Ask JCL

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

With the recent threads on the Taxonomy of Reform(Protestant) Christianity and that regarding Calvinism and Arminianism I'd like the members of this fine forum to ask me questions regarding the doctrines of the Church. Ask me what I believe.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Do you believe in a path to salvation for non-Christians?  If so, is said path limited to select groups (i.e. Jews) or is it available to all people following physical death?

It says in Acts 4:10-12 (English Standard Version)

 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus[a] is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men[c] by which we must be saved.”

One must put their faith in Jesus to be saved. This includes even Jews.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Do you believe in a path to salvation for non-Christians?  If so, is said path limited to select groups (i.e. Jews) or is it available to all people following physical death?

It says in Acts 4:10-12 (English Standard Version)

 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus[a] is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men[c] by which we must be saved.”

One must put their faith in Jesus to be saved. This includes even Jews.

So are you saying that the God of the Old Testament and Jesus are not the same?

Furthermore as used in both Testaments, "name" signifies not merely a particular phonetic construct (which is fortunate for you unless you believe Yeshua Saves) but also the reputation and character of the person signified by that name.

The problem with the Jews in the New Testament era is that they placed so much emphasis upon the literal name of YHWH, that they had neglected the character of YHWH and hence were not truly doing things in the name of YHWH.

God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) is the same yesterday, today and forever.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Are you a Young Earth Creationist?

Who are your favourite ministers/theologians/Christian writers?

Do you believe in a literal, fiery Hell?

Why do you include John Calvin in your username if you aren't a Calvinist?

Do you believe the Roman Catholic Church is apostate?

Yes I am a young earth creationist. Scripture does not lend in any way towards the theories of Charles Darwin.

I draw from a wide variety of influences in terms of ministers, writers, and theologians.  Needless to say I'm going to keep this list to personal influences to those since the Reformation. First of all I'd be remiss if I didn't mention John and Charles Wesley off the bat. I'm trying to find more on the works of those who influenced them. Jon Huss and the Moravians who's missionary zeal sparked the missionary movements as we know them today. Allen Hood who is one of the best minds on Christology. David Wilkerson, Michael Brown, Steve Hill, Sergio Scataglini, Randy Blankenship, Don Gifford, Banning Liebscher, Lou Engle, D James Kennedy, Doug Oss, Perry Stone, Erwin McManus, Francis Chan and Mark Batterson

Both Christ in the Gospels and the Apostles themselves teach of a literal burning Hell.
(Revelation 20, Matthew 5:29-30, 25:31-46) It is also implied in John chapter 3:3 when Christ said "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of Heaven.


While I'm not a Calvinist in my view of the doctrines of grace, my name is actually in honor of John Calvin Coolidge. A former American president and personal favorite amongst that noble body.

As divided on many an issue as we Protestants are, those in the Roman Catholic Church are as well. In fact there are Roman Catholics who look more like conservative evangelicals than loyal to Rome. I try to look at them on an individual basis but there are many troubling things that come out of factions loyal to Rome.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Since is is clear you are strongly literalist in your Bible interpretation, I ask you for your thoughts on Matthew 5:18.  Since heaven and earth have not yet passed away does that not mean that the Mosaic law still applies?  (Note that the vast majority of the Mosaic law was specific to Israel and the Jews, but one need not be Jew to be a Christian, so it doesn't directly apply to myself.)

Look at the Council of Jerusalem which the rulings of which are found in Acts 15 and Galatians 2.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Since is is clear you are strongly literalist in your Bible interpretation, I ask you for your thoughts on Matthew 5:18.  Since heaven and earth have not yet passed away does that not mean that the Mosaic law still applies?  (Note that the vast majority of the Mosaic law was specific to Israel and the Jews, but one need not be Jew to be a Christian, so it doesn't directly apply to myself.)

Look at the Council of Jerusalem which the rulings of which are found in Acts 15 and Galatians 2.

Acts 15 simply affirms our shared belief that one does not have to be a Jew to be a good Christian, but it is silent on the issue of what applies for Jews after the resurrection, be they Christian or not.  There is a tension between Acts 15 and Galatians 2, in that in Acts 15 it is Peter who accuses other Jews of forcing Gentiles to become Jewish to be truly Christian, whereas in Galatians 2 it is Paul who accuses Peter of that.  There is also a discrepancy between Galatians and Acts over who is to be the Apostle to the Gentiles.  In Galatians, Paul claims that he has been given it as his exclusive province, leaving only the Hellenized Jews (i.e., the circumcised) for Peter whereas Acts described Peter as also commissioned to go among the Gentiles.

Paul called out Peter over that and rightfully so. While Peter was the first of the Apostles to bring the Good News to the Gentiles, Paul's commission both by Yeshua and the other Apostolic fathers was to the Gentiles.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Do you believe in a path to salvation for non-Christians?  If so, is said path limited to select groups (i.e. Jews) or is it available to all people following physical death?

It says in Acts 4:10-12 (English Standard Version)

 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus[a] is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men[c] by which we must be saved.”

One must put their faith in Jesus to be saved. This includes even Jews.

JCL, I'm curious.
Do you believe, that the Muslims would be saved? They believe in Jesus as a prophet, but not as the son of God. Is it enough???

It's not enough to believe that He (Yeshua) was just a prophet. You must believe He is God's son. When Jesus was on trial before the religious leaders, Matthew 26:59-64 (ESV) explains


59 Now the chief priests and the whole council[h] were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” 62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
 
Also look at Romans10:9-10 and Acts 5 for further details.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Do you believe in a path to salvation for non-Christians?  If so, is said path limited to select groups (i.e. Jews) or is it available to all people following physical death?

It says in Acts 4:10-12 (English Standard Version)

 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus[a] is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men[c] by which we must be saved.”

One must put their faith in Jesus to be saved. This includes even Jews.

JCL, I'm curious.
Do you believe, that the Muslims would be saved? They believe in Jesus as a prophet, but not as the son of God. Is it enough???

It's not enough to believe that He (Yeshua) was just a prophet. You must believe He is God's son. When Jesus was on trial before the religious leaders, Matthew 26:59-64 (ESV) explains


59 Now the chief priests and the whole council[h] were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” 62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
 
Also look at Romans10:9-10 and Acts 5 for further details.

Hmmm, I'm not convinced.

Even if I believe that Jesus is the son of the God. I mean, the Bible just says "believing in Jesus". So, even if I have a quite liberal interpretation of the Bible (yep I believe everyone can be saved), even in the conservative interpretation, Muslims should be able to be saved, since they believe in Jesus.

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I'm not sure how the passage JCL cited allows for Muslims being saved, especially under a conservative interpretation.

JCL, how often do you think communion should be taken?

The passage I cited means Muslims have to convert.

At my church we have communion monthly. That would be my personal minimum. The church I attend in Chicago does weekly last I remembered.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Do you believe priests should be able to be married?

Absolutely. The Roman Catholic Church got that one wrong. It would help cut down on the problem with these perv priests. For all the support for traditional marriage they have wouldn't it be right to put your money where your mouth is with regards to those in leadership.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Do you believe that the use of birth control or contraception is immoral, even in cases of rape?

I'm not sure if you abandoned this thread, JCL, but I'd really like an answer to this if you haven't.  I'm curious.

I'm still here. Working on a massive RL project this week.

That is between the couple and God in my honest opinion. Personally I will not but if she does I will not argue.

Yes I'm AoG.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

On the question of how often communion should be taken, the Bible does not specify how often you should do it, but just says in 1 Corinthians 11:25b-26 (KJV) - (25b) "This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. (26) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till He come."

My church has communion once a month. Some I have relationship with do so every Sunday service.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

I'm still taking questions

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Also are you a Dispensationalist?

In terms of eschatology I am a firm premillennialist. It's a matter of the order of events that I'm examining at the moment. The historicist view is one I'm also examining.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Are you liberal on any social issues?

What do you consider social issues besides marriage and abortion.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

I oppose allowing gay couples the right to adopt given my Christian convictions.

We should be stewards of this earth that God gave us and while I do like to eat a cow, chicken, turkey, various fish, lamb, and alligator from time to time they should be treated with care and respect while they are alive

Racial intolerance is something that grinds my gears to no end. While I do oppose affirmative action I'm a firm believer in educating cross cultural as a way to combat racism.

Birth control is between a couple and their God. Government should neither promote or discourage.

I do support capital punishment but only for capital murder and treason

The laws in Indiana regarding minors working are fine. Farms should be able to have kids in non-hazardous responsibilities but no younger than 14 and no more than 4 hours a day or 16 hours a week

Further answers will be forthcoming

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

We have to have strong laws against corporate criminality. Look at Enron for example. As corporations are not people regulations have to be strong to prevent consumer abuse. Ralph Nader and Ron Paul have come together with some intelligent ideas on this.

I oppose mandatory sentencing and am more supportative of rehabilitative sentencing for non-violent offenders. Including restoration of full citizenship rights after release and up to five years of not getting arrested again. Criminals should be treated with respected but they're in jail to think about what they did.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Here's a simple one, I think...must one attend church to be saved?

One should go to church(Hebrews 10:25)  but going to church makes one a Christian as much as going to Cracker Barrel makes you hash brown casserole. Salvation is only found by placing your faith in Jesus. (Acts 4:12, Romans 10:9-10)

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Here's a simple one, I think...must one attend church to be saved?

One should go to church(Hebrews 10:25)  but going to church makes one a Christian as much as going to Cracker Barrel makes you hash brown casserole. Salvation is only found by placing your faith in Jesus. (Acts 4:12, Romans 10:9-10)

So it's not a necessary condition. Ok.

No,but it is rather beneficial for ones walk to regularly fellowship with other believers.