Comments on: What Unites and Divides Us?

By: foreverblessed

foreverblessed — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:50:23 +0000

When I had read this last week, I had a dream that night. Two busses were driving parallel, very very closely parallel. I was in one bus, the other bus was driving, but coming closer to the one I was in. So close, that he pushed the bus of the road. It fell beside the road, and as we fell I saw, there was water. The bus fell in the water. I was yelling to everybody to go to the enrance, but to my relief, the bus did not sink!
We should let the 2 threads walk parallel, do not push one side or the other from the road of life. That brings trouble, although God is able to save us from it.

By: foreverblessed

foreverblessed — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:43:03 +0000

Since this thread is now over I will post this for all of you who want to read it.
It is about predestination and free will:
(Maybe Spurgeon was not a calvinist since he wrote:)
“I do not think I differ from any of my Hyper-Calvinistic brethren in what I do believe, but I differ from them in what they do not believe. I do not hold any less than they do, but I hold a little more, and I think, a little more of the truth revealed in the Scriptures. Not only are there a few cardinal doctrines, by which we can steer our ship North, South, East, or West, but as we study the Word, we shall begin to learn something about the North-west and North-east, and all else that lies between the four cardinal points. The system of truth revealed in the Scriptures is not simply one straight line, but two; and no man will ever get a right view of the gospel until he knows how to look at the two lines at once. For instance, I read in one Book of the Bible, “The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.” Yet I am taught, in another part of the same inspired Word, that “it is not of him that willeth, or of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” I see, in one place, God in providence presiding over all, and yet I see, and I cannot help seeing, that man acts as he pleases, and that God has left his actions, in a great measure, to his own free-will. Now, if I were to declare that man was so free to act that there was no control of God over his actions, I should be driven very near to atheism; and if, on the other hand, I should declare that God so over-rules all things that man is not free enough to be responsible, I should be driven at once to Antinomianism or fatalism. That God predestines, and yet that man is responsible, are two facts that few can see clearly. They are believed to be inconsistent and contradictory to each other. If, then, I find in one part of the Bible that everything is foreordained, that is true; and I find, in another Scripture, that man is responsible for all his actions, that is true; and it is only my folly that leads me to imagine that these two truths can ever contradict each other. I do not believe they can ever be welded into one upon any earthly anvil, but they certainly shall be one in eternity. They are two lines that are so nearly parallel, that the human mind which pursues them farthest will never discover that they converge, but they do converge, and they will meet somewhere in eternity, close to the throne of God, whence all truth doth spring.”

By: Becky M

Becky M — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:17:51 +0000

Hi everyone, thanks Mart, for such a good thread. I’ve read thru the comments and I see a common belief among all of us. I do believe that the congregation that I came out of did also believe that Jesus died and rose again for all who would believe on Him. Just because they don’t know exactly who He is, well, I pray that they will accept the Holy Spirit in their hearts and not just think that they need to be in a certain place to receive Him. All I can do is pray and God does the rest. But, no matter where we are Jesus knows His own and we know His voice.

By: Loretta Beavis

Loretta Beavis — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:31:57 +0000

cherielyn! you’re correct-we can be born-again Christians who attend denominational churches or a particular church…
… and maybe we ask God for discernment regarding just how deeply involved to be or whether to stay … .

The Church, after all, is God’s people, not a building (as the song says). I look for the Fruit of the Spirit in others and whether or not a personal relationship with God is taught-I do reject teaching that gives man-made laws for that relationship.

There is great confusion about “religion/denominations” the man-made way to know God and the natural/individual way to know God. It takes time to get to know a worship or fellowship group and, with The Lord’s help, whether to stay or go.

Thank you, cherielyn, for your prayers, I will pray more specifically for you. As I mentioned, I started attending a 12 step group meeting for people who are affected by the addictions of someone in their life. It covers way bigger hurts than that. I’m gaining a better understanding about how to love others with detachment. I believe waiting on God has opened new doors for me; may He do the same for you.

I love reading all the comments! It’s good to speak up!

I love my Jesus.

By: BOB

BOB — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:50:31 +0000

None of us is 100% right or complete in our doctrine/knowledge, but we must be right about Christ. Who He said He was, and in the suffiency/completness of His work. But with that being said, one can have correct doctrine/knowledge and still not be saved, for it is not knowledge that saves…….

But I am just thinking in the guises of peace and unity, are we sacrifices truth for the sake of a superficial peace?

Some differences in denomination are minor but there are also major differences and I appeal to friends who think that the differences between them are inconsequential and petty. All true believe can agree that a proper understanding of the Scripture is one thing worth guarding aggressively.

After all Our Lord Jesus Christ warns us about, false prophets, false Christ, false gospel in the last days … Matt 7:15-20, 24:24

Paul words mention a “different gospel”. During these days the world is literally flooded with the writings and representative of those who are propagating a “different gospel’, (NIV) “ another gospel”, (KJV) in place of the message which was once for all delivered unto the saints (Jude 1:3)

So with the rise of the old Gnosticism, claiming supernatural knowledge, trips to heavens, false prophecies, trips to hell, gold dust, angels feathers.etc.

Those who speak out inevitably are branded unloving and divisive. There are many churches, which have allowed the influences to seep in and go unanswered. The biblical challenge is not to avoid truth that is controversial, but to speak the truth in love even though the truth hurts. (Ephesians. 4:16)

Okay, we must LOVE the people in it. But we must speak up against any movements that detract from the Word.

We need to be like the Bereans, who “received the word with the great eagerness, examine the scripture daily, to see whether these things were so. (Acts 17:11)

Being there!

By: Becky M

Becky M — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:22:03 +0000

Thank you Mart, for understanding me. I came out of such a situation. They preached no Trinity and Jesus could possibly be an angel(waiting on the headquarters for the accuracy of that one). Read Hebrews cht. one on Jesus being an angel. Please correct me if I got the wrong scripture,thank you. They believed that God’s Holy Spirit was on the congregation and that’s why you should be there all the time for all the meetings. They said that “yes God is all over but he’s strongest at the meetings and that’s where we will most likely come to know him and what He wants for His people.” Nothing personal involved. Everything is done for the whole congregation. We were not to misunderstand-God looked upon us personally but we were part of the whole and if we went to all the meetings and participated in all calls on the world with the written material we were in God’s favor. They said God loves a cheerful worker but we were pushed as they said the less we do the less attention or favor we would receive from God. In actuality it was the organization that we displeased and if we displeased the organization we displeased God because that orginization is God’s only people on earth. That said, I came to realize that they never referred to themselves as the Body of Christ. They always had negative things to say about the world’s churches and families. We were not to spend anymore time with our family than we needed to out of respect to them, because they did not believe the truth. I never got baptized and I’m being avoided by them. If they see me they ingnore me and avoid me. I had some good friends while involved with them and I pray for them even though they are not allowed to pray for me. Maybe those who were close to me when I was there pray for me still,they just don’t reveal it to anyone else. They have predicted dates that have never come true. Doesn’t it say in the Bible that if a prophet predictes and it doesn’t come true it did not come from God? That’s why I stepped in to say that just not going to any churches because people look at them as divided is not the worse thing that could happen to potential God fearing people. Our churches must preach & teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ as did the Apostles without nit picking and rules or mans doctrine invading and stopping it from getting out. That said, I do think Satan has worked hard to divide unrightly the Gospel of Christ. It’s so near the end of this(Satan’s world)world that you could cut it with a knife for the thickness. I’ve been having trouble finding a church today so I just set back long enough to study on my own while I attend my childhood church which I think is too easy so to speak. And now are two different denominations come together with one denomination having a history of dividing and coming together again and finally merging into the church it is now. They don’t spend enough time on the Gospel and getting ready the people for Chist’s return. Thank God for RBC Ministies and some other ministries that are on the internet and radio and provide reading materials to reach as many people as possible. They do not go door to door unless you want the material mailed & emailed to you. But, they do manage to get the word out and leave the rest to God. Thank you.

By: cherielyn

cherielyn — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:55:02 +0000

Denominations!!

I was raised in a Plymouth Brethren Assembly as a child. As an adult I began attending a Baptist Church. When I got married and moved to another part of the state I began attending, then became a member of a Baptist Church because it’s doctrine closely followed that which I had learned in the church of my upbringing.

Later we moved on to another Baptist Church, which we also became members of. We no longer attend there, but attend yet another Baptist Church. In between the last two, while looking for another church we attended Lutheran and a Presbyterian churches, only to find that some of their beliefs did not line up with what the Scriptures teach.

The bottom line is, although I lean towards Baptist, I do not consider myself a Baptist. I AM A BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN WHO HAPPENS TO ATTEND A BAPTIST CHURCH! Yes, their beliefs line up with the Scriptures, but the emphasis is being a born-again Christian, trying to follow the principles Christ has laid down for us.

My daughter has been going to a Berean Bible Institute and has shared many things with me which have been very enlightening. Some things and ideas she shared “went against the grain” for me. I researched them prayerfully a found that some lined up Scripturally while others did not. I believe in allowing the Holy Spirit to guide my study and to show me that which is correct and that which is not.

I am ever learning, but not allowing myself to be blown about by every wind of doctrine.

Sorry I have not been here lately. I have been going through some deep trials with hubby. We are a house divided in a spiritual sense. I questioned his salvation for many years and moreso now. Things have been very difficult. I would appreciate your prayers.

Loretta – How have you been? You’ve been in my prayers. I had to smile when you mentioned pet skunks. I had one years ago. I also had an experience freeing a wild skunk whose head was trapped in a glass jar. It seemed appreciative of the help and did not spray me or try to attack in any other way.

By: daisymarygoldr

daisymarygoldr — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:49:28 +0000

saled, you have raised a very good point: “passion is of the flesh, while compassion is of the spirit”

Acts 1:3 says: “To them also He showed Himself alive after His passion (His suffering in the garden and on the cross) … talking [to them] about the things of the kingdom of God.”

So here is my Q to you, asked with all sincerity and earnestness of my heart:

According to your beliefs, are you saying that passion of the Christ is of the flesh?

And no you don’t have to respond to this. It is just to make us think in our effort to preserve Unity in the Spirit:)!

By: poohpity

poohpity — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:57:40 +0000

I was thinking this morning, uh-oh. lol.

It seems we are looking at the things that divide and the bad things that happen in a church. How about all the people that are feed, all the souls that get counseling, the rents paid, the utilities paid, homeless housed, blankets given, doctors seen, people prayed for, hugs given, smiles shared, gospel preached, bible taught and countless other things that happen in the fellowship of believers. When you come down to it we are some pretty neat people we have our bad points but we have some awesome good points too.

By: jjhis

jjhis — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:38:01 +0000

Steve, Amen!!!
Saled, Thanks for the reminder of the compassion of Christ especially for the lost.
Pooh, we join you in prayer for all.
“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” (1Peter 3:8)