Thread: Let's Discuss Denominations

Originally Posted by Quest

Actually, many of them ARE closed minded...they sealed themselves into the boundaries of the organizational doctrine and can't see anything else...when challenged on that doctrine they actually feel defensive and threatened rather than having faith to be BEREAN..and even if they are they are often so indoctrinated they just can't see..Holy Spirit can fix that but it is up to them whether they allow Him to or not.

I would call it Doctrine Bound..sort of like when a bird is cage bound...

Originally Posted by Quest

It is a rare thing to hear of a Baptist pastor embracing the reality of Pentecost and the gifts..and when they do they are more often than not ostracized from their 'church' that God led them to..There are exceptions of course....

Did this thread come to mind for anyone else? ;)

http://livingfaithforum.com/forum/sh...fe-Long-Church

Originally Posted by krystian

Did this thread come to mind for anyone else? ;)

http://livingfaithforum.com/forum/sh...fe-Long-Church

Actually.....yes it did...

Originally Posted by curly sue

That is exactly what I am saying.

I have never in my life heard of a Baptist youth being called to pastor who said they were called to pastor anything other than a Baptist church.

I think you are mixing the five fold calling in with just sincere Bob the Baptist. Yes many are closed minded, but many are as genuine as can be, washed in the Blood of Jesus believers who will never be anything but who they are.

Not sure I understand..you are agreeing with me but your not?

Try to clear this up..I am saying someone called to PASTOR is not being called to a denomination, but to Kingdom ministry...yet 99% of the time they end up pastoring within the denomination of the church they in when called.

When you said, "I think you are making a big leap here, Quest. The body of Christ is a many membered body and they all have different functions. To say someone would be in the wrong because they believe they are called to pastor in a Baptist church is a far reach."

So I didn't say someone is wrong to BE called to pastor a Baptist church, I said it's wrong to PRESUME THAT because that is where one as when they received the call......but let's just be boldly frank here...DOES GOD want them or anyone else locked into a DENOMINATIONAL theology that is incomplete? I don't think so...He would want them to advance in truth beyond the bouncaries of their denomination. SEE that is the PROBLEM with denominations and why I don't think any of them were ordained by God..they become systems of theology that restrain growth more often than not...

God wants HIS people wherever they live to gather and worship HIM in Spirit and in truth..not be encased in denominational boxes...He never intended for them to be any more than the Church in Atlanta and the Church in Chicago and the Church in Beijing...

It's sad when believers don't allow God to advance them in truth and usefulness..it's not the Holy Spirit that is setting those limits...that's the point.

Originally Posted by curly sue

I consider the Oneness/ Apostolics to be my brothers and sisters, although I'm sure some wouldn't consider me to be family.

Exactly! That was exactly what I told my husband after visiting one that was obviously strict on their doctrine...That was why I knew that was not my church...they would require me to accept their legalism to even be considered a believer even though I view them as believers despite our differences...

And that serves as another example...when a young man feels called to ministry they typically only propagate more of the same theology...I think rarely do they advance beyond that denominational box... I have no statistics on this though...it's just been my experience..

The only people who are my brothers and sisters are those who are saved and washed in the Blood. If they hate their others they are not genuinely saved. PERIOD! Read I John

Not all denominations are of God. However, when godly men and women get together and seek God and form and organize and place holy leaders into biblical positions, they are of God. I love the denominations because God uses them in a far greater way to reach the lost than some little independent church that is struggling to get 100 in church services.

Quest, I don't agree with you on the Baptist part. I do agree that denominations are man made entities and not what God intended.

Originally Posted by Nikos

The only people who are my brothers and sisters are those who are saved and washed in the Blood. If they hate their others they are not genuinely saved. PERIOD! Read I John

Believing their brethren are not saved does not equal hate...

Originally Posted by Nikos

Not all denominations are of God. However, when godly men and women get together and seek God and form and organize and place holy leaders into biblical positions, they are of God. I love the denominations because God uses them in a far greater way to reach the lost than some little independent church that is struggling to get 100 in church services.

Usefulness was certainly God's agenda...organizing under a man made denominational corporation was not..He intended for us to be ONE body that functioned universally as one 'denomination', Christ followers..One reason I love this forum..we can challenge each other out of those man made molds to a higher place in TRUTH...people who stay locked into their denominations and only listen to like minded believers don't have that..

Originally Posted by Quest

Believing their brethren are not saved does not equal hate...

Some people will define others as nonbelievers as an expression of resentment and a wish to shun them.