Are Denominations Godly? (Jesus Christ, tradition, beliefs, blood, choice)

[sojourner]

I love it when people try to put a small box around God's boundless graciousness. it's a glaring reminder of the gap between divinity and humanity.

[Somkid]

Originally Posted by Aasimar

Let's get it over quickly, which one is the correct one in your view?

Your a genius and funny too.

[sojourner]

To answer the question, yes. Denominations are Godly (if I take your meaning correctly), because denominations reveal the vast diversity of God.

[seaweedfeathers]

The only Church God honors is the one he is adding the members to Himself. You can't join it, He has to add you. Acts. 2:47. The believer is the holy temple of God never a building.

The believer is a living stone that builds up a spiritual house to God.

1PETER 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Since God has magnified his word above his name he is not going to break {changed it** for any one so that makes all other churches cheap counterfeits with false doctrines.

John 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken;

Psalms 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

Also read Ephesians 4:1-5, describes one body {church** one faith {not the faith of your choice** One Lord, One Baptism.

God's word is contrary to false doctrine found in all heretical, sectarian divisions.

Seaweedfeathers

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by seaweedfeathers

According to scripture it would be impossible for denominations to be godly for several reasons.

Amen.

One Faith----One Baptism----One Church.

[Muffled]

Originally Posted by Scott1

Amen.

One Faith----One Baptism----One Church.

Granted that, despite the reality of denominations. The church wasn't even 100 years old before it developed its first two denominations: 1. The Hebrew Church that believed in keeping the law (as much as possible) 2. the Gentile Church that didn't feel it had to become Jewish.

I don't see anything ungodly about that. God never required anyone other than Jews to keep Jewish law.

Suppose I started a red tie church which distinguished itself by the requirement that men wear red ties to church. As far as I know there is nothing ungodly about wearing red ties. Of course the legalists would find something wrong with it I am sure.

That does not mean that a denomination can't become ungodly. The Judaizers came close to it by trying to declare their way the right way. However a denomination can go the wrong way especially when it becomes antithetical to Christianity. That is not the same thing as Heresy (saying things against the teachings of the church) or blasphemy (Saying things abaout God that aren't true).

As far as having no fellowship with unbelievers, that does not preclude their church attendance (My athistic son goes to a charismatic church) nor does it prevent us from having a relationship albeit not the relationship of brothers and sisters in Christ.

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by Muffled

Granted that, despite the reality of denominations. The church wasn't even 100 years old before it developed its first two denominations: 1. The Hebrew Church that believed in keeping the law (as much as possible) 2. the Gentile Church that didn't feel it had to become Jewish.

I see things a bit differently....

The church wasn't even 100 years old before it developed its first HERESY.

There is the true faith and the true church.... and those who leave are not just a new "denomination" but are breaking the bonds of love and very often turning the truth into a lie.

While I do believe in legitimate diversity in belief (Liturgy, authority etc.).... I do believe that truth-orthodoxy-orthopraxy is not something that can be meddled with.

Peace be with you,
Scott

[sojourner]

Originally Posted by seaweedfeathers

The only Church God honors is the one he is adding the members to Himself. You can't join it, He has to add you. Acts. 2:47. The believer is the holy temple of God never a building.

The believer is a living stone that builds up a spiritual house to God.

1PETER 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Since God has magnified his word above his name he is not going to break {changed it** for any one so that makes all other churches cheap counterfeits with false doctrines.

John 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken;

Psalms 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

Also read Ephesians 4:1-5, describes one body {church** one faith {not the faith of your choice** One Lord, One Baptism.

God's word is contrary to false doctrine found in all heretical, sectarian divisions.

Seaweedfeathers

God does add all of us. That we put our names on a membership roll has nothing to do with the spiritual reality -- i t's merely a temporal necessity for us. We live in a physical world, as physical beings. That we choose one branch is immaterial, for we are all part of the same vine.

[Charity]

Originally Posted by seaweedfeathers

According to scripture it would be impossible for denominations to be godly for several reasons.

The first reason being: both saved and unsaved are members of various sects and denominations and all have different faiths and they fellowship together with unbelievers. The only unity in denominations is the pagan holidays that originated in pagan traditions and beliefs and observance of the ungodly days that are done with one mind and heart by both saved and unsaved believers.

2Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Denominations would be pagan churches such as the Baptists, Roman Catholicism, Methodist, Lutheran, Pentecostal: in other words all of modern Christianity as it is called. The reason I make this statement is because Christ is building His own church or body and He personally adds the members Himself.

Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

If you have a choice of having your name added to the membership rolls then it is not of God for we are to have our fellowship in Christ only and do this we have to walk in His word only and not within the sectarian walls that dived's true believers.

1Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

1John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1John 1:7 is how God wants us to walk and fellowship not with the unsaved for we are to fellowship just in His name only for we belong to Him for He as made us complete for everything we need to honor and glorify Him.

Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

2Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

2Cor. 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them ; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing ; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and

We have everything we need to please God outside the camp to walk as God wants us to. When we add to God's word with man's inventions of religion we are walking carnal as Paul says in 1Cor. 1:10.

10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye 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.

Read the next few verses and see what Paul calls the Christians there for following after men {like Billy Graham, or any other TV preacher you can think of if they had been alive back then** that they are carnal and are babes in Christ.

We are to do our walk just in his name and that would have to include fellowship as well.

Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Seaweedfeathers

Since you think that the denominations are pagan churches, may I ask do you attend a church at all? Perhaps if you read the context in which some of the scriptures are meant. Paul was not talking about different denominations but the division in the Church at Corinth. He had received news that the conditions were not good at Corinth...Immorality was one of the problems. Paul was there to restore the Church. The Church was considered inmmature and unspiritual, with many divisions in the church.... There were about 12 temples in Corinth, one dedicated to Aphrodite the worshipers there practiced religious prostitution and Paul had previously warned the Church not to be associated with sexually immoral people. 2 Cor 6:14, And verse 17 Come out and be a separate people......These things I do agree with you on....But I see no connection or any indication where denomination is mentioned or referred to as Pagan because of a denomination.....

In Acts 2:47 Yes God does add to the number of people who are getting saved daily. God does this in all churches that love and worship him. Because of the fellowship of the believers.....unity with one another, in that particular church. It does