Results 1 - 3 of 3
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | The Forum -- Your Opinion? | Romans | Hank | 30776 | ||
Mike: Indeed in a setting such as this, i.e., a Bible Forum, honest biblical questions should be accorded honest biblical answers. I agree with you without reservation on that. It doesn't always happen that way, as you no doubt have already discovered. If the question has to do with a passage of Scripture that presents no real interpretative challenges, it is easy enough to provide a plain, scriptural answer that will be acceptable to virtually everyone. If the question has to do with topics such as election and free will, faith and works, and the security of the believer (once saved, always saved versus "losing" one's salvation), then what one user may consider a perfectly sound biblical answer may be viewed as gross error by another. You may post what you view as the absolute biblical truth on a certain topic and someone else may, with equal fervor, toss your post aside as nonsense and superimpose his view on yours. So, in theory and ideally, I agree that your point is valid and an excellent target to aim for. With the denominational bias being what it is, there is little likelihood that we shall see eye to eye on all things biblical. --Hank | ||||||
2 | The Forum -- Your Opinion? | Romans | yokefellow | 31656 | ||
Dear Hank, Thank you for your honest and humble response! It's much appreciated and may the Lord bless you! I agree wholeheartly with your statement, "honest biblical questions should be accorded honest biblical answers". This is exactly what I've attempted to do (maybe miserably - yes - but honestly). Your statement concurs with Peter's statement that we as students of the Bible should "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear (reverence)." I have tried to meet this requirement on this forum in all honesty, meekness, and reverence. Our agreement is also mutual concerning the last statement of your post, "With the denominational bias being what it is, there is little likelihood that we shall see eye to eye on all things biblical." Denominational bias is exactly why there are over 1,500 denominations in the world today. As you well know, Hank, there were no "denominations" in the Apostles day. There was just "one body" (Rom. 12:5; Eph. 4:4). That "one body" being the church over which He is its head and savior (Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23). He built His church (Matt. 16:18) and He purchased His church with His own blood (Acts 20:28). The Lord's church was established on the day of Pentecost 33 A.D. (Acts 2) and those that rendered obedience to what was said in Peter's sermon were "added to the church" by the Lord Himself (not man). Now, let me ask you this question: Why can't we as rational thinking men and women get rid of denominational teachings and just go back to the Bible for our spiritual teaching and instruction? What would be so wrong in seeking that method? Do you realize what that would produce? Just Christians (Acts 11:26). Not Baptists, Methodists, 7th Day Adventists, Assembly of God, Jehovah's Witnesses, Catholics, Mormons, Lutherans, etc., etc., but JUST CHRISTIANS! What do you believe the Lord would say to that idea? I believe He would say the same thing He said to His Father in John Chapter 17:20-23. Vs. 20 - "Neither pray I for these alone (the apostles), but for them also which shall believe on me through their (apostles) word; Vs. 21 - That they all may be ONE (emphasis mine); 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." In the above reading, Christ concurs with Paul in 1 Cor. 1:10 when he says (by the Lord's authority), "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." If the religious world could do what Christ and Paul stated, would there be any divisions among us? Would there be multiple teachings of men not authorized in the Bible? Would there be strife, fightings, wranglings over who was "right" or who was "wrong"? I believe we both know the answer to these questions. What is there that prevents this "oneness" from happening? For the love of Christ, His Word and His church, Mike |
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3 | The Forum -- Your Opinion? | Romans | Reformer Joe | 31679 | ||
Mike: As much as the Church of Christ claims to "not be a denomination," it is a group of churches which has a common name, shares a common history/origin, and holds to a common set of teachings. The only thing that the Church of Christ lacks that most (not all) other denominations have is an organizational structure linking the churches together. It is very easy to see from the New Testament that when controversies arose, however, that churches did indeed convene in councils to settle issues of doctrine and practice. You oversimplify the origin of denominations as well. The "why can't we all just get along and agree with the Bible?" mentality sounds really sweet, but our discussion over the last few days illustrates very clearly that people disagree on what is in the Bible. This is not due solely to the influence of "big, bad denominations" because there are plenty of non-denominational churches out there who teach theology that is directly contradictory to that which you have espoused on this forum. And many denominations started for very good reasons, such as those arising from the Protestant Reformation in response to a monolithic church that was elevating tradition above God's holy Word. The Church of Christ movement (the Campbell-Stone "Restorationist movement) itself was a split from other, established churches. You wrote: 'If the religious world could do what Christ and Paul stated, would there be any divisions among us? Would there be multiple teachings of men not authorized in the Bible? Would there be strife, fightings, wranglings over who was "right" or who was "wrong"?' Of course there wouldn't be. However, the testimony of the epistles shows us clearly that from the start of the church (yes, even in the "ideal" first-century church!) there were factions and false teachers and doctrines of demons, just as Jesus, Paul, and Peter all warned us about. Listen, among all true Christians that hold to the whole counsel of God there is a great deal of unity. I hold very different views from several members of this forum, and I think that they are as wrong as they think I am. However, we are lock-step in our common affirmation of the essentials of the gospel, and differences on the non-essentials (i.e. not directly related to our salvation) and preferences of worship style may cause us to congregate separately, but I do consider myself united with them for the cause of Christ. --Joe! |
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