I'm sorry for taking so long to reply. I haven't been ignoring the question, I've been on vacation and then dealing with personal emergencies.
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Yes, of course I still have a problem with the assertion. The assertion is, effectively, that one is only a Christian if they consistently live in a Christlike manner. However, since Christ himself said* that all men are sinners, the logic being used says that there are no Christians anywhere.
* Well, it says it in the Bible, which is allegedly the divinely inspired word of god, and so I suppose that Trinitarians believe that Christ said it directly.
For the non-Trinitarians in the audience, Jesus directy said a lot of things that I imagine aren't true of everyone who calls himself a Christian. Ever been worried about where your next meal is coming from? Well then whoops; you're not a Christian, 'cuz the man instructed you to "not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'" For that matter, have you ever lain awake at night fretting about what the next day might bring? You were violating the words that instructed you to "do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (all quotes ESV)
It's pretty much a fundamental Biblical doctrine that all men are sinners. By definition that includes all men who call themselves Christian. To say that the people who commit *this* particular sin which one finds particularly heinous aren't *really* Christians because Christians don't do that is a classic example of the No True Scotsman fallacy.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2011-08-13 12:15 pm (UTC)========================================
Yes, of course I still have a problem with the assertion. The assertion is, effectively, that one is only a Christian if they consistently live in a Christlike manner. However, since Christ himself said* that all men are sinners, the logic being used says that there are no Christians anywhere.
* Well, it says it in the Bible, which is allegedly the divinely inspired word of god, and so I suppose that Trinitarians believe that Christ said it directly.
For the non-Trinitarians in the audience, Jesus directy said a lot of things that I imagine aren't true of everyone who calls himself a Christian. Ever been worried about where your next meal is coming from? Well then whoops; you're not a Christian, 'cuz the man instructed you to "not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'" For that matter, have you ever lain awake at night fretting about what the next day might bring? You were violating the words that instructed you to "do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (all quotes ESV)
It's pretty much a fundamental Biblical doctrine that all men are sinners. By definition that includes all men who call themselves Christian. To say that the people who commit *this* particular sin which one finds particularly heinous aren't *really* Christians because Christians don't do that is a classic example of the No True Scotsman fallacy.