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Abiding In The Doctrine Of Christ (2 John 9)

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Whole Person Knowledge

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Recently, a Bible Q-n-A viewer posted a comment regarding the difference between the Pentecostal Church and “the Churches of Christ.” The main difference, according to the viewer, is that the Pentecostals view everything through the lens of emotionalism and the “the Churches of Christ” view everything strictly by reason and logic. That’s
not a complement! After reading the comment, it was clear to me that this viewer had, at best, an incomplete view of how we study and apply Scripture. Based on my exchanges with this viewer I am more inclined to believe that the comment was purposeful and biased critique of the church. Following is the response I posted to their comment.

“I believe you have incorrectly portrayed the view of ‘the churches of Christ’ in your post. We do not appeal to reason alone to the exclusion of anything else. We use all the
human faculties to “rightly divide the word of truth.” We also correctly recognize the place of these faculties. Reason/logic – experience – emotion.

Just as Christ is Head of the church (Eph. 1:22, 23), reason is the head of understanding. While a true – deep – understanding of God’s word includes experiential knowledge, that still must begin with reason and logic (2 Tim. 2:15). To truly know Christ in our lives we must experience Christ in our lives (cf. Matt. 11:29). We do that by
living out His word properly understood and applied (1 Jn. 2:3-6).

When we use reason and logic to understand the text and apply (experience) it in our lives it produces the correct emotional response, which again deepens our complete knowledge of Christ (Acts 2:37, 41; 8:39; 16:34; et al). That complete knowledge of Christ involves the complete human faculty – not anything alone.

Jesus said that we love the Lord our God with all of our heart (intellect, including emotion), soul (life), and mind (the psychological faculty of understanding, reasoning, thinking, and deciding— ‘mind.’ – Louw & Nida). The problem we have with denominationalism in general – more clearly expressed in the charismatic/Pentecostal denominations – is the tendency to discredit the clear meaning of the text because they put emotion and/or experience before reason.

There is a proper order to everything, including a full, rich, and deep understanding of about any information, especially biblical information. Reason comes first then the
emotional response to knowing the truth and a deepening understanding – appreciation – of the truth by experiencing it in practice (reason, emotion, experience).”

 

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What’s the difference between “Denomination” and “Non-Denominational”? What are you?

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There are many false beliefs where is the true church ?

Thank you for the GREAT question!

It has become somewhat “trendy” for churches to claim that they are “non-denominational.” This is part of the Community Church trend that started several years ago. However, most of those so-called Community Churches are simply denominations that have dropped the denominational name. They are still teaching and practicing, pretty much, the same things they did before they dropped the denominational name. So, really, there isn’t any difference between a denominational church and a non-denominational church, in that sense. If there are any differences it may be that they keep their money “in-house” instead of sending it in to a denominational headquarters. But, as far as teaching and practice, there are no real differences. Manmade, denominational, doctrines are still manmade doctrines whether you put the manmade name on it or not.

As far as what I am, I am not a member of any denomination. I am a member of the New Testament church, as described in the New Testament of Jesus Christ. I know many New Testament Christians have said for a long time that they are “non-denominational.” However, in my opinion, they need to quit using that terminology. In actuality, the true New Testament church is not “non-denominational, it is “anti-denominational.” With the Community Church trend and their use of the term “non-denominational,” non-denominational has actually become a denomination. Someone might respond to the question, “what denomination are you?,” with “non-denominational” in the same way someone would reply, “Baptist,” or “Methodist.” It has become just another sectarian identifier.

With the Community Church trend and their use of the term “non-denominational,” non-denominational has actually become a denomination. Someone might respond to the question, “what denomination are you?,” with “non-denominational” in the same way someone would reply, “Baptist,” or “Methodist.” It has become just another sectarian identifier. However, if someone asks me what denomination I belong to, I won’t reply that I’m “non-denominational.” I will say that I don’t belong to any denomination because denominationalism is unscriptural. That is, the Bible teaches against sectarian denominationalism. Therefore, I am anti-denominational. It isn’t just that I don’t belong to a denomination. I am AGAINST denominationalism. I am against it because the Bible, and therefore God, is against it. Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; 3:3; Philippians 1:27; 1 Peter 3:8; et al.

The only way to know the true church when you see it is to know how the church is described in the New Testament. If a congregation of people today is working and worshipping according to that pattern, or model, then they are the true New Testament church. That’s where you want to be!

Here is a video on the subject that you may find helpful:

That Which Never Changes

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Mt 16:19 The Unchanging Principles of Heaven

  • In this passage, Jesus refers to that which is bound and loosed in heaven.
    • To bind means to enforce something as law, to restrict within legal bounds.
    • To loose means to grant freedom in some aspect.
  • Regarding those things which are bound:
    • We know that it cannot be the customs of the early church because they have changed over the course of years and culture.
    • We know that it cannot be restricted to the expression of law within the church because the expression of faithfulness through obeying the law has occurred within changes in the law (Heb. 7:12).
  • Peter, and the apostles, did reveal the law of Christ, to which all Christians are legally bound to follow.
  • However, Jesus said that what Peter would be binding would be those things which were already bound in heaven.
  • The church would be governed by unchanging Heavenly law!
  • The unchanging law of heaven is founded on the unchanging nature of God.
  • So, what would be bound in the church, while expressed in specific legal requirements, were based on unchanging Divine principle.

Some Examples of Unchanging Divine Principle:

  • The Nature of God:
    • Malachi 3:6
    • Hebrews 13:8
    • The nature of God doesn’t change!
    • He has had changes in the law for His people (Gal. 3:17; Gen. 26:5; Heb. 7:12).
    • However, in every dispensation, God’s law had as it’s foundation the unchangeable nature of God.
  • The Principle of Modesty and Decency:
    • 1 Tim. 2:9
    • Deut. 22:5
    • 1 Cor. 11:14
    • Styles and customs have changed over the years.
    • But the Divine Principle is the same!
    • An immodest display of the body is always ungodly.
    • Men are to be men and women are to be women.
      • Effeminate men are indecent!
      • Manly women are indecent!
  • The Principle of Worship
    • John 4:24
    • Mark 7:7
    • The way in which worship was expressed to God by the Patriarchs and by the Jews, is much different than the way Christians express worship to God.
    • Even the way Christians of today express worship to God is very different in may ways from those our early brethren – concerning culture and tradition.
    • But the principle of acceptable worship is the same yesterday, today and forever! (Isa. 1:10-15, 16-17; James 4:8; 1 Tim. 2:8).
  • The Principle of Salvation:
    • The terms of salvation have changed from Patriarchal to Mosaic to Christian.
    • However, the principle of how men are saved has never changed!
    • Grace + Faith + Works = Salvation
    • Psalm 3:8
    • Titus 2:11
    • Rom. 1:16
    • James 2:24

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