Thread: Let's Discuss Denominations

Originally Posted by Nikos

Denominations are of God!

Case closed!

Well...by all means that settles it...OK everyone...Nikos has spoken...it must be so..

Originally Posted by papabrett

If denominations were simply a tool to help people they would be fine.But for the most part instead of the organization serving the people, it uses people to serve the organization.

I can't think of any Denomination who truly bases fellowship solely on the basis of Jesus, His work, and a persons relationship with Him. There is always an added set of rules that defines to whom they will offer full fellowship (love, time, caring, resources etc...). Those rules usually take precedence over scripture, trying to use scripture to prop up their own desires.

So Denominations compete with one another, instead of completing each other. They compete for people, they compete for 'truth", they compete for money. They even compete with showy programming. And the showy programming isn't limited to "seeker sensitive" churches. The pentacostals and charismatics have their ways of doing it as well.

The only criteria for full fellowship within a church is Jesus. But in a denomination it will always become; Jesus, and this, and that, and the other thing.

If denominations were simply a tool to help people they would be fine.But for the most part instead of the organization serving the people, it uses people to serve the organization.

Well said Papa

Originally Posted by John

Where more than two are gathered there will be politics, rivalries, etc, etc. I don't think independent non-denominational are immune and in some case not having been exposed to group dynamics fail miserably with the "man of God" bit along with a host of other things ($, greed, "growth") that maybe, just maybe the denominations have learned to deal with.

But, it should be about Jesus, where two or more are gathered, it really is that simple.

NONE are immune except they keep their heart and focus God centered...I read an article a few months back and in the article the author stated that the first mistake with the "house movement' was to NAME IT...that was the beginning of it's slip into the same trap...IT became a denomination..

Originally Posted by John

Yes, no one has a monopoly on that.

Most of the issues begin in the discipleship phase...once they are saved our goal is to make them the best Baptist or the best Methodist or the best Pentecostal we can...I think that's where they drop the ball..indoctrination after conversion...that's where the divisions are ingrained..

Remember early on I gave the example of the young man who is attending a Baptist church when he hears the call of Holy Spirit to be a preacher or evangelist and interprets that to mean they are called to be a Baptist pastor or a Baptist evangelists.....no...people in gatherings churches who were not indoctrinating for preservation of the organization would not think that way...when someone in the NT, say Timothy, was called...He understood He had but ONE Lord and that He served on ONE kingdom...that he was not a Pauline or an Appolosian...

Something is terribly wrong in the disciple phase..

Originally Posted by Nikos

Denominations come from the Holy Spirit placing the idea in a Spirit filled believer/s. They come together and form ways to work together. They do these things in prayer and are directed by the Holy Spirit. There is need for there to be guidelines for several churches to work together in order to make progress. This is all directed by Holy Spirit prayer. Sometimes days of prayer. If there is no unity in goals then they will be workng against each other. So the guidelines keep them in line. But they are put together by seeking the mind of Christ. Because it is not men doing this but God. He is simply using man to accomplish His work.

I have in mind the pentecostal denoms. I know nothing about the others. Now I am through with this subject. I am through debating about subjects here. When I post you people suddenly get upset and rowdy. So go ahead and have fun among yourselves. I will go to the non-debate threads and that will be it at least for awhile.

Bye Bye!

Originally Posted by Nikos

Denominations are of God!

Case closed!

You are not a man of your word, Nikos.

Originally Posted by Quest

Most of the issues begin in the discipleship phase...once they are saved our goal is to make them the best Baptist or the best Methodist or the best Pentecostal we can...I think that's where they drop the ball..indoctrination after conversion...that's where the divisions are ingrained..

Remember early on I gave the example of the young man who is attending a Baptist church when he hears the call of Holy Spirit to be a preacher or evangelist and interprets that to mean they are called to be a Baptist pastor or a Baptist evangelists.....no...people in gatherings churches who were not indoctrinating for preservation of the organization would not think that way...when someone in the NT, say Timothy, was called...He understood He had but ONE Lord and that He served on ONE kingdom...that he was not a Pauline or an Appolosian...

Something is terribly wrong in the disciple phase..

Romans 8:14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

I suppose God wants some baptists too. These generalizations just don't hold water, it kinda boils down to it's a sin if YOU do it but I'm OK.

Originally Posted by John

Romans 8:14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

I suppose God wants some baptists too. These generalizations just don't hold water, it kinda boils down to it's a sin if YOU do it but I'm OK.

Really? So He wants some to deny the reality of the power of God? Didn't He say there would come a time when we would have a form and deny the power?

And He wants some to teach people they are going to Hell if they are not water baptized so Jesus' death burial and resurrection was not enough?

And He wants people to be taught if they cut their hair, or don't cut their hair they are in sin and backslidden?

I don't think so...what I believe is that His sprit is moving and searching for hearts hungry for HIM and HIM alone and if He finds one in this trap He will lead them out of the lie and probably eventually lead them out of that group..

I have not generalized..God did not form denominations...He only has ONE body and there are man locked into indoctrination within their 'denominations'. That is not His intent..

What about the denomination that won't call itself a denomination that holds fast to an extra biblical understanding of end times and is of the belief that other Christians who are not in the denomination that won't call itself a denomination are bitter, backslidden, demon slimed, spiritually crippled Christians? What about that denomination?

His intent?

If we are not ONE with each other in LOVE then we are in the wrong denomination.

Love has no barrier but a hard heart.

Love is what binds us together.....there is no strife, no cause for bickering when love is present because loves covers that which would offend us.

Love is perfect and cannot be argued against.

I love you if you do or don't speak in tongues.

I love you if you do or don't believe one has to be baptized to go to heaven.

Etc.

I love you just because.

Originally Posted by Nikos

Denominations are of God!

Case closed!

yummy caramel popcorn....