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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2006 8:02:14 GMT -5
Whenever I engage in a discussion with my relatives, they often ask me the following question : "Why are there so many different (false) churches in the religious world?" "Why can't they all be one?" "MANY MEN of many minds made many religions of many kind" or something like that.
They are convinced that there can only be ONE right church...the lowly meetings in the home and the ministers without a home. My dad said Jesus taught this and NOTHING ELSE WILL WORK!
They believe there has to be a right way and they believe they have found it. Other ways are of man and subject to change or die out.
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Post by las logged out on Jul 12, 2006 8:10:13 GMT -5
I would say many reasons for many religions
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Post by jxr on Jul 12, 2006 8:26:29 GMT -5
Why did there have to be twelve tribes of Israel? I mean, couldn't they all be one?
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Post by las logged out on Jul 12, 2006 8:39:22 GMT -5
12 Tribes differant standards Judah the highest standard of them all
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Post by QUESTION on Jul 12, 2006 8:40:45 GMT -5
If all people follow Christ, how can they be different? One retreats from the world and spends their life in a monastery. Another engages the world by joining political groups. Each has the right to feel they alone are correct because Jesus made it clear that His is a narrow way, and not all ways lead to God. The question is - do these opposite groups follow the example Christ left?
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Post by las logged out on Jul 12, 2006 8:47:08 GMT -5
Christ would eventually bring all together has one(12 tribes)
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Post by hmmmm on Jul 12, 2006 8:47:24 GMT -5
Why did there have to be twelve tribes of Israel? I mean, couldn't they all be one?There was 12 tribes, one for each son of Jacob/Israel which was the <1> chosen people, in the old test.
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Post by las logged out on Jul 12, 2006 8:50:21 GMT -5
Christ means there is no more excuse for people to be seperated from each other we should all be united has one under Christ Christ died to eliminate the excuses
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Post by griffith on Jul 12, 2006 11:27:42 GMT -5
Maybe this is Gods way of spreading the good news to more people.
There would be a lot less people going to church if there was only one or Two churches or denominations.
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Post by a believer on Jul 12, 2006 16:04:54 GMT -5
There are lots of churches in the world because there are lots of people. Ask them then, why did William Irvine start up his church then as there were already lots of churches in the world then.
Every finger the 2x2s point at someone else they have 2 pointing back to themselves.
Like Bert said the Pharisees were better than some of the churches today but he fails to look at his own group which is ripe with abuse and deception.
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Post by Jessi on Jul 12, 2006 19:38:52 GMT -5
Christianity is about Christ, the bridegroom and his bride, the church (Matt 9:15, Rev 19:6, Is 62:5).
The one true church is composed of those who are HIS people. Matt 13:25+ clearly says that the enemy will plant bad seed among the good. These will grow up together. But in the end, the tares will be bound and burnt as chaff while the wheat is "gathered into the barn."
Factions/denominations aren't entirely worthless, since debate and study ensue. The Word is studied -- exposed and expounded upon, explained, discussed, argued. In front of people. If one has the Holy Spirit, He can make a right judgment. God will teach him what is right.
The devil likes to divide and conquer. He doesn't care what people believe as long as it's wrong. He likes people to believe that a particular CHURCH or DENOMINATION is what saves, not Christ. He wants people to argue over whether this or that church is the one true church, because then the focus is taken off Christ, where it belongs. The Lamb of God is lost in the struggle over some physical group of people.
But the wheat and the tares grow up together in ANY church. Some churches don't have doctrine that matches with the Bible. BUT THERE ARE STILL THOSE WHO ARE HIS IN THEM. They are just being deceived. They are elect, but not yet saved, and so, God will not let them die without bringing them to faith. A BELIEVER has said it. There are MANY PEOPLE, therefore, there are many churches.
His own are in every tribe, tongue, nation and people (Rev 5:9, 7:9), so that does away with one true church -- except that the church He is talking about are all members of the BODY OF CHRIST, which is comprised, simply, of those who are HIS (John 17:9).
We do have a responsibility to make right judgments and if teachings don't match up to the Word of God, then they are false. John 7:24 says we are to "judge with right judgment. In I Cor 10:15, Paul, speaking to Christians whom he knows have the Holy Spirit to teach them says, "Judge for yourselves what I say."
Here's the litmus test for me. Is a person in a public ministry (preacher, teacher, leader) willing to write anything down what he/she believes about the Bible and sign his/her name to it? If a teacher/public minister is not willing to do that, it is cause for suspicion and serious investigation.
I Thess 5:20 + . . . Do not despise prophecies, but test everything . . .
Christ's Forever, Jessi
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Post by Just maybe on Jul 15, 2006 16:35:15 GMT -5
... or perhaps this applies ...
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
... perhaps organized religion is the wide gated broad way ...
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Post by Jessi on Jul 15, 2006 17:01:39 GMT -5
... or perhaps this applies ... Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: ... perhaps organized religion is the wide gated broad way ... And what is organized religion? It takes some organization to get even two people together. Certainly much more to get a convention together. Even MORE to avoid at all cost writing anything down like a statement of faith for all to compare to the Holy Word. Heb 10:25 tells us not to forsake meeting together. I'm assuming that means organizing a meeting. The Way that is broad is all other means people think they may get to heaven. Christ is the way. If I am in Christ, I must belong to His church because HE is the Head of the Church (Eph 5:23). Christ's, Jessi
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Post by me again on Jul 16, 2006 0:01:48 GMT -5
Here's a thought
spend less time worryig aboiut FRINGE nonsense and concentrate on spreading the Gospel, you know
Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven.
I can almost imagine GOD in his infinite wisdom sitting in heaven with JESUS shaking his head at us while we sit around whining, fighting, and squawking about the FRINGE garbage that HAS NOTHING to do with salvation.
Geez, get a life, it doesnt matter one whit if you attend "church" in your house or your buddies house or if you attend services at a recognized church in a real designated building, as long as the message you hear is from the bible!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jesus didnt have a HOME of his own simply because HE DIDNT NEED ONE, HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO his ministry was ONLY 3 years and HE was ON THE ROAD VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Prior to that, as I understand it, HE lived with mom and dad ( Joseph)
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Post by Greg Lee unplugged on Jul 16, 2006 0:15:24 GMT -5
Here's a thought spend less time worryig aboiut FRINGE nonsense and concentrate on spreading the Gospel, you know Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven. I can almost imagine GOD in his infinite wisdom sitting in heaven with JESUS shaking his head at us while we sit around whining, fighting, and squawking about the FRINGE garbage that HAS NOTHING to do with salvation. Geez, get a life, it doesnt matter one whit if you attend "church" in your house or your buddies house or if you attend services at a recognized church in a real designated building, as long as the message you hear is from the bible!!!!!!!!!!!! Jesus didnt have a HOME of his own simply because HE DIDNT NEED ONE, HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO his ministry was ONLY 3 years and HE was ON THE ROAD VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Prior to that, as I understand it, HE lived with mom and dad ( Joseph) Most of the fringe stuff stems from the exclusivity stuff. The exclusiivity of a certain ministry stuff diminishes the life and sacrifice of Jesus and denies the work of the Holy Spirit in others. Which, I think, is blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
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Post by diversity on Jul 16, 2006 0:23:14 GMT -5
God likes diversity. People are different coloured, different heights, weights. Flowers are different coloured, scented, growth habits. Trees come in various shades of greens, purples, tans, browns, blooming, or not, wondrously tall or short. Mountains. tall/jagged, rolling/rounded, snowy, desert or rainy. Clouds are puffy, knobby, feathery, gray, white, stormy, foggy. Music is the gurgling creek, chirping bird, voice as one or blended as many, harp, guitar, drum, piano, violin, etc. Look at the diversity in the animal kingdom-birds, fish, snakes, toads, grasshoppers, ants, monkeys, dogs......
Is there any one RIGHT flower? Is there any one RIGHT mountain? Is there any one RIGHT colour of hair/height/weight......... NO, diversity was created, in the beginning.
Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Get-it........Jesus, Jesus, Jesus......forget the man made rules and conformity ideas.......look to Jesus. Jesus can be found, living in people in diverse groups. Love the diversity, appreciate it!
This garp about so many churches is childish babble-outward appearances-what is important? Jesus-see him, worship him, love him, learn of him, trust him, let him be your Saviour, he will guide you on the narrow way. And see Him in your neighbors. Love your neighbors as yourself.
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Post by Jessi on Jul 16, 2006 9:25:39 GMT -5
Here's a thought spend less time worryig aboiut FRINGE nonsense and concentrate on spreading the Gospel, you know Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven. I can almost imagine GOD in his infinite wisdom sitting in heaven with JESUS shaking his head at us while we sit around whining, fighting, and squawking about the FRINGE garbage that HAS NOTHING to do with salvation. Geez, get a life, it doesnt matter one whit if you attend "church" in your house or your buddies house or if you attend services at a recognized church in a real designated building, as long as the message you hear is from the bible!!!!!!!!!!!! Jesus didnt have a HOME of his own simply because HE DIDNT NEED ONE, HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO his ministry was ONLY 3 years and HE was ON THE ROAD VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Prior to that, as I understand it, HE lived with mom and dad ( Joseph) I would say it does matter whether one goes to church or not. If Christ is the Head of the Church--and I don't belong a a local body of Christians--I will not grow in Christ. As an ember cast from the fire, I will die. Was I really His? Heb 10:25 says we should not forsake meeting together. Also, the NT often says we should shore each other up, carry each other's burdens . . . because man was not made to be along. All these peripheral things seem to matter to people without Christ . . . because they don't know any better. It's all they have ever been taught. I know. I spent 38 years in darkness. It's a prison. They can't "get a life" . . . apart from Christ . . . who IS eternal life and gave it freely. They need to know the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Way the Truth and the Life and no one can get to the Father except through Him . . . and only the Father draws them to Christ. Salvation is not of US but ALL of GOD. Christ's Forever, Jessi
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Post by form on Jul 16, 2006 11:06:44 GMT -5
There is Christianity, and there is a perverted Christianity.
In the perverted Christianity, group identity takes precedent over the message of Christ and the Spirit of Christ.
In the "2x2" brand, group identity is derived, in a large part, from form. They believe that if they do things in a certain way, the result will be Christianity.
This would be like saying: Henry Ford built his cars on an assembly line. I am building my cars on an assembly line. The cars I make must be Fords.
As you can see, the product cannot take it's true identity from the process by which it was manufactured.
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Post by more form on Jul 16, 2006 11:23:11 GMT -5
You can ask a person, "What make your denomination different from other Christian churches?"
The answers will likely reflect the importance they place on specific scpipture. Some will say, "We handle serpents", or "We speak in tongues", or "Our ministry goes out 2x2 and meets in homes".
Their group identity is dependent on form.
A true Christian will place top priority on the scripture that Christ placed in top priority. Christ was asked point-blank, and He responded point-blank. There is no excuse for having missed His message.
There are many Christians today who place top priority on the scriptures which give their group its identity, and overlook the verses that tell us what Christ gave top priority to.
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