Will the true Christians please stand up?

[mikeuk]

This is likely to be my last post on this forum. It was prompted by another thread asking " what is the hardest question about Christianity" but I did not want to hijack that thread, and this topic deserves its own.

The hardest question for me, is also the reason I came to this forum - and I have asked it a dozen different times, in a dozen different ways.


If There was any merit to Protestant or reformation theology, why can Protestants not agree on a single piece of material doctrine? Why are there many different theologies of salvation, Eucharist, baptism, clergy or not, liturgy or not, predestination, and a myriad of other issues like prolife or pro choice, contraception or not... The list is endless and there are as many combinations of those, seemingly as those expounding the views, resulting in denominations numbering at least 5 digits, tens of thousands. You seemingly cannot even agree what action it is that defines when you are saved.

Since most of these doctrines are mutually exclusive statistically very few if any are preaching the truth , the rest all false teachers.

Can you all really choose what you believe, and still have any credibility left as holding true doctrine?How can a house so divided stand? Indeed is it actually standing?

The only thing you seem all to agree on is anti RCC, and I suspect that is more to give a joint identity, because of differences on everything else, but like any identity built on a negative it is phony agreement, and cannot last

That is what I felt as a Protestant, also what I felt later as an evangelical, and the bickering is done with such very bad grace
I came here hoping to find credible alternatives to the verses that define Catholicism. I leave none the wiser, not even feeling the warmth of evangelical Christianity and that is sad.

My thought is you should get together and decide what you stand for, because at present I see no agreement on anything except the the things RCC stands for as well, as seen in the nicene creed.

So are all of you false teachers, or just most of you? Will the real Christians please stand up?

 

[breno785au]

Not sure if I understand why we are still being called a protestant, myself at least. Christ revealed Himself to me, and i asked for His Holy Spirit. My walk with God has nothing to do with being outside of the catholic denomination.

 

[Brainfreeze]

There will always be bickering, none of it is salvation issues, if you believe in Christ, confess to Him, turn away from sinning, be baptized with the Holy Ghost, and walk after and seek The Messiah in a constant, your doing Gods work. We serve, we help, and use the fruits of the Holy Spirit to comfort and lead unsaved to Christ. All of the pro- choice, pro - life stuff is for the birds, why worry about the way somes perceptions are going to be ? We should know abortion is wrong, but there's no time for debating such topics, when there's people outside starving for some real truth, and that's Gods Word and love..

God bless

 

[mikeuk]

Not sure if I understand why we are still being called a protestant, myself at least. Christ revealed Himself to me, and i asked for His Holy Spirit. My walk with God has nothing to do with being outside of the catholic denomination.

That side steps the question really. So are you non denominational? Does that lack of identity allow you to mix and match between flavours of doctrine? How so if there is but one unique truth? Does it not concern you that there are so many variants of which most cannot be true? Or do you not care what others here believe?

 

[michael56]

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. [SUP]24 [/SUP]God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:23&24

 

[mikeuk]

There will always be bickering, none of it is salvation issues
God bless

Not sure I can agree with that - The hottest topic here is salvation issues, and it is the one that leads to the worst name calling OSAS vs Saved can lose it vs not saved till the end.... And so much nastiness, The word " liar " not only appearing in many posts but also in some titles too!

 

[michael56]

The Jerusalem church accepted as believers people who wanted to insist Gentile converts be circumcised and required to obey the whole law. They also accepted Paul who was as far away from such thinking as you can get. So the one church had members who on many issues had very contrasting views.
For me, the true dividing line in Christianity is the Holy Spirit, not denominational tags. Some churches(in all denominations) are led of the Holy Spirit into truth and accept the gifts of the Holy Spirit as shown in Acts for today, and some do not

 

[wwjd_kilden]

have you read any other discussion forum? Open any newspaper and read the comments.
People have always been and will always be stubborn, selfish and unable to see things from other peoples point of view
we are all fallen

 

[mikeuk]

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. [SUP]24 [/SUP]God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:23&24

The trouble is all on here will say they worship in spirit and truth, so it does not help to identify the few if any that are the true Christians, with the " correct" set of beliefs.

 

[VioletReigns]

Good question! I'm interested in reading the answers, especially from those who dominate the Bible Discussion Forum with militant fanaticism.

 

[JesusistheChrist]

That side steps the question really. So are you non denominational? Does that lack of identity allow you to mix and match between flavours of doctrine? How so if there is but one unique truth? Does it not concern you that there are so many variants of which most cannot be true? Or do you not care what others here believe?

Hi, mike.

I know that your question wasn't directed towards me, but it concerns me greatly what others here believe. Never the type to mince words, I'll tell you plainly (and sorrowfully) that I honestly believe that many of the people on this forum who call themselves Christians have never truly encountered Christ and that they therefore have never truly been born again of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, and that is the underlying reason why there is so much division. On what do I base my evaluation concerning whether or not certain others here are even saved? Well, on their own stated beliefs, primarily.

Anyhow, I'm heading out the door for work and if you're no longer here when I return this evening, then it's been a pleasure conversing with you and I wish you the best in your own quest for Christ (the Truth).

 

[mikeuk]

have you read any other discussion forum? Open any newspaper and read the comments.
People have always been and will always be stubborn, selfish and unable to see things from other peoples point of view
we are all fallen

On that I am happy to agree! But it does not help with finding the " true Christianity" from amongst so many competing opinions!

 

[Brainfreeze]

Not sure I can agree with that - The hottest topic here is salvation issues, and it is the one that leads to the worst name calling OSAS vs Saved can lose it vs not saved till the end.... And so much nastiness, The word " liar " not only appearing in many posts but also in some titles too!

Yea, that happens regularly, don't get to caught up in it... I don't focus on predestination or not, why should we ? If we are keeping our mind on Christ there's no reason to. Usually the predestined crowd focuses on grace, grace through faith is a big deal, it's not on our own that no one will boast, but the beginning of salvation, showing God we're committed we repent ( turn away from sin ) because we are truly sorry, so with that said, why worry about predestination, no, we shouldn't just do what we want, that's what satanist do, that's their law " do as thou wilt ", we should walk the narrow road ... Just some food for thought, not to worried about debating it.

 

[WheresEnoch]

In my opinion, the various doctrines aren't all that important. What is important is Christ, repentance/turning from sin, being born again and your relationship with God. All the rest is just condiments lol. Some choose mustard, some ketchup, some pickles or onions etc... But at the end of the day, as long as we all eat a hamburger whats the problem?

Even within the dreaded RCC (lol), there are brothers and sisters who know and love God, as hard as that may be to believe. I'm not defending every post or intention from everyone on this site, but there is nothing wrong with talking about the Bible from different perspectives. Denominations mean little, to nothing to me. It honestly doesn't matter if you speak in tongues or not. It's all about how you live the faith. I give all church buildings with pews and a priest/pastor a big thumbs down, but even that is not the end of the world.

 

[JesusistheChrist]

Not sure I can agree with that - The hottest topic here is salvation issues, and it is the one that leads to the worst name calling OSAS vs Saved can lose it vs not saved till the end.... And so much nastiness, The word " liar " not only appearing in many posts but also in some titles too!

I've got to leave, but one last thing before I go:

The use of such words as "liar" is NOT necessarily "nastiness". Satan is not only a liar, but the father of the same and those who lie, especially "in the name of Christ" (allegedly), are more than worthy of such labels.

Anyhow, again, whether you're still here or not when I return this evening, it's been a pleasure interacting with you and I wish you nothing but the best in life and thereafter.

 

[mikeuk]

Hi, mike.

I know that your question wasn't directed towards me, but it concerns me greatly what others here believe. Never the type to mince words, I'll tell you plainly (and sorrowfully) that I honestly believe that many of the people on this forum who call themselves Christians have never truly encountered Christ and that they therefore have never truly been born again of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, and that is the underlying reason why there is so much division. On what do I base my evaluation concerning whether or not certain others here are even saved? Well, on their own stated beliefs, primarily.

Anyhow, I'm heading out the door for work and if you're no longer here when I return this evening, then it's been a pleasure conversing with you and I wish you the best in your own quest for Christ (the Truth).

And you, and I wish you all the best. Whether or not we agree, I have always sensed integrity in what you post, and the willingness to treat others with dignity.

 

[WheresEnoch]

I don't know if there was any merit in the protestant reformation. I think that God has been calling His elect out of the world through all times in the Churches history. I certainly wouldn't label myself a protestant

 

[mikeuk]

I've got to leave, but one last thing before I go:

The use of such words as "liar" is NOT necessarily "nastiness". Satan is not only a liar, but the father of the same and those who lie, especially "in the name of Christ" (allegedly), are more than worthy of such labels.

Anyhow, again, whether you're still here or not when I return this evening, it's been a pleasure interacting with you and I wish you nothing but the best in life and thereafter.

I feel obliged to disagree, the established colloquial meaning of " liar" is not just " teller of untruth" but emphasis on intent: it is " deliberate and knowing" teller of untruth. In that context it can only inflame and is part of the lack of Christian behaviour here,because even if they are wrong, most here passionately believe they are telling truth. We are called to treat others with kindness, so I do not think liar should be used of others here.

 

[mikeuk]

Yea, that happens regularly, don't get to caught up in it... I don't focus on predestination or not, why should we ? If we are keeping our mind on Christ there's no reason to. Usually the predestined crowd focuses on grace, grace through faith is a big deal, it's not on our own that no one will boast, but the beginning of salvation, showing God we're committed we repent ( turn away from sin ) because we are truly sorry, so with that said, why worry about predestination, no, we shouldn't just do what we want, that's what satanist do, that's their law " do as thou wilt ", we should walk the narrow road ... Just some food for thought, not to worried about debating it.

A useful post. I don't want this thread to debate doctrine, rather the large variation in opinions of it. But of all the doctrinal differences, I can say predestination seems the least sensible to me, because what is the point in evangelisation, spreading the word, or converting, if all are going where they go regardless?

But back to the topic, if a would be Christian came to this forum wondering" what should I believe?" - they would leave none the wiser, but more confused. And that is a problem.

 

[Brainfreeze]

But back to the topic, if a would be Christian came to this forum wondering" what should I believe?" - they would leave none the wiser, but more confused. And that is a problem.

True, but this is with any platform... Things like this will happen, what do you recommend ? I've learned a lot from this site, and I'm sure a few have learned something from me. There is a lot of confusion though, I agree. Different people at different points of their walks with Christ. The truth is Gods Word, let the Spirit discern the truth for us, and if it so happens to be typed by another, like it or giving them rep power, but truth is something one has to be willing to accept without bias of respect, friendship, or anything of the like. We know truth when it speaks to our heart and fits to our mind through the Word of God. If we take time reading the books of the Bible, we wouldn't have to ask questions and get cherry picked results, confusion should be expected if we are not willing to search it out ourselves with the guidance of the Holy Spirit..