10/03/2009

The Doctrine of Entitlement

I run into the Doctrine of Entitlement more frequently today then ever before. What do you think of this popular doctrine?

So, what do YOU think?

6 comments:

Lawrence W. Wilson said...

Keith, I'm not sure if I would call it the "doctrine of entitlement," but I do see more and more Christians who don't have a clear understanding of how they are saved, or why. I would call it crisis-less conversion.

Increasingly, we seem to equate salvation with adopting a positive worldview or church association or proper self-esteem or something else besides justification by faith.

Not to get all theological about it.

Anonymous said...

Maybe that is because a crisis became a requirement when following Jesus become thelogical!

Until then, it was follow Jesus and his leadership, learn the ways of God and let God transform you by the renewing of your mind. It was heart surgery!

Why does anyone need Jesus and a crisis when they have pastors and church leaders willing to make folks after their will/ways?

People only go as far as their leaders have the capability to take them!

When you have pastors that do not understand the law, its requirements, the sacrifices, and the reasons for/requirements of them, how can you expect those pastors to translate that to NT christians and grow them? Not one jot or tittle is gone!

If pastors were taught the Bible instead of theology, maybe this would not be a problem!

Timothy Hawk said...

This doctrine rips self-worth, self-identity, and salvation right out of the corporate experience. Jesus and the Apostles would struggle with the individualistic twist we have given salvation. Most, if not all, of the references containing "you" were directed to the corporate body of believers. Reference "Contours of Pauline Theology" by Tom Holland.

Anonymous said...

By the way, fear and awe do not reconcile, love and attachment reconcile!

Few are ever taught that truth!

Sin offerings are based on fear and awe and the sin offering wasn't the only obligatory offering. And if the love and attachment is only one-sided (Jesus for my sin), well sure, I am entitled! Bring it on, Jesus!

PDW said...

What happens to the Glory of God with this focus on us? 1 Corinthians 1:31

All that we have in Christ, is because of Who He is! (1 Corinthians 3:23 NIV) "Ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's."

This is the goal: (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV) "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

Anonymous said...

Ouch, the theology of my youth. Shallow theology + Pop-psychology= self absorbed believers who think God serves them!