Questions and how to respond

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Kojikun

Kojikun

Well-known member
Oct 5, 2018
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The Bible tells us to be ready to respond to anything unfortunately when it comes to most atheists the most well thought out answers fall flat because there not to listen or think just to insult. I have a few questions I've been wondering about. And I would to ask them to any who may respond.
 
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Here is my first question. Why are there so many denominations? Why does Calvinism and Arminism exist? Should not a Holy truth be agreed upon? Can you be stuck in between and still be saved? As they say the devil is in the details.
 
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Kojikun said:
Here is my first question. Why are there so many denominations? Why does Calvinism and Arminism exist? Should not a Holy truth be agreed upon? Can you be stuck in between and still be saved? As they say the devil is in the details.
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Ooooo can I do the answer a question with a question thing? How do you expect limited fallen people to come to a unified agreement of an infinite God? Could a unified truth exist without humanity completely losing or dismissing some aspect of God? How significant are the differences that divide us? How much does it really matter if I think that the desire to move toward God started as me wanting or as God calling? Is understanding exactly how God did something the most crucial understanding when it comes to faith?
 
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cinder said:
Ooooo can I do the answer a question with a question thing? How do you expect limited fallen people to come to a unified agreement of an infinite God? Could a unified truth exist without humanity completely losing or dismissing some aspect of God? How significant are the differences that divide us? How much does it really matter if I think that the desire to move toward God started as me wanting or as God calling? Is understanding exactly how God did something the most crucial understanding when it comes to faith?
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Ah, a thought similar occurred to me but I dismissed it. Actually reading makes more sense. Its perhaps just a side effect of the finite dealing with the infinite. Good answer :)
 
Kojikun said:
The Bible tells us to be ready to respond to anything unfortunately when it comes to most atheists the most well thought out answers fall flat because there not to listen or think just to insult. I have a few questions I've been wondering about. And I would to ask them to any who may respond.
Click to expand...
Hello Koji :) I am wondering about your first statement. Are we exhorted to be ready to respond to anything, or simply to be ready and able to give an answer, when asked, the reason for the hope we have? Some things we are not to engage and/or respond to at all, nor even involve ourselves with. Figuring out the finer points of what that entails and how to navigate that? Yes, challenging at times... which is why we need to put on the full armor of Truth :)

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Kojikun said:
Here is my first question. Why are there so many denominations? Why does Calvinism and Arminism exist? Should not a Holy truth be agreed upon? Can you be stuck in between and still be saved? As they say the devil is in the details.
Click to expand...

It is said that diversity is of God, but division of the devil. So while there may be many denominations, do not they have the same Lord? Most people would agree there are essential and non essential doctrines in the faith and possibly these distinctions in non essentials is what diversifies the Church? If it comes down to tenets of the faith however they may not be of the faith or in need of correction, leading to the truth.

Certain denominations may emphasize one aspect of the truth more than the other and in this regard maybe it is fitting to reach people needing different food. One preaches prosperity and another endurance, another joy and another bearing each other’s burdens. This may be good for people in different times and seasons.

This is more accurate towards differing teachers but maybe it could be said of denominations as well. Some people need grounding in biblical truth, and others need the reality of the Holy Spirit, and our very real relationship and communion with the Lord.

Diversity.
 
Kojikun said:
The Bible tells us to be ready to respond to anything unfortunately when it comes to most atheists the most well thought out answers fall flat because there not to listen or think just to insult. I have a few questions I've been wondering about. And I would to ask them to any who may respond.
Click to expand...
Kojikun said:
Here is my first question. Why are there so many denominations? Why does Calvinism and Arminism exist? Should not a Holy truth be agreed upon? Can you be stuck in between and still be saved? As they say the devil is in the details.
Click to expand...

2 Timothy 2:23 NIV:
Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.
 
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Kojikun said:
Here is my first question. Why are there so many denominations? Why does Calvinism and Arminism exist? Should not a Holy truth be agreed upon? Can you be stuck in between and still be saved? As they say the devil is in the details.
Click to expand...
1. So many denominations because Satan is very good at dividing the Kingdom and keeping us at each others throats by having us believe we have all the answers and are more accurate than the church down the street. When in reality many denominations hold the core Christian doctrines but disagree on non salvation issues or called majoring in the minors. One truth but out of selfishness, pride, ignorance, or sin can disrupt the whole truth. In my opinion freedom of religion is good. The freedom to worship as you and your conscience believes is good. But by conscious we live by what the Spirit convicts us of and as long as others beliefs dont completely disrupt the simple Gospel of Christ as in Jesus is God, was God in the flesh, walked the earth, was killed, resurrected in 3 days, is the only way to salvation by grace through faith. Basic simple truths.

2. Calvinism and Arminianism are basically the extreme left and extreme right of most popular theological beliefs. Most people fall on one side and usually without being extreme fall somewhere in the middle.

They exist because they use the same scriptures and same words but interpretation varies. Because much of related to how God works is at best hard for us to completely understand.

3. By Holy Truth what do you mean by that? We already have a uncorrupted Bible and even early church history and writings. So who would force their interpretation on the masses? Anyways no I do not believe God wants the church to be a theocracy due to as stated above out of selfishness, pride, ignorance, or sin, the diversity is like a government's separation of powers protecting liberty but also giving the freedom to speak against the sins of the church or if church authorities get too out of hand, the people can fire the authorities or separate from them.

4. Yes I do believe you do not have to be extreme right or left to be saved. We all are on a journey and some are farther along than others.
 
Roughsoul1991 said:
3. By Holy Truth what do you mean by that? We already have a uncorrupted Bible and even early church history and writings. So who would force their interpretation on the masses? Anyways no I do not believe God wants the church to be a theocracy due to as stated above out of selfishness, pride, ignorance, or sin, the diversity is like a government's separation of powers protecting liberty but also giving the freedom to speak against the sins of the church or if church authorities get too out of hand, the people can fire the authorities or separate from them.
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The Roman Catholic church did for a long time. Burnt people at the stake for disagreeing... among many other abuses.
 
Magenta said:
The Roman Catholic church did for a long time. Burnt people at the stake for disagreeing... among many other abuses.
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As to why I believe denominations are good, religious freedom good, right to conscience good, a one Holy truth may start out with good intentions but as explained over time selfishness, pride, ignorance and sin can easily corrupt it. And if diversity isn't allowed then this one holy religion can become the truth seekers nightmare. Freedom of diversity protects against that. I believe our current denominational system is the best system within a fallin, broken, sinful world that still will have flaws from our fallin human nature. But by large it has protected the liberty and freedom of religion for centuries.
 
Roughsoul1991 said:
As to why I believe denominations are good, religious freedom good, right to conscience good, a one Holy truth may start out with good intentions but as explained over time selfishness, pride, ignorance and sin can easily corrupt it. And if diversity isn't allowed then this one holy religion can become the truth seekers nightmare. Freedom of diversity protects against that. I believe our current denominational system is the best system within a fallen, broken, sinful world that still will have flaws from our fallen human nature. But by large it has protected the liberty and freedom of religion for centuries.
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You make some excellent points :)
 
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Roughsoul1991 said:
As to why I believe denominations are good, religious freedom good, right to conscience good, a one Holy truth may start out with good intentions but as explained over time selfishness, pride, ignorance and sin can easily corrupt it. And if diversity isn't allowed then this one holy religion can become the truth seekers nightmare. Freedom of diversity protects against that. I believe our current denominational system is the best system within a fallin, broken, sinful world that still will have flaws from our fallin human nature. But by large it has protected the liberty and freedom of religion for centuries.
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Good stuff bro :) I have scruples so it's nice to see it spelled out like this. It really calms the nerves 🤓
 
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Kojikun said:
Good stuff bro :) I have scruples so it's nice to see it spelled out like this. It really calms the nerves 🤓
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There are good questions, there are bad questions, there are good answers and bad answers but regardless every question has a good and bad answer. If you only have a bad answer there is always hope that the good answer will be discovered. Every question has a good answer if studied and discovered. Sometimes the good answer could literally be a unknown which isnt necessarily bad it just tells us to have faith and hope that the best answer will be discovered or understood one day. You see this often within scientists who have faith that parts of the unknown elements of different scientific theories will one day be understood or as a Christian who cannot completely comprehend what Heaven will be accepts it on faith and hope that in time we will understand.
 
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