Among some friends I meet online, the first few email exchanges are either make or break.
And like ancient knights passing each other, the protocol is to lift up your visor and let them see who you are. (that's where the idea of a military salute came from, Robert Redford told us in the Last Castle)
In other words, you gotta show your 'orthodoxy colors' first (or the lack thereof!)
That's an interesting exercise and here is how I replied recently.
To get the ball rolling... i'd like to think that I'm
'Catholic' in the sense that I believe in the apostle's, chalcedon & nicene creed (those great orthodox, ecumenical councils on who Christ is - fully God and fully man)...
'Evangelical' since we are justified by grace alone thru faith alone in christ alone on the basis of scripture alone to the glory of God alone (all those 'solas')...
'Reformed' in terms of how we are saved by God while we are utterly and radically fallen in sin, God foreknew and unconditionally chosen to rescue us frm sin by sending His Son to die on the cross as a substitute and satisfied the just punishment we deserve and count His righteousness on our account so that His Spirit overcame our rebellion and gave us new life to trust and obey Him, and infallibly preserves us to persevere in faith and obedience till the very end :)
'Charismatic' in terms of God sovereignly distributing spiritual gifts to different individuals in the church to serve others in love, humility and mutual edification. (not as a thermometer of spiritual power)... 'Tongues' is not a sure proof of a second experience with God, but we are to be continually filled with the Spirit and eagerly desire spiritual gifts.
I was not born in Armenia or Armenian Street, Spore... unfortunately! :)
But there's some 'Arminian/Methodist' blood in me too... in the sense of desiring to see the kind of diligence and passion for evangelism exemplified by John Wesley and an appreciation for the hymns of his bro Charles hehehe... the need to call for a response from one and all, since we dunno who is elect or not.
'Baptist' in the sense that like Spurgeon, I would prefer baptism by immersion but was in fact, sprinkled by my Methodist pastor in Ipoh, heheh...
'Emergent' in the sense that i value conversations, a concern for theology to be embodied not only theorised :)
'Liberal' in the sense that I pay attention to the various historical studies like form criticism, redaction, textual criticism etc in so far as they are used in faith rather than in service of naturalistic skepticism, to shed light on how the biblical authors wrote and in works of interpreting scripture :D
'Brethren' cos I am big on priesthood of all believers... also premillenial, post-tribulation in eschatology (oops!)
'Agnostic' on church government, music styles and a plethora of other issues
The list could be longer, not exhausitve.
So please feel free to post a comment to do a further "checkup".
Or better, show me your true colors :D
And like ancient knights passing each other, the protocol is to lift up your visor and let them see who you are. (that's where the idea of a military salute came from, Robert Redford told us in the Last Castle)
In other words, you gotta show your 'orthodoxy colors' first (or the lack thereof!)
That's an interesting exercise and here is how I replied recently.
To get the ball rolling... i'd like to think that I'm
'Catholic' in the sense that I believe in the apostle's, chalcedon & nicene creed (those great orthodox, ecumenical councils on who Christ is - fully God and fully man)...
'Evangelical' since we are justified by grace alone thru faith alone in christ alone on the basis of scripture alone to the glory of God alone (all those 'solas')...
'Reformed' in terms of how we are saved by God while we are utterly and radically fallen in sin, God foreknew and unconditionally chosen to rescue us frm sin by sending His Son to die on the cross as a substitute and satisfied the just punishment we deserve and count His righteousness on our account so that His Spirit overcame our rebellion and gave us new life to trust and obey Him, and infallibly preserves us to persevere in faith and obedience till the very end :)
'Charismatic' in terms of God sovereignly distributing spiritual gifts to different individuals in the church to serve others in love, humility and mutual edification. (not as a thermometer of spiritual power)... 'Tongues' is not a sure proof of a second experience with God, but we are to be continually filled with the Spirit and eagerly desire spiritual gifts.
I was not born in Armenia or Armenian Street, Spore... unfortunately! :)
But there's some 'Arminian/Methodist' blood in me too... in the sense of desiring to see the kind of diligence and passion for evangelism exemplified by John Wesley and an appreciation for the hymns of his bro Charles hehehe... the need to call for a response from one and all, since we dunno who is elect or not.
'Baptist' in the sense that like Spurgeon, I would prefer baptism by immersion but was in fact, sprinkled by my Methodist pastor in Ipoh, heheh...
'Emergent' in the sense that i value conversations, a concern for theology to be embodied not only theorised :)
'Liberal' in the sense that I pay attention to the various historical studies like form criticism, redaction, textual criticism etc in so far as they are used in faith rather than in service of naturalistic skepticism, to shed light on how the biblical authors wrote and in works of interpreting scripture :D
'Brethren' cos I am big on priesthood of all believers... also premillenial, post-tribulation in eschatology (oops!)
'Agnostic' on church government, music styles and a plethora of other issues
The list could be longer, not exhausitve.
So please feel free to post a comment to do a further "checkup".
Or better, show me your true colors :D
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