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.

[TJ in Oregon]

Do you believe in free will? Does one need to consent to something for it to be a sin?

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

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?

[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.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

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.

[Meursault]

Do you tie your Junior Anti-Sex League sash around your neck or your waist?

[H. Ross Peron]

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?

[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.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

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.)

[H. Ross Peron]

Also are you a Dispensationalist?

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Do you believe the Roman Pope is an Antichrist?

[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.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

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.

[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.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

That's not exactly an answer.  Certainly if Peter was a hypocrite that Paul was right to call him out, but that you have Peter and Paul saying the same thing about different targets suggests a discrepancy to me which you have failed to provide a resolution of.  That suggests at a minimum that either Acts 15 and Galatians 2 refer to different councils or the admonishment by Paul in Galatians 2:14 occurred prior to the council mentioned in Galatians 2:1-10.  There are other possibilities I can think of, but since they require not treating the Bible as if it were the fourth infallible member of the Trinity, I can's see them as being even considerable by you, let alone acceptable.

[windjammer]

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???

[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.

[windjammer]

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.

[DC Al Fine]

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.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

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?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Actually, the quoted passage in Matthew has no contradiction with the Islamic view of Isa ibn Maryam, depending upon how one interprets the phrase Son of Man.  Now the passages in both Romans and Acts that JCL references would be problematic, since Muslims don't believe in the resurrection or that Isa was crucified as atonement for the sins of men, tho they do believe in the ascension of the Isa the Messiah and his eventual Second Coming.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Why is scripture more reliable than observation?

[windjammer]

Do you believe priests should be able to be married?

[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.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

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.