Quote:
Originally Posted by Igzy
I think you need to now define terms. You keep using the term "denomination" in a vague way. But I'm not clear what exactly you mean by the term. Please define it specifically. Does it include community churches not affiliated with controlling organizations? Does it just mean having a name?
|
There must be a valid reason as to why churches feel the need to name themselves by something other than Christ or just Christian. And I maintain that this reason is a divisive spirit which the Bible spoke against. It is because they feel they are different from the others, when in reality they are the same.
Why churches have to name themselves? I wonder what is wrong with the name Christian. Why a church doesn't just identify itself as Christians? Is Christ not a name? It is because they see themselves as different from the other Christians in their city. Suppose a woman is married to Mr Smith. Her name is Smith also, but Tom Cruise comes along and she decides to change her name to Cruise, because Tom Cruise is better than Mr Smith. She stays married to Mr Smith but she names herself after Cruise. By doing so she has just caused a division between herself and her husband.
I think you need to define some terms as well. You use the term "community church". What does that even mean? The Lutherans are a community, we, the local church, are a community. Are we not in the same community as the "community church"? So why are you distinguishing between them and us? Why don't you define what is the difference between a community church and a local church? What does the community church have that the local church does not have? What does the community church have that the Lutheran church does not have? The "community church" can be just as divisive as a named denomination. For example, the community church would feel like home for those in the community but outsiders and visitors who are not part of that community may feel excluded. Therefore to name a church as a "community" church is just as divisive as calling it a Lutheran church.
Maybe you can tell me what spirit does the Lutherans have that the Baptist don't? What does the Lutherans add that the Baptist don't already? What can the Lutheran church contribute to the locality that the Baptist cannot? I question why the Lutherans have not joined the Baptist churches since the Baptist churches are more up to date with their revelation. If we address the reasons why the denominations exist and continue to exist, we will find that the root cause is division which Paul spoke against. Denominations are division not merely a group of local Christians calling themselves by a certain name.