#protestant theology

[adventism-atheism-orthodoxy-me]

How do Western Christians who are invested in a systematic theology that emphasizes a Faith vs. Works dichotomy deal with issues of Christian maturation?

Honest question, here. I hope I follow someone who will think about this and offer an essay or article I can contemplate.

Even Dietrich Bonhoeffer realized the perils of "Cheap Grace", within Protestantism. This issue was a major reason why I began to reject Protestant theologies.

A trend in America that I have noticed is the prevalence of "Christians" involved in things that really don't seem very Christian. And it seems to me that certain theologies - especially something along the lines of Predestination theology could lead to many instances of Phariseeism among those who deem themselves to be "of the chosen". To my mind, the lack of doubt is narcissistic, and is likely to lead to hubris.

But, that's just me.

Back to the question.

How do you retain your humility and live your, "Pilgrims Progress", if you know you're locked in, and there's nothing more to do but wait? Where's the accountability? (Matthew 25:14-30)

[brucedinsman]

Review: The Protestant Doctrine of Scripture — The Domain for Truth

Cornelius Van Til.  The Protestant Doctrine of Scripture.  Ripon, CA: den Dulk Christian Foundation,  January 1, 1967. 156 pp. 4 out of 5 Purchase: Amazon The author Cornelius Van Til is considered the father of Presuppositional Apologetics.  Most who have read him have probably first read his book Defense of the Faith as the introduction to Van Til’s […] Review: The Protestant Doctrine of…

[ominouspositivity-or-else]

*The Eucharist is the body of Christ under the appearances of bread and wine.

**God is bound to these sacraments, meaning he always gives grace through them when they are done, but he is not bound by these sacraments, meaning that God can do literally whatever he wants and can of course go around them and provide grace in other ways.

***7 sacraments, listed: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Confession, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.

Feel free to add nuance in the tags or talk about why you find the teachings strange! Let me know if there's anything utterly baffling that I didn't include!!!

Also please remember to be respectful!!! Not everyone knows theology like you might!!!

[stastrodome]

Our fate is inevitable but do not despair. 

[s6intss]

For people who had ‘problems’ with Christianity, and became an athiest or converted.

Now I’ve been an athiest at times, when I didn’t understand theology and the true aspects of the Bible. Though, Christ had led me back with even more knowledge and wisdom.

So, I’m not gonna gatekeep but I want to share some advice if you want to delve and understand Christianity more. Without cherrypicking bible verses out of context, and using it as baseless arguments. Also the fact most evangelicals/pastors can contort someone’s view of Christ and Christianity, and eventually mislead them.

Here are some recommendations for more understanding:

Learn about Christian apologetics and the community (mainly on Tiktok) —— (recs: OrthoTruth, Sam Shamoun, InspiringPhilosophy, Cliffe Knetchle.)

Theology, and the understandings of doctrines. Don’t always get your facts from randos online if they dont state any scholarly sources and such. Basics: Hypostatic Union, how the trinity/triune God works. (I’ll make a post about this)

Inner Peace, How to deal with sin, and the lovingness and faithfulness of Christianity (recs: Father Spyridon)

Read the Bible, and use BibleRef.com to answer any questions you have about verses

Scholarly Books to deepen understanding (I’ll also make a post about this!)

May God bless you wherever you are. True knowledge is beautiful, and can lead to innate spiritual fruition. This can secure your faith and you can also use it to secure others!

[thepatristictradition]

A Christian's Confusion on Syncretic Paganism

Though I'm an Orthodox Christian, I am good friends with a number of serious pagans-- especially Thelemites. From them, I've observed some controversies in the online and apparently IRL pagan communities. An idea I find confusing (frankly, ridiculous) is that Aphrodite, Venus, Ishtar, Freyja etc., are merely facets of the same essential deity: the "Love Goddess."

Orthodox Christians interact with Paganism in two main ways: First, we believe in the Seed of The Word. Basically, we believe that every religion, more or less, gets something right. Even theistic satanism gets about as much right as the Gnostics of old. It's good that pagans have a spiritually alive world-view-- something that is difficult to come by these days. Faithfulness is a virtue wherever you find it. Second, we believe in spiritual entities besides God. They were created by Him and ultimately work for his will, but they can either follow His deign or turn away from it, exactly as humans can.

There are some Christians that have a tendency to pull a similar sort of syncretism with paganism (Roman paganism in the Renaissance is especially irritating). They insist that figures like Jove were simply a halfway understood facet of The One True God. This is hardly even a historical opinion; the more common opinion is that the ancient and contemporary pagans were worshiping angles or demons, depending on their kind(1).

The Orthodox instinct is against syncretism and towards a highly alive and regional spirituality. Not only are there single guardian angles for each person, but there are angles of families, churches, dioceses, cities, countries, etc.; there are heavenly hosts. There are hosts of angles whose jobs are not to please or protect human beings. He has filled our earth with Spirits. The Orthodox theology on spirits is more similar to the more well-known Mohammadian theology on spirits. Western Christianity would tend to say that spirits who made themselves into demons by accepting worship cannot repent and serve God again, but the saints say differently. It is never our place to try to "convert demons", but it is possible.

Because of this near-animism, it seems natural to me that different regions are filled with different spirits. The recognition of that is something that I admire about paganism and something I wish my protestant brothers and sisters would become more comfortable with.

I want to know how this kind of syncretism is received by other serious pagans. Thus far, I've only met those who are against it.

1) There is argument about what constitutes a pagan culture that has worshiped demons and one that mistakenly worshiped angels. My take, the correct one, is that every pagan culture has done both. Further, there are most likely many spirits being mistaken for one figure. This is the opposite of the syncretic take.

[sugarandice3]

I never more aware of my ADHD as I am when I get back to school.

[intertexts]

at art club because i need 2 be for printmaking stuff & because my advisor guilt tripped me & this is fucking soul sucking.

[many-sparrows]

[victusinveritas]

[teenageascetic]

“Love’s Alchemy

Some that have deeper digged love's mine than I, Say, where his centric happiness doth lie: I have loved, and got, and told, But should I love, get, tell, till I were old, I should not find that hidden mystery; Oh, 'tis imposture all: And as no chemic yet the elixir got, But glorifies his pregnant pot, If by the way to him befall Some odoriferous thing, or medicinal, So, lovers dream a rich and long delight, But get a winter-seeming summer's night.”

Our ease, our thrift, our honour, and our day, Shall we, for this vain bubble's shadow pay? Ends love in this, that my man, Can be as happy as I can; if he can Endure the short scorn of a bridegroom's play? That loving wretch that swears, 'Tis not the bodies marry, but the minds, Which he in her angelic finds, Would swear as justly, that he hears, In that day's rude hoarse minstrelsy, the spheres. Hope not for mind in women; at their best Sweetness and wit, they are but mummy, possessed.”

-John Donne.

[dimsilver]

hey do y’all have advice for me about egalitarianism/complementarianism? and before you get too excited here’s what I mean:

I think Scripture clearly shows that God intends specific and different roles for men and women in particular contexts. I think that Scripture also says men and women are inherently different. I do not, however, think it says that the differences in nature and the differences in role can be directly mapped onto each other.

For instance, I believe Scripture says a man should be the head and leader of his household. But I don’t think that therefore leadership is not in a woman’s nature. I believe men should exclusively pastor churches. But I don’t think that therefore women should not teach Scripture.

I don’t know if I’m expressing this correctly. As this is a nonessential issue of doctrine to me, I’m okay with not knowing exactly where I stand in all cases. But I’m wondering, do any of y’all also fall kind of in the middle on these things, and do you have theological resources you’d recommend?

[sonadorayluchadora]

Controversial opinion but I can't stand when High Church Protestant Orthodox converts try to relate to me like.... Girl u went to St. Anne's and had a trans deacon talkin bout land acknowledgements, I spoke in tongue before I knew how to tie my shoes with a classy African lady on her belly sobbing to my left and a MAGA pool cleaner to my right who thinks he just saw Israel in a vision.... We are not the same.

[tmarshconnors]

*A pastor who fails to deal with sin is like a doctor who fails to deal with illness. You better find another one."

Martin Luther OSA was a German priest, theologian, author, hymnwriter, professor, and Augustinian friar. Luther was the seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation, and his theological beliefs form the basis of Lutheranism. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Western and Christian history. 

Nailed the 95 Theses: Martin Luther is best known for his 95 Theses, which he is said to have nailed to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517. This act is commonly considered the starting point of the Protestant Reformation, challenging the Catholic Church's practices, particularly the sale of indulgences.

Excommunicated and Outlawed: In 1521, Luther was excommunicated by Pope Leo X and declared an outlaw by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Worms. Despite this, he continued to promote his reforms and translated the Bible into German, making it more accessible to the common people.

Translation of the Bible: Luther translated the Bible into German, starting with the New Testament in 1522 and completing the Old Testament in 1534. His translation played a significant role in shaping the German language and making the Scriptures accessible to a broader audience.

Theological Contributions: Luther's theology emphasized key doctrines such as justification by faith alone (sola fide), the authority of Scripture alone (sola scriptura), and the priesthood of all believers. These ideas were foundational to the development of Protestantism.

Lutheranism: Martin Luther’s teachings and reforms led to the establishment of the Lutheran Church, one of the major branches of Protestantism. His followers, known as Lutherans, continued to develop his theological insights and build upon his reforming work, influencing the course of Christian history.

[candela888]

Largest religion in Europe by region (not including atheism/irreligion)