My three cents worth...

[Sabertooth]

The Church, no matter what denomination they may be, is not the building.

True, but you are moving the goalposts.

 

[Coleton Bryce Ritmanich]

You are departing from the OP's theme of ecumenism/consolidating the denominations. It IS complicated. And only Jesus is qualified to do so.

As was pointed out earlier, you will just create another denomination (or a copy of an existing one). Until the Thearchy, it is a pipe dream.

Also the OP theme was never "Bring it all together" if you actually read it all the way through it was more of "Pick a side. And reap what you sow" sort of thing. I simply expressed my dissatisfaction for there not being unity in a single sentence.

 

[Sabertooth]

Pick a side...

Denominations ARE about "picking a side..."

 

[Coleton Bryce Ritmanich]

True, but you are moving the goalposts.

No I am not, you seem to love to pick and choose pieces of what the whole of what I say is. Evident in the fact that you don't quote the whole of what I write. My friend, I sincerely hope that is not the case when you read the bible.

 

[Coleton Bryce Ritmanich]

Denominations ARE about "picking a side..."

There are no sides other than "Sin" and "God" and you cannot mix both, or God would rather vomit you out of his mouth for being lukewarm.

 

[Coleton Bryce Ritmanich]

Denominations ARE about "picking a side..."

Denominations stem from, human differences in opinion, about how the bible should be interpreted.

 

[Coleton Bryce Ritmanich]

Denominations stem from, human differences in opinion, about how the bible should be interpreted.

There would be no denominations if that were not the case. You keep bringing up "Jesus is the only one" but do you stop and think "Why?" Because mankind's interpretations are not perfect. Only God's interpretation through the Holy Spirit is.

 

[Radagast]

You make some good points. But if all people could agree the definition of Christianity is "Having a True and Loving relationship with Christ" then there would be no division among the church.

The definition of Christianity requires certain beliefs.

There is disagreement on where the line should be (CF draws it at the Nicene Creed), but there must be a line.

Not everyone who says "I love Jesus" is a Christian.

 

[Coleton Bryce Ritmanich]

The definition of Christianity requires certain beliefs.

There is disagreement on where the line should be (CF draws it at the Nicene Creed), but there must be a line.

Not everyone who says "I love Jesus" is a Christian.

My friend that is what i've been trying to say this entire time.

There is a line. Jesus set it. If you don't repent and change your ways, then you do not show the proof of Christ in you.

 

[Greengardener]

My heart also longs for this, and I think it's what we are called to. For now, we have to struggle. I mean, Paul and Barnabas struggled in their thoughts of John Mark. We struggle too, and all the more as people have inserted ideas into the original Christianity that have caused groups to "see" stuff in scripture that probably isn't there at all and was never there from the beginning. But since we were raised with it as authoritative, for us to see it would be revolutionary and difficult, so we remain adhered to error in our struggle to be on a true path. I think that's why we just focus on growing, on influencing the people around us to both keep growing and to keep seeking the truth further and further back to the Source, not stopping at what people have said about God but seeking God in what He intends for us and has intended from the beginning. I find comfort in knowing that He separates out the wheat from the tares, and my primary focus has to be that I am not found among the tares because it's easy to think I stand when I'm really not. There is no easy checklist for this one, just an ongoing struggle to be an overcomer in a world that keeps throwing stuff in our paths.

 

[Coleton Bryce Ritmanich]

My heart also longs for this, and I think it's what we are called to. For now, we have to struggle. I mean, Paul and Barnabas struggled in their thoughts of John Mark. We struggle too, and all the more as people have inserted ideas into the original Christianity that have caused groups to "see" stuff in scripture that probably isn't there at all and was never there from the beginning. But since we were raised with it as authoritative, for us to see it would be revolutionary and difficult, so we remain adhered to error in our struggle to be on a true path. I think that's why we just focus on growing, on influencing the people around us to both keep growing and to keep seeking the truth further and further back to the Source, not stopping at what people have said about God but seeking God in what He intends for us and has intended from the beginning. I find comfort in knowing that He separates out the wheat from the tares, and my primary focus has to be that I am not found among the tares because it's easy to think I stand when I'm really not. There is no easy checklist for this one, just an ongoing struggle to be an overcomer in a world that keeps throwing stuff in our paths.

Sister, this is amazing. Is this how you truly feel?

 

[Radagast]

My friend that is what i've been trying to say this entire time.

There is a line. Jesus set it. If you don't repent and change your ways, then you do not show the proof of Christ in you.

But there is more. Certain beliefs are necessary. For example:

1 John 2:22: Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

1 John 4:2-3: By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

 

[Coleton Bryce Ritmanich]

But there is more. Certain beliefs are necessary. For example:

1 John 2:22: Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

1 John 4:2-3: By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

I knew this would be awesome. And if you had read all of my posts on this thread, you would know what I believe.

Every scripture in the Holy Bible is the Word of God, and we are to believe them all, and share the Good News! Do you even see how well you are lining up with what i've been saying? It's almost too cool!

Yeah! This is awesome!

The certain beliefs required are to believe every scripture!

 

[Coleton Bryce Ritmanich]

I knew this would be awesome. And if you had read all of my posts on this thread, you would know what I believe.

Every scripture in the Holy Bible is the Word of God, and we are to believe them all, and share the Good News! Do you even see how well you are lining up with what i've been saying? It's almost too cool!

Yeah! This is awesome!

The certain beliefs required are to believe every scripture!

By the Holy Spirit's Teaching and not our own. Because it is only when we preach what we want to say the scriptures teach, that there is even an argument to begin with.

 

[Greengardener]

Sister, this is amazing. Is this how you truly feel?

Yes it is, Coleton Bryce.

 

[Coleton Bryce Ritmanich]

Yes it is, Coleton Bryce.

It is amazing how God can use people's true emotions! Praise God!

 

[Greengardener]

It is amazing how God can use people's true emotions! Praise God!

They have become my true emotions, but I'm indebted to various teachers who have put words to those unspoken ideas and helped me speak of what I was perceiving, as well as reinforcing that I'm not the only weird one out here keenly aware that we are spinning and whirling to an unknown future at a course of amazing speed on this one ball of compressed dust with a community of people listening to a thousand voices. How God manages to love us amazingly until the point at which those who choose evil continually are annihilated, I can't fathom, but He pours love into every attempt to get us to turn from those evil choices and woos us to choose Him, to choose life. There is indeed that point where God's love for justice balances the scales in the way that suits Him, and we certainly aren't wise to think He will pander us when He clearly says He disciplines those He loves, prunes those who are His and bearing fruit so they bear even more and better fruit.
I'm reminded of an obscure hymn recently revised:
I am not skilled to understand what God has willed, what God has planned. I only know at His right hand stands one who is my Savior.
So the songwriter wrote.
I take Him at His word and deed: Christ died to save me, this I read. And in my heart I know the need for Him to be my Savior.
Yes, while the response is deeply logical, it's also deeply emotional. That's how we were made. Isn't He wonderful?

 

[Coleton Bryce Ritmanich]

They have become my true emotions, but I'm indebted to various teachers who have put words to those unspoken ideas and helped me speak of what I was perceiving, as well as reinforcing that I'm not the only weird one out here keenly aware that we are spinning and whirling to an unknown future at a course of amazing speed on this one ball of compressed dust with a community of people listening to a thousand voices. How God manages to love us amazingly until the point at which those who choose evil continually are annihilated, I can't fathom, but He pours love into every attempt to get us to turn from those evil choices and woos us to choose Him, to choose life. There is indeed that point where God's love for justice balances the scales in the way that suits Him, and we certainly aren't wise to think He will pander us when He clearly says He disciplines those He loves, prunes those who are His and bearing fruit so they bear even more and better fruit.
I'm reminded of an obscure hymn recently revised:
I am not skilled to understand what God has willed, what God has planned. I only know at His right hand stands one who is my Savior.
So the songwriter wrote.
I take Him at His word and deed: Christ died to save me, this I read. And in my heart I know the need for Him to be my Savior.
Yes, while the response is deeply logical, it's also deeply emotional. That's how we were made. Isn't He wonderful?

Yes, God is wonderful!