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I'm glad you asked.
On God and the Trinity
I believe that there
is one God, with a triune nature -- God the Father,
God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
On Salvation
I believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross as an
atonement for our sins. And in doing so, all that
accept His sacrifice, repent of their sins and turn
their lives over to God are reconciled to Him. I
believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life,
the ONLY way to God and salvation.
On Miracles
I believe that God is still doing miracles today, though
due to lack of faith in the population of the world
few are seen or acknowledged.
On Water Baptism
I believe that water baptism is an outward expression
of an inward change and renewal, and represents our
death and rebirth as new creations in Christ. I
don't believe that baptism is essential to salvation.
On Holy Spirit Baptism
I believe that God is
still baptising His children in His Holy Spirit, ometimes
with evidence of tongues, though not always. I
don't believe that this is essential to salvation, but
do believe that it is hard for a believer to live a
fully empowered life without it.
On Gifts of
the Spirit
I believe that the gifts of the Spirit
are all still active today, though as I mentioned above,
are often not seen due to a lack of faith in mankind
today. I believe they are available to anyone
who is saved to meet specific needs as they arise. I
also believe that there are those who are gifted by
God in certain areas such as Catherine Kulman's healing
ministry. But I don't believe that all who call
themselves "healers" for
example are.
On Speaking in Tongues
I do believe in speaking
in tongues. I believe it should be done in an
orderly fashion, and only done in the church setting
when there is an interpreter available. I believe
in personal use of the gift of tongues in our quiet
times with God.
On Angels and Demons
I
believe that both are very real, and active in a constant
spiritual battle that goes on around us, without most
of us ever being aware of it.
On the Bible
I believe that the Bible is the Word of God. I
believe that it is
infallible, and 100% accurate.
I know that it is a living work that speaks to
us in different ways as we read it according to our
growth, and areas of need and understanding.
On Being Slain/Dancing/Laughing/Crying/etc. in the Spirit
I have seen these things. I have never seen anyone
barking like dogs, hissing like snakes, chirping like
birds, etc. I have seen some become so overcome
with the joy of the Lord that they will cry and/or laugh,
and have experienced it myself a time or two. I
have never seen anyone writhing on the floor as if demon
possessed, except of course in the case of someone who
was actually demon possessed, and then that wasn't part
of the worship.
On Prosperity
I believe
that God has given each of us the ability to make our
way in the world. I don't believe that it is God's
will that we all be rolling in money/lands/whatever.
I believe that He gives us the means to meet our
needs as they arise, and only intervenes miraculously
when there is no other way. I believe that there
is much more to prosperity than physical wealth, and
applies more to our spirit than to our flesh.
On a final note. I have learned that what I know,
and what I believe is also, as in anyone, based on my
personal experience, what I have come to know is true.
There have been times where I have had to re-evaluate
what I believe, and face the fact that some things I
have believed are in error. So, I am not closed
to the idea that I could be wrong in some things. As
a living breathing human being, it happens all the time.
If I have missed anything, Eric, or anyone else
for that matter, please feel free to ask.
God
Bless.
Tom.
25
November 2004 in alt.christnet.christianlife
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