A house divided

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J

Jullianna

Guest
#1
#1
Acts 2: 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

How do you think the divisions among us affect the strength of the Body and the effectiveness of our witness to unbelievers?
 
Red33

Red33

Banned
#2
Jun 24, 2010
3,822
19
0
#2
Jullianna said:
Acts 2: 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

How do you think the divisions among us affect the strength of the Body and the effectiveness of our witness to unbelievers?
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I will take the change of tearing down the house that is built on the wrong premise and doctrine that misrepresents the person of Christ, the cornerstone, and the foundation that has been laid. Believers must be careful how they build on that foundation and when they build outside the divine blueprint of what has been given, that house needs to be torn down and rebuilt. I think that we can trust God for the unbelievers and perhaps God would open their eyes as to what God is doing in making sure that we are built a spiritual house, for a habitation of God through the Spirit. There is a time to tear own and a time to build up. If a contractor built your house not according to the blueprint you gave to him, I think you would have tear it all down and rebuilt it the right way.
 
J

Jullianna

Guest
#3
#3
Having been built upon a rock, it will most certainly stand. :) But it sure could use some work...
 
resurrection33

resurrection33

Banned
#4
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
71
#4
Jullianna said:
Acts 2: 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

How do you think the divisions among us affect the strength of the Body and the effectiveness of our witness to unbelievers?
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I think debate is healthy.
 
1

1still_waters

Guest
#5
#5
Depends on context. If we're all meetin together doin outreach, worship, ministry, yeah there shouldn't be all this tit for tat debating and stuff.

But this IS a discussion forum to discuss stuff.

In a sense it's a virtual form of being like the Bereans who searched the scriptures and found out what was truth and wasn't truth.

1 Corinthians 11
17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.

In a sense all this back and forth is good because it shows who is who and what is what. Sometimes it's helpful to know that!

Tone does matter though.
 
A

AnandaHya

Guest
#6
#6
I think if we speak with the other person with the idea that God made THEM who they are and LOVES them and we should love them too even if we do not like or agree with them.

If we ever feel like the other person is a "dog, swine, spawn of Satan" etc. it is time to walk away from the discussion because your heart is no longer filled with godly love but fear, distrust, judgment or anger.
 
R

Rant

Banned
#7
Jul 19, 2011
476
0
0
#7
How do you think the divisions among us affect the strength of the Body and the effectiveness of our witness to unbelievers It At The End >>>> soory to say , We said Some day it will come , never thinking the day will come. Its the End My Friend >like it or not .
 
J

Jullianna

Guest
#8
#8
1still_waters said:
Depends on context. If we're all meetin together doin outreach, worship, ministry, yeah there shouldn't be all this tit for tat debating and stuff.

But this IS a discussion forum to discuss stuff.

In a sense it's a virtual form of being like the Bereans who searched the scriptures and found out what was truth and wasn't truth.

1 Corinthians 11
17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.

In a sense all this back and forth is good because it shows who is who and what is what. Sometimes it's helpful to know that!

Tone does matter though.
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Thanks for that scripture, Stilly :) It helps to know that the ugliness we see toward one another isn't new. Then again, there is nothing new under the sun, right? :)
It's just so discouraging sometimes...

And I didn't mean just in these forums. This was prompted by something I heard at church this morning. I couldn't help but wonder whether more christians would speak up if they weren't so concerned about being torn asunder by their sibs in Christ.
 
S

shroom2

Banned
#9
Apr 13, 2011
2,229
11
0
#9
1 Corinthians 11:19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.

I'm pretty sure that verse is sarcasm. Other places in scripture we are told to be like-minded, to all speak the same things.
 
Fencepost

Fencepost

Banned
#10
Aug 25, 2011
689
3
0
52
#10
From my own personal experience's with church(building) I have yet to find a home. I have been more welcomed by believers(body of Christ) on the street then by church members in church. Don't get me wrong I am sure everything has a place. But let me put to you like this. The streets of america can be a lonely and a desolate wilderness. If you think they do not know the heart of God, or God's justice you are sorely mistaken. Upon my journeys I was recieved, feed, clothed, given drink by more believers(body of christ) than church(building) believers.

Now Jesus lives everywhere i have been to in America, every state, every highway. He was there talking softly, and sometimes carrying a big stick. If you think in America today they people on planet earth don't share everything they have and break bread in true fellowship, you are gravely mistaken. I have seen the heart of God for all people. And believe me He wants everyone one, every single one in His kingdom. So I ask you have you said Hi to a homeless person today. You don't have to give them anything, but to reconize that they still exist is a miracle upon a miracle and a bright star of hope.
 
B

Bobbyking

Guest
#11
#11
There are all kinds of churches out there. It is not fair to generalize them, especially those which are truly reaching out to the lost, needy and less privileged.

When reading this scripture, it is also a good reminder that the Church is make up of people - believers. So it includes everyone here. The question is if we are the Church that non-believers see, what are we doing or what have we been doing? As believers, it is so easy to bathe ourselves with blessings and forget that the reason we are here is to be the Light for non-believers to see and follow (to the Lord)... :)

My emphasis of Church is never on Sunday within four walls, though it is a joy to be there to worship God collectively with other believers as well as fellowship with them. What counts as important is after we walk out of the building, and what we do with the unbelievers... are we praying for them? Reaching out to them? Show the Love of God to them? These are the things the Church should focus, to be One in the Spirit in unity... IMO...:cool:
 
D

DiscipleWilliam

Guest
#12
#12
Fencepost said:
From my own personal experience's with church(building) I have yet to find a home. I have been more welcomed by believers(body of Christ) on the street then by church members in church. Don't get me wrong I am sure everything has a place. But let me put to you like this. The streets of america can be a lonely and a desolate wilderness. If you think they do not know the heart of God, or God's justice you are sorely mistaken. Upon my journeys I was recieved, feed, clothed, given drink by more believers(body of christ) than church(building) believers.

Now Jesus lives everywhere i have been to in America, every state, every highway. He was there talking softly, and sometimes carrying a big stick. If you think in America today they people on planet earth don't share everything they have and break bread in true fellowship, you are gravely mistaken. I have seen the heart of God for all people. And believe me He wants everyone one, every single one in His kingdom. So I ask you have you said Hi to a homeless person today. You don't have to give them anything, but to reconize that they still exist is a miracle upon a miracle and a bright star of hope.
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I like all of these postings but this one stands out to me because I can really see where Fencepost is coming from on this one. I go to Church on a regular basis but honestly, I feel closer connections to Christians who don't go to Church. Me personally, I just like doing. I don't like catering to all the politics and political correctness within these corporate social clubs (Churches-and I use that word loosely). I believe that if we are being obedient and promulgating the Gospel we will meet fellow Christians in our walk with Christ and those people will be a blessing.
 
pickles

pickles

Senior Member
#13
Apr 20, 2009
14,479
182
63
#13
1still_waters said:
Depends on context. If we're all meetin together doin outreach, worship, ministry, yeah there shouldn't be all this tit for tat debating and stuff.

But this IS a discussion forum to discuss stuff.

In a sense it's a virtual form of being like the Bereans who searched the scriptures and found out what was truth and wasn't truth.

1 Corinthians 11
17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.

In a sense all this back and forth is good because it shows who is who and what is what. Sometimes it's helpful to know that!

Tone does matter though.
Click to expand...
I do agree with you in this, but I cannot help but consider that as christians, all we do is witness.
Even when we disagree. :)
I dont think it is the debate that is at issue though.:)
But as you spoke to, the tone and how all is said.
This is the witness we must always consider in Jesus. :)

God bless.
pickles
 
pickles

pickles

Senior Member
#14
Apr 20, 2009
14,479
182
63
#14
As to disagreeing.
Many here including myself often disagree, the resons vary, but one must always consider that each has only that which is the understanding and place that they are in their walk.
Also , none of us is perfect.
The only perfect is Jesus, and what He brings in each of us.
I know in my own walk that there were understandings that I knew many years ago, and believed these compleatly through faith in Jesus.
But today these understandings have been brought to more, and somtimes corrected in Jesus, simply because He is the author of my walk.
Jesus knew what I needed and was not yet ready for many years ago, today this is still true.
Simply because one does not yet see as another does, does not mean one is wrong, only that which is understanding yet to be given , rests in Jesus.
Also, I have always been in awe of the scripture that says: some are given to understanding( compassion) making a differance, and some save, pulling them from the fire, despising the flesh that clings.
Scripture from memory so hopefully not to many mistakes. :)

in Jesus, God bless.
pickles
 
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