Wednesday, July 24, 2013

More Dilettante Theology from Robert Cargill

"Christianity is not first about doctrine or dogma, it is about service (specifically, social justice). Until we get the service part down, our doctrine is worthless." via: http://robertcargill.com/

I could hardly choke this one down. Precisely the opposite holds true for Christianity. Actually, what is first in the order of Christianity is neither service (what man does) or doctrine/dogma (what the serving man believes about God). It isn't about us. The foundation and linchpin of Christianity is the name Jesus Christ....period.

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve...." -1 Cor.15:3-5

This is one of the earliest definitions of the Christian faith that we have, so I consider it a good measuring stick. Notice how it has absolutely nothing to do with men? Well ok, maybe the part which speaks about the forgiveness of sins and Christ's appearing to the Twelve and such. But the first presupposes that we are wicked and culpable before God, and the second only allots a passive role to anthropology: beings to whom Christ chooses to appear. No dogma, no doctrine, no service....just Jesus Christ, the one who died for our sins and rose again.

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