Comments on: Essentials of the Faith – or Not http://henrysthreads.com/2009/12/essentials-of-the-faith-or-not/ Thoughts on Religion in the World from a passionate, moderate, liberal charismatic Christian Tue, 15 May 2012 14:29:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Henry Neufeld http://henrysthreads.com/2009/12/essentials-of-the-faith-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-128883 Henry Neufeld Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:25:19 +0000 http://henrysthreads.com/?p=2331#comment-128883 What I think Mike Patton did exceptionally well was distinguish the different things for which a particular element was essential, such as essential for church fellowship, essential for being saved, essential for being orthodox, and so forth. "Essential" must always be qualified, as you did, by a "for", as in "essential for ____." Where I tend to disagree with Patton is that I would place a much greater emphasis on the fruit, i.e. on praxis over doctrine. I have a low opinion of mere (or inactive) belief. What I think Mike Patton did exceptionally well was distinguish the different things for which a particular element was essential, such as essential for church fellowship, essential for being saved, essential for being orthodox, and so forth. “Essential” must always be qualified, as you did, by a “for”, as in “essential for ____.”

Where I tend to disagree with Patton is that I would place a much greater emphasis on the fruit, i.e. on praxis over doctrine. I have a low opinion of mere (or inactive) belief.

]]> By: tishrei http://henrysthreads.com/2009/12/essentials-of-the-faith-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-128882 tishrei Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:21:30 +0000 http://henrysthreads.com/?p=2331#comment-128882 Hi, I'm going to comment without having read Patton's post (though I do read his blog but missed that one). There are certain things that are essential and in fact, without it, there can be no salvation. One must believe that Jesus is God. If we believe He is other than God, then we are placing our faith on someone we believe is not God and yet that person can forgive us our sins against God. That opens a whole can of worms because scripture states that only God can forgive sin. We must believe He died and rose from the dead. We must believe He was born of a virgin. These are only a few but are essential otherwise we might as well toss out our bible. That being said, there are things that are not essential that I already know that you and I disagree on BUT that does not mean either of us is a better or lesser Christian or has anything to do with our salvational standing before the Lord (i.e. I'm a monergist & you're a synergist). Hi, I’m going to comment without having read Patton’s post (though I do read his blog but missed that one).

There are certain things that are essential and in fact, without it, there can be no salvation. One must believe that Jesus is God. If we believe He is other than God, then we are placing our faith on someone we believe is not God and yet that person can forgive us our sins against God. That opens a whole can of worms because scripture states that only God can forgive sin. We must believe He died and rose from the dead. We must believe He was born of a virgin. These are only a few but are essential otherwise we might as well toss out our bible.

That being said, there are things that are not essential that I already know that you and I disagree on BUT that does not mean either of us is a better or lesser Christian or has anything to do with our salvational standing before the Lord (i.e. I’m a monergist & you’re a synergist).

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