Thread: Let's Discuss Denominations

Of course he puts the structure in place if you ask Him to. He spent time in prayer before he chose every apostle. We always pray and are to be led of the Spirit as to whom is put into leadership positions. Yes, even leadership positions of a denomination. God is interested and wants to be a part of. That is if we allow Him. It is up to us to seek His face and HE will gladly, with Joy, show us the best for any work that is put together in His name and for His purpose.

Originally Posted by Nikos

Of course he puts the structure in place if you ask Him to. He spent time in prayer before he chose every apostle. We always pray and are to be led of the Spirit as to whom is put into leadership positions. Yes, even leadership positions of a denomination. God is interested and wants to be a part of. That is if we allow Him. It is up to us to seek His face and HE will gladly, with Joy, show us the best for any work that is put together in His name and for His purpose.

Again, what you describe in the NT was not denominational organizations divided by theology..He is only interested in being a part of HIS church which has no denominational affiliation. His church is a nucleus worldwide disbursed among all types of gatherings and organizations...There are people win the KINGDOM doing KINGDOM work within these structures, yes, but the organizations were not put together by Him..they are just WALLS of division..

Originally Posted by FaithfulOne

Pentecali will be happy to hear that!

Yea, well I am very cautious...while we attend when we are in that city I don't know what God has in mind with that...legalistic bondage is so far off my radar it is totally ODD that He would send us there..

Originally Posted by Quest

Yea, well I am very cautious...while we attend when we are in that city I don't know what God has in mind with that...legalistic bondage is so far off my radar it is totally ODD that He would send us there..

I was led for a season to a Oneness-type church a few years ago,and they weren't legalistic at all...they baptized in Jesus' name, but in other respects freedom

Originally Posted by Nikos

Of course he puts the structure in place if you ask Him to. He spent time in prayer before he chose every apostle. We always pray and are to be led of the Spirit as to whom is put into leadership positions. Yes, even leadership positions of a denomination. God is interested and wants to be a part of. That is if we allow Him. It is up to us to seek His face and HE will gladly, with Joy, show us the best for any work that is put together in His name and for His purpose.

Let me put it this way...Let's say you have a young man, 17ish, who begins to feel the tug and call of Holy Spirit toward pastoring...that's Biblical, He calls some to be pastors, teachers..ect...now this young man is attending the local First Baptist church...so he ASSUMES that equals him being called by God to be a Baptist pastor...wrong...he has just closed the door..at some point Holy Spirit is scripture is going to challenge him...

Organizations indoctrinate their 'members'. All of them do it. And if they have a flawed sense of allegiance to that organization that will solidify or seal them in.

Originally Posted by FaithfulOne

I was led for a season to a Oneness-type church a few years ago,and they weren't legalistic at all...they baptized in Jesus' name, but in other respects freedom

I have sensed a liberty there since the pastor has not preached at me despite the fact that I am the only woman there with very short hair and wears pants..:)

He did say though that to serve on the praise team (something I can't do anyway) one would have to adhere to a strict dress code...so I am not sure if I will be allowed to serve without taking membership and committing to their rules..if so I will have to be in prayer about that..respect and conforming are not the same thing so I can respect their beliefs but won't be forced to embrace them and teach them..

Originally Posted by Quest

Again, what you describe in the NT was not denominational organizations divided by theology..He is only interested in being a part of HIS church which has no denominational affiliation. His church is a nucleus worldwide disbursed among all types of gatherings and organizations...There are people win the KINGDOM doing KINGDOM work within these structures, yes, but the organizations were not put together by Him..they are just WALLS of division..

God has His people everywhere. Denomination is just a word for organize. God is certainly not against organization. To say that God has nothing to do with organization is ignorance. There is as much division outside the organization as there is inside. I live in a town that has many small independent Pentecostal/charismatic churches and they are so divided that they cannot have any type of fellowship meetings. They can have a breakfast and even meet for prayer. But they want no part of each other when it comes to joint meetings. They are as bad as any denomination I have ever seen.

Originally Posted by FaithfulOne

Pentecali will be happy to hear that!

Oh no you did not!

Originally Posted by Nikos

God has His people everywhere. Denomination is just a word for organize. God is certainly not against organization. To say that God has nothing to do with organization is ignorance. There is as much division outside the organization as there is inside. I live in a town that has many small independent Pentecostal/charismatic churches and they are so divided that they cannot have any type of fellowship meetings. They can have a breakfast and even meet for prayer. But they want no part of each other when it comes to joint meetings. They are as bad as any denomination I have ever seen.

I am ingnorant then..I don't believe He started any of them and I don't believe He is leading them to stay divided.

Like the example earlier..He calls His people to do works and then THEY sign on to some denomination..I don't believe He organized a single denomination.

I don't agree that denominations are just a word for organize...tell a Baptist pastor you are visiting a Pentecostal church and see if his response is...'wow that's great'. I agree about independents..they subdivided...named themselves and splintered the body even more...

Fact is most, if not all, denominations started out that way...a church, then a satellite church then planted another church and now they need a bishop to oversee their 'churches'.