Comments on: The Fracturing Of The Reformed Faith http://zealfortruth.org/2007/06/the-fracturing-of-the-reformed-faith/ Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:14:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Jasen Tracy http://zealfortruth.org/2007/06/the-fracturing-of-the-reformed-faith/#comment-229 Jasen Tracy Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:45:26 +0000 http://zealfortruth.org/2007/06/the-fracturing-of-the-reformed-faith/#comment-229 I totally agree with the main point of your post. I wonder if the age of denominational splits is winding down. There's alot more independent churches than in previous times and it seems to me anyways that denominations don't split so much as individual people and churches drop out. I totally agree with the main point of your post.

I wonder if the age of denominational splits is winding down. There’s alot more independent churches than in previous times and it seems to me anyways that denominations don’t split so much as individual people and churches drop out.

]]> By: Atanamis http://zealfortruth.org/2007/06/the-fracturing-of-the-reformed-faith/#comment-230 Atanamis Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:46:45 +0000 http://zealfortruth.org/2007/06/the-fracturing-of-the-reformed-faith/#comment-230 There is no problem with someone claiming that another person does not believe EXACTLY as they believe. I can define my "denomination" as having my exact beliefs, and in all likelihood nobody else will ever be a member of "my denomination". In fact, in a few years, I likely wouldn't be a member. Segmentation by name is meaningless, and there is no problem with it. What matters most is how we TREAT members of other segments, particularly those who do not violate any "central" beliefs. I consider anyone who believes in the basic Gospel and treats the Bible as the inspired word of God to be family. I might think they are wrong in their eschatology or cosmology, but they are still family. Classifying myself as believing differently than my brother is acceptable. Spurning my brother because he isn't "Atanamis denomination certified" is stupid. There is no problem with someone claiming that another person does not believe EXACTLY as they believe. I can define my “denomination” as having my exact beliefs, and in all likelihood nobody else will ever be a member of “my denomination”. In fact, in a few years, I likely wouldn’t be a member. Segmentation by name is meaningless, and there is no problem with it. What matters most is how we TREAT members of other segments, particularly those who do not violate any “central” beliefs. I consider anyone who believes in the basic Gospel and treats the Bible as the inspired word of God to be family. I might think they are wrong in their eschatology or cosmology, but they are still family. Classifying myself as believing differently than my brother is acceptable. Spurning my brother because he isn’t “Atanamis denomination certified” is stupid.

]]> By: Thainamu http://zealfortruth.org/2007/06/the-fracturing-of-the-reformed-faith/#comment-232 Thainamu Mon, 25 Jun 2007 20:24:22 +0000 http://zealfortruth.org/2007/06/the-fracturing-of-the-reformed-faith/#comment-232 I think your generation (as opposed to mine, and I remind you that I'm an old lady) does a better job in not splitting hairs and in accepting a certain amount of variation before starting a new church. Maybe that is because there is a clearer divide nowadays as to who is a Christian and who isn't. By that I mean it is now more culturally acceptable to be non-religious or non-Christian-in-name than it used to be, so maybe those who actually hold to the name of Christ stick together better. The trick comes in knowing where to draw the line--what "little" things can we disagree on and what basic core beliefs are worth fighting about/separating. I think your generation (as opposed to mine, and I remind you that I’m an old lady) does a better job in not splitting hairs and in accepting a certain amount of variation before starting a new church. Maybe that is because there is a clearer divide nowadays as to who is a Christian and who isn’t. By that I mean it is now more culturally acceptable to be non-religious or non-Christian-in-name than it used to be, so maybe those who actually hold to the name of Christ stick together better. The trick comes in knowing where to draw the line–what “little” things can we disagree on and what basic core beliefs are worth fighting about/separating.

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