Are denominations *always" wrong?

[Guest]

Hey Brody,

Ofcourse I could always buy Steve a house here beside me and pay him a nice salary to be my "pastor". But something tells me that he wouldn't like living in the house that my salary could afford..lol God bless

Yeah, I don't think Steve is the "ten shekels and a shirt" type of preacher either (see Judges 17).

I don't see anything wrong with attending more than one fellowship as long as you are developing and maintaining relationships with other Christians. There should be no reason why you couldn't go to a Sunday service at one church, a mid-week bible study at another, and a home fellowship at still another. I think that sort of diversification can be healthy and help break down some long-held traditional expectations about "belonging" to a local church.

Anyway, I pray that you and your wife are able to come to some arrangement where you can worship and fellowship with other Christians together as a couple/family.

Lord bless.

[Guest]

I do not think that it is a good idea to go to different churches at different times. You may go to one that teaches that you can lose your salvation, tithes are for today, sanctification is a definite act of grace.
Then on Wednesday go to one that teaches OSAS, tithes are ceased, and that sanctification cannot be fully attained.

Then doctrinally you could become so twisted up and mixed up about what you yourself believe and you could become double minded in your theology. I don't think there's anyting wrong with an occasional visit to a church with different doctrines, but to constantly attend 2 or more different denominations can really mix you up and divide your loyalty between 2 or more belief systems.

I go to a Church of God (headquartered in Cleveland, TN) and I have on occasion visited an Assembly of God which is nearly identical except for some sanctification differences. That was not a huge step away from my beliefs. If I were to go to a reformed baptist church on Wed. and my church on Sunday and was uncertain to my beliefs and not watertight on every subject, I could easily be carried off into a wrong theology.

It's just something you'd want to be prayerful and careful about.

[Guest]

Aarondisney, maybe you could listen carefully and thoughtfully and make up your own mind about what you think is the best theology. Hearing different viewpoints doesn't always lead to becoming twisted and mixed up.

[Guest]

Aarondisney,

Why should I commit any loyalty to any denominational belief system?

Just wondering.

[Guest]

Aarondisney,

Why should I commit any loyalty to any denominational belief system?

Just wondering.

You find a denomination that teaches the Word of God, worships the true God and is obedient to His precepts.
I don't believe that every Church of God minister is flawless, but I believe that they are in the right direction. I am part of that body and it is a part of the body of Christ. It is an organized large group that has the beliefs that I agree with.
I don't really know what better answer to give than that. I don't say that your loyalty should first be to your denomination, but to your Lord. But if that denomination follows the Lord, you can give it your loyalty.
We each do have personal relationships with the Lord but we also need leadership to follow. Every one of us needs a Christian leader to follow.
The early church needed a leader to follow. Paul himself told them to follow him as he followed Christ.

It's as Matt said. You can disagree with denominationalism if you wish but the fact is that it's just natural that those of the same views congregate together. Though we are part of a much larger family, the true Church of God, the body of CHrist.

[Guest]

Then doctrinally you could become so twisted up and mixed up about what you yourself believe and you could become double minded in your theology. I don't think there's anyting wrong with an occasional visit to a church with different doctrines, but to constantly attend 2 or more different denominations can really mix you up and divide your loyalty between 2 or more belief systems.

If a Christian's loyalty lies with Christ and their source of truth is the Bible, what does it matter if they go to one or several churches regularly?

Are there not fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in the other "belief systems"? Are they mixed up if they talk to me?

How can your loyalty be divided if it is in Christ alone?

The only way a Christian might be confused when attending multiple fellowships is if they place trust in a man or organization over Christ (ie. adopting a belief because someone said so).

As far as I can tell from the Scriptures, our loyalty lies with Christ and His body, wherever they may be.

Food for thought...

[Guest]

Hey guys,
Go to 2 different churches if you wish. Heck, go to 10 of them, doesn't matter to me, and I'm not trying to say it's a sin to go to different churches.

I'm just saying it's much more of a stable thing to be able to find a church that is full of the love and Spirit of the Lord, and that teaches truth and to remain there.

I love my church. I look forward to each service and to seeing my church family, all of whom I feel a bond with. That's not always easy to find.

In my opinion that it's the best possible scenario. Didn't mean to ruffle any feathers, I was just stating my humble opinion

God bless

Aaron

[Guest]

I do not think that it is a good idea to go to different churches at different times. You may go to one that teaches that you can lose your salvation, tithes are for today, sanctification is a definite act of grace.
Then on Wednesday go to one that teaches OSAS, tithes are ceased, and that sanctification cannot be fully attained.

Then doctrinally you could become so twisted up and mixed up about what you yourself believe and you could become double minded in your theology. I don't think there's anyting wrong with an occasional visit to a church with different doctrines, but to constantly attend 2 or more different denominations can really mix you up and divide your loyalty between 2 or more belief systems.

I go to a Church of God (headquartered in Cleveland, TN) and I have on occasion visited an Assembly of God which is nearly identical except for some sanctification differences. That was not a huge step away from my beliefs. If I were to go to a reformed baptist church on Wed. and my church on Sunday and was uncertain to my beliefs and not watertight on every subject, I could easily be carried off into a wrong theology.

It's just something you'd want to be prayerful and careful about.

Hi Aaron,

I have never got my views on scripture from a church. I always study and all that good stuff while at home. I go to church to fellowship, not get my doctrine. I get that from studying and praying. However, you make a valid point. But the churches I attend rarely ever shame someone for believing one thing or another. Granted I probably wouldn't speak in tongues at the Baptist church(I do not have this gift as of yet.)lol

[Guest]

Hey guys,
Go to 2 different churches if you wish. Heck, go to 10 of them, doesn't matter to me, and I'm not trying to say it's a sin to go to different churches.

I'm just saying it's much more of a stable thing to be able to find a church that is full of the love and Spirit of the Lord, and that teaches truth and to remain there.

I love my church. I look forward to each service and to seeing my church family, all of whom I feel a bond with. That's not always easy to find.

In my opinion that it's the best possible scenario. Didn't mean to ruffle any feathers, I was just stating my humble opinion

God bless

Aaron

No feathers ruffled here. Thanks for your thoughts.

[Guest]

I do not think that it is a good idea to go to different churches at different times. You may go to one that teaches that you can lose your salvation, tithes are for today, sanctification is a definite act of grace.
Then on Wednesday go to one that teaches OSAS, tithes are ceased, and that sanctification cannot be fully attained.

Then doctrinally you could become so twisted up and mixed up about what you yourself believe and you could become double minded in your theology. I don't think there's anyting wrong with an occasional visit to a church with different doctrines, but to constantly attend 2 or more different denominations can really mix you up and divide your loyalty between 2 or more belief systems.

I go to a Church of God (headquartered in Cleveland, TN) and I have on occasion visited an Assembly of God which is nearly identical except for some sanctification differences. That was not a huge step away from my beliefs. If I were to go to a reformed baptist church on Wed. and my church on Sunday and was uncertain to my beliefs and not watertight on every subject, I could easily be carried off into a wrong theology.

It's just something you'd want to be prayerful and careful about.

Hi Aaron,

I have never got my views on scripture from a church. I always study and all that good stuff while at home. I go to church to fellowship, not get my doctrine. I get that from studying and praying. However, you make a valid point. But the churches I attend rarely ever shame someone for believing one thing or another. Granted I probably wouldn't speak in tongues at the Baptist church(I do not have this gift as of yet.)lol

Hi Brody,
That's true. I understand you, for example ,are someone that studies the Bible, prays about how to interpret it, seeks knowledge and wisdom from God.
Sadly, many Christians do not do this and may become easily confused by differing doctrines at different denominations.

Good thread though, Brody,

God bless ya
Aaron