Category Archives: Church of Christ Doctrinal Issues

Dialogue with Robert Prater: Baptism, Circumcision, Galatians, 1 John, and GraceConversation

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Jay F Guin

The question has been raised in private emails and comments here whether baptism might be a work. After all, circumcision, which is certainly a work in Paul’s vocabulary, is also passive. To answer this one, we need to get away … Continue reading →

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Dialogue with Robert Prater: What Is “Faith”? Part 4 (Baptism vs. Faith)

Posted on April 11, 2009 by Jay F Guin

Note to readers: I’m recaptioning the posts reflecting my interchange with Robert Prater, as we’ve gotten pretty far afield from the original theme. When members of the Churches of Christ speak of the faith-only heresy, they generally aren’t referring to … Continue reading →

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Dialogue with Robert Prater: What Is “Faith”? Part 3 (Baptism)

Posted on April 10, 2009 by Jay F Guin

Baptism Okay. Baptism is, oddly enough, where many in the Churches of Christ got things wrong in the last century. That and the Holy Spirit. We wanted to prove that baptism is essential for salvation. We argued, therefore, that it … Continue reading →

Posted in Grace, Instrumental Music, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 19 Comments

Dialogue with Robert Prater: What Is “Faith”? Part 2 (James, Paul & the Spirit)

Posted on April 9, 2009 by Jay F Guin

So what about James? Let’s take a fresh look, beginning with his thesis sentence — (James 2:14) What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? He … Continue reading →

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Dialogue with Robert Prater: What Is “Faith”? Part 1 (Toward a Definition)

Posted on April 6, 2009 by Jay F Guin

Robert Prater posed an important question — If you take such position that a person is saved/justifed/forgiven of sins on the basis of faith alone/only without its inclusion of further acts of obedience which demonstrate/define, etc. true “faith/belief” (i.e., confess, … Continue reading →

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Dialogue with Robert Prater: Robert’s Doctrine of Apostasy, Part 3 (God’s Patience)

Posted on April 5, 2009 by Jay F Guin

Robert next argues, Jay, what should be our posture toward those who, by their anti-biblical ideas, promote, encourage, or, at the very least condone, immoral acts or doctrinal errors? Should the blanket of “toleration” be thrown over them indefinitely? In … Continue reading →

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Dialogue with Robert Prater: Robert’s Doctrine of Apostasy, Part 2 (Discipline)

Posted on April 4, 2009 by Jay F Guin

Discipline issues Robert then asks, “How does one determine which teachings are significantly erroneous to warrant disciplinary action?” I would like to suggest that we already have the answer, except we need to add some important wrinkles. Obviously, the church … Continue reading →

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Dialogue with Robert Prater: Robert’s Doctrine of Apostasy, Part 1

Posted on April 3, 2009 by Jay F Guin

A few days ago, Robert Prater, pulpit minister in Shawnee, Oklahoma, wrote an extensive reply to my earlier post to him. At long last, Robert explains which doctrines are salvation issues and which are not (this is the question that … Continue reading →

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Instrumental Music: A Question About Transitions

Posted on March 25, 2009 by Jay F Guin

In a recent Christian Chronicle article, it was noted that Churches of Christ in the United States had elected to omit 21 congregations that have added an instrumental worship service, but several other congregations with instrumental services had been included … Continue reading →

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An Email About Grace and Divorce (Help from the Readers Needed)

Posted on March 24, 2009 by Jay F Guin

I get emails. This is from a divorced and remarried couple who are being treated as second-class Christians in their home church. Hi We attend a [conservative, non-Church of Christ] church. My husband and I have been married for 27 … Continue reading →

Posted in Divorce and Remarriage, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments