Greetings,
First let me thank you for considering me to answer your questions. I am honored.
In as much as you adhere to the LDS faith, and I do not, there may be some differences in definition. Should I feel that to be the case, I will give the definition I am using just to be sure we are on the same page in this discussion.
Question: Which type of Christianity do you belong to?
Answer: Christianity does not exist in “types.” A Christian is a person who has recognized that he or she is a sinner and is due God’s judgement for that sin. In response the sinner sincerely repents (confesses and turns from that sin) and turns to the finished work of Christ1 for forgiveness.
There are those who call themselves “Christian” who are not. They profess a faith in Jesus, but in reality do not possess such faith. They proclaim a faith but live as though they did not believe. Thus, they are either lying or are self deceived. True belief in something, especially something as important and significant as the finished work of Jesus Christ, will always cause a change in the believers life. Jesus put it this way, “You shall know them by their fruits.”
Therefore, the answer to your question is that I am the only “type” of Christian there is: A person who truly puts his faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ for salvation (eternal life with God), and trusts and worships Him as my Lord.
I assume the question was actually asked to learn what “denomination” I am with? I am with none, but can happily worship with any in which true Christians worship. I can be at home in any truly Christian denomination, even though we may not agree on all of the peripheral doctrines. As long as we agree on the fundamental doctrines we are brothers and we can worship as such.
Question: Do you still preach with Oil and Wine Ministries?
Answer: Oil and Wine Ministries is my ministry. I teach and preach when asked to do so. I teach through writings through my website and FB page.
oilandwineministries.yolasite.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2313423435415144/
The purpose of this ministry is the teaching and preaching of the Bible for reaching the lost for Christ, and for building up the Body of Christ in Biblical Truth.
Question: Why did you join your church or congregation?
Answer: The first church I attended upon our move to Idaho was Silver Sage Baptist in South Boise. I went there because it was near my home at the time. They preached the Biblical gospel and stayed true to the bible. I was honored to preach for the Pastor on a couple of occasions, and to teach a bible class for adults before the church service. I went there because I felt the need to be there.
After a couple of years I felt the need to move on and minister elsewhere, so that is what I did. I began attending Calvary Chapel Boise where I took a position in the “Grace Works” ministry, a ministry outreach to Mormons. As time progressed I worked as a “pastor on call”. I prayed with and counseled those who would come to the church for help. I often had the pleasure of giving out food to those in need as they came in for help.
Now we have moved to Eagle and opened a venue in downtown Boise. The venue keeps us busy so we have not committed to any specific congregation. We have a “church plant”, Boise Presbyterian, which meets in our venue on Sundays, so I am there for that.
I become part of a congregation if the Lord calls and I can be of service there. Currently, God has me working apart from any local congregation, but in concert with all of every Christian denomination who preaches the truth of God’s Word and the Salvation of God’s Son. It is God I serve, not a denomination.
Question: What do you know about the origins of Christianity?
Answer: The origins of Christianity are clearly laid out in the Gospels and the Book of Acts. More about the early church can be gleaned from the Epistles. Christianity was not an invention of religious men, but was, and is, the result of the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of believers. It is no different today.
I am not sure if you want to go further and discuss the Early Church Fathers, the rise of the Roman Catholic Church, the Reformation, the denominations which arose out of and after the Reformation, and all of the history of the Church up to today. I doubt you are looking for such a lengthy answer.
Question: Which version of the Bible do you read? Why?
Answer: My preference is the 1971 edition of the New American Standard Bible. The reason is that it is the most accurate translation of the original languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek) available. Second would be the English Standard Version for the same basic reasons.
Question: How would you describe your relationship with God?
Answer: I am a child of the Eternal God who exists outside of space and time and has no beginning nor ending. I am His child because of the blood of Jesus which has cleansed me of my sin and put me in right standing with the Father. I am His servant, His free slave. I live to serve and worship Him. I love Him and seek to serve Him daily. I speak with Him in prayer very often, and I trust the Holy Spirit to guide and correct me. My relationship with God is real and personal and is so only because of the forgiveness I have received through Jesus Christ.
Question: What do you believe about grace.
Answer: Χαρις (Charis), the Koine Greek word translated “grace” in the New Testament refers to God’s unmerited favor. That word, “unmerited” is all important in understanding grace. Grace is favor that is undeserved. A good biblical example is given in Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37:
30 Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, 34 and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’ 36 Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” 37 And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”
The man who had been robbed and beaten did not “deserve” the mercy shown him by the Samaritan. Indeed, since Samaritans were generally despised by Jews, the Samaritan had more reason to pass him by than the others in the parable who did so. It was said that the Samaritan “showed mercy” to the man, and such he did, but it was mercy shown to one who, at least from the Samaritan, had not earned mercy.
Gods grace goes far beyond mercy. It is His grace that is granted us when we not only do not deserve it, but rather deserve His wrath due to our sinning against Him! God the Son (yes, I believe in a Biblical Triune God) became incarnate as a human man, free from sin and judgement, and bore the sin and the judgement of man in man’s place! That is grace! It is unmerited, unearned, undeserved, and yet freely given to all who accept that gift of God.
If we say, “For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do”, (2 Nephi 25:23), we nullify grace. This verse is actually contradictory. It is saying that we are saved by God’s unmerited favor after we’ve done all we can to gain God’s favor. It is saying that we are saved apart from works after we’ve done all the works we can do to be saved.
Mercy is providing for someone who is putting forth their best effort when that effort is not good enough. Mercy is the word which would make much more sense if it replaced the word “grace” in 2 Nephi 25:23.
Grace is providing for someone who in no way can even attempt to deserve it. There is absolutely nothing that can be done to earn grace. “For by grace you are saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no man may boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)
Final Question: How do you feel about Jesus Christ and His atonement.
Answer: How do I feel? Blessed beyond measure! I am a sinner deserving of eternal separation from my Creator in a place where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” However, God the Son became man, bore my sin (my very own sin!) on the cross, died my death, was buried and rose on the third day. Because of that grace, I can live eternally with Him, the Father, and the Holy Spirit!
I am redeemed by Christ’s atonement. I am, finally, free not to sin! By His Spirit I can have victory over sin! By myself this is not possible.
I am forgiven and sanctified by His atonement. Such freedom is beyond compare with anything else I have ever known in this life.
Because of His atonement, while I was once dead, now I live!
1. The finished work of Christ (His atonement) refers to His death wherein He bore the penalty for all man’s sin, His burial, and His resurrection, obtaining eternal life for those who are His by believing. The work is referred to as “finished” because there is no more to be done to secure mans salvation. Jesus did it all. “It is finished.”