Non-denominational view of how to get to heaven.

[Willie T]

Oh, thank God they don't. The church needs to be doing as Jesus instructed us to do. And, that is to be out teaching and discipling. It's in the Bible. Jesus SENT THEM OUT.

 

[wordsoflife]

Oh, thank God they don't. The church needs to be doing as Jesus instructed us to do. And, that is to be out teaching and discipling. It's in the Bible. Jesus SENT THEM OUT.

Yes, but what are we sent out to preach? The gospel message.

Romans 10:15
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

 

[Willie T]

What did the apostle Paul say:

1 Corinthians 2:2
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Am I really hearing a Christian say this? Read it again. Paul is speaking 100% of the past.... way back when he first taught these people (when none of them were Christians yet....... years ago).

In verse 6, he begins to preach to them as the mature Christians they should have become (no baby-food milk of the gospel here), telling them how to start seeing things with mature, spiritual eyes.

 

[wordsoflife]

Am I really hearing a Christian say this? Read it again.

You are wrong Sir, I think that you need to "read it again". What Paul is saying is that the simple message of the gospel is all he needs.

1 Corinthians 1:23
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness.

 

[Willie T]

This is Sunday school stuff. I'm not trying to insult you. Honestly. I'm just flaggergasted that you don't seem to already know this.

 

[wordsoflife]

This is Sunday school stuff. I'm not trying to insult you. Honestly. I'm just flaggergasted that you don't seem to already know this.

My experience with you is that you are very prideful. Yes, the preaching of the gospel is foolishness to many but it must be preached in season and out of season. If it is "Sunday School Stuff" then why does it seem you are missing out on it?

 

[bbbbbbb]

I would never attend a non-denominational Church again. They are very watered down and do not practice the sacraments correctly. Especially the Eucharist as stated. At least I am not aware of a non-denominational Church that practices the Lord's Supper correctly. Plus, I attended a Calvary Chapel which is "non denominational" and they really glorified the Pastor. I would rather become Catholic then attend a non-denominational Church.

Then you could not manage well at all in China. The churches in China are not much like the non-denominational churches of your experience and they are certainly not sacerdotal.

 

[Albion]

Then you could not manage well at all in China.

No offense, but that's got to be the most anemic come-back that's appeared around here in quite awhile.

 

[bbbbbbb]

Not offense, but that's got to be the most anemic come-back that's appeared around here in quite awhile.

I will grant that. However, I think it helps to get a bit of perspective that the good, old USA is not the center of the universe and certainly not the center of Christianity.

 

[wordsoflife]

I will grant that. However, I think it helps to get a bit of perspective that the good, old USA is not the center of the universe and certainly not the center of Christianity.

Yet, this has nothing to do with the USA. The majority of Christians in the world are Catholic and they do participate in the Eucharist.

 

[Albion]

Yet, this has little to do with the USA. The majority of Christians in the world are Catholic and they do participate in the Eucharist.

Some of them do, at least. About one in fifty attends Mass in Italy, for example.

 

[bbbbbbb]

Yet, this has little to do with the USA. The majority of Christians in the world are Catholic and they do participate in the Eucharist.

It is highly debatable as to the actual number of people in the world who participate in the Catholic Eucharist. For example, although virtually every citizen of France is claimed as a member by the Catholic church, less than 3% attend mass on any given Sunday. Do you think the other 97% are really practicing Catholics?

 

[Albion]

I will grant that. However, I think it helps to get a bit of perspective that the good, old USA is not the center of the universe and certainly not the center of Christianity.

Yeh, I understand the point. However, it makes we wonder...

Do we really know enough about this so-called non-denominational movement in China in order to make any judgments about its style, etc. in any case? It seems like all we know is that they're there and supposedly doing well.

 

[wordsoflife]

It is highly debatable as to the actual number of people in the world who participate in the Catholic Eucharist. For example, although virtually every citizen of France is claimed as a member by the Catholic church, less than 3% attend mass on any given Sunday. Do you think the other 97% are really practicing Catholics?

My point was not how many of the faithful actually attend Mass but that this is not an "American" issue.

 

[bbbbbbb]

Yeh, I understand the point. However, it makes we wonder...

Do we really know enough about this so-called non-denominational movement in China in order to make any judgments about its style, etc. in any case? It seems like all we know is that they're there and supposedly doing well.

I visited China this past March and had the privilege of spending the month with the Christians there. On a relative basis (compared with forty years ago) Christians are doing much better. I am not sure what you mean by "style". If you mean liturgical style, then there is little to none because they meet in groups of about 40 in houses. One church that I visited was fairly traditional in its service and a second church was quite lively, reflecting strong influence from American Pentecostals who had visited.

Various cults such as the LDS are coming in and there are some home-grown cults as well. The need for grounding in the basic truths of the Bible is critical.

Nevertheless, there is no discernible division within the Chinese underground churches.

 

[bbbbbbb]

My point was not how many of the faithful actually attend Mass but that this is not an "American" issue.

I quite agree with your point. I think, however, that it is quite impossible to make any absolute claims as to which denomination within Christianity is the largest.

 

[wordsoflife]

I quite agree with your point. I think, however, that it is quite impossible to make any absolute claims as to which denomination within Christianity is the largest.

I think that it is obvious which Church is the largest.

 

[bbbbbbb]

I think that it is obvious which Church is the largest.

Would that be the Eastern Orthodox Church? They claim the entire population of Russia, among other countries.

 

[wordsoflife]

Would that be the Eastern Orthodox Church? They claim the entire population of Russia, among other countries.

The Catholic Church claims 1.2 Billion members and is obviously the largest Church:

List of Christian denominations by number of members

 

[bbbbbbb]

The Catholic Church claims 1.2 Billion members and is obviously the largest Church:

List of Christian denominations by number of members

No. The Catholic Church claims the largest number of adherents. Nobody except God knows how many actual members the Catholic Church actually has.

BTW, would it help you to know that the Chinese Orthodox Church claims 1.7 billion members?