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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Churchianity to be answered: | NT general Archive 1 | charis | 8241 | ||
Dear Joe! I take from the above post that you believe the denominational system is the safeguard mechanism to protect us from 'rouge pastors.' That organization is the balancing factor to keep us from the vagaries of unorthodoxy. I take issue that 'assembly' means extra-church organization. "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst." Matthew 18:20 NASB. 'gathered together' is the same as 'assemble.' It is enough to be considered holy fellowship. 'The more the merrier' is true in a human sense. The more gathered, the potential for straying from the Spirit is multiplied. (Even though a moderation factor exists, so also a dilution factor is evident.) For instance, could this Scripture be extrapolated to say, "For where two or three thousand have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst." I would say NOT! After a certain point (depending on the shepherd), A human organization dilutes the moving of the Spirit. Though some may grouse, I quote from a hymn, "My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand." Joe, some human orgaization may lend stability, but man tends to depend on it like a drug. You may be immune to this dependency, but most are not. Rather than 'living stones' in the structure of the church, they become dead bricks, mortared together by man's authority rather than the bonding of the Spirit of God. Blessings in Jesus' name, charis |
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2 | Churchianity to be answered: | NT general Archive 1 | Reformer Joe | 8243 | ||
Actually, I attend a non-denominational church, but I myself am not anti-denominational. I think most true followers of Christ in denominations would not say, "Upon the (insert denom here) I stand." My point was that the church was established by Christ, and that the visible church does operate best when it is organized. And it indeed does keep out heresy when operating correctly. Imagine where we would be if in the first five centuries of Christianity we did not have councils which recognized Gentile believers, fixed the canon of Scripture, codified the Trinity, recognized original sin as a doctrine of the Bible and recognized the need for God's grace, etc. etc. All were done by organized groups of believers to resist Gnosticism, Pelagianism, Arianism, etc. Also, the Reformers acted as an organized group as well, giving us back our Bible and reacquinting the world with justification theough faith alone in Christ alone. God indeed works theough organized groups of believers to keep the faith pure. "Every man for himself" leads to chaos. Just check the last verse of Judges. --Joe! |
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3 | Churchianity to be answered: | NT general Archive 1 | charis | 8244 | ||
Dear Joe, 'Alternate History' is not my thing, but I still believe that the church would be better off without the 'super-organized' religion we now have. In many ways, Jesus has been 'organized out' of Christianity. Some organization (order) is called for in the Bible, I grant. But any 'name before Christ' is not His will. That is the definition of denomination. A 'descriptor' that modifies the Proper Noun of Jesus Christ. Joe, (and Forum), I am not anti-organization, but I am against a non-Biblical organization beyond the local church. I cannot get from "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." Judges 21:25 NASB, that we need a present-day 'king' (pontiff, bishop) of a supra-church organization to keep us in line. The Spirit of God is well able to do the same thing. (If we allow Him) In Jesus' name, charis |
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