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My opinion is because of man's sinfulness. His pride, his jealousy, sins of the heart. If this is too simple for some of you, think about how you and others (including your adversaries) feel about some religious topics.
"People invariably form their beleifs not on the basis of proof, but on the basis of what they find most attractive"
------Blaise Pascal
Do you think that people interpret things in ways that will allow them to continue on living their sinful lifestyles? Make their sinful decisions? Live lustful and shameless lives but dtill collect the reward that the God of Christianity has promised? That reward being eternal life.
Because their manual is such a convoluted collection of fables about ancient superstitions that it can be used to justify any view, hatred, bias or absurdity the reader wants.
It's just a dictionary of phrases which like a normal dictionary contains everything need to say whatever is desired. Check out most any thread in the this area, the poster links a number of unrelated passages in their attempt to prove what they think and because it comes from their manual, they attempt to bulldoze over reason because according to them it's god's word.
Religion is man made. It is faith which comes from God.
So, the answer to your question is....man divided the faithful, not God.
Are they all Christian? Undoubtedly not. But, if they profess the Jesus Christ of the Bible, and Him risen, I will accept them as brothers.
I agree. It's interesting how the bible doesn't teach us to be in a religion. But it's religion that teaches us about God and Jesus, as that religion interprets who God and Jesus are. I will say too that like minded people fellowship together, and that's what religion is.
What is your opinion as to why there is so much division amongst Christians...
Here's my belief:
When the apostles were killed and had no successors, there was no one in a position (i.e. holding the proper authority) to receive further direction from God with respect to the Church as a whole.
Ephesians 4:11-14 states:
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive..."
In other words, prophets and apostles were an essential part of the Church Jesus Christ established. They were its foundation. Without them, the foundation crumbled, and without the foundation, people were once again like children, persuaded first one way and then another, and unable to distinguish between true and false doctrines, being subject to the teachings of those who were crafty and who desired to deceive them.
Quote:
and do you consider all these groups to be Christian?
Yes, I do. If a person believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and acknowledges Him as his Savior, I would say that he is a Christian. I don't believe it's my place to pass judgment on people and say that they aren't "real" Christians if they don't believe exactly as I do. So if someone considers himself to be a Christian, I consider him to be one, too. Of course, it's always a plus if a person lives his life the way that Jesus Christ told us to, but if we were only to count as Christians the people who actually do that, there would be very few Christians indeed.
In the end it's who God calls a Christian not man.
Matthew 7:22-27
"22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. "
These are people that call Jesus LORD..Have prophesied in his name.. and even cast out devils. What they missed was obeying the commandments of Christ, and truly believing/trusting in him.
"If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15
We ultimately are called to conform to the image of the Father's messiah Jesus looking to him as our perfect example of how to live - rebuking the flesh and temptation and embracing the spirit. The Church is called the "Body of Christ" in which the temple is defined as the Body.
"If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Corinthians 3:17
So it's real important we do what God says in the scriptures. In the end, God hates sin, rebellion, disobedience. He requires righteousness. He ultimately wants our heart, soul, and mind and brotherly love/charity for others. It's the greatest commandments in which about all else encompasses.
"People invariably form their beleifs not on the basis of proof, but on the basis of what they find most attractive"
------Blaise Pascal
Do you think that people interpret things in ways that will allow them to continue on living their sinful lifestyles? Make their sinful decisions? Live lustful and shameless lives but dtill collect the reward that the God of Christianity has promised? That reward being eternal life.
That's easy to do and most of us have done it at one time or another. It's usually as easy to prove from the Bible that you can do whatever you want, as it is easy to prove that you can't.
However, that's legalism and once we learn to get past that, it's all a totally different understanding.
Christianity has over 1200 denominations in North America alone, and over 30,000 world wide.
What is your opinion as to why there is so much division amongst Christians, and do you consider all these groups to be Christian?
Christianity was born when the Jews split. Some followed Jesus. In fact the Bible records that many Jewish Leaders followed Jesus. I wonder what percentage of followers were Jewish in the early Church?
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I do not know...........but it was born
