Why do expect unity

[kittylover0991]

Hey Everyone,

I feel like I seem to post this same topic every six months or so (maybe more or less), but why is it that we expect unity? Why do we scream tolerance like the lost and unsaved do? Why do we say "YOU NEED TO BE RESPECTFUL" when in actuality, we are ourselves are not being respectful to others and are tearing each other apart, though we scream "love love love"?

I just read a thread that was simply meant to be a "harmless" question, basically asking us to examine our own hearts, and so many people here tore each other apart, talking about things such as self righteousness, etc, as is typical for a thread it seems. How many threads do we have going here about "unity" and "love", and we sit there are say "yeah yeah! Unity! Come brothers and sisters in Christ, let's get together and love one another", but yet turn around and tear each other apart?

I'm one of them, I'll be the first to admit it, though I typically try not to do so, but why do we expect unity? On the other hand, or rather, on the same hand, as mentioned in the title of the post, why do we expect unity among denominations? We expect that denominations can come together and fellowship, but the bible talked about Corinth being carnal for their MANY problems, but one of the first things addressed is that there were divisions among them. There are divisions among the churches today becuase of doctrine that does not line up. My bible says that there is only one interpretation of scripture (heh, don't ask me to find it, I just read it a couple of days ago in the NT ), but "christians" are ignoring scripture, not properly comparing scripture with scripture as we should do, and we have all of these different ideas on things like baptism, even works salvation, and things like tongues, and healings, evolution even....

I'm not on here as much as I used to be, but for those who know me, I'm not picking out any one particular person, and I'm including myself in this, but why must we expect there to be unity? We can't have a church which is unified in which more than one doctrine is preached, accepted, or ignored, such as baptism for babies or after salvation (considering the bible never talks about baby baptism), whether or not tongues is for today, why not whether abortion is alright or not, and same sex marriages, and so much more. Even what bible should be used and whether or not the bible is infallible. How can we base our lives off a book we don't believe is perfect, I just don't understand, and how people who believe the Bible is perfect and in fallible and people who believe it is not and has errors, can possibly fellowship in the sweet fellowship presented in the Bible.

We need some more people who will stand and rebuke the devil, and even the works of the devil.... Did not Christ tell Peter "Get behind me Satan"? Peter is a man of God of whom was used MIGHTILY for the cause of Christ, but he called him Satan.... why? Because at that point, though (I believe) he was surely a Christian, he was furthering the work of the devil by telling CHrist "not so" to dying on the cross..... How many Christians today are furthering the work of the devil by furthering this doctrine of unity between contridictory doctrines? This "nondenominationalism" in which churches claim we should come together under unity and there is so little unity beyond that there is unity whether or not people believe different things! That isn't in the bible! Corinth was told "THERE ARE DIVISIONS AMONG YOU!!!!"

Folks, I don't understand how we can stand and say "love love love", how we can say "glory to God" and "let's get together in Christ and just get along", while there should be unity, there is no unity without unity of doctrine, not unity of wanting to have unity. We need churches that willl get up and really stand up and preach the word, and not give in to the ideals of today and preaching "love". We should preach love, but with love, comes preaching doctrine and preaching truth.

I may have stepped on toes, I may not have, probably opened some can of worms, but I'll probably just be labeled by my religion and by my beliefs right? I'm an independent fundamental baptist, so I'm intolerant right? Many of you might not say that, many of you might look past to who you know that I am in prior posts, but many of you will say "oh, she's of *that*" crowd of Christianity, I've heard it. We want to know why there is not unity in churches today, we want to know why there is no unity here at Worthy beyond that we attempt fellowship despite? Because there is little to no unity of doctrine.

[Hunterpoet]

Well, I don't know what I'm other than being christian...I do favor the baptist church and most of it's interpretation, but have realized that one must read, study and listen to G-d and have the courage and conviction to live His Word and Will.

I too long for a place where all understand equally, but that place is not on this earth.

After all is said and done, the only thing I care about is wether are not I have done my Fathers will.

The church and the community at large have so frustrated me that that is all I'm able to make my concern.

I figure if I hold fast and stay the course, that will be the part I'm to play.

My only real desire is to hear the words...Well done.

[EricH]

Here is what Paul had to say:

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Philippians 2:1-4 HCSB

Any position we take on unity should be screened through this passage. Most disunity in the body is not caused by "rightous stands" but by things like rivalry and self interest. We simply fool ourselves into thinking that we are standing on principle, when in reality we are standing on self interest. At least I kbnow for me personally that I have the ability to spiritualize anything.

[Guest man]

Your questions are questions that no one wants to hear.

1 Corinthian 1:10 says we're all suppose to be of the same mind and speech. How can that happen when there are so many different denominations out there? They all preach Christ but each one puts their own little spin on the Word.

People choose tradition over the Word. Or they feel that just because everyone else is doing it, it must be ok.

There is unity within the church, if you want to call it that, and that unity is that the physical church is taking the Word of God and molding it into something they can live with.

Good topic. I hope it goes beyond 4 or 5 posts. This is something I would really like to discuss.

[Smalcald]

Well the problem I have is that we ALL say that, nobody here believes that they are accepting "tradition" over the Word yet we still disagree in fundamental ways about how to interpret the Word of God, how to understand it and we come to different conclusions.

What really bothers me are people who when they disagree with someone about the Word of God and what it says, simply say well you accept the traditions of "men" and I follow the Word. This is a self righteous view that somehow we as individuals are unique and only I understand the "truth" or out of the billions of Christians only my little group of 500 or 5000 has it exactly correct. I don't have any solutions accept to say that we should love and respect each other and be able to defend and understand what we believe about the Word of God.

Also we agree much more than we disagree and we should really focus on that commonality.

[EricH]

I tend to look at doctrine in concentric circles. In the inner-most circle there are the doctrines that are the core of the faith (how one is saved, how one views God, how one views the scriptures etc.) If there is disagreement at this level it is impossible to have unity (unity must be based on something). As we move out from the inner-most circle there is more room for discussion with untiy remaining intact. For example, our schemas for the end times (pretrib, posttrib etc.) should not be a reason to break fellowship.

[nebula]

Are you suggesting that my view isn't God's view?

[kittylover0991]

Are you suggesting that my view isn't God's view?

Hah hah neb, that's exactly what I'm saying (just kidding )

[Joshua-777]

Your questions are questions that no one wants to hear.

1 Corinthian 1:10 says we're all suppose to be of the same mind and speech. How can that happen when there are so many different denominations out there? They all preach Christ but each one puts their own little spin on the Word.

People choose tradition over the Word. Or they feel that just because everyone else is doing it, it must be ok.

There is unity within the church, if you want to call it that, and that unity is that the physical church is taking the Word of God and molding it into something they can live with.

Good topic. I hope it goes beyond 4 or 5 posts. This is something I would really like to discuss.

Nice post, I was going to use that verse, but you already used it.

I believe there is a lack of unity because the physical church is taking the word of God and molding it to fit, Denomination tend to cling to a "family belief, what they where raised to believe" Or Do not test opinions with scripture. Solomon said in proverbs a fool despises wisdom, Pride takes opportunity to make us fools.

Test everything with scripture, and Pray about your interpretation always.

[EricH]

The assumption here is that denominations are necessarily a bad thing. I don't think that is always the case. Groupings for practical reasons, or implementation considerations can be a good thing.