How can Christians eliminate denominations and put forth actions toward everything that ties us together?

Question

My friend and were talking about how Christians have divided over time and have never looked beyond what makes us different from what we believe. He wants to create a group called Faith in Action, which brings Christians together on the very foundation of what Christ asked of us, which was to follow his move in that we must help one another through acts of goodwill in that we put our hard work into something without asking anything in return. A major focus is to eliminate the barriers that divide Christians and the very concept of denominations in order to focus only on why we are Christians in the first place. This group would place focus on a life AGAINST materialism and luxury in favor of how the resources we gain can be used to help others, as well how to help us identify who we are as Christians who live by the teachings of Jesus. This would not be easy and as one who has issues with modern-day Christians, I want to know how one could make a change in how we see ourselves.

Answer 1

Before I start: I'm an agnostic. I don't have a denominational ax to grind.

My Answer:

They can agree that the SOLE authority for Christianity is the New Testament.

Any deviation, addition, or passage taken out of context is NOT allowed.

Then there shouldn't be any significant differences between believers.

Philosophy and Christianity are 2 different things. As soon as you stray to "materialism" or even tobacco consumption or separation of church and state -- you're no longer bible based. You may have your opinions and "interpret" anything the way you please, but you need to remember that you want a UNITED Christianity (and world), right?

So stick with the bible if you absolutely must be a Christian. Leave philosophy and politics to those with open minds. The world will be a better place.

Philosophy is questions that may never be answered.

Religion is answers that may never be questioned.
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Answer 2

Don't mind what people say in the negative, you and your friend have the right idea. I would say if you can pull it off, it would be the single greatest thing that has ever happened to the Christian Faith. All that you have said is right from the Bible, and a lot of christians won't buy that because they are not willing to really give, in the sacrificial way Jesus wants us to. And sad as it is, it is unlikely to catch on all over the world, or even in the USA, but it could be a small group, that would be a witness of what Jesus wants us to do. And who knows, small groups grow, and with God, nothing is impossible. I say give it all you got, and if nobody else is with you, you got two. And by the way, I am doing that right now, its just my wife and I, everybody that knows us says we're nuts. We just gave up the car to have more money for the needy. Our relatives say we're only becoming needy ourselves. But thats not true, we have all we need. We don't have all we want, but this life is nothing more than a moment, between two eternities. We are citizens of the Kingdom of God, and in just a little while we'll be going home.

God be with you,
Evangelist William m. Butler, St. Luke Ministries

Answer 3

Do you know why you always take two Baptists fishin' with you? 'Cause only one will drink all your beer, with two, neither will drink any! Sorry. This sounds exactly like another denomination in sheep's clothing. Think about this, the label denomination is often misinterpreted as "divided." The actual definition is "having a common denominator", in this case, Christ. An attempt to make the church a monotone would be to detract from the corporate relationship each church has with God and to dilute the perosnal relationship we are called to. I know you have good intentions, but I'm not sure you have thought this through. peace

Answer 4

It is an honorable endeavor, but one that I don't believe will work on a large scale. The big division between the denominations are small details that have either been changed over time, or translated differently, or interpreted differently. And the unfortunate thing is that the churches take these differences very seriously. Sorry I couldn't give you a vote of support, but I wish you luck.

Answer 5

Okay, lets just clear something up ... there will always be some rotten eggs in a group. You can not classify all Christians as being closed minded from anything beyond their own branch. You have issues with modern day Christians when there are millions out there that you do not know ... That's really judgmental.

Answer 6

They cant it will never happen. There were many different "sects" since jesus supposedly lived, that will not change. You have as much chance as converting everyone on the planet to one religion.

J.A. there are two books for christians, just because some of y ou choose to ignore one doesn't mean it is no longer part of the religion. Only in the later ,more doctored gospels does anyone say anything about igoring the old laws.

Answer 7

The many denominations should not exist.

Notice what 1 Corinthians 1:10 says;"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."

Jesus prayed for such unity in John 17:20-21.

Why do we have so many divisions? Men are not satisfied to all speak the same thing. Men are not satisfied to teach only the word of God. Men are not satisfied to only speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent. Men are not content to do Bible things in Bible ways and call Bible things by Bible names. Too many wish to add their own desires and teach their own doctrine.

Notice 2 Timothy 4:2-4.
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

We should return to the Bible as our authority and only guide book. We should have a "thus saith the Lord" for everything we teach and do as a church.

The Bible teaches that the church is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23) and that there is only "one body" (Eph 4:4).When the church first began, there were no denominations.

In Acts 2, we see that about 3000 all heard the same message, all understood it the same way, all believed it the same way and all obeyed it the same way. The result was they became Christians - nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. At this point, God added them to His church (Acts 2:47).

There is no authorization for Christians to "join the church of your choice", but they were added to the church Christ built and purchased! (Matt. 16:18, Acts 20:27)

After they became Christians they continued in one accord in fellowship and together in the apostles doctrine. (Acts 2:42-47) They had the type of unity Christians should have.

Today, if we read and understand what they understood, believe what they believed, and do only what they did, without adding any man-made doctrine, we will become only what they became - Christians!

This is the goal and plea of those who meet together under the name "church of Christ" today. We only want to be the church you can read about in the Bible.

Christ is the head of the church, therefore we have no "headquarters" on Earth that oversees the local congregation, but each congregation goes directly to the Bible to see what should be taught and practiced.

A denomination is larger than the local congregation, but smaller than the universal church. Since the church of Christ congregations are autonomous, only governed by local congregations, with no regional, national, or world-wide "headquatrers" they are not a denomination. There is no man-made organization in between the local congregation (which is not a denomination) and the church as a whole (which is not a denomination).

We only want to follow God's word in our name (Rom. 16:16), method of worship, organization, and teaching (doctrine). The word of God is sufficient for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction. Using it in this way, we can be completely furnished with everything we need, and there is no need to add any man-made doctrine. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

Those who teach as doctrine the commandments of men have form of worship that is vain. (Matt 15:9)

I invite you to examine the Church of Christ by a comparison with the scriptures! If the things we teach are scriptural, found in the Scriptures, then accept them. If the things we teach contradict the Bible, then reject them!

Any church that claims to follow the Bible should not object to such a comparison to scriptures. In fact, they should encourage it!

Check out the links below. (The last one is a free 6-lesson video Bible Study.)

Thank you for your good question and your desire for unity!

Answer 8

Why only Christians? There will still be much division in the world. And forget about getting rid of luxury and materialism--you'll never get anyone to go along with it. If you're not going to think outside of the Christianity box, you're not going to make any real progress.

Answer 9

Impossible. Its sort of like the NSA and CIA. they both work for the same government, but choose to operate on different levels with different powers, even agaisnt each other. You would have to eliminate the major obstacle, the church leaders who thrive on power and manipulation. Then we would have to unite as awhole group, not as the ancient Hebrews, who demanded a King to lead them, but as a group that demanded Christ himself to lead them. Complete faith! A united house! Of course the only threat after that would be the government. Good luck!

Answer 10

Christianity is a cult. Simple as that. It was enforced by the swiss guard as it still is today and the people in its realm were forced to accept it in the middle ages.
Therefore today, as the world becomes more and more freedom minded, alot of people are looking back at the ancient religions of wicca and druidry. Yes Jesus preached peace and I belive he did walk the earth, but in todays modern world the only religion practicing peace without violence are the pagans.