Non-denominational is the way to go I think BUT

[xXMikHaelXx]

I wish all the denominations would unite. Paul warned us, didn't he?

"I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,a in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephasb ”; still another, “I follow Christ.”

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power."

- 1 Corinthians 1: 10 - 17

 

[Tigger45]

I am inter-denominational and I believe as long as we are under the blood of the one historic, biblical Jesus Christ we are one. You'll notice that all the churches mentioned in the NT had different weeknesses and strengths. But they were one in Christ.

 

[xXMikHaelXx]

"One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephasb ”; still another, “I follow Christ.”

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?"


We'll just bypass that part? - There are a lot of denominations out there that think their way is the ONLY way - stuff like that needs to stop. When the secular world looks at the church they just see mass confusion.

This is the biggest issue I've come across when I minister - people aren't sure what is going on and they don't want to go anywhere near churches as a result.

 

[standingtall]

This is the biggest issue I've come across when I minister - people aren't sure what is going on and they don't want to go anywhere near churches as a result.

Soooooo.....what do they say when you tell them you're an angel?

 

[xXMikHaelXx]

Soooooo.....what do they say when you tell them you're an angel?

Sometimes I don't tell them that - then there are other times in which I am compelled to. In those times, they sometimes cry - they smile - some of them think it explains a lot about my nature. I've never had a person react badly.

I'm sorry you're so hung up on this - but is following me around really necessary?

 

[BryanW92]

I wish all the denominations would unite. Paul warned us, didn't he?

Do you mean unite into the One True Church? Jesus gave us two commandments, and a lot of examples of how those two are carried out. But, even he did not give us an exact set of rules (doctrine) for carrying out those two commandments.

Denominations are ways for humans to interpret those rules. If you find a church that obeys the two commandments (really obeys and doesn't just give lip service), then you are in a Christian church. Denomination doesn't matter, and if you think about it, denominations keep us honest.

We once had the One True Church. It became corrupt and anything but Christlike. It divided and people got a choice. Today, we have a myriad of choices and almost all of them follow the two commandments. If a church begins to become corrupt (e.g. Westboro Baptist Church), you can use your feet to get out there and you don't have to fear that the next church you come to believes the same thing.

When you encounter someone from another denomination, always remember that they are your brother or sister and treat their doctrine as your own. Discuss, learn, and teach, but always respect them.

 

[standingtall]

Sometimes I don't tell them that - then there are other times in which I am compelled to. In those times, they sometimes cry - they smile - some of them think it explains a lot about my nature. I've never had a person react badly.

I'm sorry you're so hung up on this - but is following me around really necessary?

I'm a cynic....especially when it comes to folks making extra-biblical claims about themselves.

 

[TRWord]

I wish all the denominations would unite. Paul warned us, didn't he?

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power."

1 Corinthians 1: 10 - 17

All the denominations will never unite. What is the purpose of denominationalism other than to direct us away from the teaching of Jesus Christ.

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Matt. 24:4-5

Jesus isn’t saying here that a bunch of guys are going to come saying I’m the Christ.

He’s trying to get us to keep in mind that there is one Christ and therefore one message.

The purpose of denominationalism is the confusion we have today.

When Christians recognize that there is one Christ and therefore one message wouldn’t that be the end of all the divisions between us and the end of denominationalism itself.

 

[xXMikHaelXx]

All the denominations will never unite. What is the purpose of denominationalism other than to direct us away from the teaching of Jesus Christ.

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Matt. 24:4-5

Jesus isn’t saying here that a bunch of guys are going to come saying I’m the Christ.

He’s trying to get us to keep in mind that there is one Christ and therefore one message.

The purpose of denominationalism is the confusion we have today.

When Christians recognize that there is one Christ and therefore one message wouldn’t that be the end of all the divisions between us and the end of denominationalism itself.

I know they will never unite - that would be throwing denomination out the window. I still wish that they would though.

 

[xXMikHaelXx]

I'm a cynic....especially when it comes to folks making extra-biblical claims about themselves.

Well that's fine but I don't understand what you're trying to accomplish here - it's coming off a little trollish. If I'm wrong in my claims then God will correct me - until that happens I can only claim what I know to be true.

Bringing up something outside of the context of debate for reasons of cynicism seems a little pointless.

 

[Alithis]

for unity to take place .there must be transparency in our lives ..and selflessness . for me to die is gain - to live is Christ ..

Unity will come - it will not come by me convincing you,nor you convincing me .. it will come when persecution comes
it will come when trial by fire comes
it will come when there are those who will say no to the world and the flesh and love not their own lives even unto death

and those who will sell out for a morsel of soup (the human right to buy and sell )
then the wheat will be divided from the tare.. the true from the apostate
the obedient from the disobedient .the final harvest.

 

[xXMikHaelXx]

for unity to take place .there must be transparency in our lives ..and selflessness . for me to die is gain - to live is Christ ..

Unity will come - it will not come by me convincing you,nor you convincing me .. it will come when persecution comes
it will come when trial by fire comes
it will come when there are those who will say no to the world and the flesh and love not their own lives even unto death

and those who will sell out for a morsel of soup (the human right to buy and sell )
then the wheat will be divided from the tare.. the true from the apostate
the obedient from the disobedient .the final harvest.

No - for unity to take place we need to stop arguing about interpretation and who said what - doctrine - laws - political views etc.

Our hearts have become hardened to our own views - so much so that we tear down whatever does not line up with our personal views.

Unity would take place if we simple followed the two commandments we were left with - To love God with all our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

 

[BryanW92]

No - for unity to take place we need to stop arguing about interpretation and who said what - doctrine - laws - political views etc.

Our hearts have become hardened to our own views - so much so that we tear down whatever does not line up with our personal views.

Unity would take place if we simple followed the two commandments we were left with - To love God with all our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

You inadvertently make a good case for denominations, doctrines, and rules. If Christianity was "anything goes as long as you stick to the two commandments", then we would have to accept your very unbiblical claims of being an angel. We'd have to accept everyone's outlandish claims. A couple weeks ago, we had five guys in a thread who claimed to have spirits called tulpas living inside them.

Fortunately, we have the whole bible to serve as a model and a guide. Most of our denominational problems come from the things we add on that are not even in the bible, or can only be found through irresponsible prooftexting. We look at the denominations and say that they are at war with each other, but then I attend an ecumenical event and find myself sharing communion with Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, and non-denominationals. We don't shove our doctrinal differences in each others' faces. Instead we share our common bond, which is Jesus Christ.

The unity you seek already exists, but only if you stop looking for the things that divide us. Be grateful that the message of Christ is so simple and universal that we can have 50 different churches in a town, where each is a little different, but all distill down to the same core beliefs and none of us ever march over to a different church at night to burn it down because their method of baptism offends us.

 

[xXMikHaelXx]

You inadvertently make a good case for denominations, doctrines, and rules. If Christianity was "anything goes as long as you stick to the two commandments", then we would have to accept your very unbiblical claims of being an angel. We'd have to accept everyone's outlandish claims. A couple weeks ago, we had five guys in a thread who claimed to have spirits called tulpas living inside them.

Fortunately, we have the whole bible to serve as a model and a guide. Most of our denominational problems come from the things we add on that are not even in the bible, or can only be found through irresponsible prooftexting. We look at the denominations and say that they are at war with each other, but then I attend an ecumenical event and find myself sharing communion with Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, and non-denominationals. We don't shove our doctrinal differences in each others' faces. Instead we share our common bond, which is Jesus Christ.

The unity you seek already exists, but only if you stop looking for the things that divide us. Be grateful that the message of Christ is so simple and universal that we can have 50 different churches in a town, where each is a little different, but all distill down to the same core beliefs and none of us ever march over to a different church at night to burn it down because their method of baptism offends us.

Lol - people are really stuck on that angel thing huh?

You don't have to accept my claim - I've never been forceful on that point.

I think every person should be allowed their own beliefs but they should be fully convinced of them within their own hearts.

"One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living."

The love commandments are more directed at the quarreling between the denominations. I've seen Baptists and Methodists go at each-other like two rabid dogs - or a Catholic and a Lutheran unable to stay in the same room with each other without arguing.


I'm not sure what the cause is for so much offence on this forum. I was simply quoting Paul - saying that there's too much quarreling going on and it sometimes confuses and puts off the secular community.

 

[xXMikHaelXx]

Also "anything goes as long as you stick to the two commandments", then we would have to accept your very unbiblical claims of being an angel.

Well, the whole law is summed up in those two commandments - which is a biblical concept. Love God with your whole heart - you automatically want to do what is right in His eyes. Love your neighbor as Christ loved you - you automatically fulfill the law within your life.

 

[GrayJM9]

No denomination is the way to go. Jesus is the way to go.

 

[xXMikHaelXx]

No denomination is the way to go. Jesus is the way to go.

Lol it's funny you should say that - in some weird ways NON-denominational has become a denomination - very odd.

 

[GrayJM9]

No. I didn't say NON-denominational is the way to go. I said NO denomination is the way to go. Jesus is the way to go. Baptist is not the way to go, Catholic is not the way to go, Methodist is not the way to go. Calling yourself something and only going to a church because of the denomination is not the way to go. Being what God wants you to be is what is important and not anything else.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

No. I didn't say NON-denominational is the way to go. I said NO denomination is the way to go. Jesus is the way to go. Baptist is not the way to go, Catholic is not the way to go, Methodist is not the way to go. Calling yourself something and only going to a church because of the denomination is not the way to go. Being what God wants you to be is what is important and not anything else.

QFT. In my many years of Christian experience, I have found that no two people believe exactly the same. But our Lord Jesus is the one in whom all can agree and believe.

 

[xXMikHaelXx]

No. I didn't say NON-denominational is the way to go. I said NO denomination is the way to go. Jesus is the way to go. Baptist is not the way to go, Catholic is not the way to go, Methodist is not the way to go. Calling yourself something and only going to a church because of the denomination is not the way to go. Being what God wants you to be is what is important and not anything else.

I didn't mean it that way - sorry. I meant that even non-denominational is becoming a denomination in it's own way. I agree with you 100% - sorry if it came off the wrong way. Jesus is the only way to go - He is the way the Truth and the Light -.