Home Faiths & Prayer Are Denominations Dividing the Church? Related Topics Christian, Denominations, Evangelism, Love And Family, Christianity, Catholicism, Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Orthodox, Church Of Christ Advertisement Advertisement Are Denominations Dividing the Church? How did today’s church get so divided – Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Pentecostals, Mennonites, Orthodox, Mormons, to list just a few? Is it an abomination before the Lord? How do we figure out which group is following God’s truth? BY: Rob Kerby, Senior Editor 410 0 9 0 One day, Jesus turned to one of His most faithful disciples, fisherman Simon Bar-Jonah, and gave him a new name. God had only done that a few times before – Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Jacob to Israel, then a few years later, Saul to Paul. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus not only re-named Simon, but told him: “I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” St. Paul, painted by Pompeo Giralamo Batoni (1708-1787), St. Peter, painted by Pompeo Giralamo Batoni (1708-1787) “This was an extraordinary thing for Jesus to do,” writes Christian attorney John Salza, “because ‘rock’ was not even a name in Jesus’ time. Jesus did this, not to give Simon a strange name, but to identify his new status among the apostles. When God changes a person’s name, He changes their status.” Indeed, Peter would have a unique role in founding the church. The Gospel records that Jesus built one church and that all saved people were in that church,” writes David Pratt. “He prayed for unity and rebuked division.” In 1 Corinthians 1:10, the Apostle Paul pleaded “let there be no divisions among you!” So, how did today’s church get so divided – Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Pentecostals, Mennonites, Orthodox, Mormons, to list just a few?
Posted on: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 19:38:39 +0000
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