Comparative Religions again..

[kittylover0991]

Next week.. we start about man's interpretations as to what Judaism, Christianity, and Muslim are all about. I know that my teacher is going to say that all three have the same God and use the same writings and that all three should be respected as possibly true. As my teacher is Methodist, I know he is going to say that baptism is sprinkling on the head and that Christians believe that salvation is through good works(as he claims the bible says). He also doesnt' believe that the bible is the pure word of God as he proved to us at the beginning of the year by trying ot say that the bible contridicts itself in teh first and second chapters...

Just the other day, my friend, a Jew, mentioned something about Conservative Judaism.. my teacher sat there and argued with him while my friend knows more about it then he does... the teacher even knows that...

I dont' know.. I don't like the thought of learned about my own religion by a man who has completely different standards then me and is lost and on his way to hell.. I just can't see that..

Not to mention, the different tests of which I will have to answer with the answers that he gives.. I dont' like the sound of it at all..

Any ideas?

[EricH]

What you are describing is basically a variation of the idea that all religions lead to the same place. Some simple questions will clear up this idea:

1. What does each religion say about who Jesus was?

2. What does each relgion teach about what Jesus did?

3. What does each relrion teach about how we can have a proper relationship with God?

[nebula]

As my teacher is Methodist, I know he is going to say that baptism is sprinkling on the head and that Christians believe that salvation is through good works(as he claims the bible says). He also doesnt' believe that the bible is the pure word of God as he proved to us at the beginning of the year by trying ot say that the bible contridicts itself in teh first and second chapters...

How far have the Methodists fallen.

Think you can do a project on the Methodist's founders - Charles and John Wesley? Maybe your teacher needs to be refeshed in what the Wesley's preached.

Salvation through works?

Not according to Wesley!

I dont' know.. I don't like the thought of learned about my own religion by a man who has completely different standards then me and is lost and on his way to hell.. I just can't see that..

Not to mention, the different tests of which I will have to answer with the answers that he gives.. I dont' like the sound of it at all..

I've been in your boat.

Think of it as you aren't learning from him - think of it as, "I need to preach the gospel to him and my classmates!"

This is your opportunity to really dig into the Word and find all the verses that express the truth about salvation.

Remember, Christianity began as a group of Jews who believed that Yeshua was their Messiah, that He rose from the dead, and the purpose of His death was as the sacrificial lamb for sin. Salvation is about redemption, based off the Jewish (Torah) sacrificial system.

So, a study on the Jewish sacrificial system might throw him off!

As for the tests, sometimes you have to answer based on what the teacher tells you it is; and there are ways to insert your protests.

For instance, if you answer in short answer or essay, you can insert the "According to you..." protest.

If multiple choice, not much you can say but in your heart.

Prayers and blessings on your witness!

[nebula]

I did a Google on John Wesley.

Here are some things he said:

I concluded in these words: "Here is the sum of the perfect law, the circumcision of the heart. Let the spirit return to God that gave it, with the whole train of its affections. -- Other sacrifices from us he would not, but the living sacrifice of the heart hath he chosen. Let it be continually offered up to God through Christ, in flames of holy love. And let no creature be suffered to share with him; for he is a jealous God. His throne will he not divide with another; he will reign without a rival. Be no design, no desire admitted there, but what has Him for its ultimate object.

13. Not long after, I think in the spring, 1741, we published a second volume of Hymns. As the doctrine was still much misunderstood, and consequently misrepresented, I judged it needful to explain yet farther upon the head; which was done in the preface to it as follows : --

"This great gift of God, the salvation of our souls, is no other than the image of God fresh stamped on our hearts. It is a `renewal of believers in the spirit of their minds, after the likeness of Him that created them.' God hath now laid `the axe unto the root of the tree, purifying their hearts by faith,' and `cleansing all the thoughts of their hearts by the inspiration of his Holy Spirit.' Having this hope, that they shall see God as he is, they `purify themselves even as he is pure,' and are `holy, as he that hath called them is holy, in all manner of conversation.' Not that they have already attained all that they shall attain, either are already in this sense perfect. But they daily `go on from strength to strength; beholding' now, `as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, they are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord.'

"And `where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty;' such liberty `from the law of sin and death,' as the children of this world will not believe, though a man declare it unto them. `The Son hath made them free' who are thus `born of God,' from that great root of sin and bitterness, pride. They feel that all their `sufficiency is of God,' that it is He alone who `is in all their thoughts,' and ` worketh in them both to will and to do of his good pleasure.' They feel that `it is not they' that `speak, but the Spirit of' their `Father who speaketh' in them, and that whatsoever is done by their hands, ` the Father who is in them, he doeth the works.' So that God is to them all in all, and they are nothing in his sight.

On the contrary, whoever has a sure confidence in God, that through the merits of Christ, his sins are forgiven,' he is a child of God, and, if he abide in him, an heir of all the promises. Neither ought he in anywise to cast away his confidence, or to deny the faith he has received, because it is weak, or because it is tried with fire,' so that his soul is `in heaviness through manifold temptations.' . . .

"Indeed, how God may work, we cannot tell; but the general manner wherein he does work is this: Those who once trusted in themselves that they were righteous, that they were rich, and increased in goods, and had need of nothing, are, by the Spirit of God applying his word, convinced that they are poor and naked. All the things that they have done are brought to their remembrance and set in array before them, so that they see the wrath of God hanging over their heads, and feel that they deserve the damnation of hell. In their trouble they cry unto the Lord, and he shows them. that he hath taken away their sins, and opens the kingdom of heaven in their hearts, righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.' Sorrow and pain are fled away, and sin has no more dominion over' them. Knowing they are justified freely through faith in his blood, they have peace with God 'through Jesus Christ;' they `rejoice in hope of the glory of God,' and `the love of God is shed abroad in their hearts.'

Source

As you can see, Wesley believed that works were not what we do to achieve salvation, but were the expression of a heart that has been transformed - and only the saving work of God can transform the heart.

This is what makes Christianity different. It's not us changing ourselves, it is God changing us through Jesus Christ!

[Anne]

Amen Nebula,

I was shocked to read the teacher was a Methodist too!

[Arthur Durnan]

Methodist, eh, what? Isn't that the church (United Methodist) Hillary Clinton goes to (I guess when she goes)? Hmm. That says more, I would think, about the Methodist persuasion than it does about this particular Liberal Democrat turned slightly Democrat-Leadership-Council turned heavily Centrist with 08 in mind. Run, Condoleeza, run. Please run!

In New Testament Christianity - bottom line - we have a Almighty Creator God Who came down! All founders of world religions including Siddhartha Gautama, Muhammad, Moses, etc, came (as fallible humans) to teach. To the contrary, the Lord Jesus Christ - God Enfleshed, John 1:1,14 - came "to seek & to save that which was lost."

The greatest Christmas Gift ever came wrapped in a manger!

Not bad for being born in a barn.

Wise men - and wise women - still seek Him!

http://arthurdurnan.freeyellow.com

[Gerioke]

I believe I read somewhere that Bush is a methodist as well.

[Arthur Durnan]

And Canada's Martin - excuse the reference - is a Roman Catholic who supports abortion without limits, who was the Minister of Finance during the despicable Canadian Sponsorship and AdScam scandals, and promotes the abhorrent abnormality of homosexual shacking-up and who knows what else? Without malice, give me ONE President Bush for One Thousand Paul Martins hesto-presto.

GOD BLESS AMERICA INDEED!

http://arthurdurnan.freeyellow.com

[Gerioke]

And Canada's Martin - excuse the reference - is a Roman Catholic who supports abortion without limits, who was the Minister of Finance during the despicable Canadian Sponsorship and AdScam scandals, and promotes the abhorrent abnormality of homosexual shacking-up and who knows what else? Without malice, give me ONE President Bush for One Thousand Paul Martins hesto-presto.

GOD BLESS AMERICA INDEED!

http://arthurdurnan.freeyellow.com

And give me 1 Stompin' Tom for a hundred Bruce Springstiens.

[nebula]

And this is helping Kittylover with her class . . . how?