Quote:
Originally Posted by OBW
So in terms that the LC understands, is a denomination by definition sectarian (in an unscriptural way), or is it so only if it willfully excludes other believers or insists on more than the common elements of faith for inclusion in their group?
If the answer is the latter, then I submit that my observation is that the LC is clearly sectarian and some denominations are not.
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Hold on!
I'm asserting that being sectarian is all about practicality not theory.
Thus, groups can be more or less sectarian and it's not a question of some kind of either/or fallacy. Moreover, all the members of those groups are part of the one unique assembly in that place, which is not under any kind of an earthly universal coordinated administration.
An assembly with some congregations meeting with the dreaded works of the Nicolaitans is still one of the Lord's own assemblies. The majority of the various meetings of believers in town might hold to those teachings and works and it might work as a strong frustration to the Lord's practical building in that place. This is not good and should not be celebrated or condoned. Moreover, to the extent that others would require that I submit to the authority of their particular hierarchies, well, that's a practical problem, isn't it? People become sectarian by insisting upon such things.
All I'm suggesting is that it is theoretically possible for believers who are nominally associated with various denominations to still participate in the practical manifestation of the assembly which is God's own intent and purpose. The groups, the denominations, do not really exist. All that really exists are all the believers and the problems that the enemy continually raises to prevent God's glory from being shown forth in the oneness.
In the Local Church, we were all taught that the only way to go on was to abandon all the denominations and only meet as "the local church." Well, without saying the denominations are healthy or preferable or even acceptable, they really aren't the issue, either. We need to stop trying to put God in our kind of a box. We need to accept that Christ may do some building within the meetings of the denominations. In fact, I would testify that at least I have seen some of this. God's ultimate goal is thwarted at some point because the new wine always bursts the old wineskins but, here's the point to consider: how does the wineskin remain forever new? It can only be so if it is Christ Himself alone.
THAT is my point. If we meet in Christ and fellowship in Christ and magnify Christ ONLY, the other sectarian matters become poor historical anomalies and not a big deal to the Lord.
The LC uses the most dire terms to describe the denominations but although there's perhaps some ground to go off about Mystery Babylon the Great as the Mother of all the Harlots of the Earth, someone please find me the denunciation of all "her daughters" in the Bible. I'm having trouble finding that for some reason and, to be blunt, "harlotry" and "adultery" really aren't the same thing at all. In fact, "taking another name" is kind of by definition NOT the role of the harlot.
Did everyone just fail to perceive this confusion of terms in the zeal of putting down the sectarian believers?