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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Why is the Christian Church so divided? | Bible general Archive 4 | krowland | 217260 | ||
I COR 11:17-19 "But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized." I wonder if these factions are serious enough to cause the church to not look united in God's eyes, as Paul did recognize that church divisions did exist. And did they split off and build new buildings? |
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2 | Why is the Christian Church so divided? | Bible general Archive 4 | DocTrinsograce | 217262 | ||
Hi, Krowland... Welcome to the forum! It depends on what you are talking about when you use the term church. Remember that Paul was speaking to a specific congregation, at a particular moment in history. If we were going to generalize more broadly, we would need to do so on the basis of the principles we derive from this particular instance, plus all that Scripture has to say about unity in local congregations. Also, remember that there is the institutions and organizations that we can see visibly that we refer to as churches. We see that in this example -- the church in Corinth -- as well as the church we regularly attend. However, there is another sense in which the church is something much larger and unseen by our physical eyes. Remember how the Apostles Creed states, "One holy catholic church?" This speaks to a unity, sanctity, and universality of the called-out ones. This is the Temple made without hands, built upon the teaching of the apostles and the prophets, of which Christ is the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20-22), of which all individual believers are living stones (1 Peter 2:3-10). Consequently, how God perceives each of these -- though we call them both churches -- will be quite different. The former cover a wide range of purity, while the latter is perfect and complete. In Him, Doc |
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3 | Why is the Christian Church so divided? | Bible general Archive 4 | krowland | 217263 | ||
My post was more to the point of the original question. Why are Christian churches so divided? I am pointing out that even in the early days of the church, people could not agree on practices. People would corrupt the institution that Christ created. Paul was already quick to point out this division among the members of the local church. Did he tell them to split off and agree to disagree? No. He corrected them, insisting they work on the problem and I assume continue as one body. I do have to study the co-existence of what I perceive as a city-wide church (The church at Corinth) with what seems to be small house churches. How did they co-exist, what structure did they impose on themselves, were they ONE in Spirit, Congregation, or Denomination? Did local house churches have their different practices, yet be part of the greater Corinth church. Did they come together as a "geographically located group" or a "different practices (schism) group". I wish to study the appropriate divisions based on logistics, geographical concerns versus doctrinal divisions. I think I see Paul addressing doctrinal issues, whereas it is also clear there are geographically separated congregations. The original questioner I believe is concerned, like I am, as to why and how does God approve the numerous church differences. How can a Christian spread the word of God and then have to explain why his version of Christ is the right one. Keith |
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4 | Why is the Christian Church so divided? | Bible general Archive 4 | DocTrinsograce | 217265 | ||
Hi, Keith... You said that very well. Remember that these churches represent Christendom in its infancy. They certainly were messed up! Even in that specific historic context, Paul asserts that divisions -- where we get our modern word heresies -- must occur so that God's work becomes differentiated from other things (1 Corinthians 11:19). This is partly how our Lord is glorified. As I said before, any individual church is somewhere along the orthodoxy/orthopraxy spectrum. It is a blessing that we, as individuals, have a choice, so that we may choose a congregation in accordance with our convictions. Can you imagine what it would be like to live somewhere that only had a single place to worship, take it or leave it? Oh my! Can you imagine what kind of disunity would exist in such a single city-wide (state-wide?) church? Furthermore, a diverse set of churches -- none of the perfect or pure, of course -- allows us to walk out our Christian liberty per Romans 15 and elsewhere. Consequently, I am persuaded that God has blessed this nation with a diversity of churches. It was not that long ago that empire-wide, nation-wide, and city-wide churches were deemed essential. The notion that a city might contain several churches, is uniquely American. The unity in those congregations -- and even between them -- is thereby increased. Therefore, "Does God approve?" Think about it. Finally, I would suggest that there is less division among Christian churches than people imply. Our fundamental doctrines are very heavily the same. There are differences in particulars, but those particulars do not necessarily cause us to break fellowship. I am a credobaptist -- by study, forethought, and reason. That does not separate me from my paedobaptist brothers. We choose to congregate separately, but we work together in the community to spread the gospel. We each deem the other in error in the question of who is the appropriate party baptized, but we wholly agree that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Keith, you might want to read through church history -- even on a general level. You will find many brethren through the centuries, although you won't see eye-to-eye with them on every point. Many of them have done this very study that you are suggesting. You might benefit from their perspectives. In Him, Doc |
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5 | Why is the Christian Church so divided? | Bible general Archive 4 | Beja | 217266 | ||
Good thoughts Doc, sadly I find that the churches in my particular area of my particular denomination are every bit as hostile towards other denominations as could possibly be feared. It would seem that the pastors whom I am following in the foot steps of saw fit to do everything they could to demonize anybody and everybody who didn't agree to our particular fine points of doctrine. Many of the churches I am working among would see all other denominations as nothing more than cults! And ofcourse that leaves me defending "cults" in their mind. You can even catch flak for reading books written by those outside our denomination (which I do abundantly.) Pray for me! Anyways, sadly my point is that in some areas the churches are just as hostile towards each other as a person might dare to suggest, despite the overwhelming common ground we share. In Christ, Beja |
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6 | Why is the Christian Church so divided? | Bible general Archive 4 | DocTrinsograce | 217268 | ||
Hi, Beja... Perhaps the problem is in those particular churches. The old divines once said, put it this way -- sorry for not cleaning up the format, but I am off to bed in a few minutes! :-) The purest churches under heaven are subject to mixture and error;[4] and some have so degenerated as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan;[5]nevertheless Christ always hath had, and ever shall have a kingdom in this world, to the end thereof, of such as believe in Him, and make profession of His name.[6] 4. I Cor. 5:1-13; Rev. 2:1-29; 3:1-22 5. Rev. 18:2; II Thess. 2:11-12 6. Matt. 16:18; Psa. 72:17; 102:28; Rev. 12:17 --1689 London Baptist Confession Faith, chapter 26, paragraph 3. When the ministers of such churches are not men changed by the gospel, we should not expect their congregants to fair any better. At any rate, we pray for you, your family, and your flock. In Him, Doc |
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