Watch the video below by my main man, Steve McVey, Christian Religion Lie #32 Our Denomination Is The Right One And Everybody Else Is Off Base and my comments follow…
Steve rightly points out that a major curse in the church today is denominations thinking they are the ONLY right one and that everyone else is off base… this leads to feelings of superiority and division in the body of believers today.
Are denominations wrong?
I agree with Steve when he says there’s nothing wrong with Christian denominations, it’s ok for people who believe the same things to come together and be together, but it’s when it’s used as a way to hold down our brothers and sisters in Christ… look down on them… and give ourselves a false sense of “better than thou” feelings.
Steve quotes the apostle Paul’s letter to the Church in Corinth, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (specifically verse 5, The Message, emphasis mine):
4-11God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful:
wise counsel
clear understanding
simple trust
healing the sick
miraculous acts
proclamation
distinguishing between spirits
tongues
interpretation of tongues.
All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when.
All denominations are a part of God’s plan…
Paul says that there are various ministries… but they’re all from the same Lord… they’re all expressions of the Holy Spirit.
Just like some people have a different spiritual gift, or way that God expresses Himself through the believer, there are different ministries.
I think it’s good to debate and consider differing viewpoints, as it’s important for growth, maturity and growing stronger in your faith. But sometimes, us Christians use these debates to condemn other believers and we become a stumbling block in their life when we do this.
Instead of putting down other believers, lets just show them love. If we debate, do it without personal attacks. And if no agreement can be found, let God sort it out… if it’s TRUTH and something that Christian needs to know… then God WILL make sure that person learns it.
Sound good?
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- Christian Lie #1: Salvation is you giving your life to Christ
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Cristian B. 10.22.08 at 5:09 am
I don’t know what Bible version you were reading, but in the King James Version(the version that is closest to the original), it says in 1 corintians 12:5-7: “There are different kinds of SERVICE, but the same lord. different kinds of WORKING, but the same god works through all of them.”
Now dont get me wrong, i dont believe in the denominationalism either, i believe that God is the same in many of denominations, not all of them though.
i just disagree with the quote you used. i believe this quote refers to the gifts and talents that God has givin us. like some pple have the talent of speaking well, and preaching. God works through that person. while one has good leadership, God will use him as a leader. while another has music talents, God will work through him with the music.
i dont think it refers to different denominations.
did denominations even exist back then? or was it like just a difference of opinion, but like the same riligion??
calebo 10.23.08 at 5:13 pm
KJV isn’t the closest to the original. No version is… they all have accurate parts and other more inaccurate parts.
And you’re correct: the quote DOES refer to different gifts/talents–but it’s used as an example to prove the point of the article.
With Love
Caleb