That is true...Problem is many are taught that getting baptized is accepting Jesus...And many are taught that eating the Eucharistic wafer is accepting Jesus...And many are taught that doing good works is accepting Jesus...And many are taught that just by being a member of the club is accepting Jesus...
And I’ve realized that in our disagreements we are not helping Him with the mission He entrusted to us as his disciples.
Yes we are...
Yes we are...Those of us who read and believe what God told us to do are doing just that...
2Ti_3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti_4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
While we, here in this physical realm, disagree over doctrine, as long as we dedicate ourselves to Him and follow his teachings, we will go home to Him. We are all Christians, and if He has the grace to forgive us our sins, then I suspect that he will forgive us of our doctrinal differences.
Why would you think that??? That's not at all what Jesus tells us...
1Ti_1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
Rom_16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Eph_4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
1Ti_1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
1Ti_4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Doctrine is ever so important...If we are not united in doctrine, we are not united...
I believe that all of us who accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, will be welcomed by Him into heaven.
Joh 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Rom_10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
This is a doctrine...This is the correct doctrine...
We need to concentrate on what unites us in following Jesus. In this world, Christianity is under attack from all sides, we cannot focus on debating the equivalent of how many angels can sit on the head of a pin” amongst ourselves while ignoring the assault of secular humanism, Islam and the realm of evil.
I have had people on FR tell me that I am ‘damned to hell’ because I do not believe exactly as their minister and congregation believe, because “it is the only correct interpretation of Jesus’ words.” That is what I see as destructive to Christian unity.
Should we as Christians focus on denominationalism and the separation it brings or do we focus on what unites us? I think it is what unites us.
Whether I am right or wrong, will be up to Jesus to decide.
There's doctrine; and then there is DOCTRINE.
And then there is a WHOLE lot of speculation.
I believe that you and I are using two different definitions of doctrine. It appears to me that you are defining doctrine as scripture only. I see a church’s interpretation of scripture as doctrine and/or setting up requirements for membership in a particular religious group. Thus a “teaching” may not be found in scripture, but inferred from it. That is what I am talking about.
Dogma: This is derived from the Greek word dogma, which means “opinion.” In our context, it would mean “opinions about God” or “opinions deriving from God.”
Doctrine: This is derived from the Latin word doctrina, which means “teaching.” In our context, it would refer to “teaching about God” or “teaching derived from God.”
Theology: This is a compound of two Greek terms: theos, which means “God,” and logos, which means “word.” The suffix -logy, however, came to mean “study of,” and so “theology” could be understood to mean “the study of God.”