Protestantism

» Brian Tubbs - What is Christianity?

In casually observint this thread, I think one of the major questions lurking in the background is...What is Christianity?

PaperTurtle, your perspective on Christianity SEEMS to be similar to that of Martin Luther King, Jr. and South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Christianity is a belief system characterized by the life and teachings of Jesus -- and supplemented by an emotional, spiritual journey that each person must follow in his/her own personal relationship with God.

Pink will appreciate this next reference, but this appears to be where Thomas Jefferson ended up. Jefferson was a Deist for much of his life, but drifted into Unitarianism and what I sometimes call a "soft" Christianity. Jefferson, in fact, referred to himself as a "Christian." But he questioned the miracles and the resurrection of Jesus. He didn't see Jesus as the Son of God in a Trinitarian way, but recognized him as a special, divine spokesman for God.

PaperTurtle, if I'm mischaracterizing you, please forgive me. But I'm trying to fix a reference point here, because I think it speaks to the disagreement you have right now with Brother Jones.

A softer Christian - the MLK, Tutu, Jefferson kind of Christian - has no problem looking at other religions for insights into the personal journey one must take in his/her relationship with God.

HOWEVER....

Brother Jones, Wendell, and I define Christianity more narrowly. For us, to be a Christian means that you must believe in the deity as well as the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ AND you must then prayerfully hand your life over to Christ, making him the Lord and Savior of your life. (You may agree with this as well, but your emphasis appears to be more in the MLK/Tutu/Jefferson camp of Christianity).

The point is that an evangelical, Bible-believing Christian will not be comfortable looking at Buddhism, Islam, Bahai, Hinduism, etc. for insights. For the reasons that Paul gives when he warns Timothy to avoid false doctrines and false teachers.

For my own part, I will look to figures in other religious faiths for inspiration or ideas in the civil arena (Gandhi's strategy of non-violence for example) or charitable arena or what not. But not theology.