Divisions in the Church

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

Ian Johnson 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

Christian history, Christianity, Church History, History of Christianity, Islam, Islamic History, Secular History, Western History

Conclusion–Mutual Submission to Each Other Under Christ, Not a Chain of Command

Ian Johnson December 10, 2020 1 Comment

For unity to be seen in the Church, there must be submission—first submission to Christ as Head of the Church, then mutual submission to each other. A part of this necessary submission is to submit to those God has placed in leadership in the Church. But submission to leadership must come after submission to Christ, and be an aspect of mutual submission to each other. Much division has been caused by leaders who have insisted that they, and other human leaders, should be “in command” of the church. Only Christ is rightfully in command.

A God who Speaks, Authority Contests, Divisions in the Church, God Speaks to Us, Heresy, In the Church, Meaning of Unity, Other Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Peril of Seeking Power, The universal Church and local churches, Through others, Through the church, Uncategorized

chain of command, church government, Church unity, leaders, leadership, mutual submission, submission, Unity, Unity of believers

The Ephesians 4 “Offices” are Jesus’ Gifts to the Church, not Fixed “Offices” of Authority

Ian Johnson November 24, 2020 3 Comments

Ephesians 4:11 identifies five groups of people given to the Church by Christ to equip its members to do the work of the ministry–apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. These five groups are best viewed based on their functions, and not as fixed “offices” of authority. The common Protestant emphasis on the pastor as the “boss” of the local church is unjustified.

A God who Speaks, Authority Contests, Church purpose versus church growth, Divisions in the Church, God Speaks to Us, Other Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Peril of Seeking Power, Purpose of the Church, Through the church

Apostle, authority, authority figures, authority in the Church, Church Offices, Clergy, Ephessians 4 offices, Evangelist, Laity, Pastor, Pastor-Teacher, Prophet, Teacher

Authority Figures in the Church — Deacons

Ian Johnson November 22, 2020 2 Comments

The New Testament provides for deacons as servants of the local church, administering alms to its widows, orphans and poor members. They are not spoken of as being in charge, but those who serve well obtain good standing and great boldness, as the martyr Stephen and Phillip the Evangelist did.

A God who Speaks, Disrespecting poor believers, Divisions in the Church, God Speaks to Us, In the Church, Meaning of Unity, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Purpose of the Church, The universal Church and local churches, Through the church

authority, authority figures, authority in the Church, boldness, deacons, ministry to the poor, Phillip the deacon, Phillip the evangelist, servants, Stephen, Stephen the martyr, widows

Authority, Submission and Oneness

Ian Johnson November 5, 2020 1 Comment

Authority and submission are important to the unity of the Church. But it does not operate based on a human chain of command. It operates based on respect for leaders under a common head.

A God who Speaks, Authority Contests, Church purpose versus church growth, Divisions in the Church, God Speaks to Us, In the Church, Meaning of Unity, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, The universal Church and local churches, Through others, To live in unity

authority, chain of command, Church, Church leadership, heirarchy, in charge, leaders, mutual submission, oneness, submission, Unity

Conclusion: False Brethren Seek to Bring Us into Bondage

Ian Johnson 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

bondage, false christs, false messiahs, False prophets, heresy, submission

What About Church Discipline?

Ian Johnson November 1, 2020 4 Comments

The purpose of church discipline is restoration, a process that is to be initiated by a person injured or offended by a wrong behavior. The disciplinary process has no valid application to erroneous beliefs, as such. The New Testament never suggests that worldly penalties should be attached to the process.

A God who Speaks, Church purpose versus church growth, Compulsory Christianity, Divisions in the Church, God Speaks to Us, Greed, Heresy, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Peril of Seeking Power, Religious violence and persecution, Replacing Relationship with Morality, Through the church

behavior, Christendom, church discipline, Church unity, criminal, offended, offense, penalties, restoration

Factions–Following Human Leaders–Leads to Heresy

Ian Johnson 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

Denminationalism, Divisions in the Church, factions, heresy, human leaders, personalit cults

On the Other Extreme—1 Timothy 4 and Colossians 2

Ian Johnson October 29, 2020 2 Comments

Divisions in the church have been started not only by leaders who taught license to attract followers, but also by leaders who taught extreme asceticism– that God is only pleased by those who keep the strict rules they prescribe.

Authority Contests, Divisions in the Church, Heresy, Leaving Our First Love, Peril of Seeking Power, Replacing Relationship with Morality, Social control and statecraft

asceticism, Divisions, extreme ascetic, heresy, heretic, morality, rules, strictness

The Traditional View of the First Timothy, Titus and Second Peter Passages

Ian Johnson October 27, 2020 1 Comment

The traditional view of the heresy passages in 1 Timothy 6, Titus 3 and 2 Peter 2 actually fosters division by requiring us to shun anyone who disagrees with our denomination’s formal doctrinal statements.

Authority Contests, Heresy, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Peril of Seeking Power, Through the church

Christian unity, creed, doctrinal statement, heresy, heretic, traditional meaning of heresy

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

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Conclusion–Mutual Submission to Each Other Under Christ, Not a Chain of Command

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The Ephesians 4 “Offices” are Jesus’ Gifts to the Church, not Fixed “Offices” of Authority

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Authority Figures in the Church — Deacons

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Authority, Submission and Oneness

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Conclusion: False Brethren Seek to Bring Us into Bondage

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What About Church Discipline?

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Factions–Following Human Leaders–Leads to Heresy

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On the Other Extreme—1 Timothy 4 and Colossians 2

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The Traditional View of the First Timothy, Titus and Second Peter Passages

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Divisions in the Church

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