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Reply to "Question for Contendah"

quote:  Originally Posted by Contendah:

Been busy with demanding personal matters, Vic.   Not ignoring your question.

 

"Non-denominational" is a modifier that is not consistently defined by many who use it.  A "denomination" is a  named class within some larger classification.  It signifies division.  Jesus prayed for his disciples, "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee...." (John 17:21).   Paul urged Christians in his day,  "that ye might all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (I Cor. 1:10). One need not look far in our time to see that these scriptural ideals have not been achieved.

 

Whenever men find it necessary to construct and formalize extra-Biblical "creeds" or "disciplines" or Catechisms to confirm their systems of theology, division ensues.  If men would commit to simply speaking where the scriptures speak and being silent where they are silent, much of the religious division in today's churches would go away.  

 

Biblical ignorance is rampant in our times, and those who fail to do any serious personal Bible study and instead depend upon appointed leaders and officials of the faction of divided Christendom to which they attach to reveal the "truth" to them ("Well, my preacher says" or "Well, my church manual says" or "Well, the 'Conference' or 'Synod' or 'Diocese' or 'Council' has decided.") are conceding the fates of their souls to others than themselves.  Such wholesale abdication of personal responsibility is at the root of the division that plagues churches today.

Contendah, my Friend,

 

I agree with all you have posted.  On the Day of Pentecost 33 AD, the 120 in the Upper Room were in accord with one another.  When they went to the street of Jerusalem to teach, they were in agreement -- and the 3000+ who joined them in Christian faith that day were also in unity with them.

 

Several days later, when the apostles preached and the church grew to over 5000, there was still unity.

 

God has a way of bringing unity; man has a way of bringing disunity.  God sent Peter to the Roman leader's home.  God sent Paul to the Gentiles.  When Peter and Paul disagreed on circumcision -- they found unity, God working again.

 

But, man being man -- there will always be those who will try to bring man's disunity into God's plan.  And, as you suggested -- that is why we have so many different denominations today, i.e., disunity.

 

Should we listen to and learn from our leaders?  Yes.  But, we should also apply the lesson learned in Acts 17:11 -- test the teacher and the teaching daily -- AGAINST SCRIPTURE.

 

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

 

Bill

Bible - Your Roadmap For Life

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