Why Is Your Belief True and Mine Not? (Latter Day Saints, Gospel, Lutheran)
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I believe it does not matter if Christ is a reality in your life.
I am more interested in seeing the hearts of the broken hearted healed, the poor hearing the good news,the captives delivered, the blind receiving the sight and the oppressed delivered, then who is right doctrinally.
There are over 30,000 kinds of Christians. Source Some have said there are as many as 50,000+
So why is it that you think your brand is true, and someone else's is not? Why is your doctrinal belief true and someone else's is not?
Read your source .... whoever is defining "30,000 - 50,000 kinds of Christians", obviously doesn't know what the true "Christian" faith is, nor is very Biblically sound.
Heck... even in this shortened list the majority by confession is not.
** Church of Jesus christ of Latter Day Saints (The Mormons)
Jehovahs Witnesses
Charismatics
Christadelphians
Romans 9:32Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. Romans 3:28For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. John 14:6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Episcopalian.......... confessionally, No (see above Bible verses) possibly yes
** Anglicans, Episcopal churches, etc
Catholic
** "Roman" Catholic (Western Rite Catholicism) confessionally, No (see above Bible verses) possibly yes
*** Sedevacantists..... confessionally, No (see above Bible verses) possibly yes
Those who follow Anti-popes
Old Catholics
Catholics who Follow the Pope
Eastern Orthodox (under the Patriarch of constantinople) confessionally, No (see above Bible verses) possibly yes
*** Greek Orthodox
Russian Orthodox
Serbian Orthodox
et cetera
Coptic (Under pope) confessionally, No (see above Bible verses) possibly yes
Gnostic or Esoteric Christianity confessionally, No (see above Bible verses) possibly yes
There are over 30,000 kinds of Christians. Source Some have said there are as many as 50,000+
So why is it that you think your brand is true, and someone else's is not? Why is your doctrinal belief true and someone else's is not?
It's a fact that 30,000 different denominations of Christianity can't all be teaching "the truth." By that I mean nothing more than this: Every one of the 30,000 denominations has at least one doctrine or practice that is different from the others. For example, some denominations teach that baptism by water is essential to salvation. Some teach that it is not. Some teach that it must be by immersion. Some teach that it may be by sprinkling. Some teach that infants should be baptized. Some teach that only those who are old enough to make the decision to be baptized should receive this sacrament. Some teach that any Christian may baptize another. Some teach that only certain individuals are authorized by God to do so. It's not my intention to start a debate on any of these issues, but to present them as an example of what I'm trying to say. Two contradictory beliefs can't both be "true" or "correct." One of them must logically be "false" or "incorrect." There can therefore be only two possible scenarios: one and only one church is teaching the truth with respect to every Christian doctrine orno church is. But you can't have 5 churches that are 100% correct, or 200 churches, or 7500 churches. It's either one or none.
So why is my brand true and someone else's isn't? I can't say, because I can't even make that statement (that mine is true and the rest aren't). I can only say what the Holy Ghost has personally testified to me. I can't say that He hasn't testified something entirely different to you. Spiritual experiences are intensely personal. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to me for any of us to insist that we are absolutely positive that we're right and that everybody else is wrong. If two people both know for sure that their opposite beliefs are true, what does that tell you? I believe in the concept of "absolute truth," but I also believe that if it were critical to God that we all find it during this relatively brief mortal life we're experiencing, He could have made it so that "the truth" would be so obvious no one could possibly misinterpret scripture or fail to understand what God expects of him. As committed as I am to my own beliefs, and as important as I feel it is to God that we learn the truth about Him and His Son's gospel, I believe it's far more important to Him that we learn to be kind to one another and that we live our lives with integrity -- seeking to actually be what we claim to believe we should be. In the end, I believe that how we live our lives is going to count far more than whether we got all of the answers on baptism (or any other doctrine) right.
The saying is correct that says;"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters."
I lost my faith in Paul and religion and the Lord showed me the kingdom of God as I walked in His ways and kept His word. I have gone up to heaven and seen Gods glory, now I came down to judge the earth with the will of the Lord and His mercy. Though you may read this and think it is crazy, it is only because you think like man and not like God. You haven't seen heaven so do not think it is what man thinks it is. And it is not for the wicked to be told in plain language but it is for the righteous who serve the Lord and walk in the name of Gods only son.
Once you have the light keep faith in the light and you will become a child of light.
The son of man comes eating and drinking and the wicked say he is a crackhead or a alcoholic. But the Lord says "My servants shall eat but you shall go hungry. My servants shall drink but you shall go thirsty."
Because we are all on our own unique path to discovering the Creator.
God is love.
Love is the greatest thing there is... and there are many, many, many things we as a people must LEARN.
It TAKES all of these people, and all of these different views and perspectives to chip away at what is false (wide road to destruction) and to discover what is true (narrow road to life).
I firmly believe that in these "books of life" ALL people will have contributed something VALUABLE, some unique perspective, some FACET, some GREAT FACET of God's love that none of us would have KNOWN or understood without it. EVERY HUMAN LIFE is VITAL. We are ALL brothers and sisters. From what mankind has deemed the "highest" among us to the what mankind has deemed the "lowest" among us. We are ALL in this together. The meaning of our lives has not yet been shown. But God's love towards us will be magnified through each and every single life lived. The POWER of LOVE (which is the power of God, for God IS love) will be displayed through each and every one of our lives. So many talk of "glory"..... I imagine, we have no earthly idea just how GLORIOUS it will be, to witness the unfathomable transforming power of LOVE in EACH and every one of our lives. Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
We are ALL coming to the knowledge of TRUTH.
Each and everyone of us.
He knows the numbers of hairs on our head.
He will leave the 99 to save the one that is lost.
WE ARE LOVED. And the POWER of that love has YET to be fully REVEALED.
We are all brothers and sisters struggling to find our Creator.
We are in this together. What is not truth, will be destroyed and in that destruction, the truth will shine that much brighter and have that much more meaning to us. All of us.
Our differences are a NECESSITY.
CONTRAST is a NECESSITY.
The contrast of the DARKNESS of our IGNORANCE, to be eventually held up against the LIGHT of our KNOWLEDGE of the TRUTH.
The Truth of WHO our Creator is.
That TRUTH that GOD IS LOVE.
That TRUTH that GOD (LOVE) is the MOST powerful thing there is.
LOVE CONQUERS ALL.
TRUTH will prevail.
We're all on a journey, and every knee will bow...(joyously)
Take comfort.
Just my opinion from what I see over here on my road.
peace,
sparrow
While there are many different denominations, there is only one 'type of Christian' ... One who trusts and believes in Jesus Christ for Salvation and eternal life. The term "Christian" is only specifically used in the Bible 2-3 times, but, CHRISTians are specifically 'born-again followers of Jesus Christ. They alone have been "saved from the wages of sin - to eternal life in relationship with God, through Jesus Christ."
The problem is that many people SAY many many different things ... and interpret Bible passages and doctrines differently --- and even declare all manner of beliefs to be "Christian". When this happens, other people get side-tracked and start listening to people, instead of God's Word, the Bible! (There is no other source of information about Jesus CHRIST and His followers, "CHRISTians", therefore, what people 'say' becomes a moot point!) Further, while the Bible declares that all SCRIPTURE is inspired by God, no where does it say that all INTERPRETATIONS or DOCTRINES are inspired by God. Think of it this way: If one wants to learn to be absolutely confident in being able to distinguish a real $20-bill from thousands of counterfeits, they will study a genuine bill, not thousands of counterfeits.
Similarly, there is only one Bible which is God's absolute Truth! There are, however, as many possible variations of things that people can 'say' about the Bible ... as there are people. Thus, the notion that "People say so many different things, I don't know what to believe" misses God's purpose in providing mankind with His inspired Word of Truth, the Bible.
No, the Bible doesn't say 'everything about everything; ... and some of what the Bible says cannot always be clearly understood (every building precept upon precept). This leads people to hold a wide variety of doctrinal beliefs, all based on their understanding of scripture. But, that's not entirely bad, since, through that process, "iron sharpens iron" as folks dig even deeper into the Bible. The Bible DOES provide everything the 'man of God' needs to respond as God desires.
When this happens, other people get side-tracked and start listening to people, instead of God's Word, the Bible! (There is no other source of information about Jesus CHRIST and His followers, "CHRISTians", therefore, what people 'say' becomes a moot point!)
And where does the Bible say that it is God's only Word?
Quote:
Further, while the Bible declares that all SCRIPTURE is inspired by God, no where does it say that all INTERPRETATIONS or DOCTRINES are inspired by God.
That's right. It doesn't say that all interpretations are inspired by God. It also doesn't say what constitutes "scripture."
Quote:
The Bible DOES provide everything the 'man of God' needs to respond as God desires.
I don't believe it does. Furthermore, it doesn't even make this claim. Why are you so convinced that everything God wants us to know can be found within the pages of one book?
While there are many different denominations, there is only one 'type of Christian' ... One who trusts and believes in Jesus Christ for Salvation and eternal life. The term "Christian" is only specifically used in the Bible 2-3 times, but, CHRISTians are specifically 'born-again followers of Jesus Christ. They alone have been "saved from the wages of sin - to eternal life in relationship with God, through Jesus Christ."
The problem is that many people SAY many many different things ... and interpret Bible passages and doctrines differently --- and even declare all manner of beliefs to be "Christian". When this happens, other people get side-tracked and start listening to people, instead of God's Word, the Bible! (There is no other source of information about Jesus CHRIST and His followers, "CHRISTians", therefore, what people 'say' becomes a moot point!) Further, while the Bible declares that all SCRIPTURE is inspired by God, no where does it say that all INTERPRETATIONS or DOCTRINES are inspired by God. Think of it this way: If one wants to learn to be absolutely confident in being able to distinguish a real $20-bill from thousands of counterfeits, they will study a genuine bill, not thousands of counterfeits.
Similarly, there is only one Bible which is God's absolute Truth! There are, however, as many possible variations of things that people can 'say' about the Bible ... as there are people. Thus, the notion that "People say so many different things, I don't know what to believe" misses God's purpose in providing mankind with His inspired Word of Truth, the Bible.
No, the Bible doesn't say 'everything about everything; ... and some of what the Bible says cannot always be clearly understood (every building precept upon precept). This leads people to hold a wide variety of doctrinal beliefs, all based on their understanding of scripture. But, that's not entirely bad, since, through that process, "iron sharpens iron" as folks dig even deeper into the Bible. The Bible DOES provide everything the 'man of God' needs to respond as God desires.
Great post!
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I believe in the concept of "absolute truth," but I also believe that if it were critical to God that we all find it during this relatively brief mortal life we're experiencing, He could have made it so that "the truth" would be so obvious no one could possibly misinterpret scripture or fail to understand what God expects of him. As committed as I am to my own beliefs, and as important as I feel it is to God that we learn the truth about Him and His Son's gospel, I believe it's far more important to Him that we learn to be kind to one another and that we live our lives with integrity -- seeking to actually be what we claim to believe we should be. In the end, I believe that how we live our lives is going to count far more than whether we got all of the answers on baptism (or any other doctrine) right.
Great post!
