|
Galatians 5:14 "The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
Jesus told us over and over..I pray one day we catch on.  Thanks for the reminder..and good first blog. Look forward to many more!
Steph~
|
|
Posted 12/05/2007 08:53am
Author: baimarali
|
|
|
|
|
samrhall,
I just had this conversation with someone the other day. You are right that we should not judge others. However, we as believers have a responsibility to align ourselves with others of like faith and doctrine. If one does not believe the doctrines and practices of the church one is attending, then one should find a church that aligns with one's beliefs.
For example, if someone tells you they are Catholic, then it is correct to infer that they believe in transubstantiation, praying to saints and Mary, and not allowing other non-catholic believers to partake in the Eucharist. These are some of the basic doctrines of the Catholic church and if one associates and titles themselves as catholic then they are identifying that they share those beliefs. The same could be said of any denomination, as they are all very plain on their basic beliefs...which do differ.
You may respond that "Some don't know that their denomination believes this-or-that so you should not judge them." I would then respond that it is imperitive that Christians KNOW what their denominations believe because they will be associated with the beliefs of their denomination, whether they like it or not. One's personal witness includes with whom they align theirselves.
Another consideration is the two churches that exist. The visible church which consists of humans attending one or another denominational organizations (which contain believers, non-believers, and fake believers), and the invisible church consisting of those truly saved elect of Christ before the foundation of the world. God uses both churches for his purposes.
I agree that pride is a problem and is devisive, especially among different denominations. I've been told that I'm not really saved because my church play music. This is exactly what you are talking about. We must, however, know that we will be "judged" according to with whom we worship.
Thank you for your thought provoking blog. I enjoyed responding to it.
|
|
Posted 12/05/2007 08:54am
Author: jeremiah92324
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome to CB Sam! 
Great first blog. I look forward to many more. 
I remarked to a dear sister the other day that, "We tend to judge others to make ourselves feel better about our own shortcomings."
I see that statement made true every day, by non-believers and believers alike, because we are all human.
Jesus died for all humanity. Praise His Holy Name that He did.
Again, welcome!
YSIC,
Virginia
|
|
Posted 12/05/2007 10:10am
Author: happytoberestored
|
|
|
|
|
thank you for your first blog.this was convicting to me after setting myself up and becoming "spiritual roadkill', god scrapes me up with his grace , love and mercy.matthew 7 comes to mind.thank you again for the "spiritual v-8 god bless and look forward to many more blogs
|
|
Posted 12/05/2007 10:31am
Author: iraqivetsgtret
|
|
|
|
|
to CB!
I loved reading your blog because a soapbox of mine (actually one soapbox among many that I have ) is when well-intentioned Christians say that Catholics aren't Christian and aren't saved. I generally remind that person that we can't judge each person's heart within that denomination any more than we can say that everyone who goes to a Baptist church or Presbyterian church IS a Christian and IS saved.
If pushed further, I ask the person to tell me in the fewest words possible, the bare bones, the most essential beliefs required to be saved. And then I remind them that (most) people attending a Catholic church believe those very things.
I too was saved as a teenager while a practicing Catholic.
Thanks for a great blog, and like the others before me, I can't wait to read more from you.
YSIC,
Grace
|
|
Posted 12/05/2007 11:15am
Author: savedbyegrace
|
|
|
|
|
Well said! The fact that we even have denominations and adhere to specific doctrines of the church is divisive. It is following the doctrines of man and not of God. We each will stand before a Holy God and withstand His judgment, that is the only judgment we should be concerned with. Pride does so easily slip in there we we think our doctrine is better than another, etc,. etc. What does Jesus say? Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations. feed my sheep. be a servant. Who did He rebuke? The prideful and arrogant. I truly believe that pride is at the root of all sin and it is the most difficult one to fight, we can be prideful over the stupidest things, at least I know I can, yikes! Great blog and welcome to CB! Blessings! Andrea
|
|
Posted 12/05/2007 11:51am
Author: allforhim
|
|
|
|
|
As a Christian mutt* I always laugh when people single out one denomination as "the one" with incorrect doctrine. Because we are a retired military family, we have moved from city to city and church to church and I have yet to find a church where ALL the members are saved and believe the "correct" doctrine. I would argue that there is no way to get it ALL right ALL the time. Only Christ was perfect enough to get that accomplished.
What I have found in each of the cities and churches and denominations is that there are true believers who follow whole-heartedly and do their best to share and encourage those around them to do the same. And I always wonder if God doesn't put some of those believers in "those" denominations as a reminder that there is more to faith that ritual and doctrine REGARDLESS of how "right" it is. It doesn't matter if you ascribe to all the correct teachings if they don't somehow make it into your heart and flow out through your life. There is something so completely unique about a believer who radiates God's love that is truly non-denominational. After all, if it really is "seek and you shall find" then doesn't God show himself to ANYONE in ANY denomination if they REALLY seek Him?
I have to believe we would accomplish much more for the Kingdom if we paid more attention to what we AGREE on.
A
*My father grew up Catholic. My mother's parents were Lutheran. I grew up United Church of Christ, became a heathen, repented and was saved in an independent Baptist church, attended Evangelical Free, Free Lutheran and Assembly of God churches, joined a Southern Baptist, worked at a United Methodist church and now I attend a Reformed church.
|
|
Posted 05/19/2008 08:45pm
Author: savdbyluv
|
|
|
|
|
Log Into Chatroom 
