Divided We Stand

[alienx7587]

I read a post on The Line this morning and the comments to the post got me wondering about the divisiveness amongst individual Christians. Here is a link to the article: Saying Yes to Sex (as God Intended) | Boundless Line

If interested, I posted a comment on the site, but here is an external link because the comments are not well organized:
Critical Surmise

I think most of us have witnessed this problem of disagreement at least once (whether theological or biblical interpretation, etc.) within our Christian circles, so what (besides praying and pretending to the world that we agree with one another) can we do about it? Would ridding ourselves of our denominations and unifying as 'non-denominational' Christians be a step in the right direction? I'm anxious to hear your ideas!

 

[Nautilus]

Reading just the article itself, I can respond saying the reason sex is so prevalent is because churches are too scared to really have in-depth conversation about it with youth. They are worried about offending someones sensibilities or going 'too far' that is better to be like 'just say no' and hope it helps.

As far as denominations go, well it would IF you got everyone to agree on theology and scripture in the first place...

 

[Ugly]

Denominational divisions goes as far back at least as the Apostles. People fighting over if they followed John or Paul. And its been going on ever since. And its not going to stop. Personally, i don't disagree with the idea of denomination. People have differing views and having a denomination to explain in one easy word what your general beliefs are seems fine with me.
Its funny, in over twenty years of being a Christian, i've seen almost no denominational fighting, even though people talk about how people fight over denominations all the time. Yet i see the 'non-denominationals' always putting down denomns and complaining about the division they create. So the non-denoms separate themselves from the traditional denoms. So my personal experience is that its mostly the people that complain most about denoms cause more division than i've seen the actual denoms cause. Hmm.

 

[zeroturbulence]

Concerning discord between denominations...

Romans 14:1-4 NLT

1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.

 

[mrwma]

Concerning discord between denominations...

Romans 14:1-4 NLT

1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.

I'm old......could I be...Early Afternoon Rider........................lol

 

[zeroturbulence]

I'm old......could I be...Early Afternoon Rider........................lol

LOL the knight rider's old too so take your pick.

 

[Beloved57]

I Corinthians 3:4-7
4) For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
5) Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6) I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7) So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watered; but God that giveth the increase.

When I was a teenager I started to attend a Pentecostal School that help to water my faith, but it was at a Baptist Church that I learned of Jesus Christ being my personal Saviour, so this church help plant my faith. But God gave the increase. This I believe is why we are called to unity in Psalms 133.

 

[Ritter]

I think of the Church as a federated entity. Denominations should exist, because the people in them focus on different sides of God that at first seem contradictory but, when looked at from the proper context, highlight the complexity and mystery that is our God.

Denominations hold the same basic tenets and give a similar answer to Jesus' question "Who do you say I am?" Deviation from that question would then decide what is and isn't strictly Christian. I am not for their abolishment because I believe they paint an important picture and introduce a useful dynamic of debate and inquiry.

That isn't to say that one particular denomination cannot hold a theologically and ethically flawed view of sex. That is then left to our discernment in the light of scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit.