Religions of the Middle East: Notes-5/21/02

MAINLINE CHURCHES(Liturgical)
-Catholic
-Orthodox
-Episcopal(protestant denomination, no pope)
-wore "priestly garb", recited prayers and dialogue
-Lutheran
-strong distinction between clergy and church members
-Methodist
-Presbyterians
-older crowd
-Theologically liberal

FUNDAMENTAL/EVANGELICAL CHURCHES(Non-Liturgical)
-Baptist
-Pentecostal
-"Bible Church"
-Four Square
-ministers wear suits instead of robes
-emphasis on preaching and small groups
-younger crowd
-Mormons
-Jehovah's Witnesses
-Theologically conservative

*Pagan: Greek and Roman polytheism
*Church: "Ekklesia"=assembly

SYNOPTICS(Same view)
-Parables
-Messianic Secret
-Share sayings of Jesus
-Low Christology(doesn't make a big deal about Jesus' identity)
-Diety?
-Son of God
-Trinitarian Baptism-end of Matthew

JOHN
-No parables
-No Messianic Secret
-High Christology
-Diety of Christ is clear

*Jesus="Son of Man"(Messiah), Son of God
*Messianic Secret=Jesus:"Yes, I am the Messiah, but do not tell"-he didn't want anyone to know because of crowd control and to avoid being arrested and crucified.
*Jesus' attitude toward the law of Moses:
-still obey the sabbath
-keep the commandments
-morality is more important than rituality
*You can find all traditional doctrines in the Gospels, at least implicitly; they are more clearly found in John
*Communion: "Last Supper"-Jesus' last Passover that he celebrates with his disciples; he gives Passover a new meaning: commemoration of crucifiction