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Originally Posted by Igzy
You guys keep talking about "the denominations" like you really know something about them. Times have changed. Most denominations these days and all community churches I know of have no criteria for attending meetings or even for membership.
Superficially the LCM does not have any criteria for membership. But the fact is the LCM expects a lot of conformity to be a member in good standing. There is really, when you get right down to it, not much generality in the LCM.
The LCM is "most open" in the sense that they are looking to capture whomever they can. And since the LCM can't seem to get anyone saved they have to grab existing Christians where they can get them. So yeah, if you want to call that "open"... But the fact is the LCM is really not tolerant of differing beliefs. If you don't conform you will be dealt with in one way or another.
When you get right down to it, most non-LCM churches are much more open and tolerant of differing (not sinful) beliefs. They truly practice generality. Lee used to teach generality, but I never saw evidence of its practice. And the "one publication" bull pretty much put an end to any hope of it. The kite strings go all the way back to La Palma, and we know who is holding them.
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You are right denominations have changed a lot, if you are talking about the baptists or community churches, perhaps the presbyterian as well. The more mainstream institutionalized churches have not changed that much and in fact have gotten worse in some ways by aligning themselves with the Catholics and not preaching the Bible. But I do know that I heard more negativity towards other churches in the Presbyterian church I used to attend than I ever have in my local church.