A Truly Fundamental Christianity

Hmmm...I believe it to be a recognition of commonality in that all human beings are 90% water, although, of course that couldn't have been known when the sacrament was established, could it ? Maybe that was a secret knowledge recognized somewhere along the timeline of the Church.

flow....:)
 
I need some advise Im an ordained minister who has considered himself to be an evangelical Christian most of my ministry but Im now coming to a place in my faith that questions the authoritarian controlling and manipulating methodology which I have found in the camps I run do you have any advice to a person who believes in the literal physical resurrection of Christ but does not believe He consigns people to hell for misunderstanding Him. Im even questioning the plenary inspiration of the scriptures but have no way to gage what I should do
 
Hi Seattlegal – season's greetings!

Isn't that what water baptism is all about? Isn't it about the open physical recognition of "the body of the faithful?"

Indeed, and the symbolic references are manifold – and only come to full meaning when viewed against their particular background.

It occurs to me, following your lead, that some might argue that 'baptism' – or the rite of washing – is a universal symbol of purification, which it is, however to understand Christian baptism one should look at all the Christian formative data, which is the foundation of its hermeneutic.

So in that sense, baptism, as an initiatic rite, is a symbol of deliverance, with reference to the Exodus and specifically passage through the Red Sea, which again infers the upper and lower waters of the Creation ... then we have Jesus walking on the water, and what that signifies, the Flood, the Ark, ... again and again the references are not only to the spiritual but also the communal ...

Thomas
 
lovenvrfails said:
I need some advise Im an ordained minister who has considered himself to be an evangelical Christian most of my ministry but Im now coming to a place in my faith that questions the authoritarian controlling and manipulating methodology which I have found in the camps I run do you have any advice to a person who believes in the literal physical resurrection of Christ but does not believe He consigns people to hell for misunderstanding Him. Im even questioning the plenary inspiration of the scriptures but have no way to gage what I should do
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Namaste Lovenvrfails and welcome to CR

One thing I've learned when others ask "What would you do if you were in my shoes?" The correct answer for me is "I would do what you would do if I were in your shoes"

I hear you in the joys and pangs and pain of exploration. As we are stretched, as our understanding grows sometimes we grow out of where we are. But sometimes we want to stay to take part in the change with others as well. And sometimes we leave and come back...all I know is, it is all good.

The place I would look is within your heart, go inside, listen to that still small voice and see where it leads. Speak with the powers that be...their answers, no matter what they are should assist you in your decisions.

Peace and blessings in your travels.
 
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