I've got a question for my brothers and sisters in Christ. I don't mean to exclude anyone else, but this is aimed at the Christians, and I'd like to hear their opinion.
There's a popular doctrine in the churches today, although it is rejected by the leadership of most churches. This doctrine is based on falsehoods, causes non-Christians to reject Christianity, Christians to lose their faith, and causes its followers to lie?
Judging by the fruits of this doctrine, would you say this is of God or of something else?
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:15-20
The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Matthew 3:10
That’s my answer.
Wow. I have to go with Cheryl on this one.
I don’t mean to cop out, but what’s the doctrine and how do you know it’s based on falsehoods? I can’t answer meaningfully without that info. Whether the bases are falsehoods may well be a matter of contention.
I have a guess of which doctrines you’re hinting at, but I don’t want to be presumptuous, so I’ll keep my guess to myself. I’ll just say that if I’m right, the doctrines are right and that those who believe otherwise are those who St. Paul said would seek false teachers to tickle their ears with doctrines less challenging than orthodox Christianity.
BTW, I agree with Cheryl, but not knowing her views on orthodoxy, I don’t know if we’d agree on who the wolves are.
FD:
I’m involved in a debate about Creationism over at Powerblog.
If you’re following what your own church teaches, from Aquinas to some dude named Ratzinger (are you familiar with him?), then you’d say the doctrines are wrong.
I posted a huge message today evaluating 2nd Law of Thermo and evolution, and how Gish and the others continue to maintain the 2nd Law says evolution is impossible, when it doesn’t.
If you look at the activities of Richard Dawkins and his ilk, I think you’ll see the natural outcome of the Creationist doctrine. It’s destroying faith Christians have in Jesus and it’s keeping people from seriously considering Jesus Christ in the first place.
The Discovery Institute (the group behind the Dover School fiasco) were caught in multiple lies in the court proceedings, which the judge pointed out specifically in his ruling.
Both Dawkins and the Creationists have me very concerned.
Ahhhhh….I was nowhere close.
I agree that Creationism is bunkum. Genesis doesn’t present how the universe came to be except to say that God made it. It’s primarily about why the universe exists at all. That’s explained through the use of pagan myths of the time, retold to make clear that the universe wasn’t created from petty squabbles among gods or by accident, but by the deliberate choice of a single god who created from nothing.
If it weren’t so annoying, I’d be amused that Philip Shropshire keeps accusing me of being a fan/member of the Discovery Institute.
If enough of us joined the Discovery Institute, we could stage a takeover….
Wouldn’t that be like sensible people joining the KKK? There’s no point in taking over a group antithetical to your beliefs.
Sure there is. But you’re too young to remember.
In the ’60s, the FBI and other police groups would infiltrate radical organizations and get them to commit illegal acts, often by taking over the leadership of the organization. When the members of the group were arrested, it proved that those who disagreed with government policies such as the Viet Nam war or segregation were all violent criminals.
You’re so cute when you’re naive.
[...] Rob of UnSpace asks: There's a popular doctrine in the churches today, although it is rejected by the leadership of most churches. This doctrine is based on falsehoods, causes non-Christians to reject Christianity, Christians to lose their faith, and causes its followers to lie? Judging by the fruits of this doctrine, would you say this is of God or of something else? [...]
I wasn’t looking at it from the angle of bring DI down by deceptive or unethical means. I thought you meant something along the lines of a stock buyout or corporate takeover.
Borrowing shady tactics from the man - Tsk. Tsk.
You’re so Cheshire when you’re devious.
There was a cult watching site that the Scienctologists took over. No kidding. I thought it was awfully smart of them at the time.
I’m not seriously advocating taking anyone over, but the example of Scientology’s actions against the Cult Awareness Network (CAN) was one of the things I was thinking of as well.