Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
Well, I don't know what bible you have but my bible says this:
Romans 16:17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.
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To cause a division is equivalent to a "damnable heresy" referred to by the Apostle Peter. To have a meeting with Christians in fellowship by necessity will not include every Christian on this planet, so that is not to "cause a division". But according to Peter 2:1
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. So then a damnable heresy, to cause a division in the body of Christ, this is closely tied to "denying the Lord who bought you". When you say that WN is the "Minister of the Age" you are denying Jesus Christ who is the Minister of the Age. When you say that the boundary of a worldly city is "the ground of the church" you are denying the Lord who bought us with His blood. His sacrifice, His blood is the ground we stand on.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
Titus 3:10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.
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Everyone on this forum should follow this advice. This forum and this thread in particular are warnings to all concerning these divisive persons. I personally have warned them twice and now no longer have anything to do with them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
So we may say that warnings about being "poisoned" , was actually deeply rooted in the culture of the New Testament church.
Some people may think this applies only to their own particular denomination or fellowship of their own choosing. But it doesn't. It is written not to denominations, but to every Christian in a locality, to avoid those who cause divisions. At the time, the only people who would have been causing divisions were those who were looking to divide, and create denominations, according to "I follow Paul, I follow Apollos" (1 Cor 1:12-13). And Paul asks the question in verse 13 "is Christ divided and has your denomination been crucified for you?"
Why would Paul write this to groups within groups within groups within groups in a locality? He is not talking about not having division just in your own family, between husband and wife, but between whole groups of Christians, who we might call denominations today.
In other words if you are in a division /denomination, and think that you are not divisive because you get along with everyone in your denomination happily, think again.
You see, the bible is consistent on these matters.
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Yes, I agree. Saying that you follow WN or WL is not consistent with the NT. Saying that certain people are "ministers of the Age" rather than Jesus Christ is not consistent with the NT. Saying that there is some other ground to the church other than the sacrifice made by Jesus on the Cross is not consistent with the NT.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
Luke 11:17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.
Jude 1 : They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.
There is a full list of scriptures here:
https://www.openbible.info/topics/division |
What a great example. WN's empire was divided against itself when he came from Taiwan to the US. Since then it has become divided against itself again with the split from Titus Chu and from South America and from Germany and from churches in Africa.
Also, great example about the "scoffers and their ungodly passions". Surely you refer to PL, TL, etc. Yes, I agree, it is these people who cause divisions, they were worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. They have been warned and now according to the NT we have nothing to do with them.