You’ve got 4 types of Christians…
The 4 Types of Christians:
Please VOTE below as to which one you are…
Confusing isn’t it? Well I don’t blame anyone for being confused. Because this is what it’s come down too:
1) We have the Word of Faith / Latter Rain / Manifest Sons of God / New Apostolic Reformation Christians – Signs and Wonders, Slain in the Spirit, Calling down Fire, Apostolic and Prophetic, Anointed, Joel’s Army, Kingdom Builder/Carrier ‘Christians’ – This category can include Catholics.
2) Mormons, Seventh Day Adventist, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Calvinists and others who want to be called Christians
3) Then we have the New Age ‘Christian’ or the Contemplative ‘Christian’ (Emergent movement) where pretty much everything goes, anything that sounds good is ok. You can be any type of ‘Christian’ you want to be: a Catholic, Eastern Orthodox Catholic, even a Christian Buddhist, or a Muslim Christian as long as it’s not the dreaded No. 4
4) Bible believing Christians who adhere to the Word of God in it’s entirety (authority and sufficiency) and preach salvation by repentance of sin through Jesus Christ the Son of God. Also called fundamentalists by No. 1 and 3
[polldaddy poll=2256574]
I appreciate your work! Keep it up. We need to hear more not less about Jesus and His Word
Great blog!
I am on facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/zdennyfamily
I am proud to call myself a fundamentalist!
Sure was 🙂
All Christians believe the Bible to be the inspired word of God, not just “fundamentalists.”
But the Bible is not THE WORD of God. That is Jesus Christ. A person. The 2nd person of the Trinity who is the fullest expression and image of the invisible God. Jesus teaches us what it means to embody and be the word of God in flesh.
Don’t confuse the two. It often leads to bible worship.
I think it is appropriate to comment here on a newspaper article I read today in the Beeld.
1 out of 4 articles were FOR the Word of God (and the author mentioned that the Bible is “timeless” – Amen to that), the other 3 authors said that the Bible was outdated.
Strange how people would spend so much time to disprove the Bible, but respect the other religions and their “books”…
Surely if you feel the Bible is “dusty old truth”, outdated, irrelevant in today’s “new age”, written by men and full of contradictions and flaws, you shouldn’t need to worry…
Yet, people will go out of their way to do just that. I am so glad that the fundamental Bible believing Christians can trust in the Word of God to be ABSOLUTELY true!!!
The Bible is the INSPIRED WORD OF GOD, but also THE WORD OF GOD [FULLSTOP]
Blessings to those who call themselves Christians and base their faith on the WONDERFUL WORD OF GOD!
J O
Deborah,
Hope it was appropriate???
J
It is written:
John 1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
— In the beginning was God, Son and Holy Spirit
— In the beginning was the Word = God, Son and Holy Spirit
— The word was with God
— The word was God.
— Jesus was with God in the beginning
— All things came into being through God and nothing came into being that God did not want to come into being.
— In God was Jesus the Light of Men
— Jesus is the shining light in the darkness
—–
John 14
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
— The Word is Jesus
— Jesus dwelt among them, and they saw His glory
— The saw the glory of that being Jesus Christ the ONLY BEGOTTEN from God, full of grace and TRUTH
— Jesus = Bible/Word/Word of God = Truth
— If you take one of those away you have nothing.
—-
1 John 5:7
7 For there are three that testify
— God created the Word, Jesus is the Word, the Word manifested walked this earth as Jesus Christ because Jesus is the Word. Then Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit who councils us leads us into the Truth of the Word after he transcended into Heaven. After Jesus Christ arose, THE WORD (Jesus Christ) was written down through the Holy Spirit into the Word of God (Bible) for us to be able to read and study and know who Jesus is. When you read the WORD you ARE reading JESUS. And the Holy Spirit SPEAKS TO YOU through the WORD.
—-
And if you don’t believe that then….read this one:
Revelation 19:13,16
13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God
16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
— Jesus Christ’s name is the Word of God.
— Jesus is the Word. Seeing Jesus is seeing the Word, Seeing the Word IS seeing Jesus. When your mind is applying focus and attention on God’s Word, you ARE focusing and applying all you attention on to Jesus.
— When your mind is fully focused on reading the studying the Word of God you ARE fully focused on Jesus. Because Jesus is THE incarnation of God’s Word. God’s Word became flesh. The Word walked this earth. It was then written down for the rest of us to have.
— This is why to twist the bible to mean something it’s not supposed to me you ARE twisting Jesus!
This is why this NEW Christian belief is so dangerous because the Word of God and Jesus have been seperated from eachother. As per New Age Christian teaching as long as you have ‘Jesus’ in you then all is ok. You don’t need the Bible because if HAVE ‘Jesus’ then why do you need the Bible. But if you do rely on the Bible and it’s fundamental teachings, then does that mean one does not have Jesus?
lol @ “leads to bible worship”, please…now it’s coming down to this, that applying what the bible has to say whole heartedly to ones life can be considered idol worship?? Please let us know when the line will be completely drawn in this regard. I would hate to wake up one morning and find out on the news that today’s the day that bibles are banned and you guys never bothered to tell us.
The Bible does not equal Jesus, DTW.
This is a major theological mistake that fundamentalists make. They are not the same.
Back it up with scripture, please.
hehe
I used to be # 1. then shifted to # 2 for a short stint. Praise God I am now totally in # 3.
I choose to know nothing among you, except, Christ and Him crucified for our sins, according to the Scriptures.
Chad, would you care to elaborate on this statement? I understand that Jesus Christ taught, but what are you saying we should learn and what are we to do? Some clarification here would help.
Amanda,
I’d be happy to. And Deborah, I’d be happy to discuss the other questions you asked me to respond to.
On one condition. All the comments I posted in the last few days be put up. You have deleted every other comment I made. Every time I discuss the details of something or actually say something that requires any of you to respond, my words get deleted.
So why should I be part of this conversation when the one moderating it runs this place like a dictator who will not be questioned?
thanks, but no thanks.
Chad
I can’t put them back, thats why it’s called ‘deleted’ but you said you were making copies of them so you can paste them again. Never the less your comments I deleted were nothing but insulting and actualy served no purpose.
Convenient comment though, when asked to back up your comments with scripture you come with a ‘condition’ that you know well is impossible…
However I will allow you to back up your statements with scripture. This is my blog and I am the dictator. Deal with it or leave and dictate on your blog instead.
Right now, back to where we were, oh yes….scripture please? And don’t forget this one here too: Sadhu Sundar Singh Hindu Mystic in Sheeps Clothing 2009/07/10 at 8:35am
Thanks, but no thanks.
None of my comments were insulting and they all served a purpose. Of course, since you deleted them, you can say whatever you want.
You are dishonest, Deborah and seem incapable of having honest discussions about matters of great importance nor are you able to disagree with others in a sensible, Christian manner.
I hope you one day learn to live in grace and love.
I knew you were gonna say that…
The REAL reason is you can’t quote scripture to back up your New Age beliefs.
Chad, did you by any chance get your minister credentials from here: Ordain Me Now
CHAD – COMMENT DELETED because YOU WONT/CANT back up your NEW AGE beliefs with BIBLICAL SCRIPTURE – A Methodist Pastor (or any pastor for that matter) should be able to do this easily and quickly! After all you studied for years…
Hmm…. I’m not a fundamentalist, nor a WOF/Latter Rain/NAR, nor a New Age Christian. I wonder which one I am? I mean I believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God. That Jesus is the only way to Heaven. That He was resurrected and died for us. But still not a fundamentalist. Just a born again non-denominational Christian. In my view a fundamentalist often leads to legalism. That if you do this sin or that sin you’re damned to Hell. If you smoke you’re going to Hell. If you have a glass a wine or a beer you’re going to Hell and God is gonna cut ya down. This is just my opinion of what I see from fundamentalists. I also feel that fundamentalists have a hard time understanding GRACE. They view God as an Old man with a stick ready to crush your head if you mess up. They have a hard time understanding a Loving Father God and look at Him like a Judgemental Father getting ready to bruise His children. I’m glad I can boldly approach God and have no fear of His judgement or condemnation. Why? Romans says “There is now NO condemnation in Christ Jesus.” I dont need to fear God’s Judgement because Christ took it upon Himself, for ME. Wow how loving is that? But yet you have some preachers bringing the congregation to the altar to rededicate their lives weekly. I’m not fundamentalist because I know the Holy Spirit speaks and not just through His Word. Like I said the Bible is the absolute Authority, but the Holy Spirit speaks to each and every person individually. These are just my experiences with fundamentalist Christians and I know not ALL of them are like this. So please don’t be offended. Alot of fundamentalists I know dont believe God speaks (OUTSIDE OF HIS WORD). The majority of fundamentalists I know deny the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today, aka Cessationism. Cessationism is actually very very very deceptive and divides the church to the core. The majority of Baptists say well God just doesn’t perform miracles through human vessels. Or they say “the Scriptures” are complete we no longer need miracles. Huh? Does the Bible say that? If so, where? I’ll tell you why cessationism is the biggest divider and possibly the greatest deception in the church. Here we go. Lets say I have faith in God and pray for the sick and they DO get healed. Ok what would a cessationist think about that miracle? They would say “This person is from the devil. Healing isn’t for today.” Or “this person has to be a false prophet because miracles have ceased.” DO you see the division and deception in that doctrine?? It causes a christian to condemn and accuse another Christian to be “from the devil” because well like I said miracles aren’t for today. You know it was fake :). Lets use our God given gifts to the fullest. Whether they be supernatural or just ordinary giving, hospitality, encouraging others, etc.
One last thing. I know this is just a blog of you saying there are 3 types of christians. But in Gods eyes there is only one type of Christian, those who believe in His son. Neither Jew nor Gentile, black and white, Baptist and Pentecostal, short and tall, fundamentalist and those who follow Him to the fullest. When God sees you he doesnt say Deborah my Presbyterian daughter. No He says my precious daughter enjoy my blessings that my Son has paid for. Healing, deliverance, and salvation. AKA “Sozo”
Jesus Heals
You know fully well what I meant by this article.
You also know fully well that it’s not born again Christians who have given themselves the name of ‘fundamentalist’ but those who follow the New Age Emergent movement disguised as Christian, who have given us that name.
I see however that you don’t like the idea of repentance of sin where you say: “That if you do this sin or that sin youre damned to Hell. If you smoke youre going to Hell. If you have a glass a wine or a beer youre going to Hell and God is gonna cut ya down. This is just my opinion of what I see from fundamentalists. I also feel that fundamentalists have a hard time understanding GRACE. They view God as an Old man with a stick ready to crush your head if you mess up. They have a hard time understanding a Loving Father God and look at Him like a Judgemental Father getting ready to bruise His children. Im glad I can boldly approach God and have no fear of His judgement or condemnation. Why? Romans says There is now NO condemnation in Christ Jesus.
Being born again has nothing to do with legalism. And since when is having a glass of wine sinful? You take born again Christians and slam them into the fundamentalist / legalist category.
God bruised His own Son. How much more so will He send one to everlasting darkness because they are unrepentant. Just because you are saved does not give you license to go out and sin. And if you do you are repentant to your Loving Father, you say you are sorry and He imediately forgives you. This is Grace. Do you have a problem with this?
Isaiah 53: 9-10
9 His grave was assigned with wicked men,
Yet He was with a rich man in His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.
10 But the LORD was pleased
To crush Him, putting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,
He will see His offspring,
He will prolong His days,
And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
I dont have a problem with repentance of sin. Without one repenting one cannot be born again. So what you said doesnt make sense. And as for people thinking that one sin in a born again persons life can send you to hell. I’ve actually heard of preachers who thought that if you smoked cigarettes they would go to hell. Where in the Bible does it say that?
And no I dont throw all born again christians into a fundamentalist category. I just find fundamentalism to have alot of flaws just like word of faith. Do I think that fundamentalists are going to hell? No not at all, I just believe that some fundamentalists take things way too literally. And by that, I mean there is too much law being preached in the churches today. Paul strictly said that Christians DO NOT need the law. The sinner is the one in need of the Law to see how sinful they are. A christian knows how sinful they are and know they need Jesus Christ to make them perfect.
God Bless
Jesus heals
You speak in circles. Say what you really mean. What flaws are you speaking about? Please tell me where you find THE LAW on my blog? Where have I preached the LAW?
Please lists these things. I want them in a list cos it’s easier to read.
I think he is confusing fundamentalists, who proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, with emergents, to whom the good news is that all you need is good works to keep the LAW of LOVE. No Gospel, just LAW.
Please dont take it literally. I’m not talking about you personally or your blog. What I’m talking about is the certain group of fundamentalists that believe the things I said above. Not you, but the fundamentalists who misinterpret grace and law. There are flaws among some fundamentalists.
And I have no list because once again I wasn’t talking about you personally or your website. I was talking about the “sect or group” of fundamentalists that have a distorted view of grace, law, and righteousness. Take this for example. What makes me a righteous person? By obeying God, keeping His law, trying my best to be a good person? Or am I righteous because of Christ’s righteousness? Am I holy because HE is holy? Or because I “read the Bible”? Paul said in the first part of Romans that Christ’s righteousness is bestowed upon us, in essence making US righteous before God. So that means if I sin and I will, in God’s eyes I’m still righteous. Why? Because He sees Christ and His precious blood that covers sin, when I confess it. 🙂 I’m perfect in God’s eyes. Why? Because Christ is the perfect sacrifice for our sins, and I believe on Him who is perfect. Does me being perfect in Gods eyes mean that I will sin? Of course, we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. But when I do sin like I said above He sees the blood of Christ and His perfect atonement. For Jesus took ALL, not some but ALL, of my punishment and judgement. Every sin in the past and the future is covered under His blood. And if thats not the case well Christ would have to come and die again and again, but His blood is more powerful than that of bulls and goats.
So am I speaking in circles now that I clarified that “some” fundamentalists misinterpret grace and law. You just heard what I believe and what I said is straight from the Bible. And if its not I’d like to know and be corrected.
Be Blessed
Below is an example of a misinformed fundamentalist that takes things too literally. Here’s the article. If you want me to post the link I can.
What the Bible Teaches
About Drinking Wine
By Dr. Bruce Lackey
Scripture warns against the drinking of alcoholic wine
The Bible is consistent on this, in both the Old and New Testaments. The two previously quoted passages, Proverbs 20:1 and 23:29-35, are good examples of scriptural warnings against the consuming of alcohol. Verse 32 says, “at the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” Verse 33 shows that it will cause one to look at strange women (that is, not one’s wife) and to say perverse things, or things which he would not say if he were sober. Verse 34 predicts that it will cause death, such as drowning, or loneliness, such as lying upon the top of a mast. Verse 35 warns against numbness (“they have beaten me and I felt it not”) and addiction (“when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again”).
Proverbs 31:4-5 teaches, “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.” The danger is obvious.
nother passage is Isaiah 5:11, “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!” Obviously, this is alcoholic, because it inflames. Why does he say “Woe unto them?” Verse 12 answers, “…they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands.” Everyone knows that, when one gives himself to the drinking of beverage alcohol, he will not be more spiritual, not hungry for God, not desirous of learning the Word of God; to the contrary, it causes a person to ignore the Lord. But, verses 13-14 reveal two other serious results: people go into captivity (become slaves to something or someone) and hell enlarges herself! The drinking of alcoholic wine has caused hell to be enlarged! God does not want anyone to go to hell; He has given the greatest, dearest gift that He possibly could, to rescue sinners from it. He never made hell for people, in the first place. The Lord Jesus, Himself, said that hell was prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). However, because of evil alcohol, including alcoholic wine, hell has had an enlargement campaign. Here, then, is a clear warning against drinking alcohol, because God does not want anyone to go to hell.
___________
Is this article biblical or just full of theological points that the author is trying to make based on how he feels about alcohol?
And so I say just like the WOF, fundamentalism has its flaws as well.
When I say fundamentalism, I mean people that take the Bible too literally and distort it for their own desires. Here are some examples: I shouldn’t eat pork its a sin. I shouldn’t have a glass of wine its a sin. I shouldn’t smoke I’ll go to hell. Yes smoking is unhealthy, but you wont go to Hell. I dont remember Jesus saying “And he that smoketh shall be cast into hellfire.” Some people believe that if you dont worship on saturday that you’ll go to hell or “be left behind” for not following God on the correct day. Some people believe that you’ll go to hell if you’re not baptized. Some pentecostals believe that if you dont receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit you’ll go to hell. When I say fundamentalism I dont mean the fundamental beliefs of Christianity. I actually mean man’s laws, mans desires, and how man can change man rather than God changing man. The traditions of men make the Word of God to no effect.
Aka: legalism
J O
>> Christian still sin, because the flesh is fallen. Yet, the Bible is very clear about the difference between living a sinful life and committing a sinful act.
That’s it and when you do sin you ask for forgiveness again. Being saved is not a once off ‘forgive me’ and then go off and live in constant sin. When you are born again you want to change your ways, and you will change your ways, because of the Holy Spirit’s direction in your life – but you still have the choice to not listen to Him. If you do commit a sinful act you ask God for forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
It’s so simple, but people will do anything to not have too repent – so it’s actually the hardest thing a person can do, humble themselves before God and ask for forgiveness.
Jesus Heals
Mormonism and 7th Day Adventists and all branch offs from these churches would all fall under this category of obeying the Law – keeping the sabath etc. You taken this topic and have turned it into something it’s not meant to be.
No 4 is for born again Christians who adhered to the word of God, we are NOT legalists, we are NOT fudamentalist – BUT are called these names by others. No 3 is a genuine Christian.
You are confusing the situation completely. In fact all the stuff you wrote about would fall into no. 2 and some of it into number 1 because in the emergent (unity) movement, Mormons (who consider themselves Christian) and 7td Day Adventists (who consider themselves Christian) would be welcomed, as would Anglicans, Word of Faith, Apostolic and Prophetic, Cathocism, etc, etc, etc. As I said in No 2., everything goes, you can be any faith and everyone is welcomed.
Understand this is a individual thing, not a church thing. You know what you believe. For instance there are 2 people who go to a church (they are genuinely saved) but have not yet figured out something is wrong with the teaching at the church – they church started out ok, and now something is dodgy. Just because the church teaches rubbish does not make those 2 people unsaved. You can have an entire church full of people and not one is saved. You can have an entire church with only 2 saved people and then you can have a braai on a weeked with 10 people who fellowship withone another who are all genuinely born again.
The Body of Christ is NOT the Church. The body of Christ are individual people scattered all over the world who are truly born again.
“All Christians believe the Bible to be the inspired word of God, not just fundamentalists. ”
First of all, not all so-called “Christians” believe that the Bible is the INSPIRED WORD OF GOD – let alone the WORD of GOD.
Try speaking to more “Christians” and you will see…
Secondly, there are a couple of incidents where God Himself wrote with his finger… on tablets, on the wall…
Jesus is the Word/Bible/Logos incarnate. If you don’t believe that, then there is nothing anyone can say to convince you…
Last, but not least… The CHRISTIANS who hold to the Word (Bible) of God are given the FUNDAMENTALIST label.
The emergents proudly call themselves emergent, don’t CONFUSE THE TWO!
Greetings
J O
I would like to make another comment on the LAW vs GRACE debate.
One would be correct in saying that the law points to our sin and it shows the need for a Saviour.
We are saved by grace (through Christ’s death) alone and it cannot be earned.
Remember Jesus said that if we “love Him, we will obey His commandments…”
Unsaved people are slaves to sin (they have no choice BUT to sin), while religious people(trying to do good works) are under the law of Moses (which cannot save), while Christians (in the true sense of the word) are under a higher spiritual law, the law of Christ.
Jesus says that even if you only “lust after a woman, you have committed adultery…”
You cannot think for one moment that you are FREE to do what you please. Everything is bound to some or other kind of law – think about it!
Read what Jesus has to say about those “…who practice iniquity/lawlessness…”
Greetings
J O
Maybe I should be more specific:
We are saved by grace alone, in faith alone, through Christ alone and it cannot be earned…
Having said that, we need to admit that we are sinners, acknowledge the sin in our lives, realise that we cannot save ourselves, repent from those sins and accept the fact that Jesus Christ is the only way to obtain salvation and be in right standing with God… Free will was restored at the Cross and once you acknowledge the above, you have the choice NOT to sin anymore…
Christian still sin, because the flesh is fallen. Yet, the Bible is very clear about the difference between living a sinful life and committing a sinful act.
Regards,
J O
Then why do you use the word ‘fundamentalist’ when you mean ‘legalist’? It is two different things. The emergents are quite legalistic: All ‘gospels’ count and you have to keep the LAW of LOVE.