Subject: need for a bible-anyone |
Bible Note: This is as good a place to jump in as any. I applaud your efforts Raven in trying to make your points. Good job. I would like to address points made throughout this dialogue. 1. Denominationalism defined: "Please note that our motives are pure. We have no desire to become isolationists or exclude ourselves from everyone else. We like people. But we cannot defend or embrace the denominational world, because first of all it is based upon an unbiblical philosophy: One writer notes 'a denomination is by definition a part of the whole, hence a party among parties. The theory of denominationalism is that one may be a Christian and a member of the universal and "invisible" church, but by choice may be also a member of a particular segment of "Christianity". That segment will have certain features which distinguishes it from other "Christian" segments. These distinguishing features are what denominate that segment, making it a denomination.' (Pharr p. 8) " Source:www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net/Not_Denomination_1.html 2. Question was basically something like this: Where was the church from the 1st century to the 19th century? "Some have recently tried to argue that the churches of Christ have only existed for approximately three hundred years, and that they are simply an American denomination. Yet someone noted that if the game of baseball were wiped off the face of the earth, and someone discovered the rule book a thousand years from now and restored the game of baseball, would it be a new game? No, people would proclaim, “This game is over a thousand years old” (Spiritual Sword p. 2). The fact of the matter is that churches of Christ are spoken of as being in existence in the first century (Romans 16:16). In addition, all the practices that are associated with the church of Christ (see the identifying marks above) are not practices or doctrines that are 300 years old, rather they are all found in the New Testament! Thus the challenge to someone who makes the above claim would be, “Which doctrine or practice in the churches of Christ is only three hundred years old?” Finally, the church of Christ may be 300 years old in America from the fact that the country itself is only that old! To argue that the church of Christ is only three hundred years old is about as silly as arguing that the marriage relationship based on the Scriptures is only three hundred years old." Source:www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net/The_church_of_Christ.htm Now perhaps someone will be all up in arms about quoting someone else, but why must I reinvent the wheel. I believe these thoughts precisely echo my thougts and I could not have worded it any better. Thank you for your patience in getting this far. Mouse2 |