The question continuationists must answer

[Saint Steven]

I agree with part of that.

I think Christianity is together on most of the important doctrine like Christ being God and man, Perfect, atoning for sin, that we water baptize, pray, and other main tenants of the faith.

I do think Christ has room for diversity in the Body of Christ.

Seems so.

1 Corinthians 12:12
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:20
As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

 

[SkyWriting]

I wonder why everyone views it as division instead of diversity?
I think the denominations bring richness not strife. Obviously some individual bring strife.
And denominations that claim they are the only "true" church.
But, by in large, it is a good thing.

It's pretty rare that any church bad mouths another denomination.
One big factor I've found, is that a good percentage of people left a denomination
in their past.

 

[klutedavid]

Whenever the apostles confronted division in the church they fixed it. Where are all the modern day apostles who will fix the division in church today? Also, how can all these church teachers be called by God if their doctrine divides us? Does God teach division and confusion?

I'm not sure if the apostles fixed the divisions.

There will always be divisions in Christianity, as well as in politics and everything else. Human nature automatically finds disagreement, at every point on the line.

I don't think today's divisions are that much different to a thousand years ago.

 

[W2L]

This has nothing to do with Continuationism. (opposite of Cessationism)

It does actually. If denominations are all teaching different doctrine, then how can they all be called by God to teach this division?

 

[W2L]

I'm not sure if the apostles fixed the divisions.

There will always be divisions in Christianity, as well as in politics and everything else. Human nature automatically finds disagreement, at every point on the line.

I don't think today's divisions are that much different to a thousand years ago.

So pauls words about speaking the same thing, with the same judgment and mind, and to have no divisions among us...these words are just nonsense?

 

[W2L]

Seems so.

1 Corinthians 12:12
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:20
As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

Whos the arms and legs of the body? Which denominations?

 

[W2L]

You guys are missing the point im trying to make. If the churches are all teaching different doctrine, and cant agree on what sound doctrine is, then how can they all be called by God? Surely some if not all are wrong.

 

[W2L]

They tried to fix it through letters or traveling. It was not all rainbows and sunshine though and many things they tried to let individual churches work out.

The apostles were the heavy hitters, like when it couldn’t be worked out internally.

There were times when even the apostles had to meet so they were on the same page. Paul and Peter were at odds for years before they got it together

It wasn’t perfect though.

Yes its clearly not all that.

My point is this, how can the same God call teachers to teach both catholicism and protestantism?

 

[klutedavid]

So pauls words about speaking the same thing, with the same judgment and mind, and to have no divisions among us...these words are just nonsense?

No, the reason Paul said that above, was because there will always be divisions among us. The divisions within Christianity are increasing over time, not decreasing.

Corinthians 11:19
For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.

Factions, divisions, denominations, that's life.

 

[ToBeLoved]

You guys are missing the point im trying to make. If the churches are all teaching different doctrine, and cant agree on what sound doctrine is, then how can they all be called by God? Surely some if not all are wrong.

Some churches aren’t based on what you or I may consider to be “sound doctrine”.

Some consider certain Bible events to be myths that are useful for their end result or what we would see as the moral of the story.

Some see the Bible as a guidebook.

Some are more interested in “experiences” than theology.

Some value previous traditions or what is seen as their churches history.

I mean, the issue IMHO is less about Bible theology or what correct Bible theology is and more on what some churches or denominations priorities are.

I also think the Holy Spirit shows is when we seek. Like Jesus said, “Seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened, ask and it shall be given”.

I think God gives us a lot of leeway. And I think that many times if people have preconceived notions or value things that are not what we would value, I think that the heart and mind, in its ability to want to do what it wants to do and think, can drown out the Spirits teaching or convictions when the person themselves have determined they are right. At that point they are not seeking, listening, contemplating, but have already made a decision. And God will let us, because of free will, do many things we desire.

That’s my take.

 

[SkyWriting]

You guys are missing the point im trying to make. If the churches are all teaching different doctrine, and cant agree on what sound doctrine is, then how can they all be called by God? Surely some if not all are wrong.

They can all be called by God, but what each one wears when
they get to the door is not that important.

 

[SkyWriting]

Yes its clearly not all that.

My point is this, how can the same God call teachers to teach both catholicism and protestantism?

The difference in isms are not that important.

 

[Saint Steven]

It's pretty rare that any church bad mouths another denomination.
One big factor I've found, is that a good percentage of people left a denomination
in their past.

Granted, there are a lot factors here, some negative, but mostly positive.
Yet there is a somewhat pervasive thought that those in other denominations are "them" instead of "us". That's a systemic problem.

 

[Saint Steven]

It does actually. If denominations are all teaching different doctrine, then how can they all be called by God to teach this division?

Why would you single out "continuationists" to lay the blame on?
Cessationism is infinitely more divisive.

How do you define the terms Continuationism and Cessationism?

 

[Saint Steven]

Whos the arms and legs of the body? Which denominations?

From my perspective, the denominations are a subdivision of the whole church.
You are looking at the parts and trying to figure out which part is the church.
They are all parts of the whole. In fact, the whole is bigger than the sum of its parts.
This is a very freeing thought if you can get hold of it.

I love fellowshipping with my brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ from other denominations. We are all one church. It's a beautiful thing. So, please don't make it ugly.

 

[W2L]

No, the reason Paul said that above, was because there will always be divisions among us. The divisions within Christianity are increasing over time, not decreasing.

Corinthians 11:19
For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.

Factions, divisions, denominations, that's life.

Factions are a work of the flesh. You say thats life?

 

[W2L]

Some churches aren’t based on what you or I may consider to be “sound doctrine”.

Some consider certain Bible events to be myths that are useful for their end result or what we would see as the moral of the story.

Some see the Bible as a guidebook.

Some are more interested in “experiences” than theology.

Some value previous traditions or what is seen as their churches history.

I mean, the issue IMHO is less about Bible theology or what correct Bible theology is and more on what some churches or denominations priorities are.

I also think the Holy Spirit shows is when we seek. Like Jesus said, “Seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened, ask and it shall be given”.

I think God gives us a lot of leeway. And I think that many times if people have preconceived notions or value things that are not what we would value, I think that the heart and mind, in its ability to want to do what it wants to do and think, can drown out the Spirits teaching or convictions when the person themselves have determined they are right. At that point they are not seeking, listening, contemplating, but have already made a decision. And God will let us, because of free will, do many things we desire.

That’s my take.

thank you.

 

[W2L]

They can all be called by God, but what each one wears when
they get to the door is not that important.

What? You think the only thing that separates churches are clothing? That is not so.

 

[W2L]

The difference in isms are not that important.

Thats what you say, but i say it proves that the church doesnt have teachers who are called by God but instead are trained in falible tradition and doctrine by man.

 

[W2L]

Why would you single out "continuationists" to lay the blame on?
Cessationism is infinitely more divisive.

How do you define the terms Continuationism and Cessationism?

There is another thread previously started which askd a question of cessationists, so i thought i would start one to ask a question of continuationists