"Unorthodox Christian" Theology

[Zippythepinhead]

What do you see as "Unorthodox Christian" Theology?

 

[Ratiocination]

What do you see as "Unorthodox Christian" Theology?

It's like the first century Jews who recognized the Christ, they were considered unorthodox as the Jews in general were waiting for a carasmatic leader to save them from the Romans.
Such is the same today, the overpowering religious leaders consider smaller Church's to be "unorthodox". Perhaps there's a pattern emerging here!!!

 

[skylark1]

None of the above. There are orthodox Christians who do not consider themselves to be Catholic or Protestant. I think that orthodoxy is based on acceptance of a set of beliefs, rather than membership in a specific church.

BTW, there are small denominations that are considered to have orthodox beliefs.

 

[Lyric's Dad]

What do you see as "Unorthodox Christian" Theology?

I am not sure I even like the term. Afterall, the Lord does not want us to be seperate. If we are Christian, it should not matter. The Bible says that all those who believe on the Lord will be saved. That is amazing to me.

I do have concerns about some of the groups that are called "unorthodox" as I believe that some of the teachings within, wether official or not, have led some people to embrace such things which would make belief in the Christ much harder. I believe that the LDS and JW churches are filled with Christians. I just believe that some of the teachings in both have the potential to cause some serious problems.

I kind of just feel like I am someone who is in need of such tremendous grace, love, and understanding that I don't have the ability nor the right to judge anothers heart. I only wish to preach the love of Christ and Him crucified to all those who will listen. I am amazed at the forgiving grace He offers us.

 

[LittleNipper]

What do you see as "Unorthodox Christian" Theology?

What I see as "Unorthodox Christianity" has nothing to do with the generalities presented. It has everything to do with respect to GOD's Word. The acceptance that GOD's Word is divinely inspired, unalterable, incorruptable, inerrant, without contradiction and eternal is the key to what is orthodox.

 

[vanshan]

How about anything outside of Orthodox Christianity? I feel sadly left out of the poll.

If anything we teach or anything we practice in our worship has departed the established practices established by Christ and the Apostles, I think that is unorthodox. It can be complex for us to back track to the original practices as most of us have been exposed to many innovations in our faith which seem old and well-established, but there are tons of texts aside from the Bible itself which show us exactly what the Church Christ established was doing from the beginning. See the Apostolic Fathers which includes the Didache, or teaching of the twelve, which dates back to the next generation right after the apostles and shows what they were doing. Again this was written by those who were directly discipled by the Apostles of Christ. You can dismiss any text outside of the Bible itself, but I don't see these writings as contradicting the Bible, they compliment it, showing more of what the Church was doing.

Basil

 

[Imblessed]

I am not sure I even like the term. Afterall, the Lord does not want us to be seperate. If we are Christian, it should not matter. The Bible says that all those who believe on the Lord will be saved. That is amazing to me.

I do have concerns about some of the groups that are called "unorthodox" as I believe that some of the teachings within, wether official or not, have led some people to embrace such things which would make belief in the Christ much harder. I believe that the LDS and JW churches are filled with Christians. I just believe that some of the teachings in both have the potential to cause some serious problems.

I kind of just feel like I am someone who is in need of such tremendous grace, love, and understanding that I don't have the ability nor the right to judge anothers heart. I only wish to preach the love of Christ and Him crucified to all those who will listen. I am amazed at the forgiving grace He offers us.

I agree. I also believe that beliefs within some "unorthodox" churches like the LDS and JW's can cause enough confusion that some are putting their faith in "their church" and not on God and Jesus. Some are so convinced that theirs is the only true church, that that is where their faith lies, and that is indeed very dangerous. I have no right to judge whether anyone holding what is considered "unorthodox" views is 'saved' or 'not saved' because I cannot even judge that within "orthodox" christianity! It is God's job to do the judging. All I can do is point out what I feel are roadblocks to a true relationship to God and hope that God will open their eyes to the truth. Or indeed, if they hold more truth than I, that God will open MY eyes to the truth!

 

[ralrachaan]

In this post I'll tell you what orthodox christians see as unorthodox christianity, not what I see as unorthodox christianity, because to them I am an unorthodox christian. So here it goes...
Unorthodox christianity is anything that rejects the Nicene Creed. That means the reject one or many of the things below:
1.) Trinitarian Nature of God
2.) Supremacy of God
3.) The Bible or a portion of the Bible
4.) or, have another book that replaces the Bible.

 

[scraparcs]

My definition -- Unorthodox theology: an exclusionary concept promulgating the idea that I am of the in group and you are of the out group.

Let Jesus worry about who is not orthodox (small-o) and let me worry about nothing, save love.

 

[Cassiopeia]

What do you see as "Unorthodox Christian" Theology?

Well historically it is anything that differs from Catholisim.

I however, don't believe there is such a thing as an unorthodox Christian except in the minds of those who feel they are OC's and they exclude certain doctrinal differences.

I feel that if a person follows the teaching of Christ then one could literally consider them a christian. The more formal churches disagree and I understand why they do even though I disagree.

So I took your poll and said anything other than Catholisim..thinking of historical issues because Technically, if you aren't Catholic, you aren't OC.
BUT as I said, personally I don't hold to that view so sorry I clicked on that as a gutt reaction to your poll.

Oh I can't wait to hear the comments now

 

[CaliforniaKid]

Part of the reason we OCs react to Mormons and JWs by excluding them is that JWs and Mormons exclude us. As far as I'm concerned, any teacher/prophet/organization that comes along and says "you must follow me or you are not saved" is preaching a filthy lie.

The Apostle Paul taught that all followers of Christ are saved, whether they are circumcised or uncircumcised or eat idol-food or not. The people who aren't saved are the Judaizers, who teach everyone that they have to be circumcised etc to be saved. Against their heresy he fought vehemently.

So by comparison, I don't think we can cast any stigma on Joe Mormon for being deceived, as long as Christ is still number one in his life. But when he goes and starts teaching other Christians the same heresy, namely that they aren't saved unless they follow Joseph Smith (or for J-dubs the Watchtower), then there's a problem. And since Mormonism requires all Mormon boys who aspire to exaltation to spread their exclusionary message, there are few sincere Mormons who aren't comparable to the Judaizers Paul so strongly anathematized.

So you see, it's not Orthodox Christians who are being exclusive. It's the other guys who are the exclusive ones. We're just defending the faith against the attacks of heretics who would label us the church of the devil and deny us communion with our Father in the afterlife.

When Satan can get you to bear your testimony to your church rather than to your Savior, he has won.

-CK