If we are the body why do we hate each other so?

Having different positions and even drawing the lines of fellowship at a particular point is not necessarily hatred.

 

Good question. I'm really curious what the answers will be.

Doctrinal and eccelsiastical separation I can agree with, but not with judging another's salvation just because they're GARB or BURP.

KJVO is absolutely downright funny. Heck, I've known churches more conservative than KJVO's and yet use the NIV or the RSV and others.

'You can only be saved under a Baptist Church' is an improvement to you can only be saved under a Bible Baptist Church or a church that uses the name Yeshua instead of Jesus !

I see you've got 38 posts. That tells me you're young in the board.

Stick around.

 

Welcome to the Board,

I believe much of the problem stems from people going beyond what the Bible clearly teaches concerning salvation. They have made denominational standards their final authority. There are many in the Body of Christ, and they are not restricted to the Baptist Church. Every born again person is my brother or sister and I am called to love them and pray for them and edify them in the faith.

Bro Tony

 

It's an innate sinful nature. The mentality of "my way is the best way, and all others are wrong". It's in our nature to think that what we agree with is right, and what we disagree with is wrong. Just look at threads on sports and politics. They're full of people who believe that anyone who disagrees with their own poitical or sports opinion is wrong. Opinions on religious denominations are often the same.

That is why I choose to make no determinations about people I don't know, and when it involves my own faith, I use the "this is what I believe" approach, rather than "this is the way it is". The former often comes bundles with the spirit of love. The latter often comes bundled with the spirit of sinful pride.

 

Amazing, we are human. That is the God's honest truth.

 

Those who are more concerned with Jesus Christ than denomiinations do not hate each other. The Holy Spirit connects them in love.

Denominational fights show a very wrong focus in their faith -- and sometimes perhaps a wrong faith altogether???

 

Huge volumes could be written probing the question of why Christians often act in a sub-Christian manner, even when the model of how we should live is readily available in the Bible. To cite just one aspect of the problem, the anti-intellectualism of the modern church often leads believers to trust in their feelings first in judging what is right or wrong, giving birth to many wacky ideas only loosely connected to any Scriptural teaching. Add to that the fact that internet message boards tend to attract fringe elements, and it's easy to see why some pretty crazy things are said online.

 

Dear Amazeinglove92,
Some groups are legalistic,highly judgemental,and super seperatist.
My thought is that the Bible is the rule of faith.Christians are intructed to love one another.Love is of God , hate is of satan.The only thing we should hate is sin.
When we are taught to hate fellow Christians that is not of God.Make sure that what and who you listen to squares up with God's written Word.

 

Those who "hate" miss the point of the Scripture.

 

I think hate is a rather strong word to be used. Many of us won't have fellowship, especially ecclesiasical fellowship, based on the church's stand. Personal fellowship is a different matter.

There are many kinds of Baptists, as is evidenced on this board. Those that are liberal, even to the extent of denying some of the very fundamentals of the faith, we have no fellowship at all.
I am coming from a stand point of an Independent Fundamental Baptist, so those churches that I would classify as New Evangelical we would not have fellowship on a church basis (ecclesiastically), but as long as their saved I would have fellowship with them on a personal basis. In other words I would never allow my church to team up with another church that is not of like faith and order in an evangelistic crusade, or other such thing. "Can two walk together unless they be agreed." I could never ask a person who does not agree with our statement of faith to preach in our pulpit. Our statement of faith speaks out against all forms of New Evangeliecalism and the Charismatic movement. We don't hate them; we just could not cooperate with them. We must be one in doctrine.

If we are one in doctrine, Baptistically, but have some minor differences concerning the issue of the KJV, I believe I could cooperate with that church. That is, as long as that church does not make the KJV an issue--like a Ruckmanite would. The issue would be missions, evangelism, etc., not KJVO. If we can agree to disagree over this issue, great. It is a matter of soul liberty and ought not to be dividing the brethren. The same with Calvinism/Arminianism.

Every pastor is accountable to God as to where he draws the line as to who he will be able to fellowship with. How far has a church gone into error that he will not be able to cooperate with? That is the question? Generally speaking we work with churches that believe the same as we do.
DHK

 

Hi there I just thought I'd weigh in on this topic. As I was driving in to work yesterday morning, I happened to catch a sermon by Chuck Swindall(sp?) regarding disagreements in the church/among believers. Basically I agreed with much of that sermon. He told the story of Paul and Barnabus (in Acts) and how they split up and went separate ways over the issue of having John accompany them on a backtrack of some towns they had previously covered. I think in some cases the breaking of fellowship can be very traumatic and difficult to endure, but in the end God turns it around and good things spring forth. In this case 2x's the amount of area was covered by both men bringing the Good News. While one looked at the issue from a spiritual standpoint, the other man looked at the issue from an intellectual(?pls help me on this if you heard that broadcast) standpoint. Basically we're all human and we do disagree from time to time, and at still other times we split. I can't forsee myself hating anyone just because they have a different Biblical viewpoint than myself. I actually look forward to meeting people with differing views in that I can learn something from them. Well I suppose I've babbled here enough. I hope this post made sense to ya'll. If I've missed anything or my thought process is off please let me know and I thank-you in advance.

azwyld
<*}}}><

 

Although we should certainly not hate the brethren, there is a place for hatred in the Christian's life.

Ps 139:21-22
21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
(KJV)

 

The Hebrew word here (translated hate) does not denote hate as we refer to it in English. Rather, it denoted a mix of an intense dislike and disapproval. Dislike and disapproval, as the Bible referrs to it, is fine. Hatred as we English speakers define it is not.

 

Well, I don't know about hatred, but I do know that people tend to associate with and respect more people who are like themselves. So, even among Baptists, there are those that do not like Southern Baptists, or FIBaptists, or whatever else. But I don't know very many people that "hate" or even really dislike other people because of denomination. It just seems to me like people will say that they are ______Baptist, and they prefer that particular kind of church, not any others-it's just a preference thing. But when people start saying that you have to be __________Baptist to be saved, then they are scripturally incorrect (BIG TIME!!)!! Salvation has to do with a repentence and change of direction in life-not with a change of direction into a certain church. There is NO church that becoming a member of it will save you. There are, however, certain churches that preach the Biblical salvation, and some that don't. So being a part of a Bible-believing church is important.

In Christ,
Becca

*Sorry if what I said is confusing-it's hard to say exactly what I mean--it made sense in my head!

 

I think you said it in a nutshell, brother.
I so enjoy when I witness to someone and find out, through a series of questions, that they are indeed saved and fully understand the concept of Grace. I have found these individuals to belong to "fellowships" and even the local Salvation Army rep, who holds meetings in her home, is a saved by grace Christian. Baptists doctrine is good, but Baptists practices that are not biblically based sometimes become "scripture" to the unsuspecting. THAT'S when we get off track. For example, You don't HAVE to leave drums out of the music to be a Christian. That's just something we IFB do.

<smile>
Debbie

 

Welcome to the Boards! Many people in life have differences of opinions and can handle them with grace. But, sometimes when it comes to scriptural things, where the scripture can be interpreted several different ways by different groups, these groups will separate from each other for "purity's sake". I believe in a separation, but some people take it way too far, and it does come across as hate. And, for many, it may be so, but for most, I don't believe it is. I know that the Independent Fundamental Baptists (IFB) don't like the Southern Baptists, and on and on. I have been both. Both preach the Gospel and have the goal of winning souls to Christ. It's a shame when separation goes so far that it becomes "radical".

AVL1984

 

1 Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

I spot a false teaching! (No offense, amazinglove). Do you believe in the universal church as "the body"?

We are to love our local church, as described in 1 Cor 12. If one part of the body hurts, the rest must hurt along with it and help it to heal.

We have to fight against false doctrines. It is not sin but a command of the Lord. We are not to sweep that under the carpet in the name of "unity". However, the spirit in which we do this must be in love and not hate.

 

Amen! And Amen! In Christ, WT