Why do so many people spend so much time in defense of their denomination, rather than the Gospel?

Question

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Paul in Philippians 1:16-17:
“I am set for the DEFENSE of the GOSPEL.” (KJV)
“I am put here for the DEFENSE of the GOSPEL.” (NIV)

AND, In Philippians 1:7, Paul states he DEFENDS and confirms the GOSPEL!

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Now some ARE defending the Gospel by pointing out the “lack of” the Gospel and the “perversion” of the Gospel in the teachings of other denominations – and this is good – but why do others respond in defense of their denomination…having no real concern (or even understanding) of what the Gospel is?

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OK – I’ll just go right out and say it:
CATHOLICS defend their "Holy Mother Church"…and couldn’t care less about the Gospel!

WHY is this?

CULTS defend themselves, and not the Gospel!

…I am NOT calling Catholicism a cult (yet), but what’s that smell?

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KAL - some good points...except, I would say that Jesus did not defend Himself. And yes, while it is "human" for us to do so, we are a new creation in Christ - the old has gone and the new has come. We, by the power of the Holy Spirit inside of us...defend the Gospel, which has been entrusted to us, by God. We do not defend ourselves. Let God be true but every man a liar. May HE increase and us (me) decrease. This is not about us, our church, our denomination...it is about Christ, and His Gospel of grace for mankind. We are mere messaengers, slaves of Christ, we only do what we are suppose to do.
Let them revile us...and let us embrace the cross, so that through our cross, they may see the cross of Christ, and so be saved.

christoig -
Some very good points...
And this is why God has not and will not completely forsake the Jews.
...and this is why God has not and will not completely forsake the Catholics.

But HIS body is the body of Christ, the catholic church...the "invisible church", that is the TRUE believers that do not worship Him here or there...but worship Him in spirit and in truth. We are Jews inwardly...sons of Abraham...and God knows our heart. Against us, the gate of hell shall not prevail. He sustains us by the Word of His power.

But God has to scatter the Jews...just as He had to scatter the church. The Apostles foretold this...saying that many would "creep in unaware"...

I am afraid you are mistaken.

We preach CHRIST, and Him crucified. We do not preach Catholicism.

We preach the GOSPEL, and how one can be saved.
We do not preach how to become a Catholic through water baptism, etc...

We defend Jesus Christ.
We do not defend the pope.

Answer 1

Hmm..Smells like It to me too !
It's kinda like all these perfumes,you can always buy It cheaper In a generic !
But It's still not the real thing !
The Bible says that If anyone comes to you preaching any other Gospel than the one I God have give you,do not even wish them Godspeed,lest you partake of their sins.
That's crystal clear to me.
Any relgiion/denomination that refuses to acknowledge the teachings of Jesus Christ (the Holy Bible), are In error and are being led astray by false doctrine,giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons.

Answer 2

By your definition, humanity is a cult since I'd argue that it is a basic part of human nature to defend ourselves when attacked. I agree that it is pointless for a Christian to defend their denomination but for all humans, and Christians are, after all, human, it is a knee-jerk reaction to defend against the point of attack.

The way I see it, people spend so much time defending their denomination because other people spend so much time attacking it. Both groups are guilty of a basic mistake...stereotyping. The person that suggests all Catholics "couldn't care less about the Gospel" AND the person that interprets that as a personal attack are both advocating judgment of an individual by the characteristics of a group...and that's pointless.

I do agree that it is good to identify the "perversion of the Gospel" in the teachings of other groups that profess to be following the teachings of Christ...but there is a difference between spreading the Gospel and attacking a denomination...and a difference between denouncing a teaching and condemning the people that follow it.

I probably share at least some of your concerns about the teachings of the Catholic church, but I know Catholics that do care about the gospel and even a few that share many of my basic beliefs about the gospel. Some, perhaps even many, may be deceived about certain things...but I could say the same about most denominations. The basic problem with man-made religion (denominations) is that they all incorporate flawed interpretations of the bible into their basic doctrine!

Answer 3

You just don't get it or understand the battle we are in. The battle is for the very heart of Christianity and is against evil and division spread by Satan whose desire is to divide the Church. This is the spirit of Protestantism where there are 30,000 exponentially increasing schisms.

What better way for Satan than to destroy the veracity of Christ's Church. If he can show failure in Christ's Church then the promises of Christ become lies. He said that the Church would survive to the Parousia free from apostasy and that it would always be the ark from a sinful world where the truth can always be found.

If Christ has no veracity , of what good is the Gospel. Who would believe such a Gospel as one spread by an incompetent liar and his followers.

No one can separate His Church from the Gospel as the Church is the witness from the beginning of its truth.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 4

Oh All I can say is "OUCH" to your added detail -
"OK – I’ll just go right out and say it:
CATHOLICS defend their 'Holy Mother Church'…and couldn’t care less about the Gospel!"

Because Church, the Bride of Christ is also the Body of Christ -- isn't this part of the good-news/Gospel? And so why not defend this body?

Oooh. Ouch again!

p.s. - is there more than one body of Christ? I think we are all one body. And so to attack one denomination as a people is to attack the whole body - and to defend one denomination as a people is to defend the whole body. Even in the case of the Branch Davidians and those people in Waco I sensed an injury to the whole body of Christ over these tragedies. . .because we really are "One".

Answer 5

Yes. I agree. If you say anything about being born again, or being saved, and that the Church is the Body of Christ, and not a denomination, or a certain building, then, they have a fit. What is that about? That is about religion, and man's laws, and trading the TRUTH (of the message of Jesus Christ) for a lie (Catholicism is the "true faith" and the "true church"), when Jesus Himself said who the Church is. They ignore what He said. They want so much to be the "only" church going to heaven, that they don't even realize their teachings are leading people the other way. I wouldn't want to be the one who has led that many people astray, and have to stand before Jesus on Judgement Day! I am so afraid for them.

Answer 6

Heck, I'm out there defending the Gospel every chance I get.

I defend my Church when others see fit to attack it.

When my Christian brothers and sisters decide to stop flinging accusations at my Catholicism and simply recognize me as a believer, then maybe TOGETHER we can make disciples of all nations.

How's that sound to you?

Answer 7

They believe their denominational doctrine is the gospel. Just ask any Once Saved always saved Baptist and they will tell you that is the divine truth even though it is not found in the bible and the scriptures they use to justify that belief was written to Christians who were already saved not the potential convert.

Anyone denomination not just the Baptist will twist the distort scripture to make it say what they want. Their minds are made up so don't confuse them with the facts of the bible when it comes to gospel.
BB

Answer 8

Perhaps it boils down to INSECURITY on the part of the individual, although it's such a lame and poor excuse to remain among its faithful when you analyze it.

I can think of three possibilities: 1] they HAVEN'T ASKED those same questions being asked about their church's teachings and doctrines, then getting satisfactory answers for themselves; or, worse, 2] they're NOT ALLOWED TO ASK any questions about their church's teachings and doctrines, period; or, worst of all, 3] they have NO CLUE what to do, or where to go, SHOULD THEY ever decide to LEAVE the COMFORT ZONE that their present denomination provides.

To them it's much easier to remain in denial and simply defend their denomination or church, come hell or high water.

Peace be with you.

Answer 9

The 'gospel' is actually "glad tidings of the Kingdom" and this goes back to a promise about Adam DOMINION MANDATE of Gen 1:28. If your understanding of the Glad Tidings does not have this point in focus, you have but one of many FALSE GOSPELS as Paul makes mention of in Gal. 1:8, for which are cursed.

Answer 10

"The greater the sinner, the greater the right he has to My mercy."

I´m not in a position to defend just to share in case anybody might be interested, or maybie looking for something they can´t find. or even give a good answer to somebody.