Denominations

[simonthezealot]

Leave them out of your Christ walk.
WHY?
Because they only lead to bondage.

 

[Dark_Lite]

Leave them out of your Christ walk.
WHY?
Because they only lead to bondage.

The same could be said of many things.

 

[simonthezealot]

The same could be said of many things.

Yep, but the topic of choice is denominationalism


Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love

 

[heritage36]

I totally agree with the guy who picked the topic. If denominations were something God would want, then how come when he had the Apostles working to form the basis of the church, was there only one united church? I don't think any of them now have everything right, only the Bible does.

 

[Dark_Lite]

I totally agree with the guy who picked the topic. If denominations were something God would want, then how come when he had the Apostles working to form the basis of the church, was there only one united church? I don't think any of them now have everything right, only the Bible does.

And how do you we know which interpretation of the Bible is right?

 

[mont974x4]

I totally agree with the guy who picked the topic. If denominations were something God would want, then how come when he had the Apostles working to form the basis of the church, was there only one united church? I don't think any of them now have everything right, only the Bible does.

It is not really all that different today than it was then.

There was the Church, which is still made up of every believer regardless of denomination.
There were multiple churches. The church of town A, as well as the church that met in person B's house.

In one of Joel Rosenberg's books I read a great response to the denomination question. One character asked something like, "why are there so many denominations? Isn't all that division bad?" The response was a comparison to the body of Christ and it's many parts found in Scripture. The idea is that like the different parts of the body the different denominations serve a different God ordained purpose.

I find it an interesting comparison and something unique to consider. Most often I think of the parts of the body as individuals, but isn't it equally possible that it could be groups or churches? I mean, the church in Ephesus was given by God to reach the people in its area and the church that met in the chosen ladies house (2 John) served another purpose.

While I am in favor of partnering with other churches in our area where we can I find the denominational labels to be rather helpful. I know what to expect from church X on a variety of issues and I know to stay away from church Z. I was talking to a pastor in a very small rural town. He said that the local Mormons had convinced many of the other pastors in the town ministerial society that they were Christian. OY! He had to leave the association. The labels help us to make wise decisions, if we use them rightly. They can create issues, if we do not.

 

[heritage36]

And how do you we know which interpretation of the Bible is right?

Easy, by looking into it yourself and don't depend solely on what a church says for your answers to Bible related questions. Check your version against other versions and even moreso, check against the original Greek and Hebrew texts. We are lucky enough to have access these days to all of them, so why not put them to use? I know I do.

I do agree with the last poster too that denominations are good in that you know what to expect from different churches, especially for people looking to join one, but I do think it is unfortunate that so many things are misinterpreted from one denomination to another. Makes some people think there are contradictions in scripture and causes confusion sometimes. I think ultimately interpretation is the cause for the different denominations, and because we do not have the guidance and clarification of the scriptures that only God can offer us, it is unlikely that will change until we do.

 

[simonthezealot]

And how do you we know which interpretation of the Bible is right?

Well if it comes from an organization with a legalistic bondage weaved throughout its system we know that their interpretation clearly missed the mark.
For example Rome demands we need a higher authority outside of the HS to interpret them...
Paul wrote...
“If any man think himself to be a prophet or spiritual,let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Cor 14:37)

 

[Emmy]

Dear simonthezealot. In Matthew, chapter 22, verse 35-40, Jesus tells a Lawyer that the two Commandments: 1) love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, all thy soul, and all thy mind. 2) love thy neighbour as thyself. " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Any Denomination which does not agree with Jesus`s statement, is not following Christ. God is Love, Christ died that we might live out of love for us, and God wants loving sons and daughters. Love is the Christian`s weapon, and love will lead us on to our home, God`s House with many mansions. Any denomination which disagrees, is not of Christ. We are also told to repent, to exchange our selfish and unloving character for loving our Heavenly Father, and loving each other. Jesus will help and guide us, and Jesus is the " Way." I say this with love. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[Dark_Lite]

Well if it comes from an organization with a legalistic bondage weaved throughout its system we know that their interpretation clearly missed the mark.
For example Rome demands we need a higher authority outside of the HS to interpret them...
Paul wrote...
“If any man think himself to be a prophet or spiritual,let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Cor 14:37)

Yes, yes, Catholicism rant and so forth.

Tell me, if everybody interpreting the Bible has the Holy Spirit, then why are there are 3 different interpretations per every 2 people? Or are there people who interpret the Bible that don't have the Holy Spirit?

 

[simonthezealot]

Yes, yes, Catholicism rant and so forth.

Tell me, if everybody interpreting the Bible has the Holy Spirit, then why are there are 3 different interpretations per every 2 people? Or are there people who interpret the Bible that don't have the Holy Spirit?

“The Plain Things are the Main Things and the Main Things are the Plain Things”
Much debate on the non-main things "no-biggy"​

 

[simonthezealot]

“For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.”​

(2nd Corinthians 1:13-14, NIV)

 

[heritage36]

Yes, yes, Catholicism rant and so forth.

Tell me, if everybody interpreting the Bible has the Holy Spirit, then why are there are 3 different interpretations per every 2 people? Or are there people who interpret the Bible that don't have the Holy Spirit?

Nobody right now interpreting the Bible has the holy spirit with them, that is why it is so confusing. I know I do not have the spirit with me guiding me when I do it, and I try to interpret the Bible all the time.

 

[mont974x4]

Yes, yes, Catholicism rant and so forth.

Tell me, if everybody interpreting the Bible has the Holy Spirit, then why are there are 3 different interpretations per every 2 people? Or are there people who interpret the Bible that don't have the Holy Spirit?

awful quick to assume it was an attack on the rcc aren't you?

 

[Dark_Lite]

awful quick to assume it was an attack on the rcc aren't you?

Considering that he rails against the Catholic Church in the post that I responded to, no not really. But that's all beside the point.

“The Plain Things are the Main Things and the Main Things are the Plain Things”
Much debate on the non-main things "no-biggy"​

And how do we know what are the non-main things?

 

[silence_dogood]

Leave them out of your Christ walk.
WHY?
Because they only lead to bondage.

I disagree.

I believe that denominations can be a good thing, because they act as a sort of "pressure release valve" between those of differing opinions on otherwise non-essential issues.

For instance, the perpetuity of the gifts of the Holy Spirit vs cessationism, paedo-baptism vs credo-baptism, pre-mil/post-mil/a-mil etc, Arminianism vs Calvinism, these are all things that are non-essential issues and yet, people still hold to them very tightly.

What would happen if we just threw all of these people into one church? They would spend so much time fighting about these things that they would have no time left for the essential doctrines that they do agree on, not to mention that there would be so much infighting that the reputation of the church would be shot.

But with denominations, even though we disagree with, say, Methodists, we can still come together with Methodists for fellowship and to share worship and the corporate preaching and teaching of the word of God.

Likewise, even though we disagree with Calvary Chapel churches, we can still join with them in Gospel outreaches.

I don't believe we would have either the unity we have or the ability to do these things if we were just all thrown together in one big denominationless church.

 

[simonthezealot]

I disagree.

I believe that denominations can be a good thing, because they act as a sort of "pressure release valve" between those of differing opinions on otherwise non-essential issues.

For instance, the perpetuity of the gifts of the Holy Spirit vs cessationism, paedo-baptism vs credo-baptism, pre-mil/post-mil/a-mil etc, Arminianism vs Calvinism, these are all things that are non-essential issues and yet, people still hold to them very tightly.

You call these items non-essentials (for some they are essential) but in fact they prove my very point on bondage, paedo baptism for example forces one to be legalistic about an action that is not even levied in scripture.

 

[silence_dogood]

You call these items non-essentials (for some they are essential) but in fact they prove my very point on bondage, paedo baptism for example forces one to be legalistic about an action that is not even levied in scripture.

You completely missed my point.

 

[Standing Up]

Tell me, if everybody interpreting the Bible has the Holy Spirit, then why are there are 3 different interpretations per every 2 people? Or are there people who interpret the Bible that don't have the Holy Spirit?

How does your denomination answer your questions?

 

[laconicstudent]

Leave them out of your Christ walk.
WHY?
Because they only lead to bondage.

I agree, we should all return to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, which is still alive and well and quite visible despite schisms and post-modernism and stuff like that.