DENOMINATIONS

[Andy centek]

SAM91

That would put things as they are meant to be, in harmony of the Spirit, not in division of it. The only unity is in Christ Jesus through the Holy Spirit, not through man's Denominations.

Andy Centek

 

[Dale]

HI Dale:
That is correct, I do not attend a church any longer since I found the truth 0f what the apostle Paul told His people. Being in unity of the Spirit is not what Denominations are. Denominations are separation from the One Body of Christ.
Perhaps then the question may arise of, how do you then learn what is needed. The answer is, through the Holy Spirit that is graciously offerd by God through His Son Christ Jesus to those in the Body of Christ.

I played church long enough over the years to know that is not what is needed spiritually. Christ, and the Holy Spirit is what is needed to find the truth of what is written.

Andy Centek

You seem to be looking for the perfect church, or the One True Church.

Perhaps you should be asking what you can accomplish at a church. Does your participation make it better?

Jesus did tell us to be charitable. There is a limit to what one person can do. A church, an organization, can do far more effective charity. Think about it.

 

[Dale]

HI Dale:

Well I consider a Denomination one that is created by man, not the Lord or God. Such as Baptist, Lutheran and so on.
Paul, the apostle appointed to the Gentiles by Jesus Christ did not tell Him to start such Denominations, He told Him to teach UNITY OF THE SPIRIT, not seperation into Denominations.

Andy Centek

Andy,

Take a look at this passage from the Gospels.

49 “Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”

50 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”

--Luke 9:49-50 NIV

Jesus cautioned His Apostles against rejecting a religious movement just because they are "not one of us." That could mean He warns against rejecting someone of a different denomination. Or it could mean that He warns us against rejecting someone who is a part of a denomination. Either way, be very cautious before condemning anyone "driving out demons" or doing other good works.

 

[Tolworth John]

Then why do Denominations teach different things?

What different things do the denominations teach?
How is the gospel different in a baptist church or in an Anglican church or any other independant church or even in a Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox?

There is a saying.
If you are searching for the perfect Church, when you find it, don't join it as you will spoil it.

What you fail to recognise is that you, I and everyone are sinners, we are inperfect and our organisations reflect that.

 

[RaymondG]

Andy,

Take a look at this passage from the Gospels.

49 “Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”

50 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”

--Luke 9:49-50 NIV

Jesus cautioned His Apostles against rejecting a religious movement just because they are "not one of us." That could mean He warns against rejecting someone of a different denomination. Or it could mean that He warns us against rejecting someone who is a part of a denomination. Either way, be very cautious before condemning anyone "driving out demons" or doing other good works.

Do you use this to support(or not degrade) other religions as well, or is this only true for those who call themselves Christians?

 

[RaymondG]

What different things do the denominations teach?
How is the gospel different in a baptist church or in an Anglican church or any other independant church or even in a Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox?

There is a saying.
If you are searching for the perfect Church, when you find it, don't join it as you will spoil it.

What you fail to recognise is that you, I and everyone are sinners, we are inperfect and our organisations reflect that.

There are many differences.......This is why you see many threads stating the they only want responses from people of the same denominations.........the answers would be different.

Also, I've found the way to salvation to be different across denominations as well. This is why it is best to make sure you are in the right one....if your salvation depends on it.

 

[com7fy8]

What is the question then arises: Why did you not follow after what I commanded Paul to teach to the Gentiles?
Each must chose their own road. I chose to walk on the One He set in place, not what man has set in place.

And included in our commands is >

"Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you." (Hebrews 13:17)

So, in case you consider this to be God's word and you obey this, then you have leaders who God has approved and you are obeying them. I would say this is mainly by following their example >

"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)

And so these are not trying to lord themselves over others, but they lead by example. And they mainly evaluate themselves in comparison with Jesus and how Jesus has us becoming in intimacy with God in His own love > Romans 5:5, 1 John 4:17. They do not spend a lot of time with comparing themselves with denominations, but how do we compare with Jesus and how God is conforming us to the image of Jesus?

Do you have leaders like this, and is this included in the emphasis of their message?

 

[Andy centek]

That's going to take some explanation. From what I can tell, the only way it makes sense is if each person were an island unto himself, in which case he would be, in effect, one more denomination, however small.

Hi Albion

I suppose that depends on what is considered a domination. When I use that word I am pointing to the many that exist. For example: Baptist, Luthern, Catholic, etc.
I do not consider myself a denomination, I consider myself a seek of His truth. Tks.

Andy Centek

 

[Andy centek]

There are many differences.......This is why you see many threads stating the they only want responses from people of the same denominations.........the answers would be different.

Also, I've found the way to salvation to be different across denominations as well. This is why it is best to make sure you are in the right one....if your salvation depends on it.

 

[Andy centek]

OPEN QUESTION:

Who's way is correct for spiritual salvation? Man's or following after the Holy Spirit's teachings?
Or should one chose a Denomination they like?

Andy Centek

 

[RaymondG]

OPEN QUESTION:

Who's way is correct for spiritual salvation? Man's or following after the Holy Spirit's teachings?
Or should one chose a Denomination they like?

Andy Centek

It depend......Paul is a man and you say you are following him....is this ok? Also Ive heard many people say the holy spirit has lead them to multiple churches......which seems to tell me that some mistake their own emotion and feelings to that of holy spirit guidance.

What is your view of Salvation? when is salvation obtained?

 

[Ancient of Days]

"Radagast, post: 72374484, member: 20522"]In others words, you have completely separated yourself from the Body of Christ. He didn't say that. And I don't believe its fair for you to assume that.

Two Christians sitting together in ones home studying the scriptures and praying IS a church. The church is the believer its not the building.

"Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."

It is written:
48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

There is a season for everything. I think for most mature Christians come a time when we release the things of this world and truly begin to walk in the spirit and shed/nail our flesh to the cross daily. Denominations are a separation in the body of Christ. One teaches this and another teaches that which is contrary to the first. We need to be Christians, end of story. Its Christ crucified. When I see people identifying themselves by their(insert denomination) first, before saying I am a child of the living God, then yes, its a problem.

 

[Albion]

Hi Albion

I suppose that depends on what is considered a domination. When I use that word I am pointing to the many that exist. For example: Baptist, Luthern, Catholic, etc.
I do not consider myself a denomination, I consider myself a seek of His truth. Tks.

Andy Centek

I understand what you mean there, but by refusing to associate with any church (which means that you refuse certain actions that the New Testament calls upon us all to engage in, such as the sacraments, fellowship, etc.) the conclusion that this creates one more visible division in the body of believers is hard, if not impossible, to avoid.

 

[Albion]

"Radagast, post: 72374484, member: 20522"]In others words, you have completely separated yourself from the Body of Christ. He didn't say that. And I don't believe its fair for you to assume that.

Two Christians sitting together in ones come studying the scriptures and praying IS a church. The church is the believer its not the building.

Everyone knows that it's not the building, and I cannot remember a single poster having argued that it is. But it's not the believer, either, nor can you find any place in the New Testament which describes that as a church. You have plenty of examples of actual churches there, however.

 

[Ancient of Days]

Everyone knows that it's not the building, and I cannot remember a single poster having argued that it is. But it's not the believer, either, nor can you find any place in the New Testament which describes that as a church. You have plenty of examples of actual churches there, however.

Have you not read, for it is written: "the kingdom of God is within you."

"But it's not the believer" You can do a simple experiment to disprove that. Ask everyone at your church to NOT show up next Sunday, including yourself and let me know how the service was.

 

[Ancient of Days]

What is the Christian Church?
The early Christian church had no buildings, at least not in the sense of what we would consider church buildings today. First century Christians were often persecuted and, as a result, often met in secret usually in homes. As the influence of Christianity spread, eventually buildings dedicated to worship were established and became what we know today as churches. In this sense, then, the church consists of people not buildings. Fellowship, worship and ministry are all conducted by people, not buildings. Church structures facilitate the role of God's people, but they do not fulfill it.

 

[Albion]

Have you not read, for it is written: "the kingdom of God is within you."

That was spoken by Christ to his Apostles while standing in their midst and he said it in order to tell them that HE, personally, was the fulfillment of prophesy concerning the coming of the Kingdom, not (as they were arguing) that it was some change of civil government that was still in the future. And the kingdom is not a church anyway.

But even if we took it to mean what you mean...that does not say that there is no need for a church.

Jesus himself described the founding of "my church," so it is not just an individual infilling with the Holy Spirit. And the many examples of churches in the New Testament say zero about one-man "churches" being just as good. They, in fact, cannot be so, since this approach omits a number of duties that the Bible indicates are to be done by believers.

The church is--like it or not--corporate.

 

[RaymondG]

That was spoken by Christ to his Apostles while standing in their midst and he said it in order to tell them that HE, personally, was the fulfillment of prophesy concerning the coming of the Kingdom, not (as they were arguing) that it was some change of civil government that was still in the future. And the kingdom is not a church anyway.

But even if we took it to mean what you mean...that does not say that there is no need for a church.

Jesus himself described the founding of "my church," so it is not just an individual infilling with the Holy Spirit. And the many examples of churches in the New Testament say zero about one-man "churches" being just as good. They, in fact, cannot be so, since this approach omits a number of duties that the Bible indicates are to be done by believers.

The church is--like it or not--corporate.

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"

"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."

 

[Dale]

Do you use this to support(or not degrade) other religions as well, or is this only true for those who call themselves Christians?

I was referring to those who are Christians.

If you are going to criticize, at the very least, you should have more evidence, more particulars, than noticing that someone is "not one of us."

 

[Albion]

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"

"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you...."

Raymond, this isn't the issue.

There are many things that characterize the individual believer, but none of them make him into a church (which, by definition means a gathering of a number of people, an assembly).

Those are two different concepts.