The mission of Biblical Families is to promote a biblical understanding of marriage and family, including a biblical understanding of the defining characteristics of men and women and their roles within the family and within Christian fellowships. While our meatspace fellowship is pretty focused on topics pertinent to Christian marriage, and particularly Christian plural marriage, our cyberspace discussion tends to range over a broad variety of topics, from the sublime to the ridiculous. Most such topics are not particularly contentious, and none of them have to be. Yet from time to time we find ourselves 'putting out fires' here on the discussion board, for different reasons, none of them particularly good or necessary.
One source of contention that comes up on a regular basis is the misunderstanding and suspicion that exists between many Christians around the subject of Torah observance. Not all Christians, but many, just have a hard time understanding the idea that followers of Christ could worship and serve in such radically different ways, and beyond that, there are some on both sides of the basic issue that are adversarial and rather sharp-tongued in their denouncement of anyone 'on the other side'.
It doesn't have to be a divisive issue, but we're not going to rehearse those discussions here—there are plenty of threads on the board already covering all that ground. We want followers of Christ across the spectrum to feel welcome here, primarily to discuss "biblical family", but also to discuss other topics of interest. To that end, we are opening this thread for productive, edifying discussion of Torah requirements. From the point of view of the overall organization of the discussion forum, this is a subset of "Biblical Issues Other Than Marriage & Family", but it is a subject large enough and important enough to deserve its own heading, and over time we will probably migrate certain threads over to this forum as we find them across the board.
As a reminder, the Doctrinal Statement page of our website is reprinted here in its entirety:
If you get this, then you get Biblical Families, and you're welcome here. Enjoy the discussion!
One source of contention that comes up on a regular basis is the misunderstanding and suspicion that exists between many Christians around the subject of Torah observance. Not all Christians, but many, just have a hard time understanding the idea that followers of Christ could worship and serve in such radically different ways, and beyond that, there are some on both sides of the basic issue that are adversarial and rather sharp-tongued in their denouncement of anyone 'on the other side'.
It doesn't have to be a divisive issue, but we're not going to rehearse those discussions here—there are plenty of threads on the board already covering all that ground. We want followers of Christ across the spectrum to feel welcome here, primarily to discuss "biblical family", but also to discuss other topics of interest. To that end, we are opening this thread for productive, edifying discussion of Torah requirements. From the point of view of the overall organization of the discussion forum, this is a subset of "Biblical Issues Other Than Marriage & Family", but it is a subject large enough and important enough to deserve its own heading, and over time we will probably migrate certain threads over to this forum as we find them across the board.
As a reminder, the Doctrinal Statement page of our website is reprinted here in its entirety:
Doctrinal Statement
Since our public ministry is inclusive of Christ-followers from all backgrounds (evangelical, Pentecostal, fundamental, charismatic, Messianic, mainstream denominations, nondenominational, and more) we simply state that we are in agreement with the Apostles Creed of the early church, and are happy to fellowship as brothers and sisters with those who worship the one true God, our Creator; acknowledge the deity of Christ, His death and resurrection, and His redemptive work for us on the Cross; and make an effort to walk in their lives like they are redeemed by Him. We accept the Bible as God's inspired Word and His only written revelation.
Apostles Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Since our public ministry is inclusive of Christ-followers from all backgrounds (evangelical, Pentecostal, fundamental, charismatic, Messianic, mainstream denominations, nondenominational, and more) we simply state that we are in agreement with the Apostles Creed of the early church, and are happy to fellowship as brothers and sisters with those who worship the one true God, our Creator; acknowledge the deity of Christ, His death and resurrection, and His redemptive work for us on the Cross; and make an effort to walk in their lives like they are redeemed by Him. We accept the Bible as God's inspired Word and His only written revelation.
Apostles Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
If you get this, then you get Biblical Families, and you're welcome here. Enjoy the discussion!
