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Why are there so many different churches?

Why are there so many different churches?. The scourge of denominationalism. d enominations. Of Men, Not God. USA: +6,000 WORLD: +33,000. Fraction of the whole (Dividing and Naming). 2. Prayers and Pleas for Unity. UNITY. Jesus, John 17:20-23 Believers to be one (21, 23)

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Why are there so many different churches?

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  1. Why are there so many different churches? The scourge of denominationalism

  2. denominations Of Men, Not God USA: +6,000 WORLD: +33,000 Fraction of the whole (Dividing and Naming) 2

  3. Prayers and Pleas for Unity UNITY • Jesus, John 17:20-23 • Believers to be one (21, 23) • As Father and Son are one (21) • Denominations are an affront and an offense to the Savior’s prayer for believers! • Can be one based on apostolic word (20); 1 Cor 1:10, 13 3

  4. Prayers and Pleas for Unity UNITY • Basis: Word of God, Eph 4:4-6 • One Body: One church, Matt 16: 18; Eph 1:22-23; 4:4; 5:23 • One Spirit, Lord, Father: Godhead Jno 10:30 • One Hope: Eph 4:1 • One Faith: Gospel, Gal 1:23, 11 • One Baptism: Salvation, Mk 16:16 4

  5. Why are there so many different churches? 5

  6. Why So Many? ONE • Not Content with and Committed to God’s Way • The way of Scripture, 2 Tim 3:16 • Israel demands a king,1 Sam 8:19-20 • Result: Open rebellion, Jer 6:16-17 • Itching ears, 2 Tim 4:3-4 • Developed due to corruption of organization and worship 6

  7. Why So Many? ONE • Human will and wisdom, 1 Cor 1:21 • Lusts of men, Matt 16:24; Rom 6:12 (1 Cor 3:3) • Selfish pride, Matt 6:19-21, 33 (3 Jno 9-10) [Anglican Church] • Convenience, 1 Kgs 12:28-30 • Sprinkling for baptism (Col 2:12) • Personal preferences, Lk 9:23 7

  8. Personal Preference? ONE “Join the church of your choice and glorify God.” (Billy Graham, My Answer, Dec. 15, 1955) “I am always tempted to point out how many different styles of hats have to be designed for both American men and women. We all belong to the same human race, but we all have enough physical differences to make it impossible for us to wear the same style of hat with equal satisfaction.” (Billy Graham, Peace with God, p. 193) 8

  9. Why So Many? ONE • False Doctrines, 1 Tim 4:1-3 • Cause divisions (do not advance unity), Rom 16:17-18 “Real competition serves purpose, even in religion … If they were all united into one congregation and under one organization, they might not reach as many people or put as many people to effective work for Christ.” (Billy Graham, My Answer, March 12, 1954) 9

  10. Why So Many? ONE • False Doctrines, 1 Tim 4:1-3 • Cause divisions (do not advance unity), Rom 16:17-18 • Corrupt minds, 2 Cor 11:3-4 • Minimize “one true church” • Destructive heresies, 2 Pet 2:1-3 • “Doctrine is not important” • “Core gospel” of ecumenism 10

  11. Why So Many? ONE • False Doctrines, 1 Tim 4:1-3 • Against Christ, 1 John 2:18-19 • Deceivers, 2 John 7-11 • “Doctrine does not harm fellowship” • False destroys faith and fellowship! • Corruption of God’s grace, Jude 4 (Gal 1:6-7) • Evangelical Churches: “Grace alone by faith alone in Christ alone” 11

  12. Why So Many? ONE • Covetousness, 1 Tim 6:10 • Love of money (Megachurches) The “average megachurch income was $6.5 million in 2007, up from $4.7 million in 1999. About 50% of it was spent on salaries, the rest divided evenly between missions and buildings. Meanwhile … nine out of 10 megachurches more than doubled in size between 2002 and 2007.” (Beyond Megachurch Myths: What We Can Learn From America's Largest Churches, Scott Thumma and Dave Travis, cited by Jesse Bogan, “America’s Biggest Megachurches”) 12

  13. Why So Many? ONE • Covetousness, 1 Tim 6:10 • Numbers (Megachurches) • Lakewood Church (Houston, TX, Pastor Joel Osteen): 43,500 attend • Not many…1Cor 1:26-29 13

  14. Why So Many? ONE • Satan and Sin • He tempts with corrupt motives and false teachings to lead people away from the gospel, 2 Cor 4:1-4 • His deception that “all the churches please God” is false! 2 Cor 11:3-4 14

  15. What is the remedy? UNITY • Bible authority, Col 3:17 • Respect and follow in everything • Repent of denominationalism and obey the truth of the gospel, Acts 17:10-12 (19:5) 15

  16. God or man? Church of Christ • Built by Christ Matt 16:18 • Registered in heaven, He 12:23 • Saved, Acts 2:47 • Glorifies God Eph 3:21 Denominations • Built by men • Registered on earth • Cannot save • Glorify men 16

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