Would you surrender your own beliefs in the cause of doctrinal unity?

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Lambano

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Our Catholic brothers and sisters have the "Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith". Look what that got us.

Our Protestant forebears went with the battle cry, Sola Scriptura!, and that got us umpteen jillion denominations. Not much different from "Every man did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25).

Our Jewish cousins have a saying that when two Jews get together to discuss Torah, you'll end up with three different opinions. This board is a good demonstration that this principle applies to Jesus's people too.
 
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St. SteVen

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Is not that what we were sent to do? yet not a church does it nor teaches it?
How did you arrive at that conclusion, that doctrinal unity is what we were sent to do?

Lambano wrote:
Who gets to define what the official doctrine is?
BINGO!
That's the question.

And the claim that the Bible dictates official doctrine is a BOGUS answer,
because there is no consensus on biblical interpretation.
Nor is there consensus on doctrine.

/
 

Ritajanice

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I see Born Again Christians who presumably all have the Holy Spirit disagreeing with each other on doctrine. Nope, not buying it.
Indeed, but a Born Again...will not deny what God gave them..which you seem to think funny...that is ignorance in your own understanding...are you in the Spirit?

And no doubt..you will say..whose to say I or anyone else is Born Again?

Nothing to prove....a Born Again is Born Again by the Living word of God..

Do you know what a Born Again is?

Romans 8:7-9 NKJV​

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

Do you know that the Spirit of God is Alive?
 
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Cyd

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How did you arrive at that conclusion, that doctrinal unity is what we were sent to do?

Lambano wrote:

BINGO!
That's the question.

And the claim that the Bible dictates official doctrine is a BOGUS answer,
because there is no consensus on biblical interpretation.
Nor is there consensus on doctrine.

/
ONE CHURCH ONE SHEPHERD and to the Bingo love the game hahha "out of the mouth of God"
 
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Ritajanice

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How did you arrive at that conclusion, that doctrinal unity is what we were sent to do?

Lambano wrote:

BINGO!
That's the question.

And the claim that the Bible dictates official doctrine is a BOGUS answer,
because there is no consensus on biblical interpretation.
Nor is there consensus on doctrine.

/
We can all claim to be Born Again.....?
 

Wick Stick

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This is a follow-up to the previous topic: Unity of the faith - at what cost? Link below.

Probably the biggest roadblock to Christian doctrinal unity is holding on to the freedom we have to determine our own beliefs.
Would you surrender your own beliefs in the cause of Christian doctrinal unity?

Unity of the faith - at what cost?

Just to be clear, I do not seek Christian doctrinal unity. Defined as EVERYONE surrendering to a predetermined set of beliefs.
I believe that unity comes when we accept each other no matter our differences.
That we seek to understand each other instead of rejecting those whose Christian doctrine may differ.
Which presents its own set of challenges, of course. But that's another topic. (I hope) - LOL
We all have our own thoughts inside our head. The question is just whether I'm willing to sit there and bite my tongue when a church teaches something I think is wrong.

The answer to that question isn't always the same. I don't think there's a single church that's right on every doctrinal position. But, are they well-meaning? Is what they are teaching causing harm? What am I willing to tolerate? What is out-of-bounds? There are essentials, and non-essentials.

As I age, the number of essentials seems to have shrunk. I am more likely to look at how people act, nowadays.

“He drew a circle that shut me out-
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle and took him In!”
-Edwin Markham
 
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St. SteVen

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Great post, thanks!
“He drew a circle that shut me out-
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle and took him In!”
-Edwin Markham
And that's a gem right there. Spot on.

Who's in your Venn Diagram overlap?

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Cyd

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Does that mean doctrinal unity?
If so, whose doctrine should we all submit to?

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SteVen you know as well as I that it is all done wrong! Therefore it would need to be new .. a Christian that wouldn't agree with Messiah almighty God he is, words then they are not a Christian.. Therefore it would be quotes from gospels to me "out of the mouth of God" being the doctrine I could demonstrate what I mean but do I really need to?
 
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St. SteVen

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SteVen you know as well as I that it is all done wrong!
Sure. I don't disagree.
Therefore it would need to be new .. a Christian that wouldn't agree with Messiah almighty God he is, words then they are not a Christian.. Therefore it would be quotes from gospels to me "out of the mouth of God"
When the anti-Christ comes, there will be doctrinal unity at last.
Will you submit, for the cause of doctrinal unity? I hope not.

/
 

Ritajanice

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That's a Protestant Evangelical term. (Born-Again)
Non-Evangelicals would likely NOT own that.
Does that mean that they don't have a relationship with God?

/

I don’t care what they own.....I can only go by the word of God....likely they wouldn’t own Born Again....then I would find that foreign....
Only a Born Again belongs to God...

God says you must be “ Born Again “ to see the Kingdom of God....for without the Spirit we are none of His.

Born Again is the word of God...Spirit gives birth to spirit?

Born Again is a supernatural act that only God can do....do you understand that?

That is my doctrine..the word of God delivered straight to the heart.....

Do you understand this scripture?

Romans 8:7-9 NKJV​

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
 
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St. SteVen

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I don’t care what they own.....
That seems rather intolerant.

Only a Born Again belongs to God...
So, you believe that only "Born-Again" Protestant Evangelicals belong to God?

Do you understand this scripture?

Romans 8:7-9 NKJV​

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
Do I understand that scripture? Yes, I believe I do.
It says nothing about "Born-Again" Protestant Evangelicalism.
The term "born again" does not even appear.

Do you believe that those who are NOT "Born-Again" Protestant Evangelicals are not indwelt by the Spirit?

What does it mean to be "subject to the law of God"?
Perhaps you saw my topic on such terms?

Observations about the law, the Law, God's law, Christ's law - four different things

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Ritajanice

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That seems rather intolerant.


So, you believe that only "Born-Again" Protestant Evangelicals belong to God?

Why are you asking me?...read God’s word!
Do I understand that scripture? Yes, I believe I do.
It says nothing about "Born-Again" Protestant Evangelicalism.
The term "born again" does not even appear.
A Born Again understands what is being said in that scripture....what is it saying?

You said you do understand that scripture..what’s it saying then.?..pretty simple to understand
Do you believe that those who are NOT "Born-Again" Protestant Evangelicals are not indwelt by the Spirit?
Again..why are you asking me , I’m not God...?....
What does it mean to be "subject to the law of God"?
Perhaps you saw my topic on such terms?

A Born Again is under grace.....we are children of God, therefore the Holy Spirit brings us to obedience as we learn to walk in the Spirit ,as Born Again children, we are being made into the image of Jesus.
 

Ritajanice

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Stop behaving as if you think you are then. Thanks.

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LOL.....read!....

Romans 8
Berean Standard Bible Par ▾
Walking by the Spirit
(Ezekiel 36:16–38; Galatians 5:16–26)
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.a2For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set youb free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin.c He thus condemned sin in the flesh, 4so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace,7because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the fleshd cannot please God.
9You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alivee because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the deadf will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.
Heirs with Christ
12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation, but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Future Glory
(2 Corinthians 5:1–10)
18I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
22We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. 23Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.
26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. 27And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
God Works in All Things
(Ephesians 1:3–14)
28And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. 29For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
31What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.
More than Conquerors
(Psalm 44:1–26)
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
“For Your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”g
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 

Aunty Jane

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What I want to suggest with these two topics is that unity can come despite doctrinal disunity.
We can learn to accept one another despite our differences. Unified in love an acceptance.
If we would listen to one another instead of trying to correct others, we would unity.
In the spirit of 1 Corinthians 1:10….the scriptures beg to differ.
”Now I urge you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you should all speak in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you, but that you may be completely united in the same mind and in the same line of thought.”

In the face of reality, when no doctrinal unity is seen in Christendom today, how could it ever be achieved when we see the divisions just getting wider and wider?

The truth” is just that……there are not many versions of the truth…..there can only be ONE truth.
And since Jesus said that “no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me, draws him” (John 6:44)……it is that truth to which the Father draws any individual in whom he sees a compatible heart……IOW, despite what a person may have believed formerly, when they hear “the truth” as God presents it, they will be drawn to it, even initially against their will……it will resonate deep in the heart until we relinquish all other beliefs, no matter how sincerely they were held. (Like those who were raised in Judaism in the first century responded to the teachings of Jesus and rejected the corrupted religion of their forefathers.) Those who were saved, had to separate from that corrupted religious system and come over to those whom God was drawing. His son taught one truth, and gathered his disciples into one faith, but as foretold, a corrupted religious system would again keep the majority in captivity.

We cannot even come to Christ unless we receive this invitation from the Father, (John 6:65) who then reveals his truth to that one. We think that we are choosing God…but in reality he is choosing us, based on what we accept in our hearts as truth.

If we are deluded into thinking we have the truth, when we have accepted the devil’s lies instead, God will not correct us…..we are deluded because we choose to be (2 Thess 2:9-12)….our hearts are simply not attracted to the truth when we hear it…..we don’t love it, but reject it.
It’s the whole reason why Jesus told us to preach….our response to Christ’s message of salvation is what “separates the sheep from the goats”.
All of us will be placed into one category or the other….and according to Jesus “few” will be found on the road to life because they prefer to believe what they want to believe. (Matt 7:13-14; 21-23)

It’s time to snap out of the delusion that Christendom could ever be united, or that disunity could ever be the product of God’s spirit.