I hear what you are saying Blacksabb, and it does make sense in that perhaps it can come across badly if we fanatically worship the denomination we attend, instead of the God who created us.
But I still believe that in these last days it is important that we do not 'hide the label' as one person put it. There are many, many Christians in the world. I know for a fact that a lot of people (in the UK anyway) will not be religious at all but still say they are 'Christian' - it acts as an insurance policy to thousands of people. These types of people, along with others who profess to be 'Christian' but blindly follow false teachings - worshipping the image - are all included in those who will call 'Lord Lord,' but Jesus will deny knowing them.
So, I know what you are getting across that we should always maintain our focus on Jesus, but we must also maintain our specific identity among today's Christian society. When God finally proclaims "Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong.....and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness..." Rev 22:11 - Christianity will not suddenly disappear - but a remnant will come out of Christianity, and I believe many other religions and cultures. They too will have their specific identity - the Seal of God.
I'm glad to finally read a well thought out, moderate response. None of this "Oh how dare you, you come around here blah blah blah......you have offended my honour, I challenge you to a duel...."
By the way, to the other dude claiming that Black Sabbath were brought up as Adventists, I went to that link you posted, and again, under the music section, there was nothing. Then I went to the adherents home page, and typed in "Black Sabbath" in the search engine for adherents.
I typed into the Yahoo search engine "famous SDA, Black Sabbath" and the first result was the exact same link you gave me. Sure, the Yahoo search result for result number 1 had this summary, " Public TV series, etc. ( raised
SDA) - Greg Mathis -
famous no-nonsense TV judge, star of ... Musical Groups: Isley Brothers, and
Black Sabbath. Interviews with Seventh-day Adventists ...
But again, when you opened that link, it was the same one that you gave me, and again, under the music section, no Black Sabbath as you claimed. This was for the category for "famous Seventh Day Adventists" implying that they were or are SDA's. Now, please take not, not only was there no Black Sabbath under the "music" section, there was also no Isley Brothers as you also claimed. I will explain the significance of this as this is tied in with Sabbath.
I did a bit more searching and finally, I came up with a link to SDA and Black Sabbath, but it is not what it seems. This is what I did. From that link you gave me, I went to the adherents home page, and typed in "Black Sabbath" for the adherents google powered search engine. This is the link it gave me:
www.adherents.com/people/100_rock.html
Put this into your search engine, then press on the link that is called "Religon of the greatest 100 greatest rock musicians".
And on this link, indeed, you will find the Isley Brothers and Black Sabbath that were not on the other link you gave me.
But wait. There's a difference. The first link you gave me was for musicans who were or are SDA's, and as I stated, Sabbath and the Isley Brothers were not there.
However, this is what the top of the page states for this other link from adherents (Religion of the greatest 100 rock musicians):
"This page notes: "Criteria: These artists were ranked for their Cultural and Musical Impacts, as well as their Influence on the rock world in general, and their Popularity... There is nothing 'Official' about these lists. They are compiled by the 'editor' using the stated criteria, and revised considering the competent suggestions of visitors to this website only."
This is in fact the connection that you referred to because it lists both Sabbath and the Isley Brothers. However, as you can plainly read about this link, it is NOT a list of current of ex-SDA rock musicians, but rock musicians that have somehow have had an influence with a relgious denomination. And as the link clearly states, it is not even official.
For example, the Beatles are listed with Chrisitanity not because they were or brought up Christians, but because they challenged Christianity, ( John Lennon-"We are more popular than Jesus....")
The only connection therefore with SDA's and Black Sabbath is the word "Sabbath" and this is what the adherents list is acknowledging. Nothing to do with them being Adventists.
And by the way, they get the name "Black Sabbath" not from being ex-SDA's as a way of being blasphemous, (which I kind of think you are suggesting-but I may be wrong) but from the Boris Karlof 1930's movie "Black Sabbath". The members of the band "Earth" that were to be renamed Black Sabbath thought that it was a cool sounding, scary name for a rock band. In fact, they already had a song called "Black Sabbath" taken form the same movie, and they thought why not call the band the same name. Nothing to do with Adventism.
Now that I've cleared that all up, let me respond to the quote I've put. I would strongly disagree with you claiming that there is some sort of strength associated with a denomination. I would say look at the damage all the denominations have done in the name of Christ, and distorting the image and conception of Jesus.
I speak to people a lot about religion and Christianity. And a lot of unbelievers are unbelievers because of a lot of the far out practices and beleifs of various denominations, with all their peculiar and bizarre rules and regulations.
A couple of guys, for example, were watching some television at morning tea, and there was this story about the Orthodox Chuch in Russia, and it was showing a ceremony. One of the guys just sneered at the tradition, robes, ceremony etc, and commented how all unreal and irrelevant it was in todays modern society.
But is all the pomp, robes and ceremonies of the Catholics or Orthodox Chruch really representative of Christ, or representative of simply a couple of denominations?
I would say it is not representative of Christ at all, and in this case, all it did was to put an unbeliever off, thinking that this was what Christ was about.
I've heard other non beleivers laugh and sneer at the Amish way of life, and same thing. They think that it's a joke, their way of life, rules, regualtions etc. And so, in turn, they sneer and laugh at Christ. But the Amish way of life is not necessarily the way of Christ, but the interpretation of some men. Again, Christ is mocked because of denominations.
And why this post has changed from black to blue to green and to black again is another mystery. But I digress.
And let's not forget about Pentecostal bizareness, which I have seen others hang their heads with shame about. Do you all rememeber all the hoo ha a few years ago in the media about the Toronto "blessing" (for want of a better word) where people were getting high as a kite on "God", falling down on the ground with "holy laughter", "drunk in the Spirit", and carrying on in such ridiculous fashion as barking, meowing and mooing like dogs, cats and cows. There was even "holy vomiting".
Yeah, I can't even begin to tell you how this garbage was viewed by the outside world, and then as a result, the image of Christ suffers with it as he is associated with this stupidity. (See? I'm much harder on Pentecostals than you guys-take note Woodabodoo or however your name is).
Ooh, I almost forgot. I have worked at a couple of hospitals, and the issue of Jehovahs Witnesses and blood has made unbelievers cringe with disgust for Christianity. One woman developed continual bleeding after giving birth, and she of course refused to be given blood, subsequently died leaving behing 3 children and a husband. Yeah, this did wonders for the gospel amongst the unsaved. And again, that is only one denominations view about not taking blood, and yet, to outsiders, this is what Christ is represented as-obeying this old testament law even to the point of sacrificing your family.
And many such examples I could give you. I hear time and time again how some unbeliever hates Christ and Christianity because of the interpretations and (often) far out ways of denominations.
By simply stating you are a Christian, you avoid much of this and attempt to portray Christ as he was, and not by the faulty human interpretations of some denomination
"Could it be you're afraid of what your friend might say?
If they knew you believe in God above.
They should realise before they criticise
That God is the only way to love.
Perhaps you'll think before you say that
God is dead and gone.
Open your eyes, just realise he is the one.
The only one that can save you from all this sin and
hate".
Black Sabbath,1971, "After Forever", Master of Reality.