Introduction The aim of this essay is to discuss whether the traditional Christian claim for the uniqueness of Christ is an unnecessary hindrance to the spread of the gospel today. Moreover, the three main approaches to interpreting Christ’s unique claims will be considered. In conclusion, reasons will be offered why the traditional claims for Christ’ uniqueness remain the central and non-negotiable tenet of a biblical, salvific, Gospel proclamation. This is my truth, now tell me yours. Don Carson offers this summary of postmodern thought: "Modernism is often pictured as pursuing truth, absolutism, linear thinking, rationalism, certainty, the cerebral as opposed to the effective--which in turn breeds arrogance, and inflexibility, the lust …show more content…
They ‘distinguish between the ontological necessity of Christ’s work as Redeemer and the separate claim that Christ’s redemptive work is epistemologically necessary.’ Inclusivism emphasises implicit saving faith in counter to exclusivism’s view of saving faith as explicit. Salvation is seen as not being limited to the extent, historically or geographically, that special revelation has spread, it must be available to all, irrespective of age or geography. Salvation is still asserted wholly in Christ and his finished work. However, the salvific effect is available aside from specific knowledge of that work.Response to the general revelation available within their own religious tradition or without is all that is required to receive that effect. It would seem that the traditional claims are deemed unnecessary to salvation, a hindrance even, as there are those who would rather point to general revelation within someone's context than to a specific particular special revelation (Christ’s claims within scripture). This reliance on general revelation is vital to the inclusivist approach. It is posited that this is the means by which God leads some to salvation aside from belief in Christ with the distinction drawn between “Christians” and “believers”. The latter saved due to faith in God; the former because they have placed their faith in
How tragic that we in this dark day have had our seeking done for us by our teachers. Everything is made to center upon the initial act of 'accepting' Christ … and we are not expected thereafter to crave any further revelation of God to our souls. We have been snared in the coils of a spurious logic which insists that if we have found him we need no more seek him. This is set before us as the last word in orthodoxy, and it is taken for granted that no Bible-taught Christian ever believed otherwise. Thus the whole testimony of the worshipping, seeking, singing Church on that subject is crisply set aside. The experimental heart-theology of a grand army of fragrant saints is rejected in favor of a smug interpretation of Scripture which would certainly have sounded strange to an Augustine, a Rutherford or a Brainerd (pp. 16-17).
On the attitudinal approach explains how one attitude is the initial and the vital point of contact with the Christian faith. “A positive, inquiring attitude and a persistent discipline of time and ability express the value” that Christians find in learning because of their theology and Christian commitment (p. 47)”.
Postmodernism movement which began in the 1950’s and still prevails today, is the successor of Modernism. Postmodernism, in contrast to Modernism, seeks to challenge authority as a whole, refutes any belief in absolute truths, regards hierarchal power as distrustful and seeks to establish an approach in
"The elements of the Person of Christ are to be established; the faith which accompanies the theoretic process always presupposes their unity; this is for faith immediately certain, though not as yet narrowly defined, not as yet mediately cognised through the knowledge of the distinct elements, which
There are several aspects to consider when exploring the Christian worldview. There are many facets or denominations and they each have their own distinct beliefs and practices, but they all share the same fundamental beliefs. In this Paper we will explore the character of God, His creation, humanity and its nature, Jesus’ significance to the world, and the restoration of humanity, as well as my beliefs and the way that I interact with Christianity and my personal worldview.
“We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God. For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. Being fully God and perfect man He performed miracles and lived a sinless life.” (GCU, Doctorial Statement) This paper will discuss how God and Jesus Christ is the essential core of all Christian worldviews despite the many differing internal worldviews they have.
God’s written law is something that is and should be continuously turned, to not only when Christians find themselves in need, but also throughout in one’s daily life. The four gospels tell to story of Jesus’ life and his teachings he gave while on the earth making it possible for there to be a true example of Christ-like faith. The proposition that there are differences in the story of Jesus and in his teachings seems to question the basis upon which the Christian faith is found upon. Rather than proclaiming the gospels as falsehoods because on the differences they possess, by analyzing the differences in the context of the particular gospel it can be understood that the differences are not made by mistake, rather as a literary device. While the four gospels have differences and similarities, they cannot be regarded as an argument against the faith because their differences are what point to the many aspects of Christ.
Migliore, Daniel L. Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology. 2 ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Pub Co, 2004.
Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen is associate professor of systematic theology at Fuller Theological Seminary and holds a teaching post at the University of Helsinki and Iso Kirja College in Finland. He is the author of Christology: A Global introduction, Pneumatology: The Holy Spirit in Ecumenical, International, and Introduction to Ecclesiology: Ecumenical, Historical, and Global Perspectives (Back Cover). Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen presents the latest, comprehensive introduction to the various opinions about Christology from around the world. His book presents three main perspectives on Christology (biblical, historical, and contemporary).
The word “postmodernism” first surfaced in architecture and the fine arts, perhaps in the 1950’s, referring to a new style. Later it acquired a meaning in the world of literature as well. It is not a theory or a creed: it is more like an attitude or a way of looking at things. Postmodernism is essentially a philosophy, which declares there is no absolute truth or objective truth particularly in the realm of spirituality or religion. Often times when a postmodern is confronted with an individual claiming an objective or absolute truth you would here them say the common phrase, “That may be true for you, but it is not for me.” One could easily utilize this phrase in more arbitrary and less important matters of our every day life (ex. Food, clothing choices) though this is a difficult course to navigate because it confuses matters of opinion with matter of truth.
Postmodernism assumes an ontology of fragmented being. Where modernism asserts the primacy of the subject in revealing universal truth, postmodernism challenges the authority of the subject and, thus, universal truth based on it. Modernism and postmodernism, however, draw upon distinctly different epistemological modes: critical and dogmatic.
The doctrine of salvation contains various aspects. The intent of this research paper is to provide a general overview of salvation from the angle of justification, propitiation, grace, redemption, and sanctification.
There are many views of the assurance of salvation. Most current denominational systems are based on one of these views of salvation. This research will only look at three of the most popularly held views.
Within the Bible it reveals the essentials and key concepts of the Christian faith. There are a few essential principles that most Christians believe, which are as follows; the deity of Christ, belief in the resurrection and the power it gives us over death and sin and, salvation by God’s grace and not by works but salvation is through Jesus. It would s necessarily that we understand these key principles and believe in them if we are truly to be followers of Jesus Christ. In today 's society it is import that the Christian faith values its historical past and be flexible enough to reach the generation today. In this paper I will briefly discuss the essentials of Christian faith
Lutzer, Erwin. The Doctrines That Divide: a Fresh Look at the Historic Doctrines That Separate Christians. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1998.