Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
I am wondering why the double standards here. If I say that denominations are wrong, sectarian and divisive, why is the response "that is more divisive than the denominations". If denominations are sectarian that makes them sects. I have said this many times as well.
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No double standard on my part. I am fully aware that we are not completely one on every side issue. But you are so focused on the fact that we are not one on the side issues while ignoring that you are no different, and in some ways more so.
We do not declare others to be "non church" or "defective church." That is left to your group. You think that you can be both in disagreement and dismissive of all others, and yet claim the high road? Hard to do from the gutter.
The rest of your response is not worthy of a response. One book does not make your point. It only proves that there is a tendency in man to look for reasons to think more highly of their own thoughts than of anyone else's.
And house churches are not the answer to the problem. They are just a prone to following divisive ways as any other. The only difference is that they do not at least band together with other similars. Instead they just go it alone. And they cease to have a sufficient core of people with which to vet the latest idea. The craziest ideas of recent times came from people who were leaders of independent groups, not the denominations. The "Love Wins" dismissal of Hell was from an independent free group. No connection to others. No one to stand up and critique it. And that is not the only example.
Meanwhile, whether assemblies are completely independent, somewhat independent, or grouped together, they are only as divisive relative to others as they have tendency to declare others to be less than "church" or otherwise deficient for not being like them. That would be your group. Not he denominations. Not so many of those free groups or house churches.
But why are there house churches? Because they don't like larger groups? Because they want to have truly local control over all aspects of their belief? None of these are simply bad. But none of these are simply good.