BLAMING GOD?

                          BLAMING GOD?

A program that was recently aired on Joynews TV channel dubbed "your belief, my doubts" caught my attention. The program which highlighted on some teachings in Scripture which are understood or applied if not oppositely, perhaps differently in different churches, got me thinking about why we have same Scriptures with a unified theme, which we all claim to use, yet arrived at such dichotomy of  doctrines. These teachings which include baptism, tithing, miracles, salvation, day of worship are strongly debated due to the fact that different individuals and churches have interpreted some part of scriptures erroneously. Meanwhile, our salvation depends on our understanding of the Bible. Cf Acts 8:30, 31-38
If the Bible were any ordinary book, novel, or biography, I would not have taken pains to  write this extract since this differences in understanding appears to be a common thing among people. However, the Bible is a DIVINE BOOK, A HOLY BOOK which claims inspiration (2Pet 1:20, 2Tim 3:16) and does not contradict itself. The Bible declared in; Eph 4:4  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

 5  One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

 6  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

 Yet unfortunately, many do not recognize this truth but have managed to accept and influence others that it is okay to have these dichotomies. Only a few sincere people appreciate the fact that we must belong to  the one Church, have the same teachings, practice the same teachings, and be called by the same name.

..........  and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.  John 10:16

And; 

I Cor1:10  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. 
It is certain that the result of different interpretations of some parts of the scriptures is the existence of many different denominations. And the very existence of these sects will continue to breed all kinds of false and heterogeneous doctrines. 

                                      

These discrepancies produce in the minds of people the convictions that the Bible does not speak clearly and that one person's interpretation is just as good as as someone else's. There are three causes of this doctrinal confusion which I suggest;

1. The disease of denominationalism

2. The disease of relativism

3. The misunderstanding of the role of the Holy Spirit in interpretation.
4. Missing the lesson on the authority of the Bible; Which is authoritative in this Christian dispensation, Old Testament or New Testament?

Let us examine these causes one after the other:

THE DISEASE OF DENOMINATIONALISM

The Bible teaches that Christ purchased the Church with his own blood(Acts 20:28), He is the Savior of his church(Eph 5:23) and all who are saved are in His church(Act 2:41,47) Contrary to that we have taken upon ourselves various names to distinct us from others; charismatic churches, Pentecostal churches, Catholics, Lutherans, Methodist, Presbyterians, Adventist etc. The very thing Paul condemned saying  12  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

 13  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 1st cor 1:12-13. Multiplying denominational churches is never expansion of the Kingdom of Christ. To expand the Kingdom is to preach Christ and to make disciples into his church. Matt 28:18-20

Some people hide behind verses like this to teach that denominations are biblical. 5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. ROM 12:5
Taking into account the  background and context of this verse reveals that Paul was not speaking of denominations but members(individuals, persons) of the same first century Church of the Christ. Pride and covetousness has turned many people into CEOs of churches. Here we are, with different interpretations which in many cases are false. 

But who are you to say another persons interpretation of a text is false since we all hail from different master's: "Apollos, Paul, Cephas, and Christ" Let not the denomination in which you are deceive you into thinking that every interpretation whatever be it is truth. Just as we have the broad way which leads to destruction and the narrow way which leads to life. Mat 7:13-14.

Likewise, we have true interpretation and a false one. Depending which ever interpretation one has, will show if he is giving true worship or false worship. (John 4:24) And if your worship is false you will suffer loss.

I Cor 3:14  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

 15  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

And who is to be blamed, God?

To be continued with the disease of RELATIVISM