Are denominations evil?

[Lightskin]

Call me what you want

I was making a point that everyone wants unity, but they don't want it at the expense of their cherished understanding of Scripture and their worship practices, which is either accurate or not.

Including me.

Jesus Christ is Lord of all and Savior of those who have faith in Him. Everything else is secondary and irrelevant with regards to our salvation.

 

[Lightskin]

If you guys expect that from me, good luck at getting it

It’s always about you. Your post was actually very good until the above statement. I referred to you as a demagogue earlier, perhaps the narcissist is more correct. That said, you have faith in Jesus and that’s all that matters.

 

[UnitedWithChrist]

It’s always about you. Your post was actually very good until the above statement. I referred to you as a demagogue earlier, perhaps the narcissist is more correct. That said, you have faith in Jesus and that’s all that matters.

OK..well realize that when I don't answer you, it's because you are annoying. I don't waste mental real estate on individuals who persist in attacks like that.

 

[Lightskin]

OK..well realize that when I don't answer you, it's because you are annoying. I don't waste mental real estate on individuals who persist in attacks like that.

You’re funny; and if you equate truth with attacks then I pity you. Carry on.

 

[Whispered]

OK..well realize that when I don't answer you, it's because you are annoying. I don't waste mental real estate on individuals who persist in attacks like that.

Then you would do well to example that axiom and not resort to personal attacks on others.

 

[Micaiah-imla]

Denomination are the result of carnal men (1 Corinthians 3:3).

The carnal mind is enmity against God (Romans 8:7).

 

[UnitedWithChrist]

Denomination are the result of carnal men (1 Corinthians 3:3).

The carnal mind is enmity against God (Romans 8:7).

Actually, it says the carnal mind is emnity against the law of God.

However, I think they serve a purpose at this point. Defining core doctrine and having voting members that adhere to these standards is necessary to keep order. Elsewise, you would have heretics who deny the Trinity and deity of Christ, and any other kind of doctrine, overwhelming otherwise sound churches, just like this forum

 

[crossnote]

Right..most are amillennial, but there are premillennials (John MacArthur, for example) and postmillennials (Jonathan Edwards would be one example).

Don't forget a few are Premillennial (e.g. Charles Haddon Spurgeon).

 

[crossnote]

I really should have phrased it...are denominations necessarily evil?

My answer would have been the same.

Because some denominations are liberal Christians who believe ordaining homosexuals or women is acceptable.

I'd consider that as an apostate mindset, holding the teachings of man above God's Word.

 

[crossnote]

By the way, folks, if you really want to know where modern non-denominationalism came from, I think you can safely trace it back to the hippie movement. It is the Christian version of the hippies.

You know the hippies? They were younger people in the 1960's whose parents were working their butts off enabling their children to enjoy a higher standard of living while not working. Hippies would spend time criticizing the materialism of their hard-working parents which enabled their indigence.

That's a bit of a broad brush. Let me add my broad brush and say, yes the '50's was materially affluent, leaving a generation of kids searching for meaning by the'60's (no thanks to the denominational Churches which ceased proclaiming the Gospel and had caved to 19th and early 20th liberalism and workaholic parents who had the Amighty $ as their god). The difference between the hippies and today's Millennials is that the hippies (and I was one) were searching for answers while Millennials' minds have been pickled in social media...their answers are on FB and YT.
I have also been in the Calvary Chapels and have found that many who get sucked into the Reformed system end up being disgruntled with Chuck Smith and the Calvary movement, but as happens to most fresh movements...they eventually harden into a denomination.

 

[TheIndianGirl]

There are denominations mainly due to disagreements of meaning of baptism (when to baptize), Lord's supper, church governance, and worship style. There are also some disagreements on more substantive issues. I don't really see a way around denominations, because everyone thinks they are right.

 

[Jackson123]

There are denominations mainly due to disagreements of meaning of baptism (when to baptize), Lord's supper, church governance, and worship style. There are also some disagreements on more substantive issues. I don't really see a way around denominations, because everyone thinks they are right.

Among Protestant usually disagreement on theninterpretation, but they claim Bible as the main text book

Catholic claim traditions and bible era their text book. So the different is not only in the interpretation but on the text book. So it is very fundamental that can not be united unless one of them give up their fondation.

 

[UnitedWithChrist]

That's a bit of a broad brush. Let me add my broad brush and say, yes the '50's was materially affluent, leaving a generation of kids searching for meaning by the'60's (no thanks to the denominational Churches which ceased proclaiming the Gospel and had caved to 19th and early 20th liberalism and workaholic parents who had the Amighty $ as their god). The difference between the hippies and today's Millennials is that the hippies (and I was one) were searching for answers while Millennials' minds have been pickled in social media...their answers are on FB and YT.
I have also been in the Calvary Chapels and have found that many who get sucked into the Reformed system end up being disgruntled with Chuck Smith and the Calvary movement, but as happens to most fresh movements...they eventually harden into a denomination.

Calvary Chapel actually creates a lot of Reformed believers. Know why? They believe in expository teaching, and consistent expository teaching creates Reformed believers

However, my point stands, even if it is a generalization. Hippies as a whole often had affluent parents who could support them while they went on soul journeys. They didn't have to work for mere survival in many cases, and had extra time to go off on these adventures, all the while biting the hand that was feeding them (their parents) by criticizing them and their churches.

I'm not saying their churches necessarily had good teachings, either, but there is nothing inherent about a denomination that is evil...and Calvary Chapel was no better than a denomination because they had their own distinctives. What were they? Dispensationalism would be one..they are rabid dispensationalists, which is a peripheral issue. Their position on spiritual gifts is another..they were basically closet Pentecostals...in general, they behaved during services, but on their own, they often had meetings where folks spoke in tongues and prophesied, or they did it at home.

By the way, I'm not saying that is bad...but their claim to be non-denominational was hypocritical, because they most certainly had the characteristics of a denomination, with Chuck as their spiritual leader.

I listened to Skip Heitzing and Mark Martin quite a bit during one phase of my spiritual development. I probably learned some basic things from both of these Calvary Chapel pastors. However, I prefer Reformed Baptist teaching now because it is much more straightforward and I don't really care for the praise and worship music of Calvary Chapel..much of it is too hippy era for me.

 

[UnitedWithChrist]

Don't forget a few are Premillennial (e.g. Charles Haddon Spurgeon).

Spurgeon's view on this topic was not clear from his writings. I need to research this more, though.

He definitely was not dispensational, though. He considered it to be ridiculous.

 

[garee]

What Denominationalism Does to Christ​

This may sound shocking to many but the concept of denominationalism (many different churches, teaching many different doctrines) is not taught or sanctioned in the New Testament. Jesus promised and did build "one body" or church (Matt. 16: 18, Eph. 1: 22, 23, cp. Eph. 4: 4). The concept of many different churches was absent in the First Century. Paul, therefore, taught "every where in every church" (I Cor. 4: 17). Denominationalism is division personified. The closest that we can come to denominationalism in the New Testament is the divided state of the church at Corinth. Paul did not praise this fragmented condition, but rather he condemned it. Observe Paul's inspired teaching:



Denominationalism makes Jesus an incompetent Lord. Denominationalism, in view of the conflicting teaching and practices, would have us believe that Jesus was unable to present to the world a Book that all could understand and understand alike. However, the problem is not the Lord's inability, but the problem is man's unwillingness to accept what is taught in the Bible. This is why creeds, dogmas, and confessions of faith in addition to the Bible are needed. Many religions also exist only based on the "authority" of latter day revelation, a matter strictly forbidden (Jude 3).

No such thing as no denominations or non denominational . That idea would make faith "believing God not seen without effect". And support Catholicism making legion of gods in the likeness of men .

The first mentioned sect or denomination on this side of the reformation is Nazarene sect or the way . There were many sects as heresies in Israel at that time.

Sect/ heresy a word that means the private interpretations of men as personal opinion's of what they think they hear or see. (personal commentary

In that way we are commanded there must be heresies as matters of difference amongst the brethren. I would suggest as way to keep peace and not consuming each other as a pagan foundation. Out of sight out of mind .But again as safeguard. Where sparks can fly. with good mediators administrators like those here.

1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

And therefore one heresy that is damnable or one we should speak of to each other. . Those private interpretations that do disgrace to His grace as does Catholicism seen today.

They teach that only a person they have named Mary received the fulness of grace everyone else get a unknown amount of grace. While she as queen of heaven is the dispenser of mercy and grace in whom the pew sitters must cry out to. . and another remnant and after death called purgatory they must suffer for another unknown amount of time.

2 Peter 2:1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

The kingdom of God does not come by observing

God the father is signified by the word Abraham father of many nations, all the kingdoms of the world as many denominations.

In Acts we can see the law of the fathers the same as the Catholic today (out of sight out of mind no one is watching) trying to make their private interpretation that which rises above all things written in the law and the prophets (sola scriptura) Making the word of God as it is written without effect. There must be sects amongst us . we get to pick which one is working the best. to give us his interpretation.

Acts 24:14But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

They worshipped or what they cal venerate the fathers as gods in the likeness of men A legion of fathers

One is our father in heaven call no man father or teacher on earth. [/QUOTE]

 

[Whispered]

The date of origin and founder(s) of various Christian faith groups

...3. Beliefs concerning the origin of Protestantism:

• Popular belief is that on 1517-OCT-31, Martin Luther wrote a list of propositions for change in the Roman Catholic Church and nailed it to the door of the Castle church in Wittenberg Germany. In reality, he probably hung the list on the door to announce an academic discussion that he was organizing at the time. In the document, he criticized many beliefs and practices of the Church, notablly its selling of Indulgences to church members that were promised to lessen the time that they would spend after their death in Purgatory before they were sent to Heaven. This resulted in the creaton of the Lutheran Church and later the tens of thousands of Protestant denominations and faith groups that exist today in all their diversity

Protestant Denominations

• Advent Christian Church
• Adventists
• African Methodist Episcopal Church
• African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
• Agapemone
• Aglipayans
• Amana Church Society
• Amish Church
• Anabaptists
• Anglican Church
• Anglican Communion
• Anglo-Catholic movement
• Armenian Church
• Arminianism
• Assemblies of God
• Baptists
• Behmenites
• Bereans
• Beroeans
• Bible Christians
• Bible societies
• Brethren
• Brethren in Christ
• Broad Church
• Brotherhood of the New Life
• Brownists
• Burghers
• Calixtines
• Calvinism
• Calvinistic Methodist Church
• Camisards
• Campbellites
• Catholic Apostolic Church
• Christadelphians
• Christian Catholic Church
• Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
• Christian Endeavor
• Christian Reformed Church
• Christian Science
• Christian socialism
• Christians
• Church of Christ, Scientist
• Church of England
• Church of the Brethren
• Church of the Nazarene
• Churches of Christ
• Churches of God, General Conference
• Community of Christ
• Confessing Church
• Congregationalism
• Covenanters
• Cumberland Presbyterian Church
• Diggers
• Disciples of Christ
• dissenters

 

[Whispered]

• Doukhobors
• Dukhobors
• Dunkards
• Dunkers
• Dutch Reformed Church
• England, Church of
• Episcopal Church
• Episcopal Church, Reformed
• Ethical Culture movement
• Evangelical Alliance
• Evangelical and Reformed Church
• Evangelical Church
• Evangelical United Brethren Church
• Familists
• Fifth Monarchy Men
• Foursquare Gospel, International Church of the
• Free Church of Scotland
• Friends, Religious Society of
• fundamentalism
• German Baptist Brethren
• German Catholics
• German Reformed Church
• Gideons
• Glassites
• Harmony Society
• High Church
• Huguenots
• Hussites
• Hutterian Brethren
• Illuminati
• Independents
• Ireland, Church of
• Jehovah's Witnesses (Religion)
• Latter Day Saints, Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of
• Latter-day Saints, Church of Jesus Christ of
• Levelers
• Lollardry
• Low Church
• Lutheranism
• Mennonites
• Methodism
• Moral Re-Armament
• Moravian Church
• Mormons (Latter Day Saints)
• National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America
• New Church
• New Jerusalem, Church of the
• New Thought
• nonconformists
• Oxford Group
• Oxford movement
• Peculiar People
• Pentecostalism
• People's Temple
• Pietism
• Plymouth Brethren
• Presbyterianism
• Protestant Episcopal Church
• Protestantism (Religion)
• Puritanism
• Quakers
• quietism

 

[Nehemiah6]

Calvary Chapel actually creates a lot of Reformed believers. Know why? They believe in expository teaching, and consistent expository teaching creates Reformed believers

No. INDOCTRINATION into man-made doctrines creates Reformed Christians.

The only way that anyone buys into Five Point Calvinism is if they have been indoctrinated into it, so that they basically REINTERPRET Scripture to fit with their theology.

And I do not believe your comment about Calvary Chapel is correct either.

 

[Whispered]

No. INDOCTRINATION into man-made doctrines creates Reformed Christians.

The only way that anyone buys into Five Point Calvinism is if they have been indoctrinated into it, so that they basically REINTERPRET Scripture to fit with their theology.

And I do not believe your comment about Calvary Chapel is correct either.

There are many churches called, Calvary Chapel. CC Newnan does commit to expository teaching. Just one example. Their broad brush of CC itself is untenable.

 

[Nehemiah6]

Popular belief is that on 1517-OCT-31, Martin Luther wrote a list of propositions for change in the Roman Catholic Church and nailed it to the door of the Castle church in Wittenberg Germany.

Too many people forget that long before Luther John Wycliffe and others (the Lollards) were already Protestants, and rejected many of the false teachings of Catholicism.