Theology Unplugged - What Does It Mean To Be Orthodox? (Part 2)

What is orthodoxy? Are there different types of orthodoxies or is Protestant Reformed Evangelical Dispensational, etc., etc. the only standart to which we should heed? I will try to work through some of these questions by discussing the different types of orthodoxy.

Here is the show that I will be on March 6 at 12pm CST to discuss the theology of abortion: http://www.callingfortruth.org/. You can listen in if you want!

Obscurantism

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7 Responses to “Theology Unplugged - What Does It Mean To Be Orthodox? (Part 2)”

Damian Romano on 06 Mar 2008 at 10:41 am #

Hey Michael, I really enjoyed this program. I’ll actually be posting a short follow up [to the program] on CIC in the next day or two. My comments were just too long to post here. It actually led me to begin writing on a new topic that I’m sure will get some attention, you’ll see. Keep a look out.

Blessings,

Damian

Damian Romano on 08 Mar 2008 at 4:50 pm #

Hey Michael, I offered some comments to this on CIC.

See here:

http://www.christiansincontext.org/2008/03/theological-bias.html

JOHN on 10 Mar 2008 at 7:29 pm #

Michael:

You mentioned in this blog the conversation you had with a Pastor regarding the blessing of same sex marriages. This is an issue that the demonination (Episcopal) that I attend is struggling with. We had a Parish discussion about this last year with about 25-30 out of 200 active members voicing their opinion. Myself and a few others were in the minority against blessing these relationships. I came to this conclusion after researching all the known biblical passages regarding this issue, which I plainly read as viewing homosexual activity as sin. Therefore this is not behavior we should be celebrating. I also read several scholarly papers for and against and was not pursuaded by the arguments for.

I guess my question for you or anyone else who wants to comment is at what point has one crossed the line in terms of throwing out orthodox teaching. I’ve followed your discussion on the emerging Church with the charts in terms of essential beliefs for salvation, essential beliefs for orthodoxy. How many orthodox beliefs/doctrine can you abandon and still call yourself a Christian?

Thanks

John

C Michael Patton on 11 Mar 2008 at 2:41 pm #

John, that is a really good question and one that I am currently wrestling with. Maybe I will open this up more broadly and see what others think.

JOHN on 11 Mar 2008 at 8:11 pm #

Michael:

Thanks for the response. You have given me alot more to think about.

John

Rick C. on 15 Mar 2008 at 12:04 am #

John,

I just came to this “thread” and downloaded this particular TUP session last nite. I haven’t heard it yet, but will listen this evening.

I commented elsewhere here, John, on your situation. I was faced with something similar not real long ago when I was deciding if I would want to attend a Methodist church in my area. In the UMC (United Methodist Church) there have been issues on homosexuality for several years: Some UMC members are theologically liberal, and have essentially the same views as the liberals in your denomination, the ECUSA (though I don’t know if you are a member of it or not).

At any rate, at the UMC’s last General Convention in 2004, they defined marriage as between a man and a woman, and prohibited “same-sex marriage” and same-sex unions being performed in the denomination. This stance is the official position of the UMC.

Since I had never been a UMC member or gone to many of their churches, I was wary of supporting a denomination that approved of homosexual behavior, which I’ve also learned the UMC also (officially) does not. I now attend, but am not a member of a UMC church, and have found out that the vast majority of UMC churches are not liberal theologically; that these homosexual issues aren’t as prominent in the denomination as I was wondering they might be.

If the UMC took same the view as the ECUSA on this issue, I personally would not be free to go to a UMC church, nor to support them in any way, as a matter of conscience. I said as much on the other “thread” here.

But I do wish you the best, and God’s guidance, on your decisions regarding the ECUSA.

Reclaiming the Mind Ministries » Is the Hyper-Preterist Gospel a Different Gospel? on 24 Mar 2008 at 9:04 pm #

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