denominations

[jiminycricket]

well- Mike sang..they are the blues. In fact, denominations only dominate. (MHO)
Its Jesus..and thats all.

you can't EVER get two saints sitting on the pew to agree on EVERYTHING. Not even their favorite food. Why do we think that the pulpit can dictate the undisputable TRUTH found in every jot and tittle?? the fact that there are over 3500 recognized sects registered here in the US alone says that there is a fly in that ointment. They separate over interpretation..and the TRUTH cannot be handled that way.

Every Denom ( demon spelled different) has their golden Snake
on a stick..whether its mode of baptism or mode of prayer or any modus operandi.
ya know?
I CANNOT go back to that kind of unity.
there is only ONE uniting banner for Christians,and that is the claims of the Man Jesus.
I am not a "red letter only" guy either, I love the saints (men) who wrote letters to groups concerning their OPINIONS on the Man and His Divinity..to me thats how I view the Book. Its sacred writing because of WHO its about. It is the best collection of writings that jerks like us scribbled while inspired by GOD..not dictated translations from golden tablets or telepathic minds.
Denominations are not about building personal relationships..they are about building personality relationships.

I only used 3 bullets from one chamber so far. BAM!

[nails]

Amen brother! Preach it! (You should start a church with that!) LOL!

Anyway, I view the bible the same way you do for the most part. I do think that things have been translated and mistranslated severely to support the "church" and there "mission". While I believe the words of the bible were INSPIRED by God they were still jotted down with a HUMAN hand with a HUMAN MIND AND HEART behind it all. It's going to be somewhat flawed and opinionated and that is okay. However, most people can't accept that and take it all in black and white - for the most part.

[todd]

Nails, I think you need to read up on some of the good Bible translations out there, there are some extremely accurate translations these days. I like the ESV and the NASB.

[nails]

What is "ESV"?

[todd]

You ever heard of google son?

[nails]

No. Have no idea what that is........

[Disputatio]

The true text would be Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic. However, who do you know who knows that, especially ancient tongue?

[jiminycricket]

I think all the translations speak the truth of God- and for the most part have equal value...that He is real, that He cares about us, and that to spend a lifetime knowing Him and developing a relationship with Him brings eternal reward.

GEtting the "jesus stamp" is no guarantee of anything.. reading, studying, fellowshipping with like minds ( however you choose too) will help..and we can stand before Him in judgement based on THESE things..how we have responded to what we have learned, felt and reacted too.

I also believe we are only accountable to the things revealed by His Spirit to us -whether thru HIs Word, another person or teaching. Thats the reason the Bible is an important tool- it couples in words the things He Shows us by His Spirit--aintt that what it says it can do?

Its a term called apochrypha learning..revealed by God to you personally-to which you should react.

[nails]

Here is how I view the bible and have for a few years but couldn't put it into words:

www.davidsucc.org/pages/whoweare-progressive.html

[larryl]

I don't worry what denomination a church is. I just want to see that what they believe and teach line up with scripture; neither adding to it (legalism, added rules) nor taking away (ignoring the parts they don't like).

I generally end up in a Southern Baptist church, but one that is a little more liberal than So Bapts have been traditionally. One of the things I like about the SBC is that they do not tell individual churches what to believe or teach.

[nails]

I am actually thinking about checking out a UCC church. (United Church of Christ) I had a good discussion with Brian Q Newcombe about it (naturally he is all for them - lol) Anyway, I found one here in town and checked out their website and really liked what I read on there. Anyway, if I go, it will be the first time I have stepped foot in a church in about 3-4 years. Could be interesting.