Now there are many different “isms”, meaning sects, denominations and doctrines within Christianity that all try to lead us into a narrowly focused belief structure. They think they are helping us. The problem is that they often strip the Bible of it’s power and its mystery; both of which God wants us to experience in order to more fully experience His glory and awesomeness. One of the most common “isms” among Bible believing Christians will teach you to redefine the meaning of many scriptures in order to adhere to their doctrine. This is actually very dangerous, as it causes you to misunderstand the mind and purposes of God; even if only in subtle ways. .
Most of these “isms” came along to correct an error; but long after that error is resolved or degraded, the “ism” will continue to stand firmly, even morph, and it will soak up all of the energy that people have to study and understand the Bible in it’s fullest. One of the most commonly debated sets of the “isms” can be shown that both opposing positions are based on truths of scripture that they assert; and yet both of them are in error by either denying or redefining scriptures that disagree with their narrow interpretation. In other words, what was once intended to contradict a false teaching, became a false teaching. Better for us to read scripture and be humbled by it, than to redefine it and rob it of it’s majestic power that leads us to awe and wonder about the deep mysteries of God. In order to fully define God, we would have to be God. Better to let Him define himself and merely accept that, regardless of how difficult for our mortal minds to comprehend.
The way to counteract all of that is to stay focused on scripture. We listen to Jesus and do what He says! When we reach profound mysteries, we let Jesus explain them.
The final problem with all of the isms, sects and denominations is their mission gets muddled and eventually diverges from what Jesus has called us to do. We see so many that are very busy doing many things, except what Jesus specifically commanded, according to Matthew 28:18-20 which can be summarized here:
- Go
- Make Disciples / Apprentices
- Baptize them in My name / name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- Teach them to follow My instructions.
- Rely on my presence in the process until the end (when I return).
Jesus hasn’t returned, so this remains the order of business for the Fellowship of Believers.
Amazingly, the places where The Church takes this the most seriously are the very places where the body of Christ is growing the fastest. That is vital to understand.
So many of the isms (sects / denominations) are entirely focused on teaching their unique perspective, following their plan, trying to win people to their denomination and convincing them to follow their doctrine, while attacking every other denomination or doctrine. This is precisely the kind of behavior for why Jesus called the Pharisees “a brood of vipers”, “sons of the devil” and “whitewashed tombs”. Not only did they attack the gentiles for being unbelievers, but they battled against Sadducees, and battled between their various schools and camps about which school or teacher had the best doctrines – constantly focusing on secondary issues. Jesus called them all to repent and pronounced curses on them for failing to do one thing: recognize the time of His coming. In other words, they failed to learn the scriptures and see who He is. So He pronounced woes on them.
We are instructed by Jesus to be entirely different than that. Our foremost calling is to study His instructions and do them! We believe that the true Fellowship of Believers in Jesus has love and respect for ALL of Jesus’ own people, even those with whom we disagree about secondary issues. We are one united organism, The Body of Christ on earth.
Therefore, We are convinced that The Church of Jesus, the universal Fellowship of Believers in Jesus, is triumphant and will not be overcome by the world or by the devil’s schemes. Even when The devil and the world persecute and murder Christians, this is still evidence of God’s favor on His people and His working through us. God’s will is still being done on earth, through His people – otherwise, why would the world and the devil want to kill us?
Use these hashtags to find more content: #FellowshipOfBelievers #JesusFollowers #BeABerean
To discover why we believe The Church is triumphant, read here.
Look up the Bible References
Fellowship of Believers in Jesus: Against all isms
Most of these “isms” came along to correct an error; but long after that error is resolved or degraded, the “ism” will continue to stand firmly, even morph, and it will soak up all of the energy that people have to study and understand the Bible in it’s fullest. One of the most commonly debated sets of the “isms” can be shown that both opposing positions are based on truths of scripture that they assert; and yet both of them are in error by either denying or redefining scriptures that disagree with their narrow interpretation. In other words, what was once intended to contradict a false teaching, became a false teaching. Better for us to read scripture and be humbled by it, than to redefine it and rob it of it’s majestic power that leads us to awe and wonder about the deep mysteries of God. In order to fully define God, we would have to be God. Better to let Him define himself and merely accept that, regardless of how difficult for our mortal minds to comprehend.
The final problem with all of the isms, sects and denominations is their mission gets muddled and eventually diverges from what Jesus has called us to do. We see so many that are very busy doing many things, except what Jesus specifically commanded, according to Matthew 28:18-20 which can be summarized here:
Jesus hasn’t returned, so this remains the order of business for the Fellowship of Believers.
Amazingly, the places where The Church takes this the most seriously are the very places where the body of Christ is growing the fastest. That is vital to understand.
So many of the isms (sects / denominations) are entirely focused on teaching their unique perspective, following their plan, trying to win people to their denomination and convincing them to follow their doctrine, while attacking every other denomination or doctrine. This is precisely the kind of behavior for why Jesus called the Pharisees “a brood of vipers”, “sons of the devil” and “whitewashed tombs”. Not only did they attack the gentiles for being unbelievers, but they battled against Sadducees, and battled between their various schools and camps about which school or teacher had the best doctrines – constantly focusing on secondary issues. Jesus called them all to repent and pronounced curses on them for failing to do one thing: recognize the time of His coming. In other words, they failed to learn the scriptures and see who He is. So He pronounced woes on them.
Therefore, We are convinced that The Church of Jesus, the universal Fellowship of Believers in Jesus, is triumphant and will not be overcome by the world or by the devil’s schemes. Even when The devil and the world persecute and murder Christians, this is still evidence of God’s favor on His people and His working through us. God’s will is still being done on earth, through His people – otherwise, why would the world and the devil want to kill us?
Use these hashtags to find more content: #FellowshipOfBelievers #JesusFollowers #BeABerean
To discover why we believe The Church is triumphant, read here.
Published in Commentary, Fellowship of Believers, Prepared Warriors and Teaching