I listened to a Christian podcast once and the pastor stated that the #1 reason people do not embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ is Christian hypocrisy. I agree. It’s very discouraging, and I can see why athesists are sick of us (we mixed up bunch of nuts!).
– Why the division if the bible is not a book of confusion?
– Why can’t Christian leaders and theologians agree?
– Is it OK to profit from the word of God ($$)?
– Why are there so many churches and denominations?
– Why are all these cults resurfacing?
– What’s with all the self-proclaimed Internet prophets?
– Five Fold Ministry (more confusion!)??
How can we possibly further the Kingdom of God, love our enemies, help our brothers and sisters, etc. etc. when we can’t even agree on the book we proclaim to everyone?
What would the apostles say to all these churches and church “leaders” today?
All answers to this serious and loaded question are welcome, but please be mature in your responses and most importantly, be honest.
Body Of Christ – Why Can’t We Agree?
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The reason is more obvious than we think, the problems arise because of so many diverse interpretations among Christians, Even from the very earliest days of the Reformation, Protestants have been forced to deal with the fact that, given the Bible and the reason of the individual alone, people could not agree upon the meaning of many of the most basic questions of doctrine. Within Martin Luther’s own life dozens of competing groups had arisen, all claiming to “just believe the Bible,” but none agreeing on what the Bible said. Though Luther had courageously stood before the Diet of Worms and said that unless he were persuaded by Scripture, or by plain reason, he would not retract anything that he had been teaching; later, when Anabaptists, who disagreed with the Lutherans on a number of points, simply asked for the same indulgence, the Lutherans butchered them by the thousands – so much for the rhetoric about the “right of an individual to read the Scriptures for himself.” Despite the obvious problems that the rapid splintering of Protestantism presented to the doctrine of Sola Scriptura, not willing to concede defeat to the Pope, Protestants instead concluded that the real problem must be that those with whom they disagree, in other words every other sect but their own, must not be reading the Bible correctly. Thus a number of approaches have been set forth as solutions to this problem. Of course there has yet to be the approach that could reverse the endless multiplications of schisms, and yet Protestants still search for the elusive methodological “key” that will solve their problem.
I don’t think the number one reason is hypocrisy but rather that Christians have become desensitized to the world they live in because of the constant flooding of garbage in media coupled with their laziness in studying scripture and failurre to learn to pray effectively. We have become soft, comfortable, and out of touch with reality. A lot of what would have been scorned years ago as sin is now accepted or ignored by a lot of churches. Preaching is all about the love of God and what He wants to do for us instead of balancing the preaching with His love and wrath and what we should be doing to advance the cause of Christ. Repentance has been buried and the word commitment is seldom heard. Going to church is more like a social club than an army camp preparing for war. The leadership in many churches preach so as not to offend the regulars and the visitors for fear of losing that paycheck and parsonage. Television evangelists preach lies about riches and prosperity while their audience lives from paycheck to paycheck and they live like kings. Radical preachers resort to name calling and shame the name of Christ publically by their actions. Some high profile ministers are caught up in sex scandals that reflect on the entire body of believers and dishonor Christ. There is no clear message to the nation to turn from sin to righteousness, and preachers in political circles are mere shadows of what they should be and don’t stand firm in their faith and rebuke the wicked leaders of this generation.
As for your list – I have always felt that denominations should be called abominations since the Bible says we are to be one body in Christ. Some of the ridiculous reasons people have split from churches are pathetically sad. I will say no more on that issue.
Christian leaders and theologians can’t agree on everything but they should agree on the basic tenets and principles that bring people to a place of salvation. There will always be this separation because people care more about doctrine and being right than they do about souls going to Hell. God always has a remnant who are faithful though.
It is never okay to profit from the word of God. The gospel is to be free to all. However, the Bible does say that the laborer is worthy of his hire and we are not to muzzle the ox that treads out the corn. This parable was spoken because men needed to know that God’s messengers still need to be fed just like anyone who works a job. So paying a full-time pastor or other Christian minister is okay and not profitiing from the gospel. While Paul continued in tentmaking of his own choice so as to not be a burden to anyone, not all men are able to do this in the generation we live in. Those who raise millions to spend on luxurious living are in sin in my opinion – and most, if not all of these are the televangelists.
The cults are resurfacing and gaining converts because of the void left by churches that refuse to preach the whole counsel of God and have no real message to offer to a world dying in sin. One comfortable place is as good as another, and if they message sounds half right people accept it when there is nobody around to counter the message with truth.
There is one sure test of a prophet according to the scripture. If that prophet speaks a word and it doesn’t come true he did not receive the word from the Lord. The litmus test for prophets of God is 100% accuracy. Remember that false Christ’s and false prophets will come in the last days.
I don’t understand the five-fold ministry. I always thought that ministering was presenting simple truth that delivered people from sin and sorrow to eternal peace and joy with Christ. A lot of the ministry experiences offered today amaze me. In the Bible when people had needs the disciples simply took them to Jesus to be touched and changed. While Jesus is not physically walking the earth today, He still ministers to others through those who are willing vessels in His hand. It is still simply bringing them to Jesus.
We must repent and return to our first love, and when we do God has promised His blessing and power to do what is necessary to reverse the trend toward mediocrity prevalent in the church today. It is time, and well past time that we cry out to God in tears of repentance and like Jacob of old refuse to let go of God until He blesses us with the changes we need and the revival that will turn the church and the nation.
I believe Jesus, Peter, Paul and the rest of the apostles would come with strong warnings and rebuke to the church in this generation and call us all to repentance.
if you realize that christians are a mixed up bunch of nuts then there might be hope for you
people and pride
God is sick I am sure
yet there is a remnant after Gods own heart
all the Churches will not go into the Kingdom just the Church of Christ
the Called out the Chosen ones
a people out of a people
the Chosen and Called can agree
Jesus is Lord
jlu
With all due respect to the pastor, I am sure he meant to address the specific issue of hypocrisy in Christianity, which is fine, but I disagree about why people do not embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ.
People do not embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ because they are dead in their sins and have not been awakened by the power of the Holy Spirit to come to Christ.
Christian hypocrisy damages mostly those WITHIN, but God’s grace is sufficient for even that.
My Answer: Good luck with that.
Ever try to get 38,000 people to agree on anything? There are 38,000 denominations of Christianity
===
List of Christian denominations (or Denominations self-identified as Christian) ordered by historical and doctrinal relationships. (See also: Christianity; Christian denominations).
Some groups are large (e.g. Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans or Baptists), while others are just a few small churches, and in most cases the relative size is not evident in this list. Also, modern movements such as Fundamentalist Christianity, Pietism, Evangelicalism, Pentecostalism and the Holiness movement sometimes cross denominational lines, or in some cases create new denominations out of two or more continuing groups (as is the case for many United and uniting churches, for example). Such subtleties and complexities are not clearly depicted here. Additionally, some groups viewed by non-adherents as denominational actively resist being called a “denomination” and do not have any formal denominational structure, authority, or record-keeping beyond the local congregation; several groups within Restorationism fall into this category.
Note: This is not a complete list, but aims to provide a comprehensible overview of the diversity among denominations of Christianity. As there are reported to be over 38,000 Christian denominations, [1] many of which cannot be verified to be significant, only those denominations with Wikipedia articles will be listed in order to ensure that all entries on this list are notable and verifiable.
Note: Between denominations, theologians, and comparative religionists there are considerable disagreements about which groups can be properly called Christian, disagreements arising primarily from doctrinal differences between groups. For the purpose of simplicity, this list is intended to reflect the self-understanding of each denomination. Explanations of different opinions concerning their status as Christian denominations can be found at their respective articles.
We have chosen to make divisions and seperate ourselves rather than follow the Holy Spirit but the church will be one again.
John 17:
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
Why we need to dispute on things that do not have any relevance in everlasting is just futile.
Can we agree on this one thing?
Jesus is Lord. He came to earth to die for us(while we were still sinners) so that we do not have to suffer Hell. It is a free gift, and one that everyone is entitled to.
Romans 10:8-9 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
You think this is something new It started right from the begining
Saint Ignatius (35-107), the second Bishop of Antioch wrote a letter to the Smyrneans in 107 A.D..
In this letter is recorded the first known use of the words “Catholic Church”…
Paragraph #8
“You must all follow the lead of the bishop, as Jesus Christ followed that of the Father; follow the presbytery as you would the Apostles; reverence the deacons as you would God’s commandment. Let no one do anything touching the Church, apart from the bishop. Let that celebration of the Eucharist be considered valid which is held under the bishop or anyone to whom he has committed it. Where the bishop appears, there let the people be, just as where Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not permitted without authorization from the bishop either to baptize or to hold an agape; but whatever he approves is also pleasing to God. Thus everything you do will be proof against danger and valid.”
also read St Clement taught by Paul and Peter.
Here is the real crux of the dilemma:
“Church” has come to symbolize a place you must go in order to receive “its” teachings and “its” blessings. It is, not therefore, surprising for “church”-goers to realize that one need go NO WHERE but within ONE’S SELF to be taught the truth by the Creator Himself, directly. You are not “in” the church. The “church” is WITHIN YOU!
…..just as the correct “answer” to your dilemma has ALWAYS been…
We are perfectly created Spiritual Beings, created as the Spirit and Image of the Creator, Himself…..like unto Him. Though we were ALL lovingly and perfectly created by our Father with PERFECT qualities, WE have chosen to act as if they could be utilized inconsistently with their original purpose.
We may (or may not) recognize that we have MADE A MISTAKE, in perception or conduct, certainly. Regardless, the consequences of INCORRECTLY applying the PERFECT principles governing this mathematics equation are inescapable….but correctable. It is only when the correct perception IS CORRECTLY APPLIED, that the resultant “answer” enables us to declare the truth of that experience to ourselves. The consequences of CORRECTLY applying the principles of mathematics (or those governing our own Being) are ALSO inescapable, to our eternal good.
THE ONLY WAY you’d know if you have made a mistake in perception or operation is BECAUSE the principles of Life operate perfectly, without the slightest deviation, variation, or attenuation at ANY time or in ANY place for ANYBODY! Otherwise, you would not know what electricity perfectly does FOR you when you utilize it correctly. Or you wouldn’t know what electricity perfectly does TO you when operated incorrectly, either.
If you consider this carefully, what is referred to as, goodness including love, patience, kindness, self-control, faithfulness and gentleness”, is analogous to what the immutable principle of electricity does FOR you when operated consistent with its purpose.
Conversely, what is referred to as “The acts of our brokenness, hatred, discord, sexual immorality, dissensions, greed, laziness, hatred, jealousy, fits of rage, drunkenness, envy, selfish ambition and the like…..” are analogous to what the immutable principle of electricity does TO you when it is operated incorrectly.
THIS is the operative principle behind “Ye shall reap what you sow”…..for good or ill.
This is about G I G O…..
Garbage in, garbage out….perfectly !!
Perfect input, perfect output….perfectly !!
NOT BECAUSE there is inherent EVIL or GOOD in US!
NOT BECAUSE there is inherent EVIL or GOOD in God’s Creation.
NOT BECAUSE we are flawed.
It is because the infinite SYSTEM of which we are a part OPERATES FLAWLESSLY….
Clean out the garbage that is SMELLING UP THE PLACE !!
The same SOURCE who created the perfect principles of mathematics which operate immutably to create ONLY 4 as the correct sum of 2+2 ALSO CREATED US out of perfect principles!!
Can there be ANYTHING more obvious than that you are best served when you work with the UN-changing Truth of your Being, not with EVER-changing beliefs about who think you are?
Perfection, Itself created us perfectly, as well…..even if we have trouble getting the “math” of ourselves right.
And precisely like that equation, you can NEVER be ANYONE but yourself.
You are PERFECT as you are. Not as you BELIEVE you are.
…..as you are.
But this doesn’t sound like the Bible, you may protest…..
It’s not as if our Creator is hiding the truth from us.
Think about it.
No man may come to the Father (I AM) except through Christ. And that means the Christ WITHIN US, whose access can never be controlled by any organization or group or man. In the sanctity of our OWN SELVES, God has placed Himself within us as the very I AM of us.
Jesus is one who showed us that the way BACK to I AM is through the Christ that our Father created within Him AND within us. Not “back” because we were separated, but because we’ve forgotten Who we have ALWAYS been.
That is why He said, “Of myself, I can do nothing. It is the Father in me who does the works.” I believe that statement is the very Truth about ALL of us. Of ourselves, we can do nothing. It is the Father within us who does the works, too! No different than it is for our Brother, Jesus. Or for our Sisters, either. Because male AND female made He (our Creator) them.
We are not supposed to just follow the Master, Jesus. We are supposed to follow the Master’s EXAMPLE!!!
We are supposed to FOLLOW WHAT HE FOLLOWED, which is….His and Our Father…..the I AM which is in Him, as well as in us!
….in order to REAWAKEN and REALIZE our OWN mastery as Spiritual Beings, not to subjugate ourselves to His. Again, we are ALSO as Jesus is, which is as our Creator endowed us all to be, and that is as immortal, spiritual beings who are the Spirit and Image of our Creator.
We are supposed to REMEMBER….and ACT ACCORDINGLY, through the power our Creator gave to EACH and EVERY ONE OF US IN OUR OWN RIGHT AS Spiritual Beings when He created us ALL….
….just as He gives to our Brother, Jesus….who lovingly, even TODAY, gives us His example to emulate, if we choose.
The I AM, not the ego, is the only Self we are.
I AM THAT I AM AND BESIDE ME THERE IS NO OTHER.
There is not, nor can there ever be, any separation of the One.
I AM is One……inclusive of ALL of us…..
Please understand that I am only using this math equation as a metaphor for how Life “adds up” because the principles upon which Life is based are perfect…..unchangeably perfect as God is perfect.
Jesus’ message and reason for coming to this earthly dimension was to show us, in as stark, as uncompromising, and as definitive a manner as possible, that we are as He is, which is as our Creator endowed us all to be, and that is as immortal, Spiritual beings who are the Spirit and Image of our Creator.
We are NOT physical beings. We are Spiritual Beings like He is! Our Father created Jesus just as He created us…the exact Spirit and Likeness of Himself. Jesus is, even TODAY, trying to show us what is possible for ANY OF US, not what is ONLY possible for Him.
We MUST progress and continue to learn….
……UNTIL WE ALL KNOW, as Jesus does, that the most perfect of equations is, “I and my Father are One”.
Orin
Now there is a necessity¹ that opinionated heresies exist² in your midst that those approved may also become manifest³ among you. [1 Cor 11:19 The Nazarene Commentary]
——
¹ Now there is a necessity: Or, there must be, must necessarily be. Paul will give his reason.
² Opinionated heresies exist: Or, KJV: heresies; PME: cliques; NEB: dissensions; WEY: differences of opinion; NWT: sects. The Greek is HAIRESEIS [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance -139-, choosing, choice, sect, party, dissensions arising out of diversity of opinion] from which the English “heresy” is rooted. The word is used of the “sects” among the Jews [# Acts 5:17; 15:5] but also of the Nazarenes. [# Acts 24:5, 14; 28:22] Compare the use of the word at # Galatians 5:20 where it is a work of the flesh, and #2Peter 2:1 where it is associated with false prophets. Ideally the Church should be of “one opinion” as Paul has earlier counseled. [#1Corinthians 1:10] However, given the egotism and arrogance of some men and women, their opinions begin to dominate and further divide the congregations. As a result sects and schisms begin to multiply like an uncontrollable disease. [Compare #2Timothy 2:17.] More and more a “different Gospel” with a “different Jesus” divides the Church into its present tens of thousands of parts. [#2Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:6, 7] Paul damns these.
³ Approved may also become manifest: Or, BER: that those who have God’s approval may be clearly seen among you; MOF: if genuine Christians are to be recognized; KNX: so that those who are true metal may be distinguished from the rest. See the notes on “Malachi 3:18″, almost an echo of these words. God permits ferment in the Church as a basis for judgment between the wheat and the weeds. Compare notes on #2Thessalonians 2:11, 12.
Yes the questions are serious, but we have to remember who is in control? Us? No we are not. It is the very moment that one thinks they have all the answers or the very moment we think we can do this on our own, is the moment it all falls apart! As evil is everywhere. Gods word warns us of all this. We need to get off the political pot where God is concerned and get back to worship!
The answers are simple- Read the Bible
We are living in time of talk talk talk- we need to stop talking and start reading the Bible and worship him!
Nonsense.
Nobody who rejected the Gospel will be able to stand before Jesus and say “well those hypocrites are why I didn’t believe”. That excuse won’t hold water. So whoever you listened to, is wrong.
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Only the truth converts people.
Hello there Brother Gideon… much of what you have shared with us is very evident all over the world and the church as the Body of Christ has been attacked from within and without.
One thing that we need to realize regarding this Organism called the Body of Christ is that it is made up of two parts. A Head and a Body. Today if we could truly see that as christians we are just members of this One Body and we have only One Head, Christ Jesus, this will save us from so much confusion and division.
The door to enter into the church is very short. The reason I say this is because when we enter and are part of the Church, as the Body of Christ, there should ONLY BE ROOM to be a member of the Body. None but Christ is the head. If we can see this then we will realize that to bicker and argue amongst ourselves only fuels the enemy’s drive to divide and conquer the church and this not only damages the Lord’s name but it also weakens the church’s testimony before men.
I read a small article once from a brother by the name of Watchman Nee called” The body of Christ”
My spiritual eyes were really unveiled while reading that small booklet because unless we see that it is ONLY CHRIST IN US that qualifies and even makes a way for us to be in the His Body, then we will take some care in the way we address our brothers and sisters and how we handle the members of the Body of Christ.
When I speak in a loose or small way toward a brother or sister… Do i see that I am speaking loosely and in a small way about the Lord?
When Saul was on the road to Damascus and was struck down by the Lord, the Lord Jesus asked Saul, ” Why are you presecuting ME”
To Saul, he was persecuting the saints in Jersualem.. to Christ, this meant that Saul was persecuting HIM. He is the BODY- CHRIST. We are the body of WHO? of Christ.
Are you or I, as a human being, just a head? or just a body? No.. We are made up of BOTH. In the same way, we need to have the same kind of care for the Lord, not just as the head, but also as the Lord of the Body. This Lord who dwells in each and every one of His redeemed people.
I just want to touch one small matter in closing.
2 Tim 4:22 shares.
” The Lord be with your spirit; Grace be with you.”
This is a truly profound verse in the bible and if we pay close attention to it we would realize that to be a member of a church is one thing.. but to live IN THE REALITY of the Body of Christ is altogether a matter of living in spirit. The reality of ALL that Christ is and all that He is doing in the body is not in the realm of denomination or sects, labels,emphasis or preferences.
To be in the Body of Christ in its purest sense is to live and walk and have your entire being in spirit.
The LORD is with our spirits, much grace is given to us to love one another as members in the Body. Much grace is given to us to cover one another’s weaknesses with prayer and love. Even if one part of the Body is weak, the rest of the Body works hard to heal this one part, because if one member is sick.. then the body is sick..
The Lord really has to do a healing and a recovering of our view and our hearts as christians. He is in our spirits to be our everything. WE need to daily hold to the Head, hold to the Lord Jesus Christ, this One who feels so deeply and dearly for His body. WHen we empty ourselves of all that we think we are and all that we have put on ourselves, to be open and available for the Lord to fill us with HIS thoughts, HIS choices, HIS preferences, HIS life and Power… then the Lord will have such a strong way to BUILD UP THE BODY to be His bride and counterpart for eternity.
May the LOrd continue to bring us out of all kinds of division and into the Spirit, where there is the Oneness and where the reality of the Body is to be found. This is the real way to live for and unto the Body.
Eph 2:22 shares that God is building up a dwelling place in spirit. Its not in names or in dogma.. its simply in spirit. Being simplified to just live and walk in spirit will save us from all the distractions of the enemy and cause us to be the genuine Body of Christ on the earth. Then things like argueing over the versions of the Bible or of doctrines will all be of no importance… because brother… everything related to God, be it His Words which are Spirit and Life, can be laid hold of and apprehended only through our spirit where the Lord as the Head dwells ( 2 Tim 4:22)
Ty for this sobering post. Truly felt your hurt over all the division and mockery due to ambition and of those wanting to be the head, when in truth and in fact.. there is only one head to this BOdy.. and this is CHrist.
Your sister and fellow member of the Body of Christ
sandy
I agree with you. Jesus’ life and testimony were based on love, and we, as Christians, are supposed to imitate Christ. Which we haven’t been doing a good job of.
It’s Not in God’s timing for us to be in Unity yet. But we are better and farther along than we were in the 1960’s
Gideon…
The answer is not that difficult. We are judicially saved but are being renewed and changed as we yield to the purifying process of the Holy Spirit.
To be blunt, we are not of one accord because of selfishness, pride, lust, self determined, etc. The sectarian spirit is alive and well.
It is not about why “they” don’t change or the Church. You are a representation of the Church, a living stone, you therefore change and lead by example.
I believe that if all the denominations sat down and looked at their doctrinal teachings, that they will recognize that their doctrines will agree about 99% of the time. The other 1% is based on trivial non essential matters.
If the churches would realize that the competition is not with the church down the street but with Satan, more would get done for the kingdom of God.
The purpose of the church is not to build the individual church but to build the Universal Church. The other day, I heard on the radio, I believe it was Chuck Colson on Focus on the Family, he said, “The great commission does not call us to seek converts, but to make disciples.”
All too often we are content when they give their life to the Lord, that we fail to teach them correctly, and they end up falling away.
I think we have forgotten that as the Church (universal, not denominational lines) is interconnected and dependant on one another. We are one body, with many parts, as the Scriptures teach, and we need to work together in one accord to function properly. Instead, we just keep splintering until we are useless as salt and light in the world.
I know the Christian church won’t be restored and made whole until Christ, as the head of the church, returns. However, I wish we could all recognize what our common goal is and find a way to work together to attain it: To give glory to God and to share the good news of salvation to those who have not yet heard so they too can give glory to God.
When we stop caring about our own church’s/denomination’s glory, honor and prestige and focus on glorifying God again, in words and DEEDS, then I think the world just may take notice and God may be glorified in that.