Why are there the extremes?

Before we begin this topic, I want to mention again, that there are times for the extreme. There is no middle ground in calling sin, sin. There is no middle ground regarding how to be born again. What we are discussing is the extremes in the 'non-essentials'. I am also not saying that either extreme regarding a non-essential is ok. One extreme may actually be false, or both extremes may be false. And I am not saying the middle is always correct.

An example of an extreme in the non-essential would be in the area of Christians and prosperity. There are those who are part of the Name it, Claim it group. The opposite camp would be the God is sovereign camp and no matter what we do, we cannot change God's will or get Him to move on our behalf. Both sides will defend their position by the use of Scripture.

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This is a reminder that on Feb 28, inactive blogs will be deleted. Your data will not be able to be recovered.

Inactive blogs are:
Blogs with only 2 posts total in the last month
Blogs with no new posts in the last 30 days

If your blog falls under the above, you need to make a post by Feb 28.

This reminder is provided as a courtesy. Be aware in the future we may not give a reminder. When blog users sign up for a blog account they are informed of the blog guidelines.

There is a post by Repair the Breach titled 'Has the Cross Been Replaced'. I wanted to comment on the post, but the blogger has comments turned off. It is too good of a post to just ignore. The jest of the post was in regards to some Charismatic churches in their area embracing the emerging church movement.

It is not only the charismatic churches. but many other groups throughout the nation are embracing this false movement. In fact, brand new non-denominational churches that are not charismatic identify themselves as an 'emerging church'. Of course, it makes sense that charismatics (tend to be more based upon feelings) would be the first to embrace the emerging church concept. Don't get mad at me, I am a very committed pentecostal/charismatic and would not be considered an evangelical. But the truth is, some charismatics jump on the bandwagon for anything new and different. Of course, there are evangelicals that run from anything new and different even if it is biblical. But I am digressing from the reason for my post.

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Needless to say, when you have over 200 Christians that are blogging there is going to be disagreements about various topics and on doctrine (hopefully agree on the essentials). Some are going to disagree on some topics more than others. Some are going to be more adamant than others on certain topics or doctrines. Some are going to be more opinionated than others. This can either add up to conflicts, name calling, etc. or it can lead to disagreements but still showing the love of Christ.

I want to share a positive story.

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Balance, Balance, Balance

More than ever there needs to be balance in the Body of Christ. Over and over again I have seen Christians leaning toward extremes. Now some extremes are good, in fact a sincere sold out follower of Jesus should be extreme in some areas. But what I am speaking about is when Christians take the Word of God and form a doctrine to try to counter an extreme doctrine. The problem is that some then create their own extreme doctrine. The pendulum swings from one side to another side. Instead of looking for a Biblical principle, many times Christians are only looking for a means to counter an out of balance doctrine.

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Why Would a Person Want to Deny the Deity of Jesus Christ?

If Jesus is not God then Jesus is either a liar or a lunatic. If Jesus is a liar, He cannot even be a good moral person, or one of God's many prophets. That would mean whatever Jesus taught cannot be trusted. Thus Jesus teachings can be ignored. So what Jesus calls sin may not be sin. The concept would be get rid of the messenger so that you do not have to follow the message.

If Jesus says He is the only way to heaven, but He is not God like He claims to be, then it would be safe to assume He is not the only way to heaven. So, then a person could argue there are many ways to get to heaven.

If Jesus is not who He says He is, and Christianity is based upon the teachings of Jesus, then Christianity falls apart. So Christianity would just be another religion.

However, if Jesus is who He says He is, then everything He said, did, and taught is truth. Thus if He says He is the only way to heaven, there is no other way to heaven. If Jesus says the means to get to heaven is faith alone, then it is not faith and works. If Jesus says a person must be born again to get to heaven, then they must be born again to get to heaven.

Every other religion than Christianity states that a person gets to heaven by faith and works. Every other religion does not say you must trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Thus every other religion is false.

Some would say that this means Christianity is very exclusive. That is true, but only to an extent. It is very exclusive on how to get to heaven. However, it is also inclusive-whomsoever. Heaven is open to whomsoever puts their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Regardless of culture, race, sex, upbringing, education, etc.

Conclusion
"...Either this man was, and is, the Son of God; else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."
C S Lewis

Jesus is equal to God
There are verses that say Jesus is equal to God.
Some will argue that God the Father created Jesus to be equal to Him-not that Jesus was innately equal to God. It is immaterial. Whether Jesus was at one time not equal to God (which we believe is false doctrine), He is NOW equal to God. So Jesus is fully God. To argue otherwise, is in direct conflict with scripture.

Philippians 2:5-7 (KJV)
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
If Jesus on His own made himself equal to God, He could not do it unless He is God or God allowed it. If God allowed it, then God made Jesus equal to God, thus He is God. The true meaning of this passage is that was God, not that He was made to be equal to God.

What some people do is get hung up on the semantics of the phrases 'form of God'. Here are other translations to help bring clarity.

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