Denominational Division

[nebula]

Well, when I was in Middle school, a Baptist friend of mine from elementary school (we got sent to different Middle schools ) invited me to go with her on her church's youth group retreat. My Middle school years were the darkest of my life - I had no solid Christian friends at school nor my neighborhood . . . nhot even my own church. I was lonely to pieces.

I have to tell you that the retreat was one of the most refreshing experiences I had! I actually got to interract with people around my age who loved the Lord! When I gave a testimony of my time that weekend at the church's Sunday night meeting after we got back, I was practicaly in tears as I told the congregation I thanked God for that youth group.

They were Baptists . . . and I had received the baptism in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues for several years before this time. Yet I had an awesome time of fellowship with people different from me!

So, yes, we can agree and fellowship if we make the effort to.

P.S. The funny thing about this debate for us who do speak in tongues is that . . . well, how can we believe the gift has been taken away from the Church when we practice it? And no, what comes out of my mouth is not babble. I know what I sound like when I try make up a language or language sound, and it flops. I can't even mimic an accent! yet, I can tell what comes out of my mouth when I do this has the rythm, form and sound of another language. A couple people even said what they heard sounded Oriental in nature.

So, if the gift is not for the receiving, how can I do this?

[Iryssa]

*wonders whether anyone actually read her post on the last page*

[Triple Crown]

"Imperfect people trying to translate perfect words"

I was shocked the first time I heard someone say this to me in a debate about doctrine. Though insulted at first, it began to sink in and really got me thinking. Eventually bringing about a change for me the more I prayed on it. I am saddened by denominational debate and division as it always brings about a

"We're better than they are", "I'm closer to God than you are", "We understand the Bible better than they do", "you're going to Hell I'm not" mentality. It is modern man who created denominational differences and Satan who continues to stress the importance of them.

Jesus, nor the apostles preached denomination anywhere in the Scriptures to my recollection?

Our own egos and the need to have God defined "our way" perpetuates these divisions.

We all think we're right, we all have our theories... God speaks "personally" to us all. etc, etc, blah blah blah.

But honestly, if Jesus Only Charasmatics claim God "speaks" to them, and Protestants claim God "speaks" to them, and Catholics claim God "speaks" to them, is one of them lying necessarily? How would we know who? Hmmmmmmmm.

Do you think honestly when Jesus comes out of the clouds He's going to say "OK, you Protestants....stay right where you are, you're not going anywhere !!! I think not.

I don't think he'll care who's pew or living room you worshipped in as long as you "Loved the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind"

"imperfect people trying to translate perfect words"

A beautiful, humbling statement everyone should consider once in a while.

For the record I believe the Bible is the infallible Word of the living God, delivered through the prophets (of whom John the Baptist was last), there is one salvation for our souls, the blood of Jesus Christ, and that enlightenment is through the indwelling Holy Spirit (not man).

Modern man has opinions and views on the Scriptures, not infallible opinions and views,

he did not write them............remember that.

This was not posted to be confrontational but just so another "point of view" might be considered that was not so "inclusive".

Peace to you all

in His service

TC

[nebula]

*wonders whether anyone actually read her post on the last page*

Yes, I did . . . the top part of my last post was in reference to that . . .

nebula

[kittylover0991]

This, I think, is the attitude we should have regarding various denominations:

"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man

[Triple Crown]

1 John 4:1

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world

Paul warned us against the deception which comes through demonic influence (1 Timothy 4:1).

John also cautioned us to test the spirits and to distinguish the spirit of truth from the spirit of error (1 John 4:1-6).

"Satan's demonic forces are at work attempting to pollute your mind with lies in order to keep you from walking in the truth. There are the voices of evil and deceiving spirits, who lie in wait to entrap every traveler entering these higher regions of spiritual life. . . . These spiritual enemies, whoever or whatever they may be, must necessarily communicate with us by means of our spiritual faculties (speaking in tongues), Due to the deceptive nature of his impressions, Satan's voice may not always be detected objectively. "

God Bless

TC

Edited February 28, 2006 by Triple Crown

[Joe@actsii]

1 John 4:1

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world

Paul warned us against the deception which comes through demonic influence (1 Timothy 4:1).

John also cautioned us to test the spirits and to distinguish the spirit of truth from the spirit of error (1 John 4:1-6).

"Satan's demonic forces are at work attempting to pollute your mind with lies in order to keep you from walking in the truth. There are the voices of evil and deceiving spirits, who lie in wait to entrap every traveler entering these higher regions of spiritual life. . . . These spiritual enemies, whoever or whatever they may be, must necessarily communicate with us by means of our spiritual faculties (speaking in tongues), Due to the deceptive nature of his impressions, Satan's voice may not always be detected objectively. "

God Bless

TC

Are you saying that when I speak in tongues, I am talking to a devil or demon?

[nebula]

Maybe I should have been more precise, this is my folly. Forgive me for that.

The scriptures highlighted refer to Nebs question

Was there any indication that these tongues were being translated or interpreted?

from chap 2 (which comes before chap 10) testifies that when there where tounges spoken that there was someone who could understand.

Huh? Where does it say in Ch. 2 that there has to be someone present to understand the tongue in order for God to enable one to speak in tongues?

So by this testimony those of chap 10 heard an understandable language. All it said was that they spoke in tongues, they did not mention whose tongue, and tongues are an understandable language.

You are making an assumption here baqsed on your preconceived notion.

Do you need a translator to recognize a foreign language being spoken? I'm sure Peter could tell what was happening without a translator.

Now with what Paul said. He said let all things be done to the edifying, so if there is one speaking in tounges and no one understands that that person should be quiet. Yes a saint can shut up if there is no interpreter. Tongues are not some uncontrollable rambling which most often it is protrayed as.

Who ever said it was uncontrolled rambling?

There's been times when I felt an intense desire to pray, and I just pray out with my gift of tongues because I have no words in my head to pray out. Am I edifying anyone? Yes - my spirit is being edified, even if my mind is not.

And I don't ramble!

Like our brother Paul said let all things be done to the edifying. This does not negate tongues, but there should be benefit to the BODY from tongues. If there is not then the one speaking should be quiet.

We grow in Life not the letter

And what is wrong with praying in tongues?

**

Again - what do you believe I am doing?

Do you believe -

a) I have t his gift from God?

b) I have a deception of Satan?

c) I'm making noises up?

Be honest - what do you believe?

[Iryssa]

Ok...I'm re-posting this, because I don't think people actually read it. Let's take our views from scripture, rather than making scripture fit our views.

____________________________________________________________________

This, I think, is the attitude we should have regarding various denominations:

"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man

[Iryssa]

I'm not sure the meaning of them is in doubt. Rather, I was doubting that they have been held in thought throughout the discussion...my apologies if I was mistaken. To me, though, it sort of concludes the matter.

I was quoting from the NIV, because that's the one my Bible software automaticaly opens...I have checked it against the NASB, though, in case you were wondering, and it comes out meaning the same thing.