Confessions – Statements Of Faith
There are many reasons why there are so many Christian churches. We will look at several of those reasons here.
OR IN OTHER WORDS…
Why do churches have different interpretations/views of various doctrines?
There is an overemphasis and/or under-emphasis on some belief or practice, for example:
PLEASE NOTE: These examples are not meant to cover ALL areas that can be out of balance in a church.
Matt 23:23 – “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”
Luke 11:42 – “But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”
There is an overemphasis on the outward appearance and an under-emphasis on the inward condition of the heart. This results in the truth being distorted by misapplying scripture. In extreme cases, people can be led to think that their salvation depends on their adherence to legalistic practices promoted by their church. Legalism often results when believers have a preoccupation with any of the following kinds of issues:
Col 2:8 – “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
Col 2:16-18 – “16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,”
1 Sam 16:7 – “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
Matt 23:5-7 – “But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.”
Many churches strictly follow church bylaws or denominational creeds. Those documents are what usually defines their church. And for various reasons they never alter their teaching from those “official” documents, even if they learn that there may an error or two in those documents. The leaders of those churches would probably be out of a job if they taught different doctrine from that which is spelled out in the creeds and bylaws.
Many church leaders fall into the trap that all of us can fall into: they trust famous teachers and preachers too much, be it “church fathers” or the Reformers or seminar professors or famous/popular Christian authors or whomever. Many church members fall into the trap of assuming their church leaders are correct because of their status in the local church (i.e. they are teachers and were probably formally trained somewhere).
A very subtle practice that leads people to trust men so much is the use of titles for these men.
Today’s titles that are equivalent to ‘Rabbi’:
Reverend, Pastor, Father (in Catholicism) or any title that sets a man apart. Even the word ‘elder’ when used as a title.
What titles can do:
(see John 3:30, Mark 9:35, Mark 10:44)
Titles all believers have:
We are all one in Christ (see Gal 3:28, 1Cor 3:4-5)
2Cor 10:12 – “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”
(See also Mark 7:1-13)
This actually covers items 1 & 2 which are tied to the method used to interpret scripture. Many different views on biblical doctrine would disappear if believers were rightly dividing the Word of Truth instead of basing their beliefs and practices on church tradition, denominational creeds, experiences, etc.
Themes relating to God’s Word:
When you do church in an environment that only lets the “official” teachers do the teaching, and where you do your best to adhere to “official” church documents or denominational creeds, the possibility for correcting doctrinal error is very small. Here are a couple of related articles on this subject that you are strongly encouraged to investigate:
Rom 14:1-6 – “1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.”
1Cor 12:4-6 – “4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.”
1Cor 12:28 – “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”
Regardless of all the differences between denominations and individual believers, there are some basic things that unite all true believers:
Protestant Denominations Having A “Free-Will” GospelThese churches are also known as Arminian |
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Charismatic/Pentecostal |
Typically Non-Charismatic |
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Protestantism Denominations Having A “Predestination” GospelThese churches are also known as Calvinist |
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