Is Satan behind the division of the many denominations we find? Or, is it the Lord?
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I asked God why there were so many different denominations of the same belief. It simply came down to man needed to find a church that fit his need....now let that sink in for a minute.
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It is suppose to be thinking....even though it says eyes rolling.The
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What about finding a church you can be of the greatest service with?I asked God why there were so many different denominations of the same belief. It simply came down to man needed to find a church that fit his need....now let that sink in for a minute.
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Correct....
"But continuously grow grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." 2 Pet 3:18
Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." 2 Pet 3:18
Growing in grace is held by means of understanding how to be filled with the Spirit.... the same Spirit who will lead us into all the truth we will need in our lifetime.
Only autonomous Pastor-teachers can fulfill this duty they have been commissioned. A church denomination will hinder and box them in otherwise.
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I asked God why there were so many different denominations of the same belief. It simply came down to man needed to find a church that fit his need....now let that sink in for a minute.
"For the time will come when people will not put up with
sound doctrine. Instead to suit their own desires, they
will gather around them a great number of teachers to say
what their itching ears want to hear." 2 Tim 4:3
Not finding one's need. Finding only his personal "preference."
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord." Isaiah 55:8
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord." Isaiah 55:8
God's thinking will many times runs contrary to human preference. Something in God's Word when taught with accuracy will at some point infuriate, or frighten you... Only to find out you could not figure it out with your own slant on life.
The Word must transform your mind, and if you are humble and submit to humiliating corrections when they come... Or? You will be repulsed and seek a church that transforms the Word to make a believer comfortable with his natural way of accepting and seeing things.
You will have "many" to pick from. A smorgasbord of teachings, each designed to appeal to someones personal taste. After all,. Jesus warned that the way to destruction (of their spiritual lives) will be "broad and wide.
But, the way that leads to finding the (spiritual) life God desires must remain strait and narrow. Under pressure and resistance, until one reaches maturity and finds himself understanding for the first time what Jesus meant when he said he came to give us life more abundantly.
And.... sad to report... Jesus said that only a few will find it. Most will prefer some denomination that appeals to their emotion and natural way of seeing things.
That is why Jesus warned if you want to be a true disciple of His one must deny self and take up their own cross. Because sound doctrine will run contrary some of our most cherished held beliefs...
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Albion
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This doesn't exactly tell anyone which church is the one to belong to, though, does it? We can say that denominationalism is wrong, but where does that leave us?
Is it a plea for non-denominationalism or for some particular denomination preferred by the speaker? Or neither?
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It leaves us before God. If we are humble... Some will be... many will not be. God will sort it out.
Yet, if a nation goes through a time of God's discipline, it will awaken in some (who in better times would not have done so otherwise)... To seek answers, rather then settle for the generic denominational talking points.
The original church began with God's appointed leadership. Yet, all the local churches that had their pastor teachers who were spiritually autonomous. For every church has its own unique set of localized problems that need to be faced and overcome uniquely. A CENTRALIZED church government can not feed each church what it needs.
When believers conform to the ways of the world? Many do. (belonging to an organization for safety in numbers is worldly). Centralized answers will fit into the program assigned.But, leave then unawares of solutions to real problems.
For example: If a Catholic priest desires to study the Scriptures? And, to learn from various excellent scholars residing outside of the RCC? Will that Catholic priest be free to teach correctly about the Sacraments? No, he will not be. Will he be able to teach that Jesus commanded to call no man on earth 'father?' No, he will not.
That is only one example of the prison of denominations. Each one has its forbidden zones that lock the minds of their congregations into unquestioned erroneous thinking. The Truth in those places is not free to make them free. Only an autonomous pastor-teacher... or teacher... will be free to shed light.
Yet, if a nation goes through a time of God's discipline, it will awaken in some (who in better times would not have done so otherwise)... To seek answers, rather then settle for the generic denominational talking points.
The original church began with God's appointed leadership. Yet, all the local churches that had their pastor teachers who were spiritually autonomous. For every church has its own unique set of localized problems that need to be faced and overcome uniquely. A CENTRALIZED church government can not feed each church what it needs.
When believers conform to the ways of the world? Many do. (belonging to an organization for safety in numbers is worldly). Centralized answers will fit into the program assigned.But, leave then unawares of solutions to real problems.
For example: If a Catholic priest desires to study the Scriptures? And, to learn from various excellent scholars residing outside of the RCC? Will that Catholic priest be free to teach correctly about the Sacraments? No, he will not be. Will he be able to teach that Jesus commanded to call no man on earth 'father?' No, he will not.
That is only one example of the prison of denominations. Each one has its forbidden zones that lock the minds of their congregations into unquestioned erroneous thinking. The Truth in those places is not free to make them free. Only an autonomous pastor-teacher... or teacher... will be free to shed light.
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- Sep 25, 2017
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Preference is a better choice of words and yes I agree...it is sad.
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Haipule
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I don't accept any church's "Holy Tradition". Or, anyone's "Doctrinal" sacred cow. Or, any theology of man for that matter.
The bible is the "Book of Life": not "theology". Jesus is the, "Way, the Truth and the Life".
Paul said that both life and death are teachers. So, it wasn't until I experienced death and life for myself that I could even understand things like what, "We live by faith, not by sight" really means.
And, what I learned had nothing to do with "Holy Tradition" or, anyone's theology taught by people whom are just the walking dead!
I see dead people!
The bible is the "Book of Life": not "theology". Jesus is the, "Way, the Truth and the Life".
Paul said that both life and death are teachers. So, it wasn't until I experienced death and life for myself that I could even understand things like what, "We live by faith, not by sight" really means.
And, what I learned had nothing to do with "Holy Tradition" or, anyone's theology taught by people whom are just the walking dead!
I see dead people!
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I see you are teaching your own theology.... ironic as that may seem.
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I already am a great service to God, I share the message of salvation with others and lead them to Christ.
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“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws
them, and I will raise them up at the last day." Jn 6:44
We can only lead them to realizing they have been found by Christ...
But can we lead them to knowing Christ after they are saved?
Are they being lead to knowing Christ, now that they are saved?
Anyone can lead others to Christ... even a simple tract on paper can.
The real problem with what follows salvation? Its learning sound doctrine (and wanting it more than anything else) that God looks for.
God saved and prepared every soul you may "lead" to Christ. You were just a willing billboard along the side of the road they read. We all are.... Its the revealing Christ to those whom have believed that God most looks at. How well do we know the Word? How well do we know Him?
"But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.
All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes
to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven
not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is
the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he
has given me, but raise them up at the last day." Jn 6:36-39
All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes
to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven
not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is
the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he
has given me, but raise them up at the last day." Jn 6:36-39
Jesus said that God saves. And, never loses whom He saves.
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none
of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day."
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose
none of all those he has given me, but raise them up
at the last day."
none of all those he has given me, but raise them up
at the last day."
When we lead someone to Christ? We are just one of God's migrant workers picking what has already been produced. Its a harvest we did not produce. God loves when we are being led of the Spirit to do so. If we do it only religiously? Its then counted as wood, hay, and stubble... to be burned and destroyed at the evaluation of the Saints.
Its the special care that must be taken after they are harvested, so they do not spoil and rot. That God watches for. Who cares for this fruit from God after its been harvested? Where do the harvesters bring it to?
Satan has many plans on how to destroy the harvested crop so that it does not nourish anything.... To do so, Satan must destroy availability of sound doctrine teaching if he is going to remain having power over men on this earth.
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Haipule
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On the contrary, I show others the life in the Scriptures all of which do not support any man's theological prejudice of what those words must ecclesiastically mean according to their prejudice.
Such as post-reform "salvation" which is the brain child of Martin Luther who admitted to manipulation of the Greek to support his own theological prejudice and who was extremely anti-Semitic. "A little leaven leavens the whole lump".
Whereas, "salvation" is a borrowed French word (I'm sorry but I do not speak French) transliterated from the Latin salvationem.
Most unfortunately, the Greek sOtEria then, is left untranslated which is a very general word and means: deliver, rescue, make whole, keep safe and sound, etc. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with anyone's theological prejudice of the "Gospel of Salvation". It's verb form is sOzO.
Go ahead, quote me a verse and prove I am wrong!
So I ask you: how were the pre-reform Christians saved? How were the pre-Jesus Jews saved? And that, according to your "Gospel of Salvation".
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You can't get away from it. You have devised (be it correct, or not) your own little theological discourse. Its theology.
Jesus was also a theologian. "The Theologian." How many times did Jesus cite Scriptures? How many times did Jesus say...."It is written!" ?
There is nothing wrong with theology itself. And, theological advancements did not end in the 15th century.
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Haipule
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Ok friend, I must give you credit for not taking the bait of my questions. And I was sooo ready!
However, citing Scripture is not theology. The bible is not a book of theology. And theology itself should be the Science of God but, has turned into the showcase of man's goofy ideas.
First of all, there are too many conflicting theological mindsets from the same book.
For instance, Jewish, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, Pentecostal, Mormon, JW(I could go on all day).
All of whom claim some sort of authority by the "Holy Spirit" and cannot lie yet, all are liars because all is not the truth. This includes you because, for some reason you are placing a premium on theology/doctrine over Scripture itself! Yet, because of your vocabulary, I am aware that you are well taught. Yet, kept in the dark and it is not your fault as Scripture tells us to challenge. It is time to step-up your game!
Lets get real, we are standing before God at our final evaluation(insert your own vocabulary) and any excuse of, "The Pastor that you gave me said..." is not going to fly since we have been instructed, by Scripture, to challenge every breath like good Bureans.
Obviously, your pastors are doing their job. Are you doing yours? It is a two way street my friend!
And, are you sharing every good thing with him who teaches? I understand that this can be very uncomfortable but, the Scripture teaches that both life and death are teachers and that both life and death are a fragrant aroma to God.
Lets be honest, our teachers lives are mostly death. Yet, we are challenged to live. Now, how can death teach me life? Thank God we have Scripture to show us life.
I love what 2 Corinthians 4:12 says(the first person plural personal pronoun reference is found in 2 Corinthians 1:1, Paul and Timothy):
So death works in us(Paul and Timothy), but life in you(Corinthians: by application, you and I). 2 Cor 4:12 NASV
So think about that! How can our pastors, whom are a fragrant aroma of death to God, teach us how we should live?!
Rather, we should live and share all good things with him who teaches, including our wealth and prosperity. How else are they going to enjoy such things?
This is why I give personally to teachers, for their enjoyment, and not to their ministries. No complaints so far!
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When you teach something about the Scripture you cite.... be it poorly done, or well done. It is a form of theological action taking place.
It is the Book for Theology!
the·ol·o·gy
THēˈäləjē/
noun
noun: theology
the study of the nature of God and religious belief.
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