That's what I'm having a hard time with HD.I've read the postings of these guys for years.Years.So I haven't come to my opinion of them reading one or two contentious threads,especially in an area of doctrine that has been thrashed for centuries and yet there still is divide over it.
Because I've read years worth of their posts,I think it helps me to know just where they are coming from.
So to come to a thread on a highly contentious issue and hear what I am hearing about posting so-called non-sense really is disappointing to say the least.I don't quite know how to take all this.Obviously it could simply mean that CB and MM are cultic numbskulls and I'm an even bigger dupe for listening to them.
Obviously I do NOT think that for one second and I don't consider myself an idiot who believes non-sense either (though I suppose that will remain to be seen)I'm fairly certain of where they are coming from after many years of reading here.
Don't know what else to say,you're dissappointed,I'm disappointed.Sadly,this thread is just making me mad and I can't help thinking I aint the only one.
It certainly has been enlightening.
It's been a real eye-opener as far as people's reactions to someone sticking with just Scripture, depending on the leading of the Holy Spirit to lead one into truth, and refusing to be labeled.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
Denominationalism divides the body. Of course not all people can go to the same church. People go to the local assembly that's near them.
But once you start going down the road of denominations, it fosters an *us vs them* mentality, which should not exist within the body of Christ.
The body of Christ is comprised of all believers in the church age where ever they are. It is a unity that transcends denominations.
The problem with naming a denomination is that you are then broad brushed with ANYTHING that that denomination is reported as doing, whether you agree with it or not, as has happened with predictable regularity on the Catholic threads.
The other thing is that while Catholic churches abound in NY, that can't be said of all denominations. For many denominations, there are only a handful of churches within that denomination which exist in an hour's drive of our home, and that would indeed allow for someone to track me down by knowing my denominational affiliation.
Which BTW, is affiliation only. We are not members and do not identify as a denomination - ist, because our salvation is in Christ, we are followers of Christ, we trust Him for it, not the church to which we belong.
If I felt that it was the church that saved me, I would not doubt proudly announce that membership or affiliation. But the church we attend is for the purpose of worship, fellowship, and ministry opportunities.
What I've concluded , though, is that even if I did give a denominational affiliation, someone would still attack me for it because they disagree with the doctrinal statement of that denomination. Damned if I do and damned if I don't.
My goal is to present the gospel so that people get saved not to drum up members for my church/denomination. And if I give that affiliation, that's what I'm going to be suspected or accused of doing. People will automatically consider that you have nothing to say if they don't like your denomination.
I think it's important to keep this in perspective Mitch. I believe "free will" is the sin of Adam. I believe the whole concept goes back to Adam's desire to be independent of God. It is Adam saying to God, "I will take the fruit." And what you have seen on this thread is this rebellion rearing it's ugly head. It is a nasty attitude that lurks in all of us. "I" will make the choice. "I" am free to do what I want. Some of us just like to defend it or justify it more than others. I simply don't believe people understand what they are saying. They are blinded. And, yes, these are very fine Christians. You only have to look back at many of the posts to see that this is so.
Where this sin leads is to more heresy and corruption. Catholics abandoned Augustine's warnings on this over 1500 years ago and look where they are today. Protestants are on the same road.
I think it's very important to get people to understand this heresy. It is a subtle cancerous error than entwines itself around the spinal core of just about every doctrine of faith. It has been my experience that the less people embrace the "I choose", the closer they understand about "God choose". It's all about God's sovereign and loving control over their lives. I saw this to be true in my life. That is why I bring it up. May God grant us His mercy to understand His grace. What do we have that we have not received from God?