Division in the church

[JesusistheChrist]

Then why are there so many denominations?

The word "denomination" basically means "to designate by a name" and that's not a problem which is new to the church. No, the Corinthian church had the same problem even back in their day:

I Corinthians chapter 3

[1] And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
[2] I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
[3] For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
[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 watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

 

[secularhermit]

This same Paul said elsewhere:"What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?" (I Corinthians 4:21)IOW, Paul wasn't always so "lovey dovey". When the saints were sinning, then he took out the rod. I'm quite confident that he would have much preferred coming "in the spirit of meekness", but the behavior of others definitely helped to determine what sort of approach Paul took towards them. Yes, as Paul asked:"What will ye?"

That is ONE of the verses where he shows he wasn´t meek like Christ: Were "his" disciples his slaves? Who of the other APOSTLES treated people or believers that way?Paul should be anothe invention of the RCC.

 

[posthuman]

Most "CHRISTIANS" need to keep quite until they understand the truth.

this is a great point, and i think part of why there are so many denominations and even more differences among individuals.
we need to humble ourselves and search out the scriptures praying to God for understanding -- i know i am guilty of pride, and probably many more are like me too, thinking to talk about things i don't really understand without the sort of meek heart that is able to admit i don't understand, or to admit i'm misled or mistaken.
when a couple of us start debating about some point of doctrine, and one side is showing scriptures, and the other side is showing scriptures too - we know and believe the scriptures don't contradict each other, so the truth of the matter is found in them and one or the other side is lacking understanding.
but how willing are we to admit that? it's an hard thing to put away pride and be taught. it's hard for me, anyway - but i know it is easier on me when i humble myself, than it is if i stay stiff-necked and wait for God to correct and humble me. He is compassionate beyond measure, but i belong to Him, and He will prove it to me if i don't willingly submit.

 

[secularhermit]

"One Church, ONE God, one Lord..." But each people do what he/she does.

 

[ISeeYou]

Out of curiosity, does the following play into "the affections of Jesus Christ" and "charity":

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." (Revelation 3:19)

I'm not singling you out, but most people have such a warped view of God Who IS love, as if He's just an old man giving out candy, that they have no reverence for either Him or His Word and therefore no fear whatsoever of regularly misrepresenting Him through heretical teachings to their own possible destruction and to the possible destruction of those who foolishly follow them in their error. From my perspective (and I believe from God's/Christ's), such need to be rebuked if they won't be gently persuaded and, unfortunately, that seems to pertain to the majority and not the minority. Although several people on this forum seem to want to do anything BUT "consider the goodness AND SEVERITY OF GOD", God wiped out the whole world except for 8 people in the days of Noah and this present heaven and earth are reserved for FIERY JUDGMENT. Personally, I count anyone my friend who shows me my error in that I'd rather deal with it in the here and now than have to answer to God for it one day. Jesus said that we're going to have to give an account for EVERY IDLE WORD which we have spoken in this lifetime and that ought to make us all to tremble, but, alas, it rarely ever does...from what I've observed.

Anyhow, again, I'm not singling you out, but merely using your comments as a springboard for that which I believe needs to be said.

You dont have to be a walking rebuke as is my issue as you know it and you know that is what I am talking about here.

I have posted on the same verse, and rebuking before even its place, but if there is nothing else left to you towards others then that then I dont agree with that no. Lots of times it is unnecessarily taken up just as it is often not taken up when it actually ought to be.

This is a source of contention between the two of us, so you cant really say you are not singling out here.

 

[posthuman]

whenever i am focused on seeing how that God is glorified in a matter, instead of trying to show that i am right or that someone else is wrong, i have never seen contradictions or divisions. when God is praised, which one of us denies it?
but praise the Lord in front of someone who preaches a different God, and you will stir up hostility very quickly!

if i've learned any wisdom at all from talking with other believers (and also believers of false teachings) via t3h intraweb, it's to lift up the name of Christ instead of engaging in arguments.
i wish i spent more time doing that and less time playing the fool

 

[3Scoreand10]

Then why are there so many denominations?

Everyone needs to understand that all who claim to be churches, are not claimed by Christ.
There are many RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, and very few CHURCHES.

 

[posthuman]

"One Church, ONE God, one Lord..." But each people do what he/she does.

!! just like the book says:

All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
(Isaiah 53:6)

us sheep, we sure NEED a Shepherd, don't we?
everybody sees their own clump of grass that looks good to them, and goes straight off after it
guess that's why He carries a rod and staff? not just for wolves.

 

[JesusistheChrist]

You dont have to be a walking rebuke as is my issue as you know it and you know that is what I am talking about here.

I have posted on the same verse, and rebuking before even its place, but if there is nothing else left to you towards others then that then I dont agree with that no. Lots of times it is unnecessarily taken up just as it is often not taken up when it actually ought to be.

This is a source of contention between the two of us, so you cant really say you are not singling out here.

I can really say that I'm not singling you out because God is no respecter of persons and/or an impartial Judge. As such, whatever truth there is applies to all of us. Anyhow, as I cited from Paul to the Corinthians, it was the behavior of those with whom he was dealing which influenced the manner of his approach. Again, I trust that he preferred "the spirit of meekness", but he often had to use the rod...WITH WEEPING. IOW, those who use the rod without genuinely having a heart towards others are not reflecting either the Spirit of Christ or Paul, but there is certainly a place for correction and a big place at that (as the Bible shows from cover to cover).

 

[secularhermit]

God doesn't do denominations - that is a man-made product, a product of different interpretations of truth and in some cases adding or taking away from God's word. A prime example is Catholicism.

Prime example within the Jews!

"Even inside the RCC there are divisions and denominations: Marianites, Jesuits, Agostinians, etc.
Your beliefs, that system of beliefs each people have is different from others and -essentialy- because each person walks his / her own way of personal experiences, new convictions, following a local "leadership" which -itself- identifies with other tendencies.

Historically those factions like Seducees, Herodians, Pharisees, etc. were DIVIDED, same way Paul "pictured" and mentioned in Corinthians:
1Co 1:12 This is what I mean: One of you says, "I follow Paul," and someone else says, "I follow Apollos." Another says, "I follow Peter," and someone else says, "I follow Christ.""

Here I´m divisive!

 

[secularhermit]

!! just like the book says:

All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
(Isaiah 53:6)

us sheep, we sure NEED a Shepherd, don't we?
everybody sees their own clump of grass that looks good to them, and goes straight off after it
guess that's why He carries a rod and staff? not just for wolves.

Absolutelly, my human brother!

That reminds me several portions of Ezekiel 34

(Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? )

 

[secularhermit]

Everyone needs to understand that all who claim to be churches, are not claimed by Christ.
There are many RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, and very few CHURCHES.

Won´t you call this CC forum (thread) a church? If we are here for the cause of the Lord Jesus (or for God´s)

 

[3Scoreand10]

Won´t you call this CC forum (thread) a church? If we are here for the cause of the Lord Jesus (or for God´s)

NO!
We are a bunch of people with many views.
Some of us are right some of the time.
None of us are right all the time.
A church is to glorify our Lord and Savior.
I don't think we do that very often here.

 

[MsLimpet]

Everyone needs to understand that all who claim to be churches, are not claimed by Christ.
There are many RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, and very few CHURCHES.

Really? What does Mark 16:18 say?

 

[MsLimpet]

Everyone needs to understand that all who claim to be churches, are not claimed by Christ.
There are many RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, and very few CHURCHES.

Show me where?

 

[Blain]

NO!
We are a bunch of people with many views.
Some of us are right some of the time.
None of us are right all the time.
A church is to glorify our Lord and Savior.
I don't think we do that very often here.

my friend we are a church we are a very big one from all around the world and to me we are family

 

[secularhermit]

Allow me to show "how" a division is formed by using this bubble:

whenever i am focused on seeing how that God is glorified in a matter, instead of trying to show that i am right or that someone else is wrong, i have never seen contradictions or divisions. when God is praised, which one of us denies it?

But praise the Lord in front of someone who preaches a different God (or Gospel, my inserted addition), and you will stir up hostility very quickly!

if i've learned any wisdom at all from talking with other believers (and also believers of false teachings) via t3h intraweb, it's to lift up the name of Christ instead of engaging in arguments.
i wish i spent more time doing that and less time playing the fool

Here I come to divide:

1) Does God needs praises to be glofied? (I asked, ignoring verses like these: Jn 8:49-50 or Jn 5:23 )

Then I´d say things that God does not need anything from me (which is truth, because He lacks nothing, except my OBEDIENCE) and that obedience is, precisely, what Jesus showed to glorified (HONOR) God, our merciful Father.

Soon after, your beliefs get shocked!

Posthuman believes one thing and secular-enemy thinks God´s needs nothing. He replied (X thing). You also will through tomatoes to secular-enemy, and your system of beliefs tried to find some release... But I´m gone, because I "know" God wants to restore His kingdom, He wants Jesus to role over our hearts (first) to permit sinners like HUMAN serve humankind another way politicians and ideologic rulers have done the same during centuries, making new "churches", social denominations, same way we see our countries, parties and political parties.

Let´s give them a name and these became a new political party, a futball team, a denomination... Until the Lord Jesus comes with His angels to get this fixed.

The very single hintch a person showed he / she thinks differently that YOU makes him / her to be an outlawed, a public enemy, and that animosity remains, same way the RCC hates Martin Luther for having spoken some truths Roman disliked (Roman still rules several contries, ideologically) (same way certain denominations are leading and using terrorism to rule and overtake political and economical control on us)

 

[secularhermit]

my friend we are a church we are a very big one from all around the world and to me we are family

That simply showed "division" on how we are perceived (1) and how we perceive things (2).

"We´re not divided..."

"We think DIFFERENTLY"

He! he!

 

[MsLimpet]

Really? I would like to see scripture for that church.

 

[secularhermit]

NO!
We are a bunch of people with many views.
Some of us are right some of the time.
None of us are right all the time.
A church is to glorify our Lord and Savior.
I don't think we do that very often here.

That´s your opinion!

I hope mine haven´t been too divisive, on post 38.