Denominations

[ARBITER01]

Sure it is, which is why the KJV translates it that way.

Well current translations do not translate it that way.

While I do acknowledge the received text as the correct text that was handed down to the body of Christ, I don't place my trust in old translations.

 

[timothyu]

I've always been of the opinion God gives no one group absolute authourity as, being human, none can be depended upon to maintain His truth without adding their 2 cents. It's hard for humans to build a worldly empire without eventually turning away from the Kingdom.

 

[jmldn2]

Consider that even in Jesus' time there were denominations such as Sadducee, Pharisee, Essene etc.

Yet Jesus was not pleased with them, especially the Pharisees

 

[jmldn2]

The Lord also said in

Matthew 18:20
​

King James Version
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.​

No denomination is mentioned.​

 

[timothyu]

Yet Jesus was not pleased with them, especially the Pharisees

True but 12 or more principles of His mirrored the Essenes.

 

[dms1972]

There are 7 different churches listed in the book of Revelation. If Jesus had a problem with so many, He would have said so in that book

The seven churches in the book of Revelation, seem to be differentiated by their locations, not by that they were different denominations.

 

[RileyG]

Christian denominations differ in what they use for the basis of their doctrines and beliefs. The biggest split is between Catholicism and the denominations that have roots in the Protestant Reformation.

Here are what the seven major types of Christianity base their religion on:

• Anglican/Episcopal: The Scriptures and the Gospels, and church fathers
• Assembly of God: The Bible only
• Baptist: The Bible only
• Lutheran: The Bible only
• Methodist: The Bible only
• Presbyterian: The Bible and the Confession of Faith
• Roman Catholic: The Bible, church fathers, popes, and bishops

Eternal Security​

The doctrine of eternal security deals with the question: Can salvation be lost? Christian denominations have been divided on this subject since the time of the Protestant Reformation.
All these denominations agree that salvation is a precious gift from God. Some, like Baptists and Presbyterians, believe that once you are saved, you are saved eternally. Others, like Methodists, Lutherans, Roman Catholics, Assembly of God, and Anglicans/Episcopalians, believe a person can lose salvation by turning away from God and their faith, but that God’s grace can always be relied on to help them return.
Let's take a look at the varying viewpoints:

• Anglican/Episcopal: "Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ's Body the Church. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble." (BCP, 1979, p. 298)
• Assembly of God: Assembly of God Christians believe salvation can be lost: "The General Council of the Assemblies of God disapproves of the unconditional security position which holds that it is impossible for a person once saved to be lost." (AG.org)
• Baptist: Baptists believe salvation cannot be lost: "All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end." (SBC)
• Lutheran: Lutherans believe salvation can be lost when a believer does not persist in the faith: "…it is possible for a true believer to fall from faith, as Scripture itself soberly and repeatedly warns us…A person may be restored to faith in the same way he or she came to faith…by repenting of his or her sin and unbelief and trusting completely in the life, death and resurrection of Christ alone for forgiveness and salvation." (LCMS)
• Methodist: Methodists believe salvation can be lost: "God accepts my choice… and continues to reach out to me with the grace of repentance to bring me back to the way of salvation and sanctification." (UMC)
• Presbyterian: With reformed theology at the core of Presbyterian beliefs, the church teaches that a person who truly has been regenerated by God, will remain in God's stead. (PCUSA; Reformed.org)
• Roman Catholic: Catholics believe salvation can be lost: "The first effect of mortal sin in man is to avert him from his true last end, and deprive his soul of sanctifying grace." Final perseverance is a gift from God, but man must cooperate with the gift. (CE)

The Lutherans have a confession of faith, and the Methodists have the book of discipline.

 

[timothyu]

Are the difference in denominations really important or a distraction from the fact that not only did Christianity separate itself from the Jesus Movement, but the real separation is not among the ways of man, but between the Kingdom and the world of man itself. That is the bare bones of what Jesus taught. The Adversary seeks to confuse and mankind loves the confusion.

 

[ARBITER01]

The seven churches in the book of Revelation, seem to be differentiated by their locations, not by that they were different denominations.

Correct. Same with the churches addressed in the letters of Paul.

My point is there is nothing in scripture against the differing denominations we have today, even though someone said Jesus was unhappy with them in scripture.

 

[jmldn2]

First off, I read, study and try to practice the Word of our Lord written by those whom the HS guided. Mankind shall live by God's Words. Denominations and their practices will not give us access to heaven.

 

[timothyu]

Denominations and their practices will not give us access to heaven.

But it does serve a purpose in keeping us divided amongst ourselves thus serving the Adversary. Jesus said His church would be truth from God. Man was to live by it, not turn it into another Temple.

 

[ARBITER01]

But it does serve a purpose in keeping us divided amongst ourselves...

Does it?

Or does the inability of people to follow the word of GOD and Jesus's example?

The true sheep in the body of Christ hear His voice, so denominations only provide a pathway for those sheep to arise from and correctly follow Jesus.

 

[jmldn2]

But it does serve a purpose in keeping us divided amongst ourselves thus serving the Adversary. Jesus said His church would be truth from God. Man was to live by it, not turn it into another Temple.

That is exactly what I believe. The Adversary has truly invaded all denominations.

 

[timothyu]

Does it?

Or does the inability of people to follow the word of GOD and Jesus's example?

You've just described Christianity

 

[timothyu]

The true sheep in the body of Christ hear His voice, so denominations only provide a pathway for those sheep to arise from and correctly follow Jesus.

Exactly. Take off the training wheels and rise above the institutions of man.

 

[timothyu]

One might be wise to remember that not only the Dead Sea scroll movement rebelled against the Pharisee and Sadducee institutions of the day, but so did Jesus. Sacrifice was through prayer in the temple of the body and not the human idea of sacrifice which marred the Temple and Christianity. We too should not be complacent and blindly follow organized religion on it's own say so. It has always been those outside the sanctioned 'human' church that have been on the path of truth. It doesn't need tradition , ritual, doctrines or regulatory powers to exist.

 

[jmldn2]

One might be wise to remember that not only the Dead Sea scroll movement rebelled against the Pharisee and Sadducee institutions of the day, but so did Jesus. Sacrifice was through prayer in the temple of the body and not the human idea of sacrifice which marred the Temple and Christianity. We too should not be complacent and blindly follow organized religion on it's own say so. It has always been those outside the sanctioned 'human' church that have been on the path of truth. It doesn't need tradition , ritual, doctrines or regulatory powers to exist.

Exactly. Thus my feelings about "denominations." I do not need any denomination to help me follow the Lord. His Word is my guide.

 

[The Liturgist]

The idea of denominations is a social construct intended to normalize the abnormal condition of schism that resulted from a series of events including the fifth century schisms caused by Nestorius, the eleventh century schisms with the Eastern Orthodox caused by Roman Catholic insistence on papal supremacy, and made long lasting by the crusades and subsequent theological drift due to scholastic theology, and by the Protestant Reformation and subsequent schisms within Protestantism, and then more schisms caused by the Restorationist.

The idea that one can escape denominations through a “non-denominational church” is incorrect, since by definition, any variant form of believes int the worship of Christ becomes a denomination.

One is right to oppose the permanent existence of denominations, because of schism, but the correct answer is to follow Scriptural and Patristic doctrine and to push for unity in the Church of Christ and not to reject the ancient Christian interpretation of the New Testament and that of all existing denominations, which just creates another, rather than seeking reunification, which is happening, both through the ecumenical process and the mass conversions of people to the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and other traditional liturgical churches which are themselves churches which are extremely opposed to the continuation of schisms.

 

[Beth77]

I have NO IDEA as to which denomination I belong. Does it matter?

 

[timothyu]

They all except the same cash