizations on earth, ie states, there will be divisions among Christian organizations. There will be "denominations."

This is not the Bible’s view...it is your own excuse for why we do not see unity in the churches who all claim to represent Christ’s teachings......peace does not reign in that divided church system. Yet “peace” is what Jesus promised for those doing the work he assigned to them.

Due to human weakness and sin, denominations will always have "issues." Christians have to fight worldliness and sin in their midst. I'm sure JWs have "issues" to content with equally?

We have human weaknesses like everyone else, but it is not what dominates our brotherhood.....love dominates our international collective because we are all on the same page, taught by the same instructors, provided for our guidance. (Heb 13:17) To the extent that we obey Christ through their shepherding, we are blessed.
“Sheep” stay with the flock......under the watchful care of the shepherds......it is the “goats” who stray away and lose that protection.

 

[Aunty Jane]

@Aunty Jane, it really needs to end there.

And to end anything with no answer satisfies no one......the questions must be answered......if not then why do we have a Bible outlining so many specific details about so many things to do with the validity of our worship? Can they all be right? How is a seeker to find definite answers to questions that they can’t ask?

As you can see, the original claim was that Churchiantiy doesn't teach ANY Biblical doctrine.

Any sincere Bible student will have already identified that statement as true. What masquerades as “Christianity” today is far removed from the things Jesus taught.

And my reply shows that statement was untrue.

No it didn’t...it just demonstrated a reticence to take it to a proper conclusion. Is that because you yourself are unsure about what is truth? If you are sure of what you believe then this is the place to discuss things to get other perspectives and compare them to what you already know.
It is a discussion site, so why not discuss?

You asked an unncessarily clarifying statement, which you agreed to the answer by writing 'OK.' It really needs to end there at acceptance and not keep moving the goal posts or commiting the fallacy of being overly deconstructionist.

There was no moving of the goalposts at all.....the questions pertain to whether a goal was actually scored....exploring your own beliefs whilst considering the beliefs of others is good for us. Nothing gives greater confidence than seeing confirmation for your position when someone explains the reasons for their conclusions. Misinterpreting Scripture is one of the biggest reasons for people to be steered off course in their Bible understanding. If Scripture is twisted to support a doctrine the discussing the evidence will reveal the truth to one not “blinded” by the pretender. (2Cor 4:3-4)

Romans 16:17
Final Instructions and Greetings
17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

And this is the very reason why we are to do so in our own brotherhood first. Identify the ones who deliberately skew facts and publish half truths as though they have told the real story. Slander is a trait of the devil, so false Christians will use it to elevate themselves and appear to be the “know it all” experts on the subject.....it’s nothing new....it’s a favourite tactic of the god of this world.

The questions were valid....so why do you run away....?
If Jesus is “the way, the truth and the light”......then show us why simply accepting that fact, makes all the discord and bickering go away?
Why are there “sheep and goats” rather than “sheep and pigs”?
What about the goats who accept that Jesus is the way to everlasting life? What are they doing wrong?

 

[Randy Kluth]

No! The apostles laid no foundation that remained in Roman Catholicism.....by the 4th century “the church” was far removed from the truth of Scripture. But the people had no way to know what Scripture taught, since they were prevented from reading it. It took a Roman Catholic priest to blow the whistle.

With copies of the Bible being rare in the Middle Ages and before, and the people susceptible to error, I'm not surprised the Bible was kept to the leadership, to the responsible, and to the educated. However, Paul clearly stated that the apostles were the "foundation" for the Church, which means that they laid down the foundational truths of the Gospel. And these foundational truths, of course, includes the Scriptures.

Eph 2.19 members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

After being on forums like this one for well over 20 years I can sympathize with Catholics who wished to prevent people from displaying their ignorance by interpreting Scriptures completely on their own! But I'm glad the Scriptures are everywhere available now, since fact-checkers are also everywhere abundant! ;)

So is it Scripture that dictates Christian belief....or is it the false doctrines of an apostate church that still has people in divided as never before, in often hateful contention and division?

Your particular litmus test appears to rest on how you define "division." But the Scriptures say....
1 Cor 11.19 But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized!...

No, it was expelled by supporters of the trinity....elements within that church that gained ascendency.....

No, the Church almost universally is in agreement with the condemnation of Arianism in any form, including in the form of the JW doctrine of Christ.

Arius was correct in part, but as you go on to say....

Arianism is heresy to conventional Christians.

You agree with Arius in the second part of his argument....that God is incomprehensible.....with the coming of the Christ, he no longer was. Jesus revealed God in a way no other human could.

I don't agree with Arius in any part of his argument. I agree that God is transcendent, and we cannot know all of Him. But I would never use that argument to prove that finite man cannot represent His Person in the form of Christ.

Does trinitarianism have definitions? Is this not in itself again proof that it is not a clear Bible teaching?

We have the creeds. Since they were argued over in different languages, including Greek and Latin, there had to be some confusion over words and semantics. But formulas have pretty much held up over time. 3 Persons in 1 Substance without confusing the Persons. One God in 3 Persons.

I would go even farther and say, God could be an infinite number of persons since He could express Himself in numberless persons, human, theophany, or other. But for our Salvation we are only dealing with 3 plus the many theophanies in the form of angels or men, including dreams and visions.

Indeed that is true.....some are not good examples and I lament that sometimes childishness can be a substitute for genuine intelligent debate. It has no place here.

Thanks.

If the only man in all of Scripture who was called “Jehovah’s friend” (Abraham) was unaware that his God was anything other than the singular entity he presented himself to be, then that in itself would be a red flag to me. The nations worshipped multiple gods....the Jews by contrast worshipped ONE God, “the Most High”, whose name alone was “Jehovah” (Psalm 83:18; Deut 6:4)....so it seems that satan created another multiple god, but presented him as one entity, so that the “Christians” could accept him. Polytheism in disguise.

An infinite God can appear in the form of a human person, an angel, etc. The Word of God is transcendent, and can bring the infinite Personality of God into the realm of Man in order to express who He is in a human personality. Seems incomprehensible because though it's rational it transcends our ability to prove it.

We have human weaknesses like everyone else, but it is not what dominates our brotherhood.....love dominates our international collective because we are all on the same page, taught by the same instructors, provided for our guidance. (Heb 13:17) To the extent that we obey Christ through their shepherding, we are blessed.
“Sheep” stay with the flock......under the watchful care of the shepherds......it is the “goats” who stray away and lose that protection.

I'm not concerned about loyalty to a denomination, but rather, loyalty to God. Every denomination and sect has people, and where people are there are problems, including divisions. So as much as you think Christianity is corrupt, the JW organization and people are equally corrupt.

So what matters to me is that we be spiritually regenerated through the gift of Christ, who gives his Spirit to those who obey God and who accept Jesus as the divine sacrifice for our sin. If he was not divine he could not have forgiven our sins and he could not give us God's Spirit.

Without God's Spirit your love is dry and legalistic. You need the true Spirit of God to experience Christ's love in a meaningful, ongoing way. Otherwise, you're left with a poor visage of it.

 

[Wrangler]

And to end anything with no answer satisfies no one

Your question was answered twice over. I guess you prefer to be divisive.

It's not that there are difference among Christians. It's that there is a bigger difference between us and non-Christians.

 

[Wrangler]

What masquerades as “Christianity” today is far removed from the things Jesus taught.

Not so removed far. Perhaps just a focus different than you prefer.

 

[David in NJ]

It's a relief they aren't in the days of John! They would have joined the Pharisees against him!

That's quite ironic being that you are spouting the SAME statements of unbelief that the pharisees spoke against JESUS and the Apostles.

 

[Wrangler]

No it didn’t...it just demonstrated a reticence to take it to a proper conclusion.

LOL. The question was properly answered and concluded.

I'm reticent about your tendency to be unnecessarily divisive.

 

[Wrangler]

the questions pertain to whether a goal was actually scored

It was actually scored. Christians have things in common. Odd you are obsessed with proving genus's have nothing in common.

 

[face2face]

Perhaps you may consider this argument from scripture, which is self-contained, sealed, and cannot be broken:

The Apostle Paul, likewise, while writing the NT book of Hebrews under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost

Ghost is an archaic word for Spirit, not sure why its still in use.

(2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:21, 3:16 KJB), cites quite a bit of the OT texts (Heb. 1:7 (Psa. 104:4); Heb. 1:8-9 (Psa. 45:6-7); Heb. 1:10-12 (Psa. 102:12,25-27) KJB, &c), in specific application, to demonstrate that the Son of the Father is both, [1] the highest (uncreated, eternal, infinite)

Definitions such as these are inferred and nowhere in the Scripture is Jesus (the person) spoken of as being infinite. In fact, it’s the opposite

and the one who lives! I was dead, but look, now I am alive—forever and ever—and I hold the keys of death and of Hades (grave)! Re 1:18.

The green is a problem, isn't it? You see for Christ to be God this statement holds no value at all...it is a "so what" moment, if the believers thought Jesus, was God. The blue provides further problems for Christians who need to force Hypostasis on their godman because they believe he didn’t die. The result of this doctrine leaves the Christian without atonement and still in their sins. The purple text emphasis's the fact that Christ did not pre-exist or was a godman, but that he like those in Sins Flesh (us) die to death's dominion once for all and was raised out of death. You can imagine Jesus saying "forever and ever" to a Trinitarian and them replying "so what!...you are God!"

Revelation 1:18 holds not power for the Trinitarian because they discount his death as a mere puppet show!

messenger of the Father (Heb. 1:1-3,9 KJB, “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son”), being a ‘fellow’ (Heb. 1:9 KJB) messenger (an office, a position) of the other (created, finite) messengers (Heb. 1:6,7,14 KJB; like Gabriel, ‘Herald’, &c), and [2] “God”, “Lord” (LORD; JEHOVAH, the Son; 1 Cor. 12:3; Php. 2:11 KJB).

This is just stating the obvious - I suspect this is copy and paste!

Notice how Paul continues this same thought, found in Hebrews 1 (Heb. 1:12 KJB, “thou art the same”), in some of the final statements of Hebrews 13 (Heb. 13:8 KJB, “Jesus Christ the same”) KJB:

Hebrews 1:8 KJB - But unto the Son he (the Father) saith, Thy throne, O God (the Son), is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.​

​

Psalms 45:6 KJB - Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.​

​

Psalms 45:7 HOT - כסאך אלהים עולם ועד שׁבט מישׁר שׁבט מלכותך׃​

​

Psalms 44:7 Hexapla - ὁ θρόνος σου, ὁ θεός, εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος, ῥάβδος εὐθύτητος ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας σου.​

​

Hebrews 1:9 KJB - Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God (the Son), even thy God (the Father), hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.​

​

Psalms 45:7 KJB - Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.​

​

Psalms 45:8 HOT - אהבת צדק ותשׂנא רשׁע על־כן משׁחך אלהים אלהיך שׁמן שׂשׂון מחבריך׃​

​

Psalms 44:8 Hexapla - ἠγάπησας δικαιοσύνην καὶ ἐμίσησας ἀνομίαν· διὰ τοῦτο ἔχρισέν σε ὁ θεὸς ὁ θεός σου ἔλαιον ἀγαλλιάσεως παρὰ τοὺς μετόχους σου.​

​

​

So lets deal with this section according to the Word of God and not the corupt influences of your early church fathers!

but of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever NET Heb 1:8.

Two possible translations, both of which are argued and debated for centuries! (note: the context is essential for getting this right!)

1. "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever" (A.V.)
2. "God is thy throne for ever and ever" (RSV)

Since only the first of these translations is useful for Rechoired, I will assume they think this is the correct translation.

The issue in translating it as Rechoired desires is found in verse 9

1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. So God, your God, has anointed you over your companions with the oil of rejoicing.” Heb 1:9.

This is evidence that Christ is not the "Eternal Son" since the Father is the God of Jesus, then clearly Jesus is not himself "Very God". We understand this from John 20:17.

20:17 Jesus replied, “Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ John 20:16–17.

Verse 9 actually supports the translation of verse 8 from the RSV.

You all will note how Rechoired choose the Authorised to support there bias rather than leaning on verse 9 and John 20:16:17

This is common Trinitarian deception and practice.

Further to this, Psalm 45:6 does not help as the Bible holds examples of people who are divinely appointed and made strong by God and are referred to as "God", but this does not imply they are persons within the Godhead. (Exod. 7:;1Psa. 82:6 cf John 10:34; Exod. 22:9, 28)

While we are in Hebrews and I've come to know Recoired's poor use of context, we ought to highlight their deficiency in this area.

For he did not put the world to come, about which we are speaking, under the control of angels. Heb 2:5.

"the world to come", the Son will be called "The mighty God" (Isaiah 9:6), although "You put all things under his control.” For when he put all things under his control, he left nothing outside of his control. At present we do not yet see all things under his control Heb 2:8.

We know from the Word of God that in the Kingdom Age, Jesus will reign with the power and authority of his Father.

Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power. 15:25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 15:26 The last enemy to be eliminated is death. 15:27 For he has put everything in subjection under his feet But when it says “everything” has been put in subjection, it is clear that this does not include the one who put everything in subjection to him. 15:28 And when all things are subjected to him, THEN the Son himself will be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all. 1 Co 15:27–28.

The writer to the Hebrews points out, that the "more excellent name" obtained by the Son is by virtue of his personal worthiness and elevation by his Father, and NOT by the Son reclaiming divested powers of the Godhead, as Rechoired would assert...which presents them another problem in verse 9

1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. So God, your God, has anointed you over your companions with the oil of rejoicing Heb 1:9.

What I like about contextual reading of the Word is it highlights confirmation bias and a persons desire to present the Word in a way which supports their own doctrinal viewpoints rather than allowing the Word to guide them into truth they would change it for thier own benefit.

I also noted, you did the same here Satan Demons Angels and Spiritual Warfare and are yet to respond to the deep Scriptural connections revealed to you in Acts 26:18

F2F

 

[Wrangler]

Misinterpreting Scripture is one of the biggest reasons for people to be steered off course in their Bible understanding.

True but very irrelevant to the point.

 

[Wrangler]

The questions were valid....so why do you run away....?

No. The questions were invalid.

The color of the American flag is red, white and blue. PERIOD. You do not accept that. What shade of each color is it and what are the conventions to define that and on and on and on. Just being divisive, which is invalid.

 

[Wrangler]

What about the goats who accept that Jesus is the way to everlasting life? What are they doing wrong?

Not accepting valid answers to questions.

 

[Eternally Grateful]

I suppose I'll have to look up the rules. I've discussed the Trinity lots of times and have never been called out on it. I don't honestly understand how a Christian forum can ban mention of something so obviously part of our orthodox creeds? Perhaps they are banning argument *against it?* I'll have to research to know, I suppose?

@Angelina posted in forum rules

quote:
Christianity Board has alway prided itself in being a place of scholarly discussion, friendship and an environment where members can grow, learn and share their experiences in Christ.

Our team at Cyb have worked hard over the years to ensure that this ethos is maintained and upheld however, we would like to bring to your attention, certain recurring topics, that have caused much division and strife here over the years.

These topics have tended to cause heated debate, strife and division between members and/or inappropriate behavior within those discussions, which simply will not be tolerated here at CyB

We are not disputing the fact that these topics are important however, they also tend to bring out the worse in members. To a point where such behavior is unacceptable in a Christian forum

At the moment, we only have issue with one particular topic, which is "The Trinity".

This topic may not be initiated, discussed or debated at Christianity Board, whether it be for or against the Trinitarian view. Included in this is the side mantra of "Jesus is not God" Such posts/threads will be deleted immediately and disciplinary action will be taken in the form of warning points and/or bans depending on the outcome. Old threads will also be removed from public view as well as new ones.

 

[Wrangler]

Two possible translations, both of which are argued and debated for centuries! (note: the context is essential for getting this right!)

1. "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever" (A.V.)
2. "God is thy throne for ever and ever" (RSV)

People do not realize how elusive it is to translate language where proper syntax is different.

The main thing is not to base doctrine on an ambiguous text that contradicts explicit Scripture stated repeatedly.

 

[Randy Kluth]

@Angelina posted in forum rules

quote:
Christianity Board has alway prided itself in being a place of scholarly discussion, friendship and an environment where members can grow, learn and share their experiences in Christ.

Our team at Cyb have worked hard over the years to ensure that this ethos is maintained and upheld however, we would like to bring to your attention, certain recurring topics, that have caused much division and strife here over the years.

These topics have tended to cause heated debate, strife and division between members and/or inappropriate behavior within those discussions, which simply will not be tolerated here at CyB

We are not disputing the fact that these topics are important however, they also tend to bring out the worse in members. To a point where such behavior is unacceptable in a Christian forum

At the moment, we only have issue with one particular topic, which is "The Trinity".

This topic may not be initiated, discussed or debated at Christianity Board, whether it be for or against the Trinitarian view. Included in this is the side mantra of "Jesus is not God" Such posts/threads will be deleted immediately and disciplinary action will be taken in the form of warning points and/or bans depending on the outcome. Old threads will also be removed from public view as well as new ones.

Amazing. This sounds like not the forum for me! I never knew!

 

[face2face]

People do not realize how elusive it is to translate language where proper syntax is different.

The main thing is not to base doctrine on an ambiguous text that contradicts explicit Scripture stated repeatedly.

Correct.

When I see a believer such as Recoired use morphology and other literary tools to discern their doctrine, you know they are immediately lacking in the ability to tell the story of the Bible and to connect those golden threads of truth.

I'm also weary of those who copy and paste a lot - warning bells start ringing

F2F