Has The differences between the "denominations" hurt the GOS

[nebula]

OK, that makes sense!

[spiritman]

Has even the differences among and within the denominations hurt not only the Gospel but the fellowship of the Saints? I am looking for some honest opinions on this matter as it affects not only the Church in the world's eyes but the Great Commission I believe as well. I do not personally care if they come to our church to hear the GOSPEL just as long as they go somewhere. But we care more about numbers it seems more than we care about souls.

The Bible says in 1 John that "if we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship one with another"

I personally believe that denomination spit thing has hurt the church. In a lot of ways we are a church divided.

[nebula]

Problem is - the splits were necessary, considering the condition of the Church way back when.

[lekh l'kha]

Freedom of Association, "birds of a feather flock together", call it what you want, we all prefer to fellowship in a church where what is taught from the pulpit is pretty much the same as what we believe. I've left a Charismatic church and gone to a baptist church for that reason, and then I've left that particular Baptist church because it taught replacement theology.

What we see as different denominations is actually an illusion - because the Holy Spirit is not a humpty-dumpty Who needs to be patched up - He's living and active in every part of the body we call a "denomination". We may disagree on many of the finer points of interpretation of the Word and our doctrines may diverge from one another with regards to many things, but there is still only ONE Holy Spirit who moves in all.

[lekh l'kha]

Has even the differences among and within the denominations hurt not only the Gospel but the fellowship of the Saints? I am looking for some honest opinions on this matter as it affects not only the Church in the world's eyes but the Great Commission I believe as well. I do not personally care if they come to our church to hear the GOSPEL just as long as they go somewhere. But we care more about numbers it seems more than we care about souls.

The Bible says in 1 John that "if we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship one with another"

The power behind the gospel is by the Holy Spirit and not by man "Not by might nor by power but by My Spirit" says the LORD of hosts.

No, human fallibility cannot hurt the gospel - otherwise people won't be being saved today - and yet people are still being saved today - even in Islamic states. There are people who use "all the denominations and squabbling" as an excuse not to accept Christ, but there are others who are saved regardless.

[Guest yod]

I personally believe that denomination spit thing has hurt the church. In a lot of ways we are a church divided.

as long as the split is over truth vs less-than-truth, then it is a good thing.

Rav Shaul (Rabbi Paul) said once that he was glad about a division because it gave people a chance to see which meshikim (believers) were approved.

[Openly Curious]

'HISmanD' date='Nov 24 2009,

Has even the differences among and within the denominations hurt not only the Gospel but the fellowship of the Saints?

I do not think that the differences in the Church has hurt the gospel from going out as there will always be different opinions and always will be---" unless" it is a cult or the itching ear church. Apostle Paul had to deal with differences in his time by men who hurt him and Paul dealt with these by handing them over to Satan.

1 Timothy 1:20--Of whom is Hymenaeous and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not not to blaspheme.

Apostle Paul again in 2 Timothy 2:17--And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philitus; Again in 2 Timothy 4:14--Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil; the Lord reward him, according to his works:

1 Corinthians 5:5--To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Then I'll give one more in Acts 13:45--But when the Jews saw the mulitude, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

Hymenaeous went behind Paul contradicting the things he said as he was speaking of the resurrection and Hymenaeous was saying, they was no resurrection and they hurt his ministry and lead astray many as a result. Alexander did Paul harm in Ephesus when a riot took place and the Jews got Alexander who was a Jew himself and put him forth to speak. And Acts 19:33-34 says, that Alexander was pounding with his hand to give his defense and before he could do that the people found out he was a Jew. Upon that truth of Alexander being a Jew all of them joined together and cried out for two hours that's a long time but they cried, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians"

Every thing the apostle Paul had done there as people were turning away from the worship of Diana unto the gospel of Christ as people were getting saved, healed delivered even the books that were dealing with Diana they took them out of their houses and burned them all. This all happened because people in town were worried they would loose money they made with their crafts which they was making silver shrines for Diana and selling them for their income 19:23

These differences go on inside the church and need to be dealt with as trouble makers come only to destroy the church no matter what they call themselves as Paul dealt with those who hindered the gospel by handing them over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. But their is no discipline in the Church and this affects the "within"

it affects not only the Church in the world's eyes but the Great Commission I believe as well.

I don't think the Churches understand the concepts when dealing with the "great commission" spreading the gospel in general. Meaning those who are called and chosen follow their vocation. The only failure that can come and hurt the great commission is those who are called and chosen don't fulfill the calling of God on their lives if it stops it will be no one that will "go"

I do not personally care if they come to our church to hear the GOSPEL just as long as they go somewhere.

There is kinda a truth in this but a problem at the sametime. I do think churches should have an open mind and a open heart to sinners in order that they can hear the gospel preached as it is the hearing of the gospel that brings faith that allows one to respond to the gospel and be saved. One has to be very careful when sinners come into our midst as they can be entangled in so many different sins that the Lord does not approve of them. So if the sinner is in any sexual sins of any kind he should not be permitted to stay in their midst for the safety of others. These things ought to be weighed and discipline action should be taken.

we care more about numbers it seems more than we care about souls.

There is really nothing bad about desiring big numbers but unfortunatly minds go a drift when there focus isn't larger than that and mostly the leadership is causing this problem I mean what sinner wouldn't like going to a church like that they don't have to change just remain the same. But it' only the preaching of the gospel for it is the power unto the saving of souls. No discipline at the top no discipline at the bottom.

The Bible says in 1 John that "if we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship one with another"

Ephesians 5; 4:13-14 There will always be different doctrines and beliefs in any church and will continue to be. It is not the difference of the many thousands of doctrine out there that causes us to be out of unity fellowship one to another. Ephesians 4:13-14--"Till we all come in the unity of the faith" and of "the knowledge of the Son of God," unto a perfect man (mature) unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. vs 14) That we henceforth be no more children (but mature) "tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine" by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in weight to deceive

This is most of the problem right here as so many have been decieved into thinking that the unity of the church lies within the doctrines they share with one another but the word says different. It says, we got to stop being tossed around from here to there from one belief to another belief and this does not have anything to do with unity. All of the doctrine that is meant to keep you in a state of confusion as they are from the sleight of men and cunning craftiness as they lie in weight to deceive you by doctrine they create As I said, before our unity is in our faith and we should no more be tossed back and forth with different doctrines as there will always be different doctrines but there is "ONLY ONE FAITH"

OC

[Romans8 38 39]

HISmanD

Something I have noticed about the differences in Churches is not only the distortions of doctrines of men tainting the pure Word of God but also cultural differences and "trend/era" differences. But does the latter hurt the Gospel message?

Has even the differences among and within the denominations hurt not only the Gospel but the fellowship of the Saints? I am looking for some honest opinions on this matter as it affects not only the Church in the world's eyes but the Great Commission I believe as well. I do not personally care if they come to our church to hear the GOSPEL just as long as they go somewhere. But we care more about numbers it seems more than we care about souls.

The Bible says in 1 John that "if we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship one with another"

Well the connecting thread is Jesus isn't it - get 2 Christian folk from completely different ethnic backgrounds and they can find common ground in Jesus. Often times not a word need be spoken to recognise another true Believer - (By your fruit they shall know you.)

Regardless of cultural and generational differences - if ones foundation has been built on the absolute authority of God's Word, then slight variances of worship etc shouldn't hurt the Gospel.

My opinion of course!

HIS girl,

I totally get what you're sayin and agree, but I think the question was "Has the differences between the denominations hurt the GOSPEL?" Of course any 2 true BELIEVERS will find common ground in Jesus, but I think the question is more pointed towards SPREADING the Gospel to the UNSAVED.

And yes, I firmly believe that the differences between denominations has and still is hurting the Gospel. To say the least, I think it creates confusion in those who haven't been enlightned by the Holy Spirit.

Has anyone ever heard these words..."if THAT is what Christianity is about, I want no part of it!" Ring a bell, hmm?

[Guest shiloh357]

Given the number of missionaries there are in the world spreading the gospel, and number of Bibles that have been translated into hundreds of languages, it would not seem that denominations have really been all that detrimental to the gospel.

Deoniminations are not equivlant to division.

[Guest HIS girl]

'Romans8 38 39'

HIS girl,

I totally get what you're sayin and agree, but I think the question was "Has the differences between the denominations hurt the GOSPEL?"

Honestly? I don't think so.

There are "like minded" Believers out there (from varying denominations) who are grounded in the Truth.

Strip away all the added extras and you are left with those who are genuinely Spirit filled/led in the "collective Body" of Christ.

I think also that if more Christians would realise how much of a witness to the Bible an individual can make, rather than thinking/relying ONLY in terms of "I am more of a Christian (attitude/actions etc) when I am at Church", then maybe the secular crowd wouldn't look with scorn at some denominations and such. As we know - in many cases, one Christian individual can turn a person off the whole notion of "Church" - not necessarily a "denomination". We really need to be accountable for our deeds/words according to our faith in a seroius way.