With So Many Denominations...

[BarneyFife]

I am saying that if the person is bearing good fruit, that is not a reason to leave them for another pastor.

I'm sorry. When I said "preacher" I didn't mean the pastor of my local church. I'm disabled, so I see alot of preaching on TV, YouTube, etc. I enjoy a wonderful kinship with my pastor.

 

[amadeus]

You misunderstand me.
Are only the righteous persecuted?

Indeed consider when 4 kings went to war against 5 kings in the OT. Which side was the persecutor? Which side was righteous before God?

Which side did Abraham join? Neither one! He only gathered his men to go in pursuit when he heard that his nephew, Lot was a prisoner.

Then to a more recent situation: In Hitler's Germany were all, or even most, of the persecuted Jews righteous before God?

 

[amadeus]

Paul wrote that we are many parts, but one body [1 Corinthians 12:12-27].
Anti-denominationalism requires everyone to become the same part, instead of letting God build His Church the way that He sees fit.
Apart from cults, multi-denominationalism gives us the opportunity to be the different body parts that called us to be.

You would think then that it was similar to those scattered from the Tower of Babel when God confounded their languages or...?

 

[amadeus]

well, i try to break my mold every day lol, and id love an example complaint, if you would. I didnt reply?

Breaking your mold comes back to that 'bottom starting' or proceeding also first to the lowest room. People often like to stay as high as they have been or higher. Consider what Jesus did as a man of flesh!

 

[amadeus]

I'm sorry. When I said "preacher" I didn't mean the pastor of my local church. I'm disabled, so I see alot of preaching on TV, YouTube, etc. I enjoy a wonderful kinship with my pastor.

You speak of natural or physical disability, but all of us begin disabled, dead even to God and the things of God, but then if we have seen the Light and followed it, does not an enabling process begin so that we can be like Him?

 

[BarneyFife]

It all starts from whether someone obeys Acts 2:38 or not.

If one disobeys Acts 2:38, they are not in the Acts church, but a denomination.

If one obeys Acts 2:38, they are in the Acts church, which is not a denomination.

The Acts church was a denomination. They were distinct from other brands of worship. They even had a label: "Christian"

 

[2 Chr. 34:19]

I

Update: I'm afraid I haven't made myself very clear. My intentions were to provoke critical/analytical thought harnessed by Scripture--not to solicit personal suggestions per se (not that I couldn't use some, of course). With all of the bright hearts and minds I've encountered so far, in the end we all go away with some useful knowledge.
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With all the many Christian denominations and sects out there, how can one know which one is closest to teaching the truth about Jesus and the Gospel, especially if they all claim to be arriving at truth through basically the same method?

And to those who would answer that it doesn't matter because we must arrive at the truth on our own:

a) Who, honestly, actually does that? We're all influenced by teachers to some degree, and we're affected by our environment, experiences, upbringing and, most hopefully, the Holy Spirit, Himself. And doesn't the Bible Itself even suggest that at least some or most of us have to be taught?; and

b) If we're cautioned not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, especially near the end of time (and if we aren't close now I don't even want to imagine what "close" looks like), is it really God's will that we should have no place to go on a regular basis to meet and worship with others who believe as we do?

I've noticed that when people fiercely protect a doctrine, it's usually one that seems to have (seemingly) conflicting evidence even from the Bible alone.

If it seems like I'm encouraging skepticism, nothing could be further from the truth.

I'm looking for practical, critically-reasoned, non-canned answers to real problems (real, at least, as I see it).

I woke up one day when I was 23 years old and realized that I just believed what my family believed about God. A, B, C, 1, 2, 3--right down the line.

I believe Christians ought to believe the same thing about how Jesus saves us and what, if anything, we owe Him. I believe the Bible predicts it. But I don't believe we should treat each other unkindly while working toward the unity of the faith.

The Information age has produced a multi-generational group of ultra-sensitive (non)communicators.

I'm hoping this community proves to be the exception to the rule. I'm confident that by God's grace it will.

I’ve struggled to find an Acts 2 church/believers, and I’ve been in most denominations, over four decades. I’m currently de-churched. Been curiously looking at Protestant convents and the Amish more recently, out of desperation more than anything.

always believed in ‘A G_D’, but didn’t realise Jesus’ divinity until reading the N/T and academic study over the last twenty years.
Was only religious/backsliding before.
So...I still haven’t found what I’m looking for either, but hope springs

Ps had a great minister who would say ‘if you want to know The Lord’s will, read The Lord’s Word’ !
the congregation wearied him, and he took early retirement. Until I find another like him...

 

[amadeus]

good point imo, although i guess i am mostly a troll here to sow doubt and confusion, but the Abarim are...ha, well, laying it out too plainly by far, maybe. dunno

I always get a little confused when people use that word, troll, with regard to forums like this one. I have looked up the word several times, but it never sticks very well. My first understanding of a troll came the first time I read the Hobbit probably back in the 1960's. When the sun comes out and they are still out, they turn to stone. Is this similarly to Lot's wife looking back at Sodom and turning to salt?

 

[farouk]

View attachment 10161

Your hair that colour?

My wife's has been maroon, though not quite that red.

 

[farouk]

Nooo. I’m way too old for all that jazz.

@2 Chr. 34:19 Well my wife has only fairly recently stopped doing it, and she has quite a few decades behind her, anyway. (She did like maroon.)

 

[BarneyFife]

The Lord met Paul in the way - on the Road to Damascus. Struck him blind (temporally) and called him to ministry.

This is Paul...


Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
[4] Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
[5] Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
[6] Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

[7] But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
[8] Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
[9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
[10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;



2 Corinthians 11:22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
[23] Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
[24] Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
[25] Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
[26] In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
[27] In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.


This is a man called by God and entrusted with the New Testament Church. This is the Apostle, Paul, which wrote to the Ephesians in Chapter 4 - The Five-Fold Ministry. The Fruit of the Spirit to the Galatians Chapter 5, and the Gifts of the Spirit to the Corinthians Chapter 12.

So if this sounds a bit "Pauline" ... you should take it up with God himself.


God Bless!

Okay, I will.

This is Christ...

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63)

It doesn't get much stronger than that.

The Gospel is best served by the Gospel, Himself.

 

[BarneyFife]

-

 

[BarneyFife]

Then to a more recent situation: In Hitler's Germany were all, or even most, of the persecuted Jews righteous before God?

Is that for us to judge?

 

[Hidden In Him]

But you could email him easily enough?

If he doesn't want me knowing to begin with, I'm not one for prying into people's business. His name shall remain safe with me : )

well, i try to break my mold every day lol, and id love an example complaint, if you would. I didnt reply?

No. But it was probably something along the lines of "Can you please talk like someone from planet earth?" LoL.

 

[BarneyFife]

You speak of natural or physical disability, but all of us begin disabled, dead even to God and the things of God, but then if we have seen the Light and followed it, does not an enabling process begin so that we can be like Him?

I only brought it up to explain why I see a lot of video teaching/preaching but I get your point and appreciate it.

 

[Hidden In Him]

The warmth is perhaps what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego felt in the fiery furnace, Comfort... yet others coming to the same place...

"Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego." Dan 3:22

Was it not the same fire, the same consuming fire, which is our God?

I can't say as I've ever experienced that kind of fire from any man. I have, however, felt it in association with one woman, and I'm still trying to find her again after several years.

 

[Hidden In Him]

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What exactly did I miss? Let's ride! I'm ready whenever you are, Barney:

 

[BarneyFife]

It happens.

 

[Hidden In Him]

View attachment 10161

That's just spooky, LoL.

 

[farouk]

Okay, I will.

This is Christ...

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63)

It doesn't get much stronger than that.

The Gospel is best served by the Gospel, Himself.

Great verses there...