I have never been a member of a denomination. The issue I have with the denominations is their blindness due to traditionalism. Similar to the Pharisee class in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus ministry on earth.
I often meet people defending a denomination's "traditions" ... even quoting their "creed" ... and their unique interpretations instead of seriously listening and questioning every scrap of information out there and available to them ... and then examining Scripture to verify it's validity ... as Paul commended the Bereans for doing.
That is certainly a problem ... as they can't all be right. Which means that most of them are wrong.
Sometimes ... as in the Mormons or JW's ... a claim is made of exclusive "truth".
Our Apostle was so dead set against such "sectarianism ... denominationism" ... that in his letters to the Corinthian Church ... he dealt with sectarianism FIRST ... even before taking up the matter of the brother who was sinning by incest ... and the congregation failing by putting up with the sin.
There is only the one body ... and we are all in it together.
.
I often meet people defending a denomination's "traditions" ... even quoting their "creed" ... and their unique interpretations instead of seriously listening and questioning every scrap of information out there and available to them ... and then examining Scripture to verify it's validity ... as Paul commended the Bereans for doing.
That is certainly a problem ... as they can't all be right. Which means that most of them are wrong.
Sometimes ... as in the Mormons or JW's ... a claim is made of exclusive "truth".
Our Apostle was so dead set against such "sectarianism ... denominationism" ... that in his letters to the Corinthian Church ... he dealt with sectarianism FIRST ... even before taking up the matter of the brother who was sinning by incest ... and the congregation failing by putting up with the sin.
There is only the one body ... and we are all in it together.
.
