Why So Many Different Christian Views?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Feb 24, 2022
1,346
288
83
#81
Do you REALLY want an answer to this?
After 2000 years of schisms and denominations?
Yeah, in Revelation it is acknowledged by Jesus himself that there're seven churches. Not necessarily equal to seven denominations, but at least seven types of churches around the world under the supervision of seven angels.
 
Mar 4, 2020
8,614
3,678
113
#82
If you read that scripture correctly you would have easily determined that Peter sinned & drew Barnabas into it.
IDK why you can't see that.
What was his sin exactly?
 
Mar 4, 2020
8,614
3,678
113
#83
The point I'm presenting is an ontological dilemma.

1) At what point did Peter walk in the Spirit?
2) At what point did he cease walking in the Spirit? (If applicable)
3) And at what point did he resume? (If applicable)

Different people will have different answers to those three questions.
I think Peter must have been walking in the Spirit the whole time in Galatians 2:11-16 and his alleged hypocrisy was just him "becoming all things to all people" like Paul said he does in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. That way I don't have to decide who is and who isn't walking in the Spirit.
 
Oct 6, 2021
496
83
28
#84
For several years, something hit me in the head. It felt like someone threw a brick at me! It was like someone started annoying me and won't leave me alone!

The Bible seems to be saying that we Christians, have the same "Holy Spirit" that guides us in all truth. I heard a pastor say, that unbelievers can't understand the Bible because they don't have the Holy Spirit. And yet at another Church I met a guy who claimed that even before He became a Christian He knew the Bible better than most Christians, simply because He enjoyed reading a lot. He became a Christian, therefor God did get a hold of him! But according to that one pastor, it was backwards.

But why on earth, anyone who has the "Holy Spirit" would do such a thing? I suppose we could have some wolves in sheep clothing, but then again, we would have an awful lot of self deceived people. Which would make it really hard to determine who is and who isn't deceived. Because people who are deceived, don't know they are the deceived. That is what deception is...
.
Why?
We are one when we are taught by the Holy Spirit, but when man began to follow the written word....that's when the wheels fell off. The bible is a very useful book, but only if it's used as a guide to what the Holy Spirit teaches us. The Bible became the teacher in the church...not the Holy Spirit. And because of this, we must trust in the teachings of men.
 

soberxp

Senior Member
May 3, 2018
2,511
482
83
#85
Why?
We are one when we are taught by the Holy Spirit, but when man began to follow the written word....that's when the wheels fell off. The bible is a very useful book, but only if it's used as a guide to what the Holy Spirit teaches us. The Bible became the teacher in the church...not the Holy Spirit. And because of this, we must trust in the teachings of men.
So if you are guided by the Holy Spirit, do you believe in the guidance of the Holy Spirit or the teaching of man.
 

TMS

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,569
1,066
113
Australia
#86
So I guess, I'm curious, why do you think "Spirit Filled" people are messing up so bad?
Isa_8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Culture and tradition has played a big part in taking people away from the truth.

History is very helpful to understand why so many different theologies exist today.

The reason the reformation was needed is because "the church" took away the Bibles and forced their teachings on the people.

Many pagan teachings were introduced into Christianity.
People like Luther and Wycliffe started taking steps back to what the Bible teaches.

The protestant reformation was based on righteousness by faith alone and the bible as the only source of truth.

The Bible is the only source of truth that we can trust. There are Good and Bad spirits and we can be deceived by the evil spirits because they have had lots of practice. The bible is our safeguard.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16).
“The Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35).
“The word of the Lord endures forever” (1 Peter 1:25).

When Satan came to Jesus in the wilderness Jesus used the Word of God as His defence. If the theology you believe doesn't line up with the Holy Word of God you need to look into it.. ..
 

TMS

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,569
1,066
113
Australia
#87
I KNOW for a fact that for the first 49 years of my life, I was exactly one of these people Christ mentions above. I Truly believed that I was Saved. But after receiving the Circumcision of Christ (the Operation of Faith that is undeniable), I came to realize how utterly lost I was. And this is why I have a completely, totally, drastically, and dramatically different view of God's Word.
i agree...
It is one thing to know the word, and another to know it in a way that results in a knowing Jesus as your saviour.

Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Poor in spirit is the first step, first we need to realise our depravity in order to realize our need..
 
Feb 24, 2022
1,346
288
83
#88
Why?
We are one when we are taught by the Holy Spirit, but when man began to follow the written word....that's when the wheels fell off. The bible is a very useful book, but only if it's used as a guide to what the Holy Spirit teaches us. The Bible became the teacher in the church...not the Holy Spirit. And because of this, we must trust in the teachings of men.
Pastor MacArthur once said that for a congregation to receive the food of God's holy word, a pastor is the waiter, not the cook.
 
Feb 24, 2022
1,346
288
83
#89
Interestingly this entire Peter vs Paul dynamic is a possible origin of the idiom "rob Peter to pay Paul" or "strip Peter to clothe Paul"

Your criticism of pitting the inspired word of two people against each other appears to be reflected in that idiom. It is evidence that this debate over clashing inspired perspectives has existed in some form for hundreds or perhaps thousands of years (and that your position has historically been the supported position by many great minds that have come and gone).

I think you did a great job illustrating your point. It's always a pleasure reading the points you bring up.
You know, Jesus drew this conclusion in the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector and some other parables, that he who exalts himself will be humbled, he who humbles himself will be exalted. And then when you think about Peter's and Paul's personal life experiences, it's absolutely amazing that how they both perfectly fulfilled this one. They both had an egotistic personality, especially Peter who was very impulsive, often speaking out of turn without filtering through his brain. They both had a humbling experience, then they were both restored personally by Christ himself, and becoming two earliest church fathers.
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
5,474
1,860
113
#92
No I am being serious. I don't see what Peter's sin is exactly. He talked to people?

Maybe you can shed some light on this.
Paul explained it perfectly. If you don't understand Paul's explanation, I wouldn't be able to help you.
 
Oct 6, 2021
496
83
28
#94
Pastor MacArthur once said that for a congregation to receive the food of God's holy word, a pastor is the waiter, not the cook.
Kinda..sorta
The thing is, without the Holy Spirit to teach us what the Bible says…We will walk away with our own interpretation.
And that’s what we have in the church…Man’s interpretation of what the Bible says. We have many denominations because we have many interpretations.
 
Mar 4, 2020
8,614
3,678
113
#96
You said it . . . not me.
"If you don't understand Paul's explanation, I wouldn't be able to help you."

Here's you telling me I have a problem and then leaving without offering me a solution. I'm pretty sure you're saying I can't be helped nor have you attempted to help me. I guess you're just here to criticize me?
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
5,474
1,860
113
#97
I guess you're just here to criticize me?
You're kidding . . . right?

Look, how can I express more clear words than Paul's. If you cannot comprehend what Paul is saying, then there is nothing left for me to say. I don't write this to discourage you; rather, I'm being honest. I'm not putting you down but rather telling you that I am the one that is lacking to the point of being able to help you understand.

The NLT translation is crystal clear:

Galatians 2:11-21 NLT - "But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. 12 When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn't eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. 13 As a result, other Jewish Christians followed Peter's hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, "Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions? 15 "You and I are Jews by birth, not 'sinners' like the Gentiles. 16 Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law." 17 But suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law. Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely not! 18 Rather, I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down. 19 For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law--I stopped trying to meet all its requirements--so that I might live for God. 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die."
 
Feb 24, 2022
1,346
288
83
#98
Kinda..sorta
The thing is, without the Holy Spirit to teach us what the Bible says…We will walk away with our own interpretation.
And that’s what we have in the church…Man’s interpretation of what the Bible says. We have many denominations because we have many interpretations.
For all intents and purposes, seek, and you shall find. The Holy Spirit will guide you. In my opinion, the most accurate interpretation often comes from messianic jews who know the Torah, gospel's strong connection with it and the cultural background.
 

arthurfleminger

Well-known member
Aug 18, 2021
1,405
770
113
#99
Speaking of differing Christian viewpoints, the Methodist Church is officially splitting itself between it's liberal and conservative factions. And it is my opinion that other denominations will also see a split between their liberal and conservative believers. I honestly believe, my opinion only, that the liberal churches will disappear because they only teach liberal politics and have left Jesus and His Gospel behind. Why would anyone attend a church just to get a stomachful of politics jammed down your throat?

The United Methodist Church is about to become the divided Methodist church. The Council of Bishops finally conceded that a split is imminent. The liberal wing will remain in a predominantly U.S.-based successor denomination while conservatives remain in connection with the growing, mostly orthodox African church. Despite efforts to delay the inevitable, the latter body, the Global Methodist Church, officially came into existence over the weekend.

Full Article:
The divided Methodist church? (msn.com)
 
Mar 4, 2020
8,614
3,678
113
You're kidding . . . right?

Look, how can I express more clear words than Paul's. If you cannot comprehend what Paul is saying, then there is nothing left for me to say. I don't write this to discourage you; rather, I'm being honest. I'm not putting you down but rather telling you that I am the one that is lacking to the point of being able to help you understand.

The NLT translation is crystal clear:

Galatians 2:11-21 NLT - "But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. 12 When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn't eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. 13 As a result, other Jewish Christians followed Peter's hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, "Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions? 15 "You and I are Jews by birth, not 'sinners' like the Gentiles. 16 Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law." 17 But suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law. Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely not! 18 Rather, I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down. 19 For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law--I stopped trying to meet all its requirements--so that I might live for God. 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die."
That's not clear. That's one apostle's word against another apostle's word and I don't clearly see what the sin is. It says he sat with and talked to people. That's not a sin.