{ August 27, 2010 @ 5:41 pm } · { Uncategorized }
Our ideas of Jesus being divine were formulated and put in a nice, and confusing box by both the Council of Nicaea and Chalcedon. If the council of Nicea established two of the doctrines which many Christians hold dear, does that mean if one doesn’t believe, they aren’t Christians? Early Christians were followers of the way. Was the way, believing in Christ’s death and resurrection or was it a way of life? Can one be a follower of the way and not believe in the resurrection of Christ and his divinity?
If the bible is not a historical document but a narrative exegesis then maybe its ok to just believe the truths within the bible and about Jesus. Since we are learning about Jesus and the Gospels, why can’t we taste Jesus in the many flavors he’s portrayed as… Son of God, teacher, prophet, heretic. What does it mean for Christianity if Jesus was in fact not divine. What if Jesus was just a man?
Courtney Bunce
The way I see it, the point of Nicaea was simply to better define and clarify what Christians already believed. They weren’t making up new things that Christians needed to believe. I’m not sure you have to believe every bit of what they say in oder to be a Christian; however, I do think that a vital part of our faith is believing that Jesus was Christ, God incarnate who was sentenced to death for us and was resurrected.
I think that being a follower of the way is a way of life, but what you believe (as in who Jesus was) is a major part of the way in which you live. I think its possible for someone to be a “follower” without really knowing where they are going, just as a “believer” might think that Jesus was a cool guy without thinking that he was God. I believe that the answer to that is simply getting to know Him better. That seemed really cliche. But you have to know Him in order to really follow Him.
The Bible may not be historically accurate…but it does say that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. It says that He was all of those “flavors” and even more! After reading the Bible (not that I have read ALL of it) I don’t see how anyone could think Jesus was really JUST a man.
You have an interesting perspective, Kim. And I really like your title
http://courtneysletters.blogspot.com/
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