Tag: definition

  • a Brief Apologetic for Doctrine

    a Brief Apologetic for Doctrine

    Doctrine (of the Common Era) Defined

    A doctrine is a set of principles or beliefs, especially religious ones.

    Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

    Quite simply EVERYONE has doctrines WE believe, beliefs and opinions WE teach unyieldingly or perhaps underpinning our speech subtly.

    Due to its everyday influence on our lives I have reviewed and retaught DOCTRINE here with some regularity.


    1. something taught; teachings
    2. something taught as the principles or creed of a religion, political party, etc.; tenet or tenets; belief; dogma
    3. a rule, theory, or principle of law
    4. US
      an official statement of a nation’s policy, esp. toward other nations
      the Monroe Doctrine
    1. a creed or body of teachings of a religious, political, or philosophical group presented for acceptance or belief; dogma
    2. a principle or body of principles that is taught or advocated
    Read the fine print below for a more succinct examination of doctrine. - RH

    doctrine refers to a theory based on carefully worked out principles and taught or advocated by its adherents [scientific or social doctrines]; dogma refers to a belief or doctrine that is handed down by authority as true and indisputable, and often connotes arbitrariness, arrogance, etc. [religious dogma]; tenet emphasizes the maintenance or defense, rather than the teaching, of a theory or principle [the tenets of a political party]; precept refers to an injunction or dogma intended as a rule of action or conduct [to teach by example rather than by precept]

    Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
    Do you really believe that? doctrine - a line in the sand [picture of Jesus kneeling down to draw a line with his finger
    DOCTRINE – What do you believe? Can you affirm it to others?

    Doctrine + TalkofJESUS.com

    HERE are several links where you should find teachings to Comment on Scripture OR respond to a doctrine with YOUR opinion.

    First, a summary PAGE which includes links to several earlier pages & posts on Doctrine.


    I asked, “Is the Church still ‘christian’‘ & other thought-provoking categorical questions about ‘the church in a 2022 SERIES [linked here].

    Recall of a church? WHY do that? SO WHAT IF WE preach what WE want? Pictured Medieval church bell tower during sundown in valley
    Evangelical Reconstruction

    SEARCH TalkofJESUS.com by topic for ‘Doctrine

    Do you really believe christianity-lite? Doctrine for a christ-less Common Era christianity-lite typically erases the lines where Scripture and doctrine holding to what is written.
    topical ‘christianity’

    We have explored contemporary issues of doctrine as well.


    Why to atheists try so hard to deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

    apologia not actually an ‘apology’

    It seems in the Common Era of NO ABSOLUTES and arguments of ANTI-this’ and ANTI-that’s I had best DEFINE what I mean to apologize to BOTH

    + disagreeing ‘christians

    • and semi-committed A-theists – [mortals AGAINST god AND unequivocally opposed to JESUS Christ].

    WHY this SERIES?

    I could share many reasons in this Common Era of 2024 WHY I am revisiting ‘doctrine’ but #1:

    For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

    2 Timothy 4:3-4 Legacy Standard Bible

    Apologetic for a Common Era approach to Biblical Doctrine

    From Before Christ to Before the Common Era

    In common Greek, apologia refers to the speech that an accused person delivered in court, rejecting the charges filed against him or her. The apologists of the second century chose this term because they wanted to show that the charges filed against Christians were unjustified and that the truths of their faith could be described and defended. An apologia was dedicated to the Roman emperor, who certainly never read it. [Max L. Stackhouse, “Apologia,” 1988]

    https://www.etymonline.com/word/apologia

    The A.D. Second Century CHRISTIAN apologist to whom the article refers is Justin Martyr.

    In addition to arguing against the persecution of individuals solely for being Christian, Justin also provides the Emperor with a defense of the philosophy of Christianity and a detailed explanation of contemporary Christian practices and rituals.

    The First Apology is dated to between AD 155–157

    The theologian Robert Grant has claimed that this Apology was made in response to the Martyrdom of Polycarp ~ in the year of our Lord 155.

    source & Christian History Polycarp

    Do you REALLY believe? Is DOCTRINE of the Bible a line in the sand for you? OR has DOCTRINE of the COMMON ERA become a blurred line in the sand of 21st century CE?
    2024 of the COMMON ERA DOCTRINE

    YOUR ‘What?‘ Questions of the Common Era

    From an earlier post.

    WHEN did the Common Era Begin?

    Was there an unexpected BIG BANG that exploded TRUTH into truths?

    Have centuries of history defined by the word of Almighty GOD fallen into a bottomless black hole of godless futility?

    Does a blurred timeline of History not continue to point toward Christ Jesus born into this common world of sin?

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com
    updated 2024 of the Common Era

    Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel


    Talk of JESUS .com

    NEXT: DOCTRINES of the Common Era: 

    God
    Scripture
    JESUS CHRIST
    --------------------
    FOLLOWED BY more 2024 C.E. examinations of KEY Doctrines
  • OMG! – What ‘god’ are they talking about?

    OMG! – What ‘god’ are they talking about?

    omg!

    What do you mean when you say God? Why do you say ‘oh my god?’ (OMG?)


    NOTE: OMG! This series has ended..

    BUT — YOU can ask ANY question in a COMMENT at the end of any post on Doctrine

    OR any other post on TalkofJESUS.com


    52 Topics for One-Sentence Questions
"OMG" I don't know that answer.

    JANUARY 27, 2023 AD

    Today’s 1-Sentence

    QUESTION

    comes from Twitter

    My problem is, what is God? Define.

    posted Twitter: Jan 16 #questions

    Define God that’s the challenge.

    Make certain to CLICK LINK ABOVE for the ANSWER to Today's One-Sentence Question.

    Answer from Scriptures

    For they speak against thee wickedly,

    and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

    Psalm 139:20 KJV

    Hebrews 1, Genesis 1, Matthew 7

    Gospel of John

    Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.”

    “.. No one comes to the Father except through me.

    John 10:30, John 14:6b

    Answer [below] from Original talkofJESUS.com post

    from September 22, 2014 – Topic: God or god?
    Summer Reruns! with picture of sun wearing sunglasses
    Summer 2021 AD {Scriptural} Reruns
    • CLICK “…Continue reading ” above,
    • THEN Ask a question or comment at the end of this post
    • OR email Roger@talkofJesus.com with your reaction, questions & comments.

    Stay tuned from more Summer of 2021 Reruns from talkofJESUS.com

    (ditto: Summer 2022 – more to come)


  • Define God

    Define God

    Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke… Hebrews 1:1 excerpt

    So you ‘go to church’ to hear a man say what God has said. Or you read a book by a man (supposedly of God) who will tell you what God has said. Or you will agree with nearly anyone who will mention God in conversation, even if they say Allah is god or Jehovah is god or Buddha is god or best of all, god is in everything.

    What do you believe about God? Can you define it? Can you define God?

    Genesis 1:

    In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth… And the Spirit of God… And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light… And God made… And it was so.

    26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.

    Who IS this God who was in the beginning, who created; this Spirit who said and made and it was? Who is this God who said, “Let us…” let the reader understand, ‘us, plural; “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness?” What Spirit can say, “Let us make man in our image?” How can the likeness of God live in the flesh of a man? How can the image of God exist in the image of a woman?

    One of many supposed preachers of the Gospel, a wolf clothed as a sheep who would claim that nearly all paths could lead to God, has written a book asking the reader to consider his understanding of the all-inclusive forgiving nature of god to include unrepentant sinners. (That is not how he states is, but that is what he preaches.) A promotional review of a supposedly traditional protestant denomination states of his book (and definition of God): “Good news for people who want nothing to do with religion; better news for those of us who are deeply committed to the faith, but see that religion is way off track.”

    Really? A book with only a passing, eventual reference of Jesus Christ, Son of God, proclaims an all-inclusive grace for unrepentant sinners apart from the purification brought forth by a permanent change and repentance to our sinful nature.

    Religion, which the world maligns, is much more than a feel-good routine. Religion is a dedication of purpose to a constant worship of God in our very life, created in His Image.  For the purpose of definition: Religion – The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.

    We had best be clear that the distinctive of Christianity is Christ.  How can a book, preacher or christian claimant speak of God without pointed reference to Christ Jesus?

    Perhaps the one who references ‘god’ does not have any more commitment to faith in all of God’s word than one who claims many gods or even the one god of the deceitful heart.

    Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” – John 10:30  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

    If any preacher, author or friend would claim a religion other than what Christ Jesus teaches in the Gospel – yes, forsaking our sinful flesh for a new life in Christ is Good News – let us remind the one who would re-define God what Holy Scripture has instructed. Perhaps they will tell us, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” – Matthew 7:1 (a favorite of many of the unrepentant) Let us remind them of the rest and the context of Jesus’ teaching.

    Matthew 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

    A Tree and Its Fruit
    15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

    ‘God’ or ‘god’ is many things to many people. The Bible contains more than four thousand references to ‘God.’ Perhaps it is time for some of us to review just a few of these and renew what it is we believe in our faith in God. Are we not called by scripture to ‘in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you… – 1 Peter 3:15

    Our Lord cautions us: “For many are called, but few are chosen.” – Matthew 22:14  We cannot define God with only slight mention of Christ Jesus, and that not as a true Lord of our life. We cannot define God without support of faith in the Gospel or without belief in the truth of all of scripture. We cannot have god serve our flesh, while we will not worship Christ our Lord, who was sacrificed for our sins.

    You may certainly ponder our Creator in the light of John’s introduction to the Gospel.  You know well John’s description of Jesus love for the world; that is, sinners like you and me [John 3:16].

    It is not enough to just smile and pitch love without repentance and change. Jesus also cautions: … but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”

    How dare we claim Christ without mention of His Lordship over our will!  May Thy will be done.

    The writer of Hebrews finishes his description of God in the context we must consider and believe to have true faith in the One God who IS and was and will be.

     God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

    5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,

    “You are my Son,
    today I have begotten you”?

    Or again,

    “I will be to him a father,
    and he shall be to me a son”?

    6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

    “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

    No, our “religion” is certainly not about angels or spirits, worshiping earth or the heavens, conjecture in aliens or chance, teaching from prophets or authors. Our religion and faith is in the One hope of all mankind for the forgiveness of sins and the resurrection of our spirit into the very presence of God our Father, the love of Christ Jesus the Son, who became Holy sacrifice for our sins, and eternal life in fellowship with God the Holy Spirit; our God Who IS and was and will be forever. Amen.