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Sunday, December 6, 2009

Great news for Christians, a sad day for Dawkins!

The atheist Thomas Nagel has just voted an ID book The Times book of the year. How extraordinary!

10 comments:

M.A.C. said...

Hello,

I hope you don't mind answering a couple of questions I am asking all believers everywhere;

Do you believe that God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to start a new religion called Christianity?

And Where is the text in the bible that supports the popular Christian belief that God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to start a new religion called Christianity?

sam drucker said...

It is my understanding of what has been recorded in the early chapters of Hebrews that Jesus Christ did not start a new religion but was the One expected as the fulfilment of the promises of God made as far back as to Adam (via Eve) and promised again to Abraham and through Moses.

He did usher in a better covenant than was delivered through Moses but that is not to dismiss the worth of the covenant made through Moses.

Sam Drucker

M.A.C. said...

Hi Sam,

So your answer is NO Jesus did not get sent to start a new religion called Christianity!

Is that a correct statement?

sam drucker said...

Jesus Christ Incarnate was God coming into the world in the flesh to fulfil his promises of old.

As such, he was not ushering in a new religion.

Sam Drucker

M.A.C. said...

Hi Sam,

I agree with your statement...

Religion is a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: i.e. the Christian religion. Notice the absence of God in that statement?

I know the question is ridiculous and that's the point. There are many Christian denominations out here competing for people like business does for our dollars.

Paul warned of it to the Corinthians and we are still dealing with it today. Only on a far more massive scale. Denominational divergence should become the key example of discrimination in the Christian community.

My intentions are solicitous to denominations and that none who call on Jesus Christ might perish.

Critias said...

Jesus did not have a program to 'start a new religion called Christianity'. The name is a convenience that summarises the orientation to historical events and their meaning given by Joshua the 'tecton' from Nazareth. It is the name casually given to the collection of people who seek to follow said Joshua through being re-born of the Holy Spirit.

So, I don't know if you're just onto a word game or there's something more there.

sam drucker said...

M.A.C. & Critias, I acknowledge what each of you have said.

You will notice from my responses thus far that I haven't (or at least I believe I haven't) referred to Christianity as a religion. I avoid that because the word religion is such a loaded word these days. Even, as has been hinted in correspondence between us all thus far, Christian or Christianity is bandied about loosely these days.

I prefer to consider myself as one in right relationship with God, my Father, through what Jesus Christ has done for me and me having received him as my Creator, Lord and Saviour. In such a condition I have the Holy Spirit indwelling and leading me into all righteousness. That is a lot of Christian jargon but it nonetheless acurately describes my condition, unworthy but blessed by God.

There is no perfect church this side of eternity so we will all have to be alert to the weeds that are ready to choke.

Sam Drucker

M.A.C. said...

Hi Sam,

I couldn't help noticing in your summation of your rightness with God the Father through Jesus Christ. That it was empty of repentance.

What comes first repentance or salvation, for the believer of the Way of Jesus Christ?

Critias,

There is always more when we have dialogue of this magnitude. The crescendo should end with an agreement that demonstrates our common belief and repentance in Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

Critias said...

Well, MAC, I certainly hope that would be the case.

sam drucker said...

Funny thing, I thought I posted a reply yesterday but I don't see it recorded here.

Anyway, I'll try again.

Apologies for the delay and apologies for the short-cutting what is involved in receiving Jesus Christ as Creator, Lord and Saviour.

Most definitely, repentance precedes salvation but sin does not stop this side of the return of our Lord. It should be ever diminishing with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in sanctification but perfection not achieved yet. Therefore, confession of sin in Godly sorrow and repentance occurs this side of receiving Jesus Christ as Creator, Lord and Saviour as well as when receiving him.

Sam Drucker