Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 12/27/2006

Question
Hello,  Can you help shed some light on my plight, pardon the rhyme :)  
Regarding christinanity:
If you believe in God and you believe that his son died for our sins, then as Christians we are all in the same boat to that point...also, would you agree that those two facts are the most important facts to all Christians? when we move past this agreement is when we all start going in different directions on the interpretations of the bible and how each of our own personal denominations translate this awesome story... my problem is, logically speaking, not all of us are right, it only happened one way...so either one of us is correct or none of us is correct but not all of us are correct... so, again, logically speaking, why invest your time and life into a denomination? why not invest your life into just being a Christian and giving glory to God....the rest is so vague and un-sure, afterall if we weren't unsure and had proof it happened according to your personal denomination there there wouldn't be any others, we would all be one...
My question is, whats the point of denominations, we all (christians) agree on the main two things, why scatter out after those two facts...is that really logical...isn't the smartest move to practice your Christian faith non-denominational?

thank you

Answer
Jackson,

This is Elder Greg Madden, and I wanted to thank you for allowing me the privilege of answering your questions. And from my family to yours, I pray that you would have a blessed Thanksgiving Day!

Elder Greg
http://www.forministry.com/USOKPENTEMMM1



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Jackson,

Thanks for your questions. I will do my best to answer them.

1."If you believe in God and you believe that his son died for our sins, then as Christians we are all in the same boat to that point..."

I would agree that all true Christians hold to these two basic beliefs. But we must remember that to believe these things does not make one a Believer/Christian. Why even the devil believes these things!

James 2:19
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

2."...also, would you agree that those two facts are the most important facts to all Christians?"

I would agree that these are two very important truths.

3."...logically speaking, not all of us are right, it only happened one way...so either one of us is correct or none of us is correct but not all of us are correct... so, again, logically speaking, why invest your time and life into a denomination?"

I agree with you. Jackson, all Christians hold to the same basic beliefs. Here are a few of them...
1. Infallibility and Divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures.
2. Monotheism. There is only One God.
3. The virgin birth of Jesus Christ.
4. Christ died on the cross for the forgives of mans sin's.
5. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after His death.
6. Salvation is given by grace through faith, not of works.

All Christians hold to these Truths (and many more which time does not allow me to expand upon). These are the "dogma's" of the Christian faith. Dogma meaning the beliefs that we cannot, and will not ever change, modify, or deny. To do so would be a denial of the faith, and ultimately God Himself.

However, there are some things that are not dogma's that I may believe, but others do not. These are called doctrines. For instance, there are many (of whom I am apart) that believe a Christian can turn his back on God and be lost again. We have many Scriptures to support this belief. But there is also many in Christendom that believe that a Christian can never, not matter what they do or say, be lost again after they are saved (commonly called once-saved-always-saved). It is because of things like this that denominations have been formed. I do not condone it, but it the way things are.

Even those denominations that claim that they alone are correct have groups within their own ranks that will disagree on some issues. The same is true even if you are apart of a non-denominational church. Somethings we all see in a different way than others. This is not a problem unless they change or deny the dogma's of the faith. Everything else is subject to interpretation. Why even the catholic church itself, which claims to be the one true church, has a plethora of groups within its own ranks that disagree on many of their doctrines.  

Jackson, the Lord knew that this would happen, and it did happen while He walked the Earth.

Mark 9:38
And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.  
9:39
But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.  
9:40
For he that is not against us is on our part.  

Jackson you wrote that these things are not logical. Everything that is logical is based upon a known fact, and facts are subject to change. For instance, at one time it was a fact that the world was flat. This was logically assumed by the facts at available at the time. But as the evidence proved those beliefs wrong, then the facts changed. Jesus said it this way...

John 8:32
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Facts change, but Truth never changes. Logic is the human ability to understand. But there are somethings that are illogical that must be accepted by faith alone.

4. "...isn't the smartest move to practice your Christian faith non-denominational?"

Jackson, I believe you have (as we say in Oklahoma) "hit the nail on the head". The most important thing for every Believer is to be lead by the Word of God, and by the Holy Spirit. The problem with most (though certainly not all) denominations is that instead of being sensitive to God and follow Him as He leads, they tend to stay where they are comfortable.

I hope that I have answered your questions. Please feel free to write back if I can be of any further help.
Elder Greg Madden