Discussion Forum #11

Do you feel a need for spiritual awakening in our country?  If you answer "yes," what can you do to begin such an awakening--in your own life?  in your church?  in your denomination?  throughout the land?  Present practical ideas in your discussion.  Are you willing to do what you should?

Discussion Forum #10

What happens spiritually when any factor is put above Scripture in authority?  Include in your discussion how easily we set our own ideas above biblical truth.

Discussion Forum #8

If we randomly ask people what they want in this present life, I am almost sure that peace would be one of the answers.  Everywhere you turn, you see the absence of peace--1S1S.  Syr1a.  Palest1ne.  Fallen 44.  Magu1ndanao.   People all around the world recognize this, in fact, there has been countless peace talks and agreements that were discussed, signed, and broken.  Peace never came.

 

Another initiative that has been pursued is the interfaith dialogs and tolerance.  We have heard that the current pope even promotes this wherever he goes--conducting interfaith meetings and dialogs.  In fact, February 1-7 of each year has been designated World Interfaith Harmony Week by the United Nations.  It was launched in February 2011 to promote harmony among people of different faiths at a time when inter-religious conflict is claiming lives and livelihoods all over the world.


For this week's discussion, what are your thoughts about this?  Does this really lead us to acquiring peace?  Can this be related to what the Apostle John wrote in Revelation 17 and 18? 

Discussion Forum #7

The Reformation was a remarkable time of change and renewal where our eyes have been opened to the truth of God's love, the sufficiency of His Word, and need for constant reformation of this world.  Indeed, it was a milestone in the life of the Church carefully orchestrated by God Himself. 

For this week's discussion, describe the significant accomplishments of the Reformation and how the church should continually uphold the pursuits of Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin.
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Discussion Forum #5

Critique the statement, "Mysticism teaches that man can have a relationship with God that does not require the organization nor government of the church."

Discussion Forum #4

Augustine lived from 354-430 and was indisputably the most important theologian in the first millennium of the western church. He shaped the Western Church’s thinking on salvation, the church, baptism, sin, the Trinity, the Christian state, sex – in short, almost everything.

For this week's discussion read and post any information about Augustine that you find interestingly significant.  

Discussion Forum #3

The papal authority has gained prominence over the years of its
existence.  From the rule of many bishops to the rule of one bishop
--the bishop of Rome. We can't deny the fact that we owe a lot of
our heritage as an orthodox Christian from these forefathers of
faith. 

For this weeks discussion, comment on 

how the Roman Catholic Church used the

Scripture to support their claim of

papal authority, especially their claim of

Peter being the first pope.  

Discussion Forum #2

We have learned from last week about the beginning of the so-called separation of church and state.  Donatus, not agreeing with how the Catholic church at that time was being run by the bishops, thought it wise to leave the church and start his own church.  He tried many times to convince the Catholic church to agree with his teachings but to no avail.  Since he couldn't get the support of the church, he then appealed to the government to decide in favor of his new group.  Unfortunately, the government under the leadership Emperor Constantine did not grant them such favor.  Donatus and his new church did not get the power that they wanted.  He then declared that the government should not have anything to do with the church.

So for this week's discussion forum, I want everyone to focus on at least two things:
1.  What do you think are the good implications of the separation of church and state?
     Do you see a clear and fair division of authority between the two in our current society       and time?

2.  Donatus declared separation from the government when he did not get the power he          wanted.  In other words, his decision wasn't based on clear and accepted principles,            rather, he based it on his self-gratifying motives.  What are the dangers of such kind of        decision-making process?

I'm looking forward to reading your smart and thoughtful comments.

Discussion Forum #1

For this week's discussion forum, comment on the quote from Philip Schaff, a Swiss-born, German-educated Protestant theologian and a Church historian who spent most of his adult life living and teaching in the United States. .

"How shall we labor with any effect to build up the church, if we have no thorough knowldege of her history, or fail to apprehend it from the proper point of observation? History is, and must ever continue to be, next to God’s Word, the righest foundation of wisdom, and the surest guide to all successful practical activity."

—Philip Schaff