Churches are more united than divided

JohnB445 said:

When someone is new or hasn't seen a wide variety of different Churches we can often perceive it as intimidating since there are so many. But when you really look at things Churches are divided on small non-essential issues like.

1. Baby Baptism
2. Creation
3. God's Decree (Predestination or Destiny)
4. Service
5. Music
6. Bible Version
7. End times position
8. What happens in the afterlife precisely
9. Holy Spirit Gifts
10. And I can probably list more.

For things that Churches agree on I can probably list 100+ more things!

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Number 1 on the list is niether small nor nonessential.
It is one of the most debated topics ever with the risked flow on effect of damning hundreds of Millions of souls over thousands of years to eternal fire .

That is hardly a small non essential thing.

One thing the scripture shows repetedly is that God never shows up to be on the same side as the majority..
That alone is cause for great concern..
Following the biggest crowd is pointed out in scripture as taking the easy wide way...
Which inevitably leads to Destruction.

Grace Alone
Faith Alone
Christ Alone

M-Bob

Mountainmanbob said:

Grace Alone
Faith Alone
Christ Alone

M-Bob

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Grace alone.... = what Christ has already done for us before we knew him

Faith alone = is not a thing but an Action you take because you believe in JESUS.

Jesus = the salvation of God you get to partake of because you believed in the lord jesus and so took action as evidence you believe.

No action ... = no faith.
No faith = no grace.

The devils believe ....but tremble

If there is any division present, can one say they are truly united?

JohnB445 said:

When someone is new or hasn't seen a wide variety of different Churches we can often perceive it as intimidating since there are so many. But when you really look at things Churches are divided on small non-essential issues like.

1. Baby Baptism
2. Creation
3. God's Decree (Predestination or Destiny)
4. Service
5. Music
6. Bible Version
7. End times position
8. What happens in the afterlife precisely
9. Holy Spirit Gifts
10. And I can probably list more.

For things that Churches agree on I can probably list 100+ more things!

Click to expand...

Good post, and I agree with you. Was just reading some on this last night. What unites us is larger and more numerous than what divides us. We will never have 100% agreement until Christ returns due to our human limitations of understanding emphasizing different doctrines based on which are more important to us (which is usually cultural or based on the areas you live), and thrown in some sin, pride and misunderstanding in there. The Apostle's Creed is a united statement of what Christians can look toward and believe in unity, but there will always be some differing views on Doctrines. Since we are still united in Christ, we will always be united in the most important and crucial ways.

What seems like a non-essential issue to you is a big issue for another.

I consider one the big dividers between Churches to be the very understanding of what the Church itself is. The Protestant conception of the Church I maintain is a novel innovation which cannot be justified from scripture or tradition.

I don't think I'm alone as an Orthodox in that opinion so already we have an issue which separates us and which to the Orthodox is vitally important. Catholics would say the same regarding the Papacy and Protestants regarding their theological particularities (The solas in particular).

I agree we have things in common, but Christendom is not united.

JohnB445 said:

Churches are more united than divided

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This is actually the message of the book Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.

Worth a read.