There are at least 4 major Christian denominations and about 20,000 sub-denominations and small groups. Each one is claiming to have the correct doctrinal interpretation of Scripture. Small wonder people say we do not practice what we preach. We debate, argue, fight even kill each other because of doctrinal issues.
Jesus prayed for all of us before he was arrested. He said, "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours,
and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are." - John 17,9-11
Comments and suggestions, please.
2007-03-20 13:52:48 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
But there is only one Church. One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism; One God and Father of us all.
Those denominations are man made and they can be man-destroyed.
We are all Katholics. The Creed knows of only ONE CHURCH. One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. Period.
Kath = "according to" Holos, or Holon = "the whole".
The Church cannot be divided.
2007-03-20 13:58:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I believe the correct answer is not which group is right or wrong but rather what you believe. Of course every church has its own interpretation of the Bible's meaning. Why else would Henry 8th have started the Church Of England... because he believed the Roman Catholic Church was wrong. Sure he was pissed off at the Pope too because he wouldn't allow him to get divorced.
two people can read any book and have different understandings - which one of them is right or wrong?
As long as YOU do what you BELIEVE is right it doesn't matter about splitting hairs on technicalities of what someone meant by what they said 2000 years ago.
In fact one could interpret the different churches as being controlled by the Devil.... How so? Well (I don't know exactly where) the Bible tells about Satan misleading the people by showing them alternative meanings.
Probably the most correct version of the Bible is the King James version. That is not to say it is 100% right but again, you have to make up your own mind about what is meant by what is said. I think if you stick to the 10 Commandments you'll find that at least is a point all churches and religipns agree upon as accurate and not open to "interpretation". If you are told "Don't do (whatever)" then how much simpler can it be than Don't do it? What other way can you interpret it?
2007-03-20 21:09:32 · answer #2 · answered by Traveller 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. actually, there are 5 "Christian" denominations (or atleast those who claim Christ to be the ultimate example for us to follow": Catholicism, Protestantism, Orthodox, JW and Mormon.
2. In my eyes, only God has the 100% accurate interpretation of Scripture, as it's His word. I think too many people say what they would LIKE it to mean. Also, not everyone goes back to the languages the Scripture was written in, so there are many misconceptions. Then you have to take note of archaic customs that are no longer widely practiced or known, contexts, and understanding of symbolism. If man just let the Holy Spirit do His job and reveal scripture to us, then there wouldn't be as many arguements.
2007-03-20 21:21:15 · answer #3 · answered by Hey, Ray 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Private interpretation of biblical doctrine is not the same as personal reading of the Bible for spiritual growth. The Catholic Church continues to protect the doctrinal interpretation of scripture as a matter beyond the decision of individual readers, but at the same time, in the strongest language encourages the personal, private reading and study of the sacred texts. If the inspired word is read in a spirit of faith and prayer, the Holy Spirit will protect from error and lead the reader to God's true message for his or her life.
The critical word here is "authority." Who has the authority to decide the proper doctrinal interpretation of scripture passages? Many Christians maintain that that this authority belongs to the individual believer. Catholics maintain that this authority was given by Jesus to his followers as a group under their proper leaders; in other words, the authority to decide what is the saving truth and what is the norm of Christian living revealed by the Bible is vested in the Church with its appointed readers.
An example may help to focus the point at issue. In chapter 13 of John's Gospel, Jesus washes the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper. Most gospel readers probably interpret "washing one another's feet" as a symbol of service to others, an encouragement to love in action, or humility in doing good to others. "I do not need to wash feet literally to fulfill the command of Jesus; I do it be serving others. Fine, but who tells you to interpret the text this way? There is nothing in the reading itself to indicate that Jesus did not mean a physical washing of physical feet. Your authority for reading the text that way is not coming from the Bible but from outside it.
The Catholic admits this. The Bible does not interpret itself but needs an authentic interpreter. This, for the Catholic, is the community of believers, the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit through its leaders.
Grace and peace!
2007-03-20 21:00:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Friend, God love diversity. All of creation points out that truth. There are so many different flowers! so many different colors, so many different fish, etc. Why oh why do Christians think that God's will is that we all think alike?? Christians fail to distinguish unity from uniformity. Christ has prayed for us that we might have unity, not uniformity.
God is not against people expressing their love and worship in various forms, He is not against people forming different opinions about scriptures. He is not against denominations. He is not against different groups emphasizing different things. He sees beyond the differences. He sees the body of Christ as one body - and it is! Many different members of the body, different functions, different viewpoints - but Christ is the head of all!
The problem is, of course, just like Paul described: the hand thinks it has no need of the foot, the eye thinks it has no need of the ear. We fail to appreciate each other, we fail to rejoice in our diversity, etc. We fail to recognise " the Head", that Christ is building His church, that His prayer was heard by the Father and the Father is answering...
We think that God wants us all to worship exactly the same way and not have any diversity in teaching, etc. yikes! What's wrong with debate? What's wrong with arguing truth? What's wrong with letting iron sharpen iron? What's wrong with different people of different backgrounds, understandings, cultures, opinions forming their own groups?
Show me in God's creation where there isn't diversity and variances and subtle differences and bold contrasts, etc.
The problem, of course, is that we fail to love one another, which is the bottom line of all teaching, really.
The statement is true: In essentials, there must be unity; in non-essentials, there can be diversity; but in all things, there must be charity (love).
god bless
2007-03-20 21:15:20 · answer #5 · answered by happy pilgrim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is extremely doubtful anyone has it correct. not only has it been translated many, many times it is also hard to tell what was added in by scholars and priests and clergy long ago.
It is unfortunate so many people rest their hopes on what was written so long ago when we can't even prove that it is even close to correct.
Sorry to say, but it's true. Find what you believe is to be true and follow that - not some edited piece of scripture written long before our time and changed along the way.
2007-03-20 20:58:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would pray about it and ask God to show me.
When I first got saved I got really confused because of all the denominations and people telling me different things. Now I used only the Bible. If I don't understand something I ask God to open my eyes of understanding and I also test the spirits to see if they are of God.
Wish it didn't have to be that way but, unfortunately, even Satan goes to Church.
2007-03-20 20:58:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
we can't!
that's the point! all scriptures, from all cult books, including bible, are all unprovable, superstitious cult mythology. nothing more.
Ra, jesus, isis, allah, they are all unprovable cult characters. nothing provable or real about any of them!
bible is a great example. if you were an all-knowing god, why would you write something that you know, 2000 years later, is stil lrejected by 70% of the people on earth. and by those who accpet it, they are all fragmented and disagree on how it is to be interpreted, worshiped and read? it's complete and utter nonsense.
if satan was real, how do you know he didn't write the bible? it divides, creates hatred, it motivates people to kill and go to war. its own followers disagree on it and fragment over it. it sounds like the ultimate joke on mankind, and a perfect tool of your so-called satan!
2007-03-20 20:56:45 · answer #8 · answered by jen1981everett 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you shouldnt have asked this because all christian bible are the same you do not believe all what a preacher says but most of the time hes right cuz he studies the bible yes all denominations are differnt but only slightly but theres one thing all teaches
to recieve salvation
i go to a christian school and i have learned
2007-03-20 20:59:14 · answer #9 · answered by pebbles 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have studied many religions and the only one that I found that had answers for all my questions was Jehovahs witnesses... look in the phone book and find them in your area
2007-03-20 21:04:27 · answer #10 · answered by D and L M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋