If your version of Christianity is solely dependent upon getting into heaven, you miss what jesus means by eternal life and turn Christ into nothing more than an entry ticket into the pearly gates.
Universalism, taught by the Vatican’s doctrine chief. Why would anyone be Christian, then? It could get you killed. Sorry martyrs and confessors. y’all were dopes. Rome now has clarified that for you. Sucks to have been you, St Peter and St Paul.
Evidence for an early date:
1. There is no mention of the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, the center of Jewish life. So the New Testament was completed before 70 AD.
2. There is no mention of Nero's persecution of Christians in 64 AD, though other persecutions are mentioned. This moves the date even earlier.
3. Paul was martyred in ca. 64 AD, but he is still alive in the book of Acts, Luke's second writing, which means it was written before 64 AD.
4. Paul quotes Luke’s Gospel and refers to it as Scripture in 1 Timothy 5:18, so that book was likewise written before 64 AD.
5. Peter refers to Paul’s letters as Scripture in 2 Peter 3:16. Peter died around A.D. 65, another reason to date Paul's writings early.
John A. T. Robinson, a radical theologian once known for his role in launching the “Death of God” movement, later changed his mind. His dating:
• Matthew: written between 40 and 60 AD
• Mark: written between 45 and 60 AD
• Luke: written between 50 and 60 AD
• John: written between 40 and 65 AD
Conclusion: The Gospels were all composed within the lifetimes of eyewitnesses and contemporaries of the events -- people who could have falsified any of the Gospels' claims.
The Episcopal Church’s failure to invest in ministry with children, youth, and young adults is the chief reason for its clergy shortage and its decline.
One of the most disheartening things about the emergent church movement was that it showed exactly how fixed the boundaries of evangelicalism are on certain issues like lgbtq inclusion. Lots of room for disagreement until you hit those weird boundaries.
I think it’s funny that places like The Gospel Coalition are willing to have a big tent on Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, but not marriage and the role of women in the Church.
I’m well aware that the mainline church is rapidly dying and I think in large part due to a failure to provide a faith that is compelling. But, boy oh boy am I happy to be in the mainline when I look at the conversations happening in evangelicalism.
Showing my confirmands the passage of scripture where Elhanan is attributed as killing Goliath is one of my favorite things. Using categories like “historical fact” or “inerrant” is detrimental to the way we interact with scripture.
Do you like ancient Greco-Roman gods? How about deification? Or maybe Luke’s/Acts? Well today’s your lucky day.
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