The Fool Who Would Be Holy > Church purpose versus church growth > Divisions in the Church > Denominationalism

Denominationalism

The Story of Regina

August 22, 2024 0 Comments

Explanation of the letter I have written to Regina Oliveira. She was an important part of the surreal story of my life from 1984 to 1991, then she disappeared. Her love sustained us in a very difficult time. This story teaches that you can’t know how much the kindness you do today will change the world forty years from now.

A God who Speaks, Angels, Denominationalism, Ethnic Division, Events and Signs, forgiveness and mercy, God Acts by Speaking, God is light, God is Love, God Never Stopped Speaking, God Speaks to Us, God's purpose for us, God's sovereignty, Heresy, His Friends, In the Church, Love each other, Meaning of Unity, patience, Personal Background, Restoration of our Relationships, Show us the Way of Truth, The Kingdom is all around us, The Kingdom of the Heavens, Through others, To be his ambassadors, To live in unity, Truth and Falsehood, Uncategorized, Victory

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La historia de Regina

August 22, 2024 0 Comments

Explicación de la carta que he escrito a Regina Oliveira. Ella era una parte importante de la historia surreal de mi vida de 1984 a 1991, luego desapareció. Su amor nos sostuvo en un momento muy difícil. Esta historia enseña que no puedes saber cuánto la bondad que haces hoy cambiará el mundo dentro de cuarenta años.

A God who Speaks, Angels, Complex unity, Denominationalism, Ethnic Division, Events and Signs, Forgive as we forgive, forgiveness and mercy, God Acts by Speaking, God is light, God is Love, God Never Stopped Speaking, God Speaks to Us, God's purpose for us, God's sovereignty, Heresy, His Friends, In the Church, Love each other, Meaning of Unity, patience, Personal Background, Replacing Relationship with Morality, Restoration of our Relationships, Show us the Way of Truth, The Kingdom is all around us, The Kingdom of the Heavens, Through others, To be his ambassadors, To be in his image, To live in unity, Truth and Falsehood, Victory

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CONCLUSION: THE SELFISH FOCUS OF HERETICS

June 3, 2021 0 Comments

Even a very respectable denomination’s or church organization’s determination that a teaching is “heresy” cannot be taken, without examination, as absolute truth for two reasons. First, a deliberately divisive person’s–a true “heretic’s”– motives are selfish rather than doctrinal and usually well-hidden behind doctrine. Second, such people sometimes take control of even respectable denominations.

Authority Contests, Denominationalism, Desire to have our own way, Divisions in the Church, Heresy, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Peril of Seeking Power, Personality cults

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The “Winning” Faction may be Heretical

May 31, 2021 2 Comments

Because the truth remains true even if no one believes it, it does not depend on human power relationships. Therefore, it is not safe to label people “heretics” because they disagree with us concerning doctrines that were imposed on our ancestors by right of conquest or that disagree with teachings honored by political leadership or majorities today.

A God who Speaks, Authority Contests, Church purpose versus church growth, Denominationalism, Divisions in the Church, God Speaks to Us, God's Voice, Heresy, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Peril of Seeking Power, Personality cults, Truth and Falsehood, Victory

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Recognized Leaders May Lapse into Incorrect Positions and Divisiveness

May 27, 2021 2 Comments

“Heresy” cannot be determined by calling anything that goes in a different direction that specific leaders a heresy, because leaders are sometimes wrong. Peter is an example, though he repented when rebuked for his divisiveness in Antioch.

Denominationalism, Divisions in the Church, Ethnic Division, In the Church, Jew versus Gentile, Meaning of Unity, Personality cults

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Concurrent History of the Organized Church Institution, Divisions Among Christians, the Rise and Influence of Islam, and the Present State of the West

December 18, 2020 5 Comments

This page contains a top-level outline of a long series of posts that will show how errors and divisions that crept into Christianity before Muhammad influenced Muhammad either positively–leading to the his adoption of exaggerated forms of these errors–or negatively– leading to exaggerated reactions against them. Islamic versions of these errors or reactive teachings then influenced Medieval Christianity. The combination of the original errors and Islamic influences then combined with European politics to lead to the Crusades, the Reformation and its wars, and the modern West and Western Church as we know them.

Church History, Islamic History and Secular History Interaction, Denominationalism, Index, Islam and Christianity, Islam as a Consequence, Religious violence and persecution, Topic Index, Wars as consequences

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Conclusion: False Brethren Seek to Bring Us into Bondage

November 3, 2020 0 Comments

The essence of heresy is division in the Body of Christ, and a “heretic” is one who stealthily introduces division into that Body in order to increase his or her own reputation, power or wealth. In that way, they seek to replace Christ as Head of the Body for their own profit.

Authority Contests, Denominationalism, Divisions in the Church, Greed, Heresy, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Peril of Seeking Power, Personality cults

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Factions–Following Human Leaders–Leads to Heresy

October 31, 2020 2 Comments

Christ is not divided. But historically Christianity has been divided into groups following human leaders, past or present, ahead of Christ. The solution is an individual one, letting God perfect our unity with our brothers. It cannot be imposed by a human leader or organization.

Authority Contests, Denominationalism, Divisions in the Church, Personality cults

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