Allow me to explain! Why do people who have a smaller circle, or a circle that is not quite like the next guys circle refuse to have "fellowship" one with another? The Bible clearly states that Jesus desires NO DIVISION in the body. By its very nature this means if you decide you will have no contact with another Christian then you consider them not in the body. This begs a couple of sub questions:
Who told us to be the judge of another persons Christianity?
Where does the Bible say we have the ability to determine another person's relationship with God?
Isn't exclusivity just as, or even more poisonous than all this other division that is going on?
From the mouth of Jesus himself, a commandment largely ignored by many, and certainly addressing the situation you speak of:
John 13:34-35 "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
So... if you don't have love for the brethren.... you will not be known as a disciple of the Lord.
But who are your brethren? If circle A believes that you must do/believe X to be a Christian, and circle B doesn't do/believe X, the the people in circle B are all unbelievers. A should not fellowship with B. What fellowship can light have with darkness?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
From the mouth of Jesus himself, a commandment largely ignored by many, and certainly addressing the situation you speak of:
John 13:34-35 "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
So... if you don't have love for the brethren.... you will not be known as a disciple of the Lord.
By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, that you have love one to another.
How can you say that you love God and love not your brother? If you say that you love God and you don't love your brother you are a a liar.
And we know where all liars go, right? Yep! To congress!!
With so many scriptures that command us to love one another and maintain a spirit of unity, how can we justify a separation over the little differences that we have?
From the mouth of Jesus himself, a commandment largely ignored by many, and certainly addressing the situation you speak of:
John 13:34-35 "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
So... if you don't have love for the brethren.... you will not be known as a disciple of the Lord.
Consider this. WHO IS A DISCIPLE OF JESUS?
Answer:
25And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.Luke 14:26-27
Its clear that Jesus ONLY counts people who are entirely sold out to him as HIS DISCIPLE. The rest may make that confession but is not accepted by him.
So when Christ says by this all will know you are my disciples he was addressing those who HAD FORSAKEN ALL to follow him. He was addressing those who HAD TAKEN UP THE CROSS to follow him.
See the difference? He certainly is not speaking to Catholics, Baptists, Lutherans, or even Pentecostals who DO NOT fit his view of being a disciple.
They may all accept each other but that does not mean Christ accepts them.
25And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.Luke 14:26-27
Its clear that Jesus ONLY counts people who are entirely sold out to him as HIS DISCIPLE. The rest may make that confession but is not accepted by him.
So when Christ says by this all will know you are my disciples he was addressing those who HAD FORSAKEN ALL to follow him. He was addressing those who HAD TAKEN UP THE CROSS to follow him.
See the difference? He certainly is not speaking to Catholics, Baptists, Lutherans, or even Pentecostals who DO NOT fit his view of being a disciple.
They may all accept each other but that does not mean Christ accepts them.
Being a disciple of Jesus means being willing to obey Him above all others in your life. It means that you are willing to obey Jesus, even if it means death. The question must be asked - how many people who claim to follow Jesus actually believe and live this?
25And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.Luke 14:26-27
Its clear that Jesus ONLY counts people who are entirely sold out to him as HIS DISCIPLE. The rest may make that confession but is not accepted by him.
So when Christ says by this all will know you are my disciples he was addressing those who HAD FORSAKEN ALL to follow him. He was addressing those who HAD TAKEN UP THE CROSS to follow him.
See the difference? He certainly is not speaking to Catholics, Baptists, Lutherans, or even Pentecostals who DO NOT fit his view of being a disciple.
They may all accept each other but that does not mean Christ accepts them.
OK Michael, but who gets to determine who is "Sold Out" to the Lord sufficiently? What do we go by? Is it OK for group A to look at group B and say "their sleeves are not as long as ours, they are therefore not believers.?" Do we all get to create our own criteria? Does our Pastor? Does our organization? At what level is it not OK to privately interpret scripture?
But who are your brethren? If circle A believes that you must do/believe X to be a Christian, and circle B doesn't do/believe X, the the people in circle B are all unbelievers. A should not fellowship with B. What fellowship can light have with darkness?
Timmy, this is in fact the scripture that has been quoted ad naseum to prove you are less holy than me! And yet each little group gets to privately interpret who is light ad who is darkness? By whatever measure they deem worthy? Should it be sleeve length? Hair length? At one point, according to history, in the late 1800s and early 1900s the conservative holiness movement was so bent on finding a new level of holy there were over 100 different organizations claiming its form of holiness was the ONE approved by God.
OK Michael, but who gets to determine who is "Sold Out" to the Lord sufficiently? What do we go by? Is it OK for group A to look at group B and say "their sleeves are not as long as ours, they are therefore not believers.?" Do we all get to create our own criteria? Does our Pastor? Does our organization? At what level is it not OK to privately interpret scripture?
Bingo!
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Philippians 2:12 - ...Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling
Ephesians 4:5 - One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
1 Corinthians 1:10 - Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith ...
But who are your brethren? If circle A believes that you must do/believe X to be a Christian, and circle B doesn't do/believe X, the the people in circle B are all unbelievers. A should not fellowship with B. What fellowship can light have with darkness?
This is the biggest problem in the church today. People are not going to see it until it is too late.
God is only coming for one circle (Scriptural Proof - All believers were together). We have to get on one accord people. I Corith. 1:10
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Philippians 2:12 - ...Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling
Ephesians 4:5 - One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
1 Corinthians 1:10 - Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith ...
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