Subject: The Forum -- Your Opinion? |
Bible Note: 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 |