Is the Unification Church (Moonies) Christian? (salvation, grace, churches, bible)
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The Unification Church isn't a cult by definition, a cult leader has the desire to be worshiped, Sun Myung Moon did not. Their beliefs stem from the teaching of Christ and Sun Myung Moon thought that the Christ appeared to him asking him to carry on Christ teachings. The may have been theological differences between the Unification Church and many "mainstream" Christian churches but that in and of itself doesn't make it a cult.
My understanding of what is a Christian, is one who believes in and follows the teachings of Christ.
The Unification Church isn't a cult by definition, a cult leader has the desire to be worshiped, Sun Myung Moon did not. Their beliefs stem from the teaching of Christ and Sun Myung Moon thought that the Christ appeared to him asking him to carry on Christ teachings. The may have been theological differences between the Unification Church and many "mainstream" Christian churches but that in and of itself doesn't make it a cult.
My understanding of what is a Christian, is one who believes in and follows the teachings of Christ.
Not really. A Christian is one who believes in and acts upon the redemptive work of Jesus Christ (John 3 and James 2)
To answer the OP, it appears the answer is no, based on the following:
In order for God to send the Messiah, mankind must fulfill certain conditions which restore what was lost through the Fall. Restoration takes place through the paying of indemnity for (making reparations for) sin.
Christianity teaches that it was Christ, and not man who made restoration for sin.
*I don't know much about The Unification Church, and this article is in dispute, so keep that in mind. Maybe someone else knows better about their beliefs.
This is a quote from Sun Myung Moon son stated recently about Jesus:
We’ve learned from the Principle that Jesus came to offer not only spiritual salvation but physical salvation as well. However, because of the insufficiencies of humanity, Jesus died earlier than he should have, and he was able to give only spiritual salvation to humanity. When God had to send Jesus the way of the cross, this was a very painful thing for God. Also, this was not the path that God originally desired for Jesus. If only humanity had received Jesus and accepted him as Messiah, he would not have gone that course!
Jesus went that way, however, in the end. Even though this was not God’s first choice, God was able to use that course to give humanity spiritual salvation. In other words, the crucifixion and resurrection course of Jesus made it possible for humanity’s mind to go to God, and humanity could receive salvation in the world of the heart and the mind.
Yes they are Christian in the sense of believing in the divinity of Jesus and the crucifixion yet the Moonies believe that Jesus works were incomplete due to him being crucified.
In order for God to send the Messiah, mankind must fulfill certain conditions which restore what was lost through the Fall. Restoration takes place through the paying of indemnity for (making reparations for) sin.
Christianity teaches that it was Christ, and not man who made restoration for sin.
*I don't know much about The Unification Church, and this article is in dispute, so keep that in mind. Maybe someone else knows better about their beliefs.
Might be interesting to have some more information. The above doctrinal objection to the Unification church as being Christian seems minor and arguable. God's plan has always involved some required behaviour by man.
Might be interesting to have some more information. The above doctrinal objection to the Unification church as being Christian seems minor and arguable. God's plan has always involved some required behaviour by man.
You are incorrect. Christian salvation is different from all others. God reaches out to us and offers salvation based on who Jesus was/is, not our goodness. Salvation by works is not Christian.
You are incorrect. Christian salvation is different from all others. God reaches out to us and offers salvation based on who Jesus was/is, not our goodness. Salvation by works is not Christian.
James 2.14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?
James 2.14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?
You misunderstand this passage. The context is, genuine faith promotes action. A faith that is empty of love for others is false.
James 2
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
This passage defines Christianity:
Ephesians 2
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
You misunderstand this passage. The context is, genuine faith promotes action. A faith that is empty of love for others is false.
James 2
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
This passage defines Christianity:
Ephesians 2
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Of course, but the point is not about salvation (how quickly you religious bods lode the track of an argument), but about the actions (or works) of people - Christian, Jewish or not -as aspects of God's unfolding plan. Which you denied on the grounds of Faith not works,to which I responded by showing that works are involved too, so human actions as requirements in the supposed plan of God cannot be denied as you did.
The point of the argument is that your grounds for denying the Unification Church status as Christian is on the basis of their claim that "mankind must fulfill certain conditions" because you posted "salvation based on who Jesus was/is, not our goodness."
Works also have a part to play as per James' letter, so human actions as part of Gods plan cannot be doctrinally made a reason to deny the Unification Church Christianity status.
Last edited by TRANSPONDER; 10-27-2012 at 09:22 PM..
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), but about the actions (or works) of people - Christian, Jewish or not -as aspects of God's unfolding plan. Which you denied on the grounds of Faith not works,to which I responded by showing that works are involved too, so human actions as requirements in the supposed plan of God cannot be denied as you did.
