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To: ark_girl
"we *should* all be playing on the same team, though. Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, whatever. We all serve the same Master."

Not according to Paul! Paul said, there are some who are disturbing you, and wanting to distort the gospel of Christ. But even though we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached, let him be accursed."

When church doctrine goes astray, whether Baptist, Methodist, Presbytarian, Episcopel, etc -- the doctrine and movement must be rejected as apostate.

126 posted on 12/14/2006 7:08:57 PM PST by evangmlw ("God Is Definitely Conservative")
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To: evangmlw

Just because a church doesn't agree with you on every detail doesn't make them heretic. There are some basics that are crucial. But, there are other things that are up for interpretation...where it's not clear what exactly the Bible means. Even the early, early churches mentioned in the Bible didn't all agree on everything. Looking at the same set of words. Trying to interpret it literally, there was disagreement.

You find a church where you agree with what they believe for the most part so that you don't get in the way. But, you also realize that we're a part of the church to participate in a larger body of Christ. That body is there to Glorify God. Not one denomination or another. That body is there to teach each other, build each other up, and try to reach out to the community around us. You have the humility to realize that maybe the way you understand some things in the Bible is correct. Maybe there are some places where those other folks are right. We'll all know someday when we get to Heaven, but that day isn't here yet. So, a healthy debate is fine. Tearing each other down is not because it just gets in the way of more important things.

Making blanket statements on a board like this that every large church or every non-denominational church is evil does not glorify God. It may prevent someone from trying visiting a church that could have been a good influence on their lives. It makes Christians look petty to non-Christians. It's a turn-off to non-Christians and it doesn't do anything to further the Kingdom. Frankly, it reinforces why a lot of them resent Christians.

People don't need to coming onto a public forum like this and make blanket statements about and entire size or type of church unless you've visited them all and know what they all (each individual church) teach. Especially when we all KNOW there are non-Christians on here.


141 posted on 12/15/2006 8:23:52 AM PST by ark_girl
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To: evangmlw

AMEN!


257 posted on 12/15/2006 6:07:08 PM PST by tutstar (Baptist Ping list - freepmail me to get on or off.)
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