What would you change in order to promote unity?

W2L said:

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I whole-heartedly agree.

W2L said:

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I whole-heartedly agree.

"W2L said:

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I disagree -- but we can agree to disagree

I thought all these double posts today were my flaky computer -- but it's happening to everybody...

I would change these technical glitches on message-boards
then Unity would arise like the sun in the east

I’ve looked at different denominations and it seems to me that they all have strengths and weaknesses. Catholics seem to do well in reverence and good works. Baptists seem to be strong in uninhibited praise and worship. Some protestant groups seem strong in Bible study. The list goes on. I’m not sure to what degree these groups need to change. To me, it’s a matter of everyone recognizing that the church is a body and that different parts of the body have different roles. Some denominations are very rule driven. That’s not for me, but I have seen some people thrive in that environment. Some people are more exploratory and need room to ask questions. Some people need a stronger sense of community.

I suppose the trick is to put Christ at the head so no one group assumes it is better. Maybe the church shouldn’t be unified into an amoeba by denominations giving up their identities, but access the power of a full body consisting of different parts specialized for different things, but unified in purpose.

Anto9us said:

"W2L said:

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I disagree -- but we can agree to disagree

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I thought his statement made sense.

Consider scripture as our constitutional document of the commonwealth of Christ's Israel.

It is a document, bringing a sword of separation, especially in the times that we are living in right now. Therefore the constitutional document, is doing its job.

Whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

34“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to turn

“ ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—

36a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

37“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds their life in the worldly sense of unity will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10)

Unity within our worldly context, may not be what Jesus had in mind as our Kingly Chief Priest.

Think about it.......

For centuries Jesus has given his Church into the hands of the enemy, so that it could survive and thrive from within. Yet when we look back at the 1st Century, when the Pharisee enemy was not in control, the Church was in hiding and on the run, from the persecuting hand of the enemies of Jesus. (Read Acts)

The wisdom has it, that the end day unity, before Christ's return, will once again position a Pharisical based religious system, as the now exposed enemy of the Church. The true Church, from within the enemy (Zechariah 14:1-3) must once again be separated and on the run and in hiding from the hands of persecution, just like it was in the 1st Century.

So, unity it seems within the context of how Jesus would want it, is to part ways from the enemy who had a strangle hold on the saints of the Most High, by deceivingly leading them, for the sake of their protection and continuation, God allowed it. (Daniel 7:25-26)

In the times before the end, we will see a separation from Rome and unity within the context of the highway of God (Isaiah 19:23-25)

The persecution will once again come, just like it came, when Moses told the Pharoah, let my people go. The spiritual exodus, along the highway of God, will commence, when all roads to Rome are abandoned. Many, however will die along the highway, just as it was with the children of Israel who became dusillussioned and sidetracked in worshipping other gods, in order to save themselves. Half the city according to Zechariah 14:1-3 will go into captivity and be lost.

WHAT I WOULD NOT DO TO PROMOTE UNITY:

(1) I enforce a prohibition at UMC church conferences of disrespectful conduct when opposing perspectives are being publicly expressed. e, g. on the gay marriage and gay ordination issue, derisive groans were uttered, loud drums were played, and hymns were sung to drown out opposing speakers. At our quadrennial General Conference, liberal factions took over the altar area and sang to prevent further discussion after anti-gay marriage resolutions were passed.

(2) At church conferences, I would break the huge assembly up into small groups of 10. These groups would then procede in 2 stages: (a) Each member would briefly share their personal testimony. (b) In the 2nd phase, each member would share their views on an assigned divisive issue, while honoring this rule: no make-wrong games allowed; only mutual understanding sought.

(3) Another Conference would stress this text from Romans 12: "Let love be genuine.. outdo one another in showing respect." Another conferences would stress themes on the essentials, especially the fact that our grace-based way of being is far more important than our doctrinal purity. We would then discuss how this way of being would moderate debate on contentious issues.

ronandcarol said:

What would you change in order to promote unity?
The only way that unity in anything ever happens is if their are concessions made. That said, who or what would be conceded? We cannot give up anything that is stated in the Bible, teachings, commandments, etc. Many churches today have omitted the section of the Bible that talks about same sex marriage. How would unity work in this situation? There are people who see nothing wrong with that and there are people who look at it as sin, as stated in the Bible. SO, where is unity on that one small subject? We have to be like the Apostle Peter when he spoke to the high priest and said, We should follow what God says not what man says! (paraphrased a little bit)
ronandcarol

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The mind governed by flesh, is absent of the Spirit of Christ and is hostile to God and it can never submit to God's law.

Congregations making such concessions are unwittingly denying Jesus and Jesus said, that he will deny them before the Father. As it is written, that many will say Lord Lord in the last days and Jesus will plainly tell them, away from me evildoers.

The mind governed by flesh, irrespective of excuses, whether biological or psychological, falls under the law of condemnation. We are plainly told, not to do as thou wilt. Those who have concerns of the flesh and make concessions, are declared by Paul as not belonging to Jesus.

Double post.

WHAT I WOULD NOT DO TO PROMOTE UNITY:

Here are 3 suggestions based on horrid experiences at UMV church conferences:
(1) I'f enforce a prohibition at UMC church conferences of disrespectful conduct when opposing perspectives are being publicly expressed. e, g. on the gay marriage and gay ordination issue, derisive groans were uttered, loud drums were played, and hymns were sung to drown out opposing speakers. At our quadrennial General Conference, liberal factions took over the altar area and sang to prevent further discussion after anti-gay marriage resolutions were passed.

(2) Another Conference would stress this text from Romans 12: "Let love be genuine.. outdo one another in showing respect." Another conferences would stress themes on the essentials, especially the fact that our grace-based way of being is far more important than our doctrinal purity. We would then discuss how this way of being would moderate debate on contentious issues.

(3) At church conferences, I would break the huge assembly up into small groups of 10. These groups would then proceed in 2 stages: (a) Each member would briefly share their personal testimony. (b) In the 2nd phase, each member would share their views on an assigned divisive issue, while honoring this rule: no make-wrong games allowed; only mutual understanding sought.

W2L said:

Thank you in advance.

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Our current natures...

God Bless!

@Deadworm
What Zechariah said is happening in the times that we are living in. This is the Luciferean gospel of worldly unity and allowing neighbour "to do as thou wilt".

1A day of the Lord is coming, My Church, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very Congregations.

2I will gather all the People (Man) of Sin to my Church, to fight against it; the city will be overrun, the houses of prayer ransacked, and the denominations raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.3Then the Lord will go out and fight against those Man (peoples) of Sin, as he fights on a day of battle.

And then shall those Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (2 Thessalonians 2:8)

not a fan of forfeiting truth for social pragmatism.

Worldly unity, worldly peace (rainbow), embracing the mind governed by flesh is not what Jesus has in mind. To content with those making concessions, you need to educate yourselves on what will offend Jesus.

Please read.....

Why Is Gender Dysphoria A Sin?

Why Is Gender Dysphoria A Sin?

Double Post.

Double post.

Double Post.

dreadnought, I don't see how a single period can make sense, but I support you in thinking so, since you are our next President

Deadworm - your changes in UMC conferences sound like a step forward - I just fail to see which side you're comin' from!

I am Methodist and was at the late 60's conference when the UNITED Methodist Church was born

only a ninth-grader then, I was not theologically motivated about it
but got to ride a bus and sit next to a girl from another Methodist Church across town

I have congratulated Catholics in another thread about the incredible come-from-behind victory of the Notre Dame gals over Mississippi State - this should resolve all Protestant-Catholic differences for sure

(even though it was in a thread that announced my conversion to Roman Catholicism
and I had 'em for a while til they realized it was an April Fool's Day joke)

@Anto9us
Do you realise friend, that April the 1st is actually the Biblical New Year.
Do you see how the enemy has made it an April fools joke.
Many things have been purposely setup to upset God.

Anyway......Happy New Year! No Joke!

@Anto9us
Do you realise friend, that April the 1st is actually the Biblical New Year.
Do you see how the enemy has made it an April fools joke.
Many things have been purposely setup to upset God.

Anyway......Happy New Year! No Joke!

W2L said:

Thank you in advance.

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I think this is difficult to pull off in these last days. We are not living in the same time as the early apostles. I think our mission is clear. Worship God. Preach the gospel, His Word, love others (including our enemies, the brethren, the poor).

When I hear of unity, I think of world peace. That's just not going to happen with the people of the world. Unity as a part of the body is a better way to put it, but it is very difficult to pull off today. Just to find believers who truly following Jesus like in the Scriptures is very difficult.

"The New Age Movement strives to promote a mystical brotherhood among all people, thereby preparing the way for social, political and economic unity on earth."

The New Age Movement - True Gospel

This is not what Jesus intended for his Church.

"The New Age movement endeavours to raise the consciousness level of humanity, to unlock mystical powers in people, to unite the world religiously, politically, economically, and socially, and to pave the way for the appearance of a single world leader. He will be the common messiah of all faiths. Not only in the field of religion, but in all other areas, he will establish the concept of planetary citizenship. In the process, all boundaries and divisions will be removed for the sake of greater unity."

They are waiting for the Prince of this World to unite them, as Jesus had prophesied.....

I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.

I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me.

Do you know what division this worldly unity wants to remove?

The Cross of our Salvation, by setting the Anti-Christ as the supreme being (chairman), the Abomination that Maketh desolate.

The time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set.

Christianity is being setup for the fall and if I, you and others do not call a spade a spade, then we have failed Jesus Christ.

"NAM (New Age Movement) advance its ideologies of globalism, religious unity."

Guess, who is running the world from behind the scenes?

Those who want to destroy the Holy Bible and those who want to remove the Cross of our Salvation.

Do you still want worldly unity friends? Do you what to get some!

"all faiths and philosophies must revert to their common luciferic origin. In this way, unity can be achieved in the world and all people’s lives be ordered according to the same principles."

The doctrine of Lucifer to love thy neighbour is really to love those who hate the Cross and what th Cross symbolises to Christianity, and as a result, to hate on Jesus.

Do not fall for this Hippi Luciferic Bandwagon. You will deny Jesus by doing so.

The New Age Movement is ushering in the Age of Aquarius. This is what they are pushing onto all of humanity.

"In the light of this broadly defined love, Christians must abandon their prejudices against other religions and join them in brotherly love. Where estrangement and separation has occurred due to ignorance or dogmatic fundamentalism, bridges of love, mutual acceptance and unity must now be built"

The concept of the coined phrase planetary citizen or global citizen of mutual love and unity, must be rejected whole heartedly by Christianity.

Double post.