Charlie Kirk Encounters NT Focused Student

[GaryK]

I’m sure there are.

One of the qualities I appreciate in plain people is humility and a lack of an identity of feeling good about one’s self for having the right opinions. As plain people absorb evangelical doctrine and worldly modernism, though, they tend to start to display this type of thinking. “Thank goodness I have the right opinions, unlike my uneducated / sinful / bigoted neighbour.”

Sort of like feeling good about one's self for having the right opinion about plain people and the way they think?

I’m simply making observations, not proclaiming my moral superiority to others. I would, in fact, generally not consider myself more moral, ethical, righteous, godly, etc. than the average Christian I meet.

It is a very real problem when a Christian sect devolves into finding justification simply in having the right beliefs.

Are you suggesting that is what this thread is about?

[Ernie]

It is a very real problem when a Christian sect devolves into finding justification simply in having the right beliefs.

In what does COGICM find justification?

[JohnH]

It is a very real problem when a Christian sect devolves into finding justification simply in having the right beliefs.

In what does COGICM find justification?

By faith and belief in Jesus to cleanse of our sins and give us power and victory over sin for our new lives when we are born again. (Presumably the same as everyone else.)

An attitude that is not encouraged is feeling smug / proud of being in the “best” church with the “right” beliefs. The Bible makes it clear we are grafted in. We are not to start thinking we are the root branch.

[GaryK]

It is a very real problem when a Christian sect devolves into finding justification simply in having the right beliefs.

In what does COGICM find justification?

By faith and belief in Jesus to cleanse of our sins and give us power and victory over sin for our new lives when we are born again. (Presumably the same as everyone else.)

An attitude that is not encouraged is feeling smug / proud of being in the “best” church with the “right” beliefs. The Bible makes it clear we are grafted in. We are not to start thinking we are the root branch.

I'm pretty sure that same attitude is not encouraged in all Anabaptist churches. At least I have never heard it being encouraged in my 62 years. Just the opposite, in fact. But, what do I know, I don't have the ability to read what goes on in people's mind. I'm thinking though, that it might be easier to have such an attitude in an OTC setting than in a setting that doesn't see itself as the OTC.

[Ernie]

In what does COGICM find justification?

By faith and belief in Jesus to cleanse of our sins and give us power and victory over sin for our new lives when we are born again. (Presumably the same as everyone else.)

An attitude that is not encouraged is feeling smug / proud of being in the “best” church with the “right” beliefs. The Bible makes it clear we are grafted in. We are not to start thinking we are the root branch.

I'm pretty sure that same attitude is not encouraged in all Anabaptist churches. At least I have never heard it being encouraged in my 62 years. Just the opposite, in fact. But, what do I know, I don't have the ability to read what goes on in people's mind. I'm thinking though, that it might be easier to have such an attitude in an OTC setting than in a setting that doesn't see itself as the OTC.

An OTC doesn't need to compare itself with others or have the best church or the right beliefs. They are the church. End of discussion.
They make a case for why they are The Church and others are not.

In the end, I think it is all semantics and it really comes down to how one views one's self or one's congregation, or one's church or one's fellowship in relation to others.

[barnhart]

An OTC doesn't need to compare itself with others or have the best church or the right beliefs. They are the church. End of discussion.
They make a case for why they are The Church and others are not.

In the end, I think it is all semantics and it really comes down to how one views one's self or one's congregation, or one's church or one's fellowship in relation to others.

I see some implications that go beyond feelings. Re-baptism is a profound statement about the borders of the kingdom of heaven.

[JohnH]

An OTC doesn't need to compare itself with others or have the best church or the right beliefs. They are the church. End of discussion.
They make a case for why they are The Church and others are not.

In the end, I think it is all semantics and it really comes down to how one views one's self or one's congregation, or one's church or one's fellowship in relation to others.

I see some implications that go beyond feelings. Re-baptism is a profound statement about the borders of the kingdom of heaven.

No it isn’t, unless one believes it’s necessary for salvation. I believe baptism is much more about the borders of the church on earth, but the kingdom of heaven encompasses people who won’t ever be church members or even attend church at all.