“I pray not only for them (the disciples), but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.” Jn. 17
If Jesus prayed for us to be one, why are there 25,000 + denominations with radically different doctrines. Jesus prayed that we will be one as He is one with the Father. Is this really what Jesus wanted? Your thoughts, please?
2006-12-03 15:31:49 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There are radically different doctrines. I consider it radical when two christian churches have two completely opposite ideas on how we are saved.
I know of only one church that is one, holy, catholic (universal) and apostolic, and I belong to it.
2006-12-03 15:46:05 · update #1
You're right.
Jesus never told us to form 25,000+ different denominations. That was all man's idea.
2006-12-03 15:39:34 · answer #1 · answered by Consuming Fire 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The doctrines between each denomination are not radical. They differ in small things about what the Bible has to say about baptism, church government, etc. however most agree on the main christian doctrine which really is what counts. Jesus said it was okay to be disputed on the smaller issues but what really matters is believing that salvation is obtained by grace through faith in Jesus
2006-12-03 23:35:39 · answer #2 · answered by Brad 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
radically different is a bit overstating.
just as the pharasees found out the hard way that power corrupts -----
so after many years so did Christians.
The followers of Jesus is not a particular denomination. but those who obey him.
Michia 6: 8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.
Or in James - True religion is obeying God, and taking care of widows and orphans.
John tells us to love our brother, and Jesus, that is what following christ is all about
2006-12-03 23:40:36 · answer #3 · answered by Slave to JC 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
People are just to different to all belong to one denomination. They tried it before and things became so corrupted that there was a separation. If things were combined, history would repeat itself. I think that all Jesus wanted was for everyone to try to be the best person that they could be, and for people to have a belief in God.
2006-12-03 23:35:38 · answer #4 · answered by The Pope 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The passage you quoted deals with unity in the Spirit. Notice that Jesus said that, 'they may all be one, as you, Father, are IN ME and I IN YOU, that they may also be IN US . . .' The whole church should be united IN the Father and the Son. All the disunity in the churches worldwide is caused primarily by leaders and believers walking in the flesh. Unity will come when all leaders and their believers are walking fully in the Spirit. It will be fulfilled we all Christians can say, 'I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.' (Gal 2:20). Let the whole body of Christ be crucified in the flesh and live the new creation life then all will be in the Father and the Son and united in the Spirit. This is Jesus' desire. No more work of the flesh but by the Spirit. Not by our own power or our own might but by the Spirit.
2006-12-03 23:53:34 · answer #5 · answered by seekfind 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am an Atheist. I truly believe that Jesus DID prey for us to be one, as the bible says. I also believe that Jesus was just a man. A regular Joe like you or me, and not the son of any god. The existence of Jesus does not prove the existence of God, any more than the existence of David Koresh.
2006-12-03 23:51:50 · answer #6 · answered by southswell2002 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Like what happened alot in the Scriptures: people turned wicked and changed something from the original church, so someone tried to change it back, thus a different denomenation formed...
2006-12-03 23:38:17 · answer #7 · answered by sulilyreads 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some day we will have perfect unity amoung Christian people. And please don't be confused my the number of denominations there are. Most of them have more in common then you may think. There are some that are very different and we should be concerned about them, you know the guys like Schuller and Warren, but we will some day live in unity, be sure.
2006-12-03 23:39:00 · answer #8 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think many of those "25,000 +" denominations are not genuinely saved people. Jesus said, Matthew 7:22 "Many will say to Me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'"
Here is a group that Jesus called "many" who are involved in Christianity up to their eyeballs, praying, prophesing, doing miracles, casting out demons, and yet Jesus said He never knew them. They never were saved. There are a lot of deceived people thinking they are going to heaven and are going to be shocked at the judgment. They are not one with the Father.
2006-12-03 23:43:26 · answer #9 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is only one church that Jesus intended. You just need to find it! Look by others examples, analyze the basics of the gospel, and PRAY!
2006-12-03 23:36:48 · answer #10 · answered by Pace 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋