Christian Non-Denominational?

[Albion]

That's your cultural understanding of scripture. The believers in the early days had no such association and met at various homes in their locality.

Then they had congregations that met in homes. Nothing in that contradicts anything I said. And we know for a fact that not every congregation had the same beliefs and practices as the others, so we had the divisions then that we have now and will continue to have.

 

[ActionJ]

humans don't need to organize it, at least not the ones organizing it now. As I said, look at the state of the world. Church does a poor job of even acknowledging there is a problem, nevermind mobilizing their own people to mobilize the masses.

we have a situation where the christian West has hit the end of its rope. Look at the national debt, the statistics in every area are shot. Go to church if you want to hear about how to live in prosperity and maintain a high life

the holy spirit moves just fine in people who sin. Listening and obeying is far more important than worrying about how sinful you are, the church is pretty absorbed in getting it perfect while the world collapses around them.

Truth!! The modern, western, Christian church has lost its savor (salt). I know lots of Christian who are petrified to tackle (openly discuss) the most important issues facing our nation. If it's not politically correct then it's "taboo." Christianity has been transformed into "Churchianity" where folks can keep up with the latest fashions, gossip, and "Christian Rock" music. I'm certainly not accusing all modern Christians of this phenomena but the trend is easy to see.

Too bad we didn't have any modern day George Whitfields or Dwight Moodys or Charles Finneys or Jonathan Edwards or Charles Spurgeons. We need someone to stir the hearts and souls of today's greater "Church."

 

[krugerpark]

I believe when God makes his next move it will be so fast and dynamic we just won't have the capacity or understanding to organize it. God won't be asking deacons, bishops or pastors for permission. He'll raise new ones, and they will figure out how to organize it on the fly - or just rely on people to organize themselves

people are so focused on the organization of it they don't see why its organized, for what purpose and function. Then it will be like Jesus said a prophet is not accepted in his hometown. This new army of believers won't be accepted by the church as we see it today anymore than the catholic church wants to see a challenger to its political power.

 

[Albion]

Truth!! The modern, western, Christian church has lost its savor (salt). I know lots of Christian who are petrified to tackle (openly discuss) the most important issues facing our nation. If it's not politically correct then it's "taboo." Christianity has been transformed into "Churchianity" where folks can keep up with the latest fashions, gossip, and "Christian Rock" music. I'm certainly not accusing all modern Christians of this phenomena but the trend is easy to see.

Too bad we didn't have any modern day George Whitfields or Dwight Moodys or Charles Finneys or Jonathan Edwards or Charles Spurgeons. We need someone to stir the hearts and souls of today's greater "Church."

There are good churches and there are incompetent ones. Therefore, draw near to one of the former and avoid the latter.

 

[krugerpark]

Then they had congregations that met in homes. Nothing in that contradicts anything I said. And we know for a fact that not every congregation had the same beliefs and practices as the others, so we had the divisions then that we have now and will continue to have.

So you see Gods purpose here, his timing he will bring them in all at once under the same teaching - the bible

what we have today is people who were brought up in various denominations which had their place during the baptist, reformation, and pentecostal movements (etc). The bride is to be spotless. No more division.

I know that in other countries you don't get division like this - a product of persecution which is very healthy. If you are a Christian in China or Africa, you're a Christian and no one cares about denomination. Only here do people care.

 

[Albion]

what we have today is people who were brought up in various denominations which had their place during the baptist, reformation, and pentecostal revivals. The bride is to be spotless. No more division.

I know that in other countries you don't get division like this - a product of persecution which is very healthy. If you are a Christian in China or Africa, you're a Christian and no one cares about denomination. Only here do people care.

\

...but the lack of denominations in China doesn't in any way mean that there are no divisions of thought among the people. Ergo, denominations in all but name. And in Africa, there certainly are denonminations just like here.

 

[krugerpark]

well its interesting you should say that because church operates in an entirely different way in China. It's as though the persecution forces them all onto the same page. All ~250 million of them (believers)

they don't circulate bibles, they circulate pages, some churches only have segments of a bible. Somebody gets a hold of another page and they circulate that. No denominations, no tax structure. It's illegal to even have a church

you cant endorse political parties in North America and retain tax free status

 

[seeking Christ]

So he's going to lead us into new denominations that we'll call "non-denominational." That's all that this idea amounts to. That, or churches that don't stand for anything. What's so great about either of those outcomes?

BOO HISS

 

[seeking Christ]

the state of organized Christianity is, I believe, stale at best. That's why I agreed that in time there will be a major reaction to it, although it's not easy to predict what form that reaction will take.

Prediction not necessary this is past tense.

 

[krugerpark]

\

...but the lack of denominations in China doesn't in any way mean that there are no divisions of thought among the people. Ergo, denominations in all but name. And in Africa, there certainly are denonminations just like here.

so long as these people are divided in thought and action, they are useless as an army for Christ. Their countries and governments will continue to be corrupt and oppressive. You can't have an army marching against itself or even unsure of itself if it is about to take on an onslaught. If it is it's been defeated before it even thinks of moving.

 

[krugerpark]

i mean

what church are you going to call it when they start having praise & worship at stadiums or other areas that hold much more than a local church

because that's what will happen