All this Denomination Confusion

[puriteen18]

OKay there are a lot of denominations. But this does not mean we cannot be unified.

The reasons for denominations are two:
People have different convictions
Some are not truly Christian churches, but the Synogogues of Satan.

Don't worry so much about there being so many denominations. It is not something you should stress over.

Those of us who hold to othodox Christianity (belief in the Trinity, Virgin birth, Salvation through Christ alone, that the Bible is the Word of God without error) should encourage one another.

This doesn't mean that you believe everyone else is right. I am Reformed, yet most the people I know are Wesleyan. I pray for them and talk with them about the Reformed faith when the time presents itself, but I do not worry that the Body might be broken, because it can never be broken.

I know a lot of you may not agree with me (especially on my definition of orthodox) but this is how I feel and I am just going to throw it out there.

If you convince me I am wrong I will recant my opinion.

 

[1John5:3]

:o

 

[puriteen18]

:o

?
I don't understand.
If you don't agree explain so that I might see if my opinion was wrong and that I may change it.

I mean no hashness.

 

[1John5:3]

I had a post visible for 30 minutes, but I decided to edit it.

 

[InquisitorKind]

OKay there are a lot of denominations. But this does not mean we cannot be unified.

I think there are a lot of denominations, but not as many divisions as is often claimed by opponents of Protestantism.

Salvation through Christ alone

A lot of denominations preach this phrase, but don't mean the same thing by it. What do you mean by salvation through Christ alone? I personally believe that Sola Fide should be the essential, not just salvation through Christ alone.

If you convince me I am wrong I will recant my opinion.

On what specifically?

~Matt

 

[puriteen18]

A lot of denominations preach this phrase, but don't mean the same thing by it. What do you mean by salvation through Christ alone? I personally believe that Sola Fide should be the essential, not just salvation through Christ alone.

Well, to believe that salvation is only through the atonement and imputed righteousness of the Saviour.

On what specifically?

I know of some that say we don't need to be "ecumunical" at all. Have virtually no fellowship with any other denomination than their own.

 

[WesleyJohn]

Well, to believe that salvation is only through the atonement and imputed righteousness of the Saviour.

Must we agree on whether that righteousness is imputed or imparted in order to celebrate unity in the Body?

Peace,

WJ

 

[Boanerge]

What is a Reformed Christian?

 

[Boanerge]

Why do we have different convictions? arent we all Following and Listening to the Same voice? wouldnt then the Same Voice Speak the Same things? then why do we hear so differently?

 

[Boanerge]

Wasnt Righteousness first Imputed, and then Imparted?

We are Righteous Through Jesus. This is Imputed.

Then we confess Jesus to achieve this Righteousness (Confession also includes following Jesus, carrying your cross, following commandments, helping the sick poor and opressed, showing love etc.) This is imparted.

 

[Boanerge]

I believe we can be united, Actaully i believe we WILL be united. When the time comes to be united. But why can't we lay the foundation of unity now, before its too late? will we wait until the church wakes up when God already came? Will this then make us unite?

 

[pentecostal girl]

The reasons for denominations are two:
People have different convictions
Some are not truly Christian churches, but the Synogogues of Satan

. I would say the reasons for different denominations are that people interpret determine the bible differently. For example I'm a church of God penetecostal my beliefs are the same as the assemblies of God. Ther are oneness pentecostals who's doctorine is very different then ours cause of our interpretaions of the bible. You're right about the whole unity thing, but sometimes it's hard cause we all have different views!

 

[Brain Damage]

Some are not truly Christian churches, but the Synogogues of Satan

...........who are they!! ? .

 

[cindylou]

As a Catholic, we pray for Christian unity. Christ never intended for us to be divided, but because of sin we are. Until we seek true Repentance the Church will remain divided until the last days, when Christ returns. It will take much effort for individual churches, Protestant and Catholic, to re-unite. Until then We will continue to pray.

 

[puriteen18]

...........who are they!! ? .

The BIble speaks of this. A group of people who claim to be a Christian Church, but are not.

 

[puriteen18]

What is a Reformed Christian?

A Reformed Christian is a person who agrees with the theology of John Calvin. Reformed theology is sometimes called Calvinism, Agustinianism, or Paulinism.
We believe in the 5 points of Calvinism, Covenant Theology, and the 5 Solas of the Reformation.

I however am a Reformed Baptist (90% Calvinist); the difference is our understanding of who are proper canidates and what is the correct mode for the sacrament of Baptism. Some call us "deep-water Presbytrians".

 

[puriteen18]

I don't think we will be unified in the sense that there is only one set of doctrines untill our Lord returns, but I think that we should unify our efforts in the spreading of the gospel, the feeding of the hungry, clothing of the naked, et cetera.

My original reason for this thread is that I had read another one earlier where someone was worrying about which denomination was the true Church, and if the division amoung the others somehow made them not Christian at all.

 

[Reformed Baptist]

The church is united...it always has been and always will be.

 

[JVAC]

The church is united...it always has been and always will be.

United under a belief in Christ Jesus, however, I don't think we are united in His baptism. As long as the Anabaptists, and the like, go about saying that infant baptism is invalid, I don't see how we can be unified. For if they say that our baptism is invalid then they condemn us, more or less. The body wouldn't condemn itself.

We do have the 'Doctrine of Justification' in common, whereby we are saved by Grace alone. Yet, Baptism is a Holy Sacrament that brings us together into the Church, and if some say that it is invalid then I don't see how we can be one church united. The churches that baptize infants don't say that the other church's baptism is invalid, contrarily we do say it is valid. Some of us are making efforts for a united Church. The ELCA, Lutheran Church, is striving for such unity with the CCM (Called to Common Mission) and the instituting of full communion with other Churches. I would love to see other churches start extending their hands.

A common communion is a common Church. Wherever, communion is forbidden, baptism invalidated, and Christ not preached we won't have the Church catholic. Yet we should strive for unification. As that wonderful hymn goes, "One bread, one body, One Lord of all, one cup of blessing which we bless, and we though many, throughout the earth, we are one body in this one Lord"!!

-James

 

[Polycarp1]

United under a belief in Christ Jesus, however, I don't think we are united in His baptism. As long as the Anabaptists, and the like, go about saying that infant baptism is invalid, I don't see how we can be unified. For if they say that our baptism is invalid then they condemn us, more or less. The body wouldn't condemn itself.

We do have the 'Doctrine of Justification' in common, whereby we are saved by Grace alone. Yet, Baptism is a Holy Sacrament that brings us together into the Church, and if some say that it is invalid then I don't see how we can be one church united. The churches that baptize infants don't say that the other church's baptism is invalid, contrarily we do say it is valid. Some of us are making efforts for a united Church. The ELCA, Lutheran Church, is striving for such unity with the CCM (Called to Common Mission) and the instituting of full communion with other Churches. I would love to see other churches start extending their hands.

A common communion is a common Church. Wherever, communion is forbidden, baptism invalidated, and Christ not preached we won't have the Church catholic. Yet we should strive for unification. As that wonderful hymn goes, "One bread, one body, One Lord of all, one cup of blessing which we bless, and we though many, throughout the earth, we are one body in this one Lord"!!

-James

A very nice post, James. But let me top your hymn with another communion hymn -- taken from the First Century Didache , perhaps the oldest document outside the Bible that we have in common across divided Christendom:

Father, we thank thee who hast planted Thy Holy Name within our hearts,
Knowledge and truth and life immortal, Jesus Thy Son to us imparts.
Thou, Lord, didst make all for Thy pleasure, didst give us food for all our days,
Giving in Christ the bread eternal: Thine is the power, be Thine the praise.
Watch over Thy Church, O Lord, in mercy, save it from evil, guard it still;
Perfect it in thy love, unite it, cleansed and conformed unto Thy will.
As grain, once scattered on the hillsides, was in this broken bread made one,
So from all lands Thy Church be gathered into Thy Kingdom by Thy Son.