For all the Different Denominations Out there!

[s41nn0n]

If everybody is supposed to look up to Christians why do we fight among each other?
We make a fuss on other denominations that do not believe in "my" beliefs.

Christians, are the people, that most people are criticizing as we are all supposed to be one big 'happy' family and as a result of us fighting among each other we are sharing and setting an example to the rest of the world, Is that the example that you really want to spread?

people enjoy telling others about how we fight among each other and as a result we are pushing our, non-believing friends, away from Christianity which we should not be doing.

I have got issues that I would Like to find out on the reasons why we fight among each other and why we don't fight the real bad people, Satan and his followers?

P.S. I don't want this to push us away from each other even more but to bring us together as one united body under the Lord Jesus Christ.

[TimRout]

If everybody is supposed to look up to Christians why do we fight among each other? We make a fuss on other denominations that do not believe in "my" beliefs.I understand what you're getting at. Jesus said that our unity as Christians would tell the world that God truly sent Him [John 17:21]. It is important to remember, however, that "unity" does not require "uniformity". Rather, we are called to be one in our mutual relationship with the Lord.

The "fuss" that can erupt between denominations is often a very necessary part of kingdom life. It is the process through which we discern true believers from false, since the Bible warns us repeatedly that there are plenty of fakers out there [Matthew 13:38; Galatians 2:4]. While some of these fakers will remain undetected until Judgment Day, we are nevertheless wise to test the beliefs of those who claim to speak for Jesus [Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1].
Christians, are the people, that most people are criticizing as we are all supposed to be one big 'happy' family and as a result of us fighting among each other we are sharing and setting an example to the rest of the world, Is that the example that you really want to spread?While disunity between genuinely saved Christians makes for a sad testimony, keep in mind that the world will criticize us all the same, even if we enjoyed total unity [John 15:18-19; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Timothy 3:12]. Christian disunity can be a problem, but more often than not, the world simply uses perceived disunity as an excuse to persist in disbelief.

People enjoy telling others about how we fight among each other and as a result we are pushing our, non-believing friends, away from Christianity which we should not be doing.We're not the ones pushing our nonbelieving friends away from the kingdom. Their sin pushes them away, and Satan helps the process along by blinding them to the truth [Romans 1:18-19; 2 Corinthians 4:4]. There are two dangers: The first involves unnecessary division within the body. The second involves unholy inclusivism within the broader "Christian" community. As a conservative evangelical, I would not choose to associate with denominations who reject the core doctrines of biblical Christianity.I have got issues that I would like to find out on the reasons why we fight among each other and why we don't fight the real bad people, Satan and his followers?


P.S. I don't want this to push us away from each other even more but to bring us together as one united body under the Lord Jesus Christ.Sadly, sometimes Satan and his followers can be found warming the pews in our churches. Without fervent theological debate and discussion in the body of Christ, the enemy will have a much easier time slipping his lies into the margin notes of orthodoxy. While born again Christians ought not to hate one another, a certain degree of "division" can be healthy and can even promote ultimate unity among the truly saved.

Hope this helps. :wave:

[phoenixgw]

Do you know why a Baptist's casket is only 1 foot wide? It's because their views are so narrow, they put the body in on its side. I say that as someone who was baptized as an adult in a Baptist Church.

I've done the tour, from Eastern Orthodox to Charismatic, Mennonite to Pentecostal, Non-denominational to Salvation Army and have had some time to consider these matters. In fact, that is why I chose the path of study that I did. I wanted to find out what the churches were doing wrong so that I could do it right.

Problem 1: Church replaces Ekklesia

In my studies, I discovered the origin of the word 'church.' It comes from the Greek ekklesia, which means 'a calling out.' Remember reading about John the Baptizer in the NT? He was baptizing people in need of repentance. Do you remember where John did this? Was it in Jerusalem? NO. It was outside the city in the Jordan River.

Ekklesias were first exercised by the Greeks when they found that their city state govts. were becoming too corrupt or oppressive. The citizens would publicly call for an ekklesia (assembly). If enough people came out and refused to accept the govt.'s authority, the government would collapse.

When Jesus preached in Jerusalem, he eventually was rejected and was called out to preach in areas near the Sea of Galilee. People would come out of their towns to greet him and worship him.

What do the churches of today do? What is their ekklesia, their calling out? For Baptists, they usually do an 'altar call' at the end of the service, asking if Jesus has called them out of their sinful lives to walk with the Lord in obedience. If someone comes forward, the pastor and/or elders and deacons will pray with these people and will decide if they are ready for baptism.

While John baptized for repentance, people were baptized in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The submerging represents the death of the old person and the emergence of the new creation, governed by the Holy Spirit.
After that happens, (s)he goes back to church the next week and does the same thing (s)he did before the baptism. Do you see the problem?

Church has taken the place of ekklesia. People do not leave the comforts of their community, families, and friends to be baptized. The 'calling out' is more of a 'welcoming in,' meaning that instead of non-conformists making up the assembly, we now have conformists making up the assembly, joining the community, families, and friends. This means that along with the Holy Spirit calling out someone, we also have the peer pressure of the church calling people into it. This leads to people joining the assembly for different reasons; some are baptized into the assembly of God, while others are baptized into the church community, not having the spiritual experience of being "born again."

Eventually what happens in Baptist churches is that the born again believers recognize that leaders and several of the congregation are not guided by the Holy Spirit and obey the call of the Holy Spirit to the real ekklesia (calling out), leaving the church to fight over matters of doctrine, their music, the colour of the carpet--worldly concerns.

Though different denominational churches have different methods of initiation and indoctrination, the results are the same. The church in the city or town with the 4 walls is doomed to become too oppressive (legalistic) and/or corrupt because a genuine ekklesia hasn't taken place. We see this happening today with clergy and deacons who become too oppressive or too permissive. These extremes result in either neurotic congregations of mules trying to gallop like horses (read: Baptists) or the inclusion of abominations like common-law marriage, idolatry , homosexuality, alcoholism, etc. (United).

Most fights between and within different denominations happen because of theology (vs. sound doctrine/teaching). Do you know who the first recorded theologian in the Bible was? It was the serpent! "Did God really say...?" Theology means the word/matter/things of God. So like the serpent, one theologian challenges the authority of one's statement, creating conflict and strife instead of the harmony that emerges when people humble themselves and submit to God. The process of true debate, dialectic inquiry, demands confrontation in order to arrive at a higher "truth," which is assaulted by various critics until another "truth" emerges, creating an endless cycle of confrontation.

Some churches, which I won't name, are a mixed bag of strictness and permissiveness, who either ignore the sin and strife or try to hide it behind closed doors. The image of unity is shattered only when a sex scandal is reported in the media, and even then, the church will try to resolve the matter as quickly and as privately as possible by monetary compensation and/or the transfer of the offending party to another church.

Problem 2: Emotionalism replaces worship

While true worship is responding to God's glory and includes praise, a response to God's attributes, the churches create their own kind of "Praise and Worship." While the more traditional churches (the ones packed with Seniors) feature older hymns with Scriptural references, the "big box" and non-denominational churches engage in emotionalism to reach a spiritual high, much like the pagans used to do. Sexual elements are common, as are loud bands with various musical instruments and sermonettes to direct the "Praise and Worship." Some critics of this practice suggest that it even invites demons to join in their worship. You can read this for yourselves.
http://www.piney.com/Charismatic.html

The Temple of Christ

Acts 2 pretty much describes the ekklesia (assembly) as it should be. No walls, no membership lists; the new temple of God is a fluid collection of individuals who come together for events and projects like a movie crew. When the project is over, people go their separate ways and reassemble as the Holy Spirit orchestrates. My name for this form of impromptu worship and action is "Ad hoc fellowship."

I pray for the people in the churches, but I don't worry about the churches or how people perceive Christianity because of the public debates and the church splits that occur . As these churches become more corrupt and oppressive, more ekklesias will happen and more people will join the body of Christ.

[JCFantasy23]

Born in this generation and not under one denomination, I think everything so confusing. I don't think it was meant to be so split and foreign

[plmarquette]

Perhaps, when we quit wallowing in semantical boiler plate and accentuating the obvious differances and diatribes...we can get down to the work of the kingdom ....

Luke 9.1, 10.9 ; Mark 16.16-20 ... preach , teach, baptize, heal, overcome ....

[Benwilbur]

If everybody is supposed to look up to Christians why do we fight among each other?
We make a fuss on other denominations that do not believe in "my" beliefs.

Christians, are the people, that most people are criticizing as we are all supposed to be one big 'happy' family and as a result of us fighting among each other we are sharing and setting an example to the rest of the world, Is that the example that you really want to spread?

people enjoy telling others about how we fight among each other and as a result we are pushing our, non-believing friends, away from Christianity which we should not be doing.

I have got issues that I would Like to find out on the reasons why we fight among each other and why we don't fight the real bad people, Satan and his followers?

P.S. I don't want this to push us away from each other even more but to bring us together as one united body under the Lord Jesus Christ.




Many of us argue on What certain Verses mean or What God IS, or whatever.

But I think that if It fits the Bible then I find nothing wrong with it. As long as it does not Contradict the Bible.

[Rindicella]

If everybody is supposed to look up to Christians why do we fight among each other?

Good question. A good reason to research the history of Christianity.


We make a fuss on other denominations that do not believe in "my" beliefs.
A spot on observation. Whatever happened to "the" beliefs of Christianity?


Christians, are the people, that most people are criticizing as we are all supposed to be one big 'happy' family and as a result of us fighting among each other we are sharing and setting an example to the rest of the world, Is that the example that you really want to spread?Not at all. That's why I did my research.


people enjoy telling others about how we fight among each other and as a result we are pushing our, non-believing friends, away from Christianity which we should not be doing.Another good reason to do your own research!

I have got issues that I would Like to find out on the reasons why we fight among each other and why we don't fight the real bad people, Satan and his followers?

P.S. I don't want this to push us away from each other even more but to bring us together as one united body under the Lord Jesus Christ.



God bless you for desiring unity. Jesus said, Matt. 16:18.


18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hadeswill not overcome it.


The question is: Where is that Church and how can I be part of it???

Keep seeking Him...God shall give you the desire of your heart.

[JSGuitarist]

The fact lies in that we are still human. I can't think of how else we get all the differences in...

Strict predestination vs. free will
Worship on Saturday vs. worship on Sunday
Pretrib vs. midtrib vs. post-trib vs. preterism vs. amilleniallism, etc.
Once-saved-always-saved vs. not
Mediation through man to Christ vs. not
The forbidding of dance vs. the freedom to dance
Old style music vs. contemporary style music
Lifting hands vs. not lifting hands
The gifts of the spirit vs. dispensationalism
Errancy of the bible vs. inerrancy
Old earth creationism vs. young earth creationism

Someone somewhere is not reading their Bible correctly.

Some of those issues above aren't that important - at least to me - like worship on Saturday or Sunday, the timing of the rapture, style of music (though I have a preference), and I think it's ridiculous to accept or dispel members accordingly to them, but others - such as mediation through man to Christ, dispensationalism, errancy of the Bible, OEC - I wouldn't be able to sit and digest every Sunday. Some theological differences are superficial, others are quite fundamental to interpreting how you live your life, how you minister to others, your outlook on God and His Word, etc., and will heavily impact the road you walk for better or worse, so that's why you have to say yes to some churches, but no to others.

It's not really as simple to me as, "Why can't we all just get along?" As much as I desire unity, the need for discernment forces me to say yes to some beliefs but no to others, and that's not something I can do much about except pray.

[Lion-Of-Zion]

Arrogance. And intolerance of different views or opinions.

[kallenfranchise]

Denominations can be dangerous. It hurts the body of Christ more than helping it. Personally, being non-denominational is the best way to go. One open forum where all Christians are free to hold their own beliefs and practices as long they are scriptural and hold to the Christian essentials (salvation, heaven/hell, forgiveness, Trinity..etc).

[IfollowJesus]

Because God likes to watch us fight; he needs entertainment after all. Fellatio from angels can get boring after awhile.

Hey, I don't follow any denomination simply because of the Fights etc. If I were to call myslef anything it would be a Evangelical, Fundamentalist Christian, That doesn't fit any denomination to me.
What religion are you? Do you follow Jesus? If you do here is my favirate quote from the Bible and probably the most famous?

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
- John 3:16

The Catholic and Protestant argument amazes me, simply because they are clearly killing each other in ireland, and if they followed God they would pay attention to this:

"Thou shalt not kill."

It blows my mind.

Jed

[violentworld]

The Catholic and Protestant argument amazes me, simply because they are clearly killing each other in ireland, and if they followed God they would pay attention to this:


That's not true. In actuality it's over pots of gold. They use religion as a cover up to keep foreigners out, that's all.

[IfollowJesus]

That's not true. In actuality it's over pots of gold. They use religion as a cover up to keep foreigners out, that's all.


Yea, That was bassicly what I was trying to say, they use religion as a cover up because they are not true Catholics nor Protestants so therefor giving religion a bad name!
I feel sorry for the Catholic
and Protestant community in general its because of this violence why they get a bad name.

[violentworld]

From what I've heard, from the war front at least, Catholics keep their gold well hidden; this creates a lot of problems for the Protestants. Leprechauns are very rare, as well as rainbows and pots of gold. That's probably why there is so much gold in cathedrals.

[hopeinGod]

Do you know why a Baptist's casket is only 1 foot wide?...................an on and on and on....

Never have I read more total b.s. in all my Christian life.

Dave