defenderofthefaith
New Member
In the world we live in today, the 'christian faith' is riddled with different sects, unions, groups, denominations, or 'churches'.
For example - Catholicism, Baptists, Lutherans, Methodist, Jehovah's Witness, Pentecostal, ect ect.
But that's not all! There are also divisions...among the main divisions!
Since this is a baptist-board, I'll point out that there are around 85 different sub-denominations, associations, conferences, conventions, fellowships, groups, unions, ect, that all go under the name "baptist".
But what do the scriptures teach about denominationlism?
John 17:20-21
"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."
Christ Jesus himself prayed for "them also which shall believe on me through their[apostles] word" (Christians) and he prayed that "they all may be one" and then he likened it to as God and Christ are one.
Ephesians 4:1-6
"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
Paul urged the Ephesians to endeavour "to keep the unity of the Spirit" and he also told them that there was "one body" (the Church) and "one faith".
Why is it then that today's "christian faith" is torn into hundreds of different groups all with different teachings?
God hates divisions among Christians (the brethren, for we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.)!
Proverbs 6:16,19
"These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him...
...A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."
Jesus warned against division! Why do churches not heed this warning???
Matthew 12:25
"And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:"
Acts 20:28-30
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."
The Elders at the church in Ephesus were warned by Paul about future divisions that would come among the flock (church) and men who would speak "perverse things, to draw away disciples after them".
1 Corinthians 11:16-19
"But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you."
Paul said that there were divisions among the Corinthians therefore "there must be also heresies among you"! Heresies in Christ's church! This is certainly not what Christ had in mind when he prayed that we "may all be one" (John 17:20-21)
Paul, in the first Chapter of 1 Corinthians begged the Corinthians to have no divisions among the brethren!!
1 Corinthians 1:10
"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."
How is it that all these "christians faiths" continue on ignoring the fact that we are not "perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement"!?
Paul also told the Corinthians that division is carnal (not spiritual).
1 Corinthians 3:3
"For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"
And we also see that the Romans were warned greatly against those which cause divisions.
Romans 16:17-18
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
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."
We are also warned in 2 John.
2 John 9-11
"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds."
The scriptures are filled with warnings against divisions, false doctrines, lies, hereies, ect, ect!!
1 Timothy 1:1-2
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;"
1 John 4:1
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
So, why is there so much division! Why is there so many differences in teachings, doctrines, beliefs, ect!?
Surely there must be just one true faith (Ephesians 4:5), one true doctrine (2 John 9), one true church (Romans 12:4-5).
For example - Catholicism, Baptists, Lutherans, Methodist, Jehovah's Witness, Pentecostal, ect ect.
But that's not all! There are also divisions...among the main divisions!
Since this is a baptist-board, I'll point out that there are around 85 different sub-denominations, associations, conferences, conventions, fellowships, groups, unions, ect, that all go under the name "baptist".
But what do the scriptures teach about denominationlism?
John 17:20-21
"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."
Christ Jesus himself prayed for "them also which shall believe on me through their[apostles] word" (Christians) and he prayed that "they all may be one" and then he likened it to as God and Christ are one.
Ephesians 4:1-6
"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
Paul urged the Ephesians to endeavour "to keep the unity of the Spirit" and he also told them that there was "one body" (the Church) and "one faith".
Why is it then that today's "christian faith" is torn into hundreds of different groups all with different teachings?
God hates divisions among Christians (the brethren, for we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.)!
Proverbs 6:16,19
"These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him...
...A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."
Jesus warned against division! Why do churches not heed this warning???
Matthew 12:25
"And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:"
Acts 20:28-30
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."
The Elders at the church in Ephesus were warned by Paul about future divisions that would come among the flock (church) and men who would speak "perverse things, to draw away disciples after them".
1 Corinthians 11:16-19
"But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you."
Paul said that there were divisions among the Corinthians therefore "there must be also heresies among you"! Heresies in Christ's church! This is certainly not what Christ had in mind when he prayed that we "may all be one" (John 17:20-21)
Paul, in the first Chapter of 1 Corinthians begged the Corinthians to have no divisions among the brethren!!
1 Corinthians 1:10
"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."
How is it that all these "christians faiths" continue on ignoring the fact that we are not "perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement"!?
Paul also told the Corinthians that division is carnal (not spiritual).
1 Corinthians 3:3
"For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"
And we also see that the Romans were warned greatly against those which cause divisions.
Romans 16:17-18
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
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."
We are also warned in 2 John.
2 John 9-11
"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds."
The scriptures are filled with warnings against divisions, false doctrines, lies, hereies, ect, ect!!
1 Timothy 1:1-2
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;"
1 John 4:1
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
So, why is there so much division! Why is there so many differences in teachings, doctrines, beliefs, ect!?
Surely there must be just one true faith (Ephesians 4:5), one true doctrine (2 John 9), one true church (Romans 12:4-5).
