Subject: need for a bible-anyone |
Bible Note: Mouse 2: Thanks for junping in. Let me address your two responses: 1. You quoted that '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".' So the Church of Christ's solution to not being identified as a "part" of Christianity is suggesting that they encompass the whole of Christianity. You still habe the same "invisible/visible church" issue within the Churches of Christ, however. You are not a member of a Church of Christ congregation in the city where I live, but rather in a Church of Christ congregation where you live. If the Church of Christ where I live is the true church, how can it also be where you live? See the problem? In one form or another, you have to accept the idea that the Church spoken of in Scripture transcends a single physical space. You just exclude ones with names like "Baptist" or "Presbyterian" or even "other" non-denominational churches (I use quotes since the Church of Christ is indeed a denomination, being a "part" of the visible church) from the mix. Sorry, but simply saying that you are not a denomination does not make you any less of one. That or a false church... Regarding your second response, you quoted: "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?" Interesting that you compare the church of the Lord Jesus to a game that consists entirely of rules, as if that is all the church is. Does this quote mean that you do indeed believe the church disappeared off the face of the earth between the first century and it's "restoration" by the likes of Stone and Campbell? Please answer directly. We can take it. And if so, can you point out exactly when it vanished without a trace? --Joe! |