A Methodist in Your Midst

[Minimalist]

And He is the same Pastor who has a Degree in Theology

Wooooo.....a degree in fucking theology! Wow. Impressive. What's next?
Astrology?

Divinity degrees are a dime a dozen and all are fucking worthless. Wasting your life studying one pointless old book which, when you are done studying, remains a pointless old book....and a poorly written one at that.

[Norfolk And Chance]

Isn't a degree in Theology about as useful as a degree in "breathing air"? Actually, no it isn't!

[LastPoet]

I have a degree in "intensive heroin use" passed by the local dealers. Yay, I'm a doctor, now, respect me!

[Faith No More]

Then either they were wrong or you misunderstood. Faith is in fact essential. Faith should be demonstrable by its product but the product alone is meaningless. There is only one route to salvation in what is widely regarded as Christianity and that route is via Jesus.

Ok fr0ds, I looked this up to clarify and it seems I was partially right.

 
Do United Methodists believe that faith in Jesus Christ is necessary to go to heaven?
Yes, United Methodists do believe that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way the Bible gives as clearly God's gift and way of salvation and heaven.  God can save anyone that God chooses to save and we cannot decide whom God will save.  We simply trust the plain teaching of scripture.  See John 3:16, Acts 4:12 and many other texts.
Our belief in this unique path of salvation can never be used to put down other religions and the gifts that they have to give to the world, even to Christians.  That we have a gospel to proclaim is not grounds for hurting others.  We can and must be friends with Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and others. In dialogue with them we learn and they learn.  In a time when religion is so much in the news and on our minds, we need to be vigilant against our own hostility and follow Jesus in the way of love.
Our Book of Resolutions says, "While we as Christians respond faithfully to the call to proclaim the gospel in all places, we can never presume to know the full extent of God's work in the world, and we recognize the reality of God's activity outside the Christian church. It is central to our faith that salvation is accomplished not by human beings, but by God. We know that judgment as to the ultimate salvation of persons from any faith community, including Christianity and Judaism, belongs to God alone."

http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=1386

So yes, they do believe faith in Jesus is necessary, but then in the part I bolded they say that the ultimate salvation belongs to god. So it seems I was right that their position is that they don't know exactly who gets in and who doesn't.

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I have a degree in "intensive heroin use" passed by the local dealers. Yay, I'm a doctor, now, respect me!

A specialist, eh? I got my degree in general drug use.

[Forsaken]

That preacher is a con. He used to hang around with a Church Minister who is a accused rapist. This guy too is believed (but no witness) to be using his "authority" in his community to con people and "play around unnaturally" with children in Sunday school. I don't know why Christian ignores all this.

[Doubting Thomas]

You know, I've often wondered... what exactly is the method in Methodism?

[fr0d0]

@ FNM: Faith in Jesus is still the only way to salvation. The statement doesn't seem to contradict that. I very much value all ideas I can think of I've heard on the subject, including those to the contrary. It doesn't then follow that those ideas replicate salvation as I understand it. They can only ever be complimentary. I do believe it necessary for God to have a whole other methodology, but that's God acting and not us. ie our only way to him is through Jesus, but he isn't tied to that route back to us.

[Anomalocaris]

You know, I've often wondered... what exactly is the method in Methodism?

Appearently it is to replace method with madness.

The real miracle of Christianity is no "dumbest Christian I've ever met" would remain so for long, in a few days, I am sure even this Christian would be usurped by one even dumber.

[KichigaiNeko]

Who's Nick?? Who Satan?? Nice guy, gets alot of respect here as he has not murdered as many humans as you god has.

Nick = Forsaken. And by that I mean thats his username.

Ah....thanks InsanityX...didn't know that.

As InsanityX has stated..

I love how the X keeps being made capital

Makes me feel awesome.

All part of our "ebil planz"

[The Grand Nudger]

I do believe it necessary for God to have a whole other methodology, but that's God acting and not us. ie our only way to him is through Jesus, but he isn't tied to that route back to us.

I'm sorry, am I misunderstanding you here, are you suggesting that god can come in many ways, but that we must filter our way in through your favorite avatar? If so, you might see how this could create a problem, if not, mea culpa.