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[Poll]
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What is your opinion about denominations?
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| They are of the devil! |
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| They are divisive. |
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| They are helpful for knowing a church's doctrine. |
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| They are a necessary evil. |
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| There's nothing wrong with them. |
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| They are all cults (excpt mine, of course). |
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| Denominations are a part of God's plan. |
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| Other |
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Total Votes : 65
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(last vote on : 5/13/2008 10:29:46 AM)
(Poll will run till: -- )
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What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/6/2008 8:36:39 PM
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Consecrated2God
Posts: 4768
Joined: 4/4/2005
From: Jesus Land
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Do you think that having different denominations in the body of Christ is a good thing or not?
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Give me ambiguity or give me something else.
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RE: What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/7/2008 8:22:58 AM
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earthless
Posts: 4044
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From: where thawing pigeons reside...
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Just like a large family has each household do things in a different way.... so are Christian churches. Nothing wrong with them as long as they all adhere to the core essentials of Christianity.
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RE: What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/7/2008 8:42:05 AM
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heavensmailman
Posts: 97
Joined: 2/23/2008
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Not a good thing!
There is but one God and Father of all.
There is but one Lord, who taught all of us our Father's word.
Jesus spoke one truth, started one church, which he leads.
Jesus did not say, pick and choose from what the Father has told me to say, what you want to believe.
Is there even one who is following all of Jesus's commands and all of God our Father's word?
Satan used God our Father's word to temp Adam and Eve, he tried to use our Father's word when he tried to temp Jesus.
Adam and Eve did not believe God's word, they believed Satan.
Jesus gave us, all of God our Father's word that we need.
Jesus gave up his life, and we are saved, if we believe every word he gave us from his Father and our Father.
Since there is but one God, with one truth, and there is but one Lord, who gave us this one truth, there should be but one church.
Who is believeing all of God our Father's word, and following Christ Jesus?
Pick and choose what, and who you believe!
Peace
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RE: What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/7/2008 8:51:00 AM
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earthless
Posts: 4044
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From: where thawing pigeons reside...
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heavensmailman,
So what church do you go to?
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Probing Today's Religious Movements | Promoting Doctrinal Discernment & Critical Thinking | Providing Reasons for Christian Faith & Ethics
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RE: What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/7/2008 10:37:58 PM
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heavensmailman
Posts: 97
Joined: 2/23/2008
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quote:
ORIGINAL: earthless
heavensmailman,
So what church do you go to?
My body has and does attend different churches of different denominations, hoping to find one that is following the word of God.
My spirit has not found one, that does not follow some kind of man made rules.
God will hold me accountable for what I believe, not what I was told to believe by others.
If I hold on to him, and his word, that is all I need.
It would be nice to be with others who are following his word only.
Peace
P.S. If you know of any, please let me know. Thank You!
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RE: What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/7/2008 11:27:41 PM
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MusicianDad
Posts: 77
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I believe the principle that Paul sets forth when he talks about not being of this guy or that guy applies to denominationalism. I'm free to worship and fellowship with denominationalists, I just don't join in the extra-biblical stuff.
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RE: What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/8/2008 2:07:25 AM
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FurGodWurLivin
Posts: 987
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Kansas City, MO
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I cannot say that I like or even agree with denominationalism. While this particular "ism" can be traced to to Reformation, it does not start there. As MusicianDad has already mentioned, Paul set forth in 1 Corinthians that all are "of Christ". So here then becomes the question... were you baptised in the name of the baptist church? Were you baptised in the name of the Non-Denominational church? Of course not. The problem with denominationalism is that it lends itself to holding your pitiable docrtines with a closed fist rather than an open heart. We should be able to disagree without a parting of ways. As the various discussions between earthless and myself in other threads have proven, that is rarely possible. I highly doubt feeling welcome, accepted, or a part of that church... simple enough.
If you try hard enough, every single disagreement can be made a heresy. "You aren't changing your mind even though I used BIBLE VERSES to prove my point... you don't believe the Bible is true, that's heresy, away you evil doer!" The problem is that much of our understanding of the Bible is highly subjective because of the multitude of ways in which we read what is in front of our face. One reads the Bible with the mindset of a 21st century Christian, another reads it with the Greek Rationalistic mindset, and yet another is attempting to read it with a 21st century Christian's understanding of the Ancient Jewish mindset. This is how five people can read the exact same chapter and come up with 5 different opinions on what it means. Unfortunately, denominationalism has become so ingrained in the Western Church itself that it will literally take a divine intervention to cause it to go away.
Adam
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RE: What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/8/2008 8:33:31 AM
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Consecrated2God
Posts: 4768
Joined: 4/4/2005
From: Jesus Land
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I think denominations can be very useful and have quite a few benefits. If I move to a new town and I'm looking for a church to attend, I'm going to be able to narrow down my search much faster because I know the basic doctrines of the different denominations. I don't have to attend each one and listen to the preaching for six months before I know if there's something major that I disagree with. There are also a lot of advantages in the administration of the churches when they are connected to a larger group than just themselves. In our denomination, they help each other out. If you are a church planter in our denomination, they have a fund that other churches contribute to, and they will give the church planter enough money to get their church going and pay their expenses for the first several months until they become viable.
I don't think denominations are a cause of division in the church, but rather a symptom. If we all erased the denominational names off our church signs, it wouldn't change the fact that there are a lot of different beliefs in our churches. It would be nice if we all agreed on everything, but we don't. I don't know there's much we can do about that. I mean, I wish God would knock everyone else on the head and make them believe like we do, but that's up to him.  (Just kidding!)
We are divided in the body of Christ when it comes to various doctrines, but that doesn't mean we can't come together with other denominations and work together. There's always going to be that degree of separation, but if we all worship the same God than we should be able to overlook our differences and build the Kingdom of God together.
Denominations are not bad, so long as they aren't our focus. If our focus is on growing MY church or MY demonation, our focus is in the wrong place. We need to be focusing on growing the GOD's church.
I really appreciate the attitude of the churches around here. They all work together closely and hold community events together. They are interested in touching the community for Christ. We have Baptists working together with Pentecostals in our community! In fact, our Pentecostal Church is going to be helping the Baptist Church with VBS this summer instead of holding our own. What if they end up gaining new converts and we don't? It's not a competition. We're on the same team. Denominations do not have to be a barrier if we can just remember that.
_____________________________
Give me ambiguity or give me something else.
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RE: What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/8/2008 10:06:26 AM
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greatdivide46
Posts: 969
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From: Opp, Alabama
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I voted "they are divisive." When we join the body of Christ, we are joining one body, not a plethora of denominations. I do believe, though, that the body of Christ crosses denominational lines. But it would be so much better of the body of Christ could all worship in a single church. That's why denominations are divisive. The keep the body of Christ from uniting.
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greatdivide46
For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God: and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? -- 1 Peter 4:17
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RE: What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/8/2008 10:28:12 AM
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blue1914
Posts: 238
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I'd love to join the "God is Love" denomination since that's what He tells us He is in His Word.
I just can't seem to find it.
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RE: What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/8/2008 10:44:04 AM
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rcjames
Posts: 4623
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From: Oklahoma
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Denominations are like pizza joints; some are good, some are really good, and some use frozen ingredients.
Thanks
RC
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RE: What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/8/2008 10:58:08 AM
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bluestone
Posts: 959
Joined: 2/25/2008
From: United States of America
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Good and Bad.
When a preacher is forced by a denomination to center most of his sermons around a particular doctrinal stand, or pet subject matter, it is wrong. When tithes go to keep up wealthy officials in mansions, it is wrong. When most money goes for adminstrative costs, or churches have to pay a huge chunk of their resources to the denomination, instead of to outreach, it is wrong.
I have friends at one church in my town that could not get a leaky roof fixed, as their denominational budgets were due! They could not afford both. They dare not miss the budget payments, as they would be in hot water, and not have priviledges budget paying churches have.
The good thing is knowing ahead of time what position they take doctrinally, and the massive influence denominations have on securing funds for foreign mission work.
Also, with denominations you have recourses if you have pastor problems. His liscense to preach can be jerked if he is involved in sinful living. In independant churches, these guys can go on forever without having authority discipline them.
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RE: What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/8/2008 11:08:28 AM
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groovymovieman
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BAD, BAD, BAD!
Once again it's "Let's ignore the Bible and do what is right in our own eyes and we'll find ways to justify it." Paul made it pretty clear that "being of this group or that group" is not of God.
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To a pharisee, "Truth is more important than love."
To the spiritually healthy, "Love is the most important part of truth."
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RE: What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/8/2008 2:42:21 PM
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BlackCapnHarlock
Posts: 382
Joined: 8/20/2005
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I think Denominations could be the worst and possibly the best things to happen to Christians.
1. They create division and issues and conflict and all the negative things we have discussed on this website.
2. They allow DIVERSITY in worship and views and culture.
I was we had one deonmination, one lived in the one true DOCTRINE of JESUS THE CHRIST, the problem is no one can completely agree what the true doctrine really is.
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Ezekiel 16:6 Eze 16:6 And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.
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RE: What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/8/2008 2:45:24 PM
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BlackCapnHarlock
Posts: 382
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I've had the pleasure of belonging to the following denominations
Black Southern Bapstist
Independent Charismatic
Pentacostal (went to church never joined)
Northern White Baptist
Independent Full Gospel Churches
Currently Evangelical Covenant.
ECC so far has been my favorite, it isn't as rigid as the rest.
_____________________________
Ezekiel 16:6 Eze 16:6 And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.
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RE: What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/8/2008 2:46:51 PM
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BlackCapnHarlock
Posts: 382
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quote:
ORIGINAL: groovymovieman
BAD, BAD, BAD!
Once again it's "Let's ignore the Bible and do what is right in our own eyes and we'll find ways to justify it." Paul made it pretty clear that "being of this group or that group" is not of God.
I think he would be mad as fire if he saw the state of Today's CHRISTIANITY.
_____________________________
Ezekiel 16:6 Eze 16:6 And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.
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RE: What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/8/2008 2:49:46 PM
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designed
Posts: 224
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Well I was thinking about the hypothetical situation that would come about if there weren't any denominations. If every church in the country was just called "the church of God". It could possibly raise a considerable amount of various issues. One being, the assumption by many that each "church of God" was an actual part of the body of Christ when most of us know that this just would not be the case. I personally do not like to label myself with any particular denomination. The church I attend has ascribed itself to two labels and is IMO, Christ centered/focused, doctrinally sound and in line with how I view the church should gather and function. But suppose the spiritual (I refuse to call them a church) organization of Unitarians were a part of that universal label of "the church of God". Maybe causing more blind losts souls leading the blind? I don't know. I guess I see pros and cons to having denominations. My hope is jsut that we each (denominations) in time learn to remove the labels from our identities, adhere to Spirit led biblical doctrine and focus more on being identified in the unity of the body of Christ.
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Jeremiah 31:35
Who gives the sun for light by day
And the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night,
Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar;
The LORD of hosts is His name:
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RE: What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/8/2008 3:54:48 PM
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bluestone
Posts: 959
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excellent point, Designed!
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RE: What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/8/2008 5:00:00 PM
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greatdivide46
Posts: 969
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: Opp, Alabama
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Kat_D
I cannot give an informed answer because I've never gone to a denominational church. However, there are some here who believe I do go to one. I think I'd be one of the first to know if it were true!
I also attend an independent church that is not part of a denomination. But, like you, there are those here who insist that I belong to a denomination. Like you said, I think I'd be the first to know, if that were true. 
I have however, been a member of denominational churches in my past: Episcopal, Southern Baptist, and Presbyterian (USA) to be specific.
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greatdivide46
For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God: and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? -- 1 Peter 4:17
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RE: What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/8/2008 5:01:45 PM
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Consecrated2God
Posts: 4768
Joined: 4/4/2005
From: Jesus Land
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quote:
Also, with denominations you have recourses if you have pastor problems. His liscense to preach can be jerked if he is involved in sinful living. In independant churches, these guys can go on forever without having authority discipline them.
That is a very good point. It has happened before that churches have ordained someone and then afterwards the church dissolved, and because they were independent, there was no one who could take the pastor's credentials away and he went off and started a church teaching heresy.
I had another thought earlier, too--I'm glad we live in a country where denominations are possible. I'm glad that we don't have a State Religion and that we aren't forced to be all a part of the same church. Could you imagine living under a system like that? Just because something has the appearance of unity because all are under the same name does not mean that there is true unity.
_____________________________
Give me ambiguity or give me something else.
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RE: What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/8/2008 10:14:13 PM
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MusicianDad
Posts: 77
Joined: 3/29/2008
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I do agree that they can be extremely expedient. I just don't believe I have license to go there. BTW, one of my all time heroes of the universe, R.C. Sproul, belongs to a denomination.
On the "I know, you know, that I think I'm not in a denomination" thing: if it waddles, quacks and swims like a duck...
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RE: What is your opinion about denominations? - 4/9/2008 8:43:16 AM
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bluestone
Posts: 959
Joined: 2/25/2008
From: United States of America
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I have also found that nondenominational churches are more prone to wonder off into doctrinal error, heresy, and pastor worship.
On the other hand, denominations have a tendency to become business enterprises.
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