Denominational Differences

[Bloodbought]

In another thread Lamsby stated that there wer over 10,000 different groups within the protestant church who could not agree with each other. I wondered what we had in common and what the differences were.

I personally have spoken or preached in Apostolic, Pentecostal, Episcopal, Baptist, Independent Evangelical, Brethern, Congregational, Church of Scotland and Salvation Army. I cant remember any others. I was welcomed in all of these, so are any differences important?

[IChThUS]

I think Bloodbought the differences mainly lie in the pattern of worship rather than the teaching.

Some quiet and sedate others boisterous and jubilant, but the message is the same. I too have been welcomed with my message in many denominations and have sat under just as many different pulpits.

[Jon-Marc]

I'm a Baptist, and even in the Baptist churches alone they can't all agree.

[Robert Cragg]

Some people just don't get it. As Christians we need to remember we are suppose to love or brothers and sisters.
The Bible Has one main theme. That Jesus died for us to free us from our sins. Also allot of the doctrines have rules and laws written by man and that to me is where the trouble starts. We are all suppose to be different parts of the church ,the one that Christ is the Head off. Well one day the Lord will clean out His church and some will be supprised when the are swept out.

[Onesiphorus]

AMEN

[Bloodbought]

Dear Robert
Thanks for your post. Maybe I should have asked what differences were "Important" to us as individuals. There are many differences but I think that most would agree on the fundamentals and only dissagreee on trivial point where there is no clear guidance in scripture, like how often we should have communion, or what we should call the church leaders.

[eddybear]

My heart's desire is for unity within Christ's body, and so it feels odd to write abut denominational differences. But to achieve the unity that Christ himself prayed for (John 17) it is sometimes necessary to look at differences. And, sadly, there are plenty, not just in externals (e.g. style of worship, names of leaders etc), but in doctrine. For example:

End times - pre-mill, post-mill or amill?
Baptism - symbolic or effective?
Communion - just a symbol or more than that?
Women priests
Free will vs. predestination
Gifts of the Spirit vs. cessation
"Baptism in the Holy Spirit"
Early Genesis - literal or parable?
Infant baptism?
Once saved always saved?
Dispensational vs covenant theology.

These are all questions where there are a multitude of differences, even just within Protestantism. Of course, some are more important than others. One of the above list was the issue that prompted Ali and I to leave our last church, as we could not agree with the position that the leaders had adopted.

But to get back to what unites us - Christ died for us, and rose again. We are not saved by doctrine, we are saved by him dying for us, and his death was for all of us. We have one Father. We are indwelt by one Holy Spirit. What we are is brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a tragedy when we allow our differences to deflect us from our purpose, or obscure the unity that we already share in Christ.

[ByHisGrace]

I was brought up in the Baptist Church and when I married moved into the Brethern Assembly. When our family grew to teenagers they were getting disillusioned by the rigidity of the format and were going to other Churches and denominations. We then moved to a new Brethern Church which as grown over the years and also lost much of the Brethern Legalism. IMO if you find a place where you can fellowship with your brothers and sisters , where you can grow in your Faith and help others then Denomination does not matter.

[canny]

I have not attended many, started as Roman Catholic, ventured into Welsh Chapel ( I dunno what they are),,, think that burned down tho with all the fire and brimstone they were chucking about. Now I am Church in Wales which is basically Anglican.

I enjoy the bells and smells and ceremony, I thoroughly enjoy the people I have met, and I am now learning to enjoy my relationship with God. I find being there useful for concentration, and the best times to go is when the Church is empty

[Bloodbought]

it is sometimes necessary to look at differences. And, sadly, there are plenty, not just in externals (e.g. style of worship, names of leaders etc), but in doctrine. For example:

End times - pre-mill, post-mill or amill?
Baptism - symbolic or effective?
Communion - just a symbol or more than that?
Women priests
Free will vs. predestination
Gifts of the Spirit vs. cessation
"Baptism in the Holy Spirit"
Early Genesis - literal or parable?
Infant baptism?
Once saved always saved?
Dispensational vs covenant theology.

You would find these differences within individual churches. SOme of them are areas where scripture is not specific and are therfore not important. Many I agree have become divisive because people are often intolerant of opinions with which they cannot agree.

Do we see Denominational Differences as Dis-unity or Diversity. Excuse all the D's