Denominations vs. Political Parties

[kennethcadwell]

Why do we have them ? They cause division instead of unity. They are made up from pride and arrogance. So many times i have heard we are true you are false, or we are for the people and you are not, and Republicans are true Christians and Democrats are not. I have seen to many stumbling blocks from all sides given to people to bring people down in politics and religion instead of edify and build people up. If they don't have helping the poor, lower class, or any less fortunate people out than they are not acting from the Christian faith. And no calling myself a Christian is not a denomination, a true Christian is one who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. I do not consider myself part of a denomination or a party. I am Christian and love God, when it comes to voting i vote for who i think has Christian principles behind their campaign. That is why i felt this last election was a lose - lose situation. Obama is trying to form a dictatorship, and Romney if he would of won publically stated that he did not care about the people who are hurting in are days society. Tell me your thoughts on this !!!

 

[biscuit]

Why do we have them ? They cause division instead of unity. They are made up from pride and arrogance. So many times i have heard we are true you are false, or we are for the people and you are not, and Republicans are true Christians and Democrats are not. I have seen to many stumbling blocks from all sides given to people to bring people down in politics and religion instead of edify and build people up. If they don't have helping the poor, lower class, or any less fortunate people out than they are not acting from the Christian faith. And no calling myself a Christian is not a denomination, a true Christian is one who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. I do not consider myself part of a denomination or a party. I am Christian and love God, when it comes to voting i vote for who i think has Christian principles behind their campaign. That is why i felt this last election was a lose - lose situation. Obama is trying to form a dictatorship, and Romney if he would of won publically stated that he did not care about the people who are hurting in are days society. Tell me your thoughts on this !!!

The choices we have today are just bad and they reflect these last days, latter days and endtimes. I thought both presidential candidates were BAD CHOICES, and neither reflect the Scriptures. Both parties are bad and they reflect their largest contributors and not necessarily the American public at large. Romney wasn't a good choice because he was insensitive to the poor. If you want to make Jesus mad, neglect the poor. Who do I feel is the candidate to get the job done? His name is Jesus Christ.

 

[kayem77]

Yeah I've never liked the idea of pledging allegiance to a political party, because their morals change all the time. I'm all for voting for people who promote the more biblical principles, but that's it. Not that I believe being Democrat or Republican or Libertarian is bad in and by itself, but I think it's dangerous to blindly follow a political party just because you agree with them more most of the times. We should be sober enough to judge what's right and wrong, without our political preferences tainting our vision.

Denominations are not bad though. I used to think they were divisive when I first became a Christian, but now I see that they divide but also provide unity by separating sound doctrine to lies, or heresy. For instance, the Mormom Church claims to be Christian, yet their teachings are heretical. I'm glad there is a disctinction and a label on them so people don't end up going there just because ''they are Christian''. And there are any other examples. Truth is, certain denominations are very very wrong, and people should be aware of them.

 

[Desdichado]

Why do we have them ? They cause division instead of unity. They are made up from pride and arrogance. So many times i have heard we are true you are false, or we are for the people and you are not, and Republicans are true Christians and Democrats are not. I have seen to many stumbling blocks from all sides given to people to bring people down in politics and religion instead of edify and build people up. If they don't have helping the poor, lower class, or any less fortunate people out than they are not acting from the Christian faith. And no calling myself a Christian is not a denomination, a true Christian is one who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. I do not consider myself part of a denomination or a party. I am Christian and love God, when it comes to voting i vote for who i think has Christian principles behind their campaign. That is why i felt this last election was a lose - lose situation. Obama is trying to form a dictatorship, and Romney if he would of won publically stated that he did not care about the people who are hurting in are days society. Tell me your thoughts on this !!!

The things you mention are not so much the cause of division as they are the symptom of it. Nothing is inherently wrong with having either group either. As kayem stated concerning denominations: they are largely a means of orienting values.

We also forget that denominations and political parties have a way of bringing good people together to do work who otherwise would not do such things. In short, you are railing against the fallen condition of man. That's good and natural for a Christian to do, so kudos.

Politics and denominations are different animals in that politics is the art of the possible and religion as we Christians know it is the art of the impossible (ie the redemption of fallen man). This fallen nature of man is one thing aspects of conservatism appear to grasp. For this reason I tend to vote Republican. Not slavishly, mind you.

Like I said, you are right to rail against such divisions when taking the long view of things. When looking at what is necessary for the here and now though, I believe this statement is off-base.

 

[Desdichado]

Consider this too: one worldly church and one political party have been tried before. The results were hardly pleasant.

 

[phillip1980]

Good insight. I never saw that way.

 

[kennethcadwell]

Thanks to all who have gave input so far, but do i believe i am off base with this ? No even though a one world system is what our governmental society is pushing for and will eventually be the down fall ( mainly cause the wrong principles it will be built from ). Our Lord Jesus Christ never meant for us to be divided. He even says how can a kingdom stand if divided. It will not which is why Christians should be banding together more than ever than argue over issues, and why officials in government need to get over their self centered pride and greed and focus on improving the way of life for all who live in America, just some people.

 

[Desdichado]

Thanks to all who have gave input so far, but do i believe i am off base with this ? No even though a one world system is what our governmental society is pushing for and will eventually be the down fall ( mainly cause the wrong principles it will be built from ).

Well, I wasn't expecting you to openly admit you were off-base. Who does? Hahaha

At least you admit that absolute unity (be it global or otherwise) enforced by humanity is a bad thing.

Our Lord Jesus Christ never meant for us to be divided. He even says how can a kingdom stand if divided. It will not which is why Christians should be banding together more than ever than argue over issues, and why officials in government need to get over their self centered pride and greed and focus on improving the way of life for all who live in America, just some people.

Again, I think you are conflating the Christian's proper response to the temporal and eternal.

I encourage you to look at Luke 12:51 in all its glorious context. Christ knew that the presence of absolute truth being proclaimed on earth would pit people against each other.

But even you admit ultimately admit this. You want Christians to ban together, but how do you realistically expect them to do so without having them influence at least one political party? How do you expect to separate those with Christian values and non-Christian values without the help of denominations and political parties as a filtering mechanism?

Of course, the ultimate end is one-kingdom. But even before the end begins, there will be a sorting at the White Throne.

 

[kennethcadwell]

Yes there will be a sorting, but only sorting between those who will have eternal life and those who will be cast into the lake of fire. Yes Christ new this pitting against each other would happen, but He wanted us all to come to one cause, salvation in Him. Men where never meant to rule over other men. If you read in the bible about Kings and Judges, God only allowed us to have them cause the hardness of our hearts. We wanted them.

Well, I wasn't expecting you to openly admit you were off-base. Who does? Hahaha

At least you admit that absolute unity (be it global or otherwise) enforced by humanity is a bad thing.




Again, I think you are conflating the Christian's proper response to the temporal and eternal.

I encourage you to look at Luke 12:51 in all its glorious context. Christ knew that the presence of absolute truth being proclaimed on earth would pit people against each other.

But even you admit ultimately admit this. You want Christians to ban together, but how do you realistically expect them to do so without having them influence at least one political party? How do you expect to separate those with Christian values and non-Christian values without the help of denominations and political parties as a filtering mechanism?

Of course, the ultimate end is one-kingdom. But even before the end begins, there will be a sorting at the White Throne.