Why doesn't God just tell us which denomination is right?

[A_Thinker]

After multiple denomination hoping for years, I found out the hard way. What church am I supposed to go to?

The one that loves Jesus, loves its people, loves you, ... and teaches, encourages, and lets you love them back ...

 

[BobRyan]

Seems like it would help us out a lot if God told everybody, "The Calvinists are right" (Or whichever denomination).

So many false teachings would be disproven in an instant, everybody would know which Church best aligns with God & His word...

So why not?

Been there.. done that.

BTW I assume you do not mean that one denomination is saved and all others lost. Christ said in John 16 "I have many more things to tell you but you cannot bear them now" so then having less understanding of truth does not of itself make one lost. It is rejection of truth that does that.

I assume you mean "if God would come to Earth in the modern age and tell us " (-- maybe in the form of some prophet?) which denomination had no doctrinal error -- and so all others by comparison had at least one doctrine to be corrected... wouldn't that be helpful?"

Which of course groups like the Seventh-day Adventists claim He did that very thing.

And did that "solve the question" for "Everyone"?

No. We still have the divisions.

God told Noah that his religion was correct - but did that settle it for everyone else?

God told Moses and all Israel at Sinai that their religion was correct -- but did that settle it for everyone else?

God told John the baptizer the Messiah he pointed to was the right one.

Christ told His disciples that He was God the Son and that their religion was correct - but did that settle it for everyone else?

These supernatural events were indeed reported - but most people rejected that report.

Seventh-day Adventist will tell you of that same supernatural event within their own denomination - but that does not "settle it" for all who hear of it.

 

[BobRyan]

Denominations change their "believes" over time so which one is right today can be wrong tomorrow and some will change to the good. We are here to help with positive changes, so do not get lazy about it.

Change as in "more fully define" or "change" as in "reject old beliefs"??

for example the Seventh-day Adventist "expand and define over time" their beliefs to now become what Christianity Today called the "5th largest Christian denomination in the world" -- but do not "delete...drop.. repudiate" former statements.

 

[BobRyan]

God is more interested in us LOVING ONE ANOTHER, ... despite disagreements in doctrine.

This "IS the LOVE of God that we KEEP His Commandments" 1 John 5:2-3
"the saints KEEP the Commandments of God AND their faith in Jesus" Rev 14:12
"IF you Love Me KEEP My Commandments" John 14:15
"love Me and KEEP My Commandments" Ex 20:6

 

[BobRyan]

Jesus said that His followers would be all about the LOVE (John 15:34-35). Seems like it is we who have made it all about the DETAILS of the FAITH.

Jesus said "I am the way the TRUTH and the life" John 14... and "if you Love Me KEEP My Commandments" John 14:15

"you shall know the TRUTH and the TRUTH shall set you free" John 8:32

"they perish who did not receive the Love of the TRUTH" 2 Thess 2

"He the Spirit of Truth will lead you into all TRUTH" John 16

"this IS the LOVE of God - that we KEEP His Commandments" Rev 14:12

"But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." Matt 19:17

Eph 6:2 "honor your father and mother for this is the FIRST commandment WITH a promise" in that still-valid unit of TEN

 

[A_Thinker]

This "IS the LOVE of God that we KEEP His Commandments" 1 John 5:2-3
"the saints KEEP the Commandments of God AND their faith in Jesus" Rev 14:12
"IF you Love Me KEEP My Commandments" John 14:15
"love Me and KEEP My Commandments" Ex 20:6

A NEW COMMANDMENT I give to you (my disciples) ... that you LOVE ONE ANOTHER, as I have LOVED you. BY THIS will ALL MEN KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, ... if you have LOVE for one another. John 15:34-35

LOVE is the true SIGN of the follower of Christ ...

 

[Original Happy Camper]

Possibly though that doesn't speak to the ability of the bible to unite Christians rather than than divide them.

I assume you believe that the SDA are the truest or most faithful Protestants? In keeping with the topic of the thread how would you go about establishing that?

Glad you asked
Revelation 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Matthew 4:4
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Exodus 20
1 And God spake all these words, saying,
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

 

[Original Happy Camper]

I take it the true church is the one you currently attend.

Yes I am a Sabbath keeper as the LORD instructed us.
SEE POST #79

John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.

[Staff edit].

 

[Original Happy Camper]

Might I suggest that wherever believers in the saving power of Christ gather ... to be encouraged in their faith, and strengthened for persevering in their walk with God, to show love and kindness into the world, ... there you find Christ's Church.

Jesus said that His followers would be all about the LOVE (John 15:34-35). Seems like it is we who have made it all about the DETAILS of the FAITH.

When, again, Jesus said that, even, our FAITH should be as a LITTLE CHILD's (Mark 10:14-15) ...

John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.

[Staff edit].

 

[Dorothy Mae]

God told Noah that his religion was correct - but did that settle it for everyone else?

When did God do that? Scripture please

God told Moses and all Israel at Sinai that their religion was correct -- but did that settle it for everyone else?

When did God do that. Scripture please.

Christ told His disciples that He was God the Son and that their religion was correct - but did that settle it for everyone else?

When did Christ say that their religion was correct? Scripture please.

These supernatural events were indeed reported - but most people rejected that report.

Supernatural events? Yes. God speaking to people? Yes. Is the latter supernatural? No. It is rather ordinary although unusual. But I have never heard God say to anyone (and its no where in scripture) "your religion is correct." That is because it is not religion to God. It is relationship.

Seventh-day Adventist will tell you of that same supernatural event within their own denomination - but that does not "settle it" for all who hear of it.

Again, supernatural events are not relationship and relationship is everything.

 

[Original Happy Camper]

After multiple denomination hoping for years, I found out the hard way. What church am I supposed to go to?

See Post #79

 

[Original Happy Camper]

The one that loves Jesus, loves its people, loves you, ... and teaches, encourages, and lets you love them back ...

Nice reply however there is this in scripture

John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.

 

[Original Happy Camper]

A NEW COMMANDMENT I give to you (my disciples) ... that you LOVE ONE ANOTHER, as I have LOVED you. BY THIS will ALL MEN KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, ... if you have LOVE for one another. John 15:34-35

LOVE is the true SIGN of the follower of Christ ...

Please use bible verses and define LOVE.

Please provide bible verse that says love is a sign.

 

[Original Happy Camper]

Happy Sabbath today.

Worship the LORD and obey his commandment to keep it HOLY.

 

[Shempster]

Through 2 decades of being a Christian, I have always been confused about the divisions in the church.
It was obvious to me that about any individual theological idea has opposing views that use the same bible to argue.
I wondered, why would God make his word so vague? Does he WANT us to be confused? No, Jesus said he desires UNITY among his people. So what's up with all the thousands of beliefs?

Well I am beginning to see it more as a test if anything. If we can honestly admit that the law of averages will claim that 100% of us are likely wrong about some of our beliefs then we don't have to stress over the fact that others believe differently.
The way we can become united is in mutual LOVE...the greatest commandment. If we can just begin to respect other peoples opinions and stop trying to shove ours on them, we can become one body with the head being Jesus.

The state of being divided gives us a chance to overcome it and love each other, ignoring our differences.
But sadly, rigid belief systems create the whole "us and them" paradigm.
And often, the church tells us to stay away from who they call the deceived.
So in the end, someone could be extremely religious and still fail the test by rejecting others, considering themselves above someone else.

I am also beginning to think that this scenario is the meaning of life.
To gain the mind of Christ and actually live it by obeying his commandment to love. It is not about doctrines we believe.

 

[A_Thinker]

Please provide bible verse that says love is a sign.

BY THIS will ALL MEN KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, ... if you have LOVE for one another. John 15:35

 

[Original Happy Camper]

BY THIS will ALL MEN KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, ... if you have LOVE for one another. John 15:35

Thanks now how about the other

define LOVE using Bible verses

 

[tulipbee]

See Post #79

ah!
patience of the saints

 

[A_Thinker]

Thanks now how about the other

define LOVE using Bible verses

I presume that you are referring to "LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER", since that is the SIGN of a follower of Christ ...

1 Corinthians 13

4 Love is patient love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails.

Matthew 5

43 You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

 

[Tree of Life]

Seems like it would help us out a lot if God told everybody, "The Calvinists are right" (Or whichever denomination).

So many false teachings would be disproven in an instant, everybody would know which Church best aligns with God & His word...

So why not?

God has said enough. More words from God would not eliminate factionalism, human sin, and disunity. The church will only perfectly be unified when Christ returns to put away all sin.

Factionalism does not exist because of a lack of information. It exists because of sin.

So your real question is: “why doesn’t God eliminate all sin?”