Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: gross@dg-rtp.dg.com (Gene Gross) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Why so many kinds of Christians ? Message-ID: Date: 1 Jan 90 15:43:37 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Data General Corporation, Research Triangle Park, NC Lines: 89 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article jmoon@lehi3b15.csee.lehigh.edu (Jonggu Moon [890911]) writes: >Why are there so many different Christian Groups on Earth ? >If the God described in the Bible exists, why are the Presbyterians >keeping their distance from the Baptists ? What are the Protestants >and the Roman Catholics at each other's throats in Ireland ? > >Are the people who believe in one of these interpretations going >to heaven while the rest go to hell ? Jon, you have hit upon a topic that has caused me to stop and ponder long and hard. I have no definitive answers for anyone, just the musings and thought of a middle-aged man still on a long journey. I would have a real problem with denominations if each was a separate religion. While they often act that way, they aren't. We have one God, one Lord, and one Faith. We have our differences, but different isn't wrong (necessarily) it is just different. The real problem comes when we use our denominational differences as justification for refusing to fellowship with each other. When we refuse to bow in prayer together, we are not Loving as we are commanded to do by Jesus Christ Himself. When we refuse to break bread together, we are not Loving as we are commanded to do by Jesus Christ Himself. The various denominations do serve to reach people by providing a diversity for worship and governance while maintaining the essentials of the Faith. Personally, I am unwilling to recommend that we do away with denominations at this time. I have faith that God will do away with them in His own good time. But I see no reason that we can't fellowship and worship together as the Holy Spirit moves amongst us. I think what happens is that too often folks believe, rightly or wrongly, that they have received *THE* truth and *KNOW* all the correct doctrine. And just about the time they have God in their box for Him, He breaks out. I know because I've done this myself many times when I first became a Christian. Then I found myself praying, studying, and worshipping with Brothers and Sisters who were from different denominations. It had an interesting impact upon my life to find out that we were following the same Lord and God. It was also interesting to me to note that the differences need not separate us so long as we Loved each other as commanded. Such Love would not let us harm or hurt another. We were quite sensitive to the needs of each other and to the doctrine we had each learned. We found that we could discuss our doctrinal differences in a Loving manner. Eventually, we found more unity than we did disunity. Where did denominations come from? One pastor that I've read suggested that it was done by Satan in an attempt to derail the Church. Maybe it is as Brother Hedrick suggests--God's doing. I confess that I do not know. But maybe this is quite as important as what do we do now? Do we allow this to interfere with the furtherance of the Gospel? Do we let this prevent us from fellowshipping and worshipping together? Or do we rise above all of the pettiness and in Love for our Master and each other press on toward the high calling that is in Jesus Christ our Lord? This is not a call for ecumenicism as much as it is a call for those of us who call ourselves Christian to respond as Christians. What ever we do must be done in and through Love. If it is not, then we have missed the boat. Jesus told the world, and us, how the world would know we are His--by our Love. I can't speak for anyone else at this point, but for me this means a number of very specific things. If someone is hurting, I must first deal with the reason for their pain. If someone is hungry, I must deal with their hunger. If someone is sick, I must first deal with their disease. If someone is in any need whatsoever, I must deal with that need. I must do so with no strings attached and without any demands on them. I must live a life that is uniquely Christian in action and perspective. And none of this has anything to do with denomination. But it does have everything to do with Christ and the Faith that I call Christian. I don't know if this helps much at all. Brother, I love you and don't want anything to sway you from the simplicity and Love that is in the Gospels and, more importantly, in Jesus Christ. The issue you brought up about the two brothers is IMHO clearly a matter that each of them must decide for themselves. I can find support for both positions in the text of Scripture. So I can only say that it is a matter that must be submitted to God in earnest prayer and supplication. Then when a decision is reached, the rest of us be in support of the decision of that Brother. But again, this is my humble opinion, for whatever it is worth. It simply occurs to me that maybe God has a reason for the Brother to stay home and for his wife to work and support the family. When we become dogmatic about such things as this, we start building that God-box again. Peace be to you, His Peace, Gene Gross