“You say that you are a Baptist”

If you are referring to where I write I am an “unofficial member of Iglesia Bautista Monte Horeb”–that is the church I attend, but I am not Baptist, nor am I officially affiliated with any denomination, nor have I ever been, nor do I plan to join.

I am a bit confused by your comment on the whole, but I appreciate your final paragraph. Jesus was not a divider for those with the truth. Another great example is seen when Jesus replied to the Pharisees and Herodians, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Among many things, by doing this, Jesus kept his apostles (Matthew and Simon) from splitting apart/dividing over political lines.

Currently I’m taking Bible classes through a seminary. The experience has been impressive. In our class we have Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, and non-denominationals. The goal has been to study the Scriptures and nothing more. I can positively say we are clearly doing more than social work (building houses, food for the poor). Of course there are different interpretations, but all agree that the Bible is the only and final authority.

This is not true of Catholics, Jehovah’s Witnesses, or even the Church of Christ. Each of those would be unable to participate in a “Bible study” of this kind. All would need outside sources (person and/or literature) that would add or subtract from the Bible. And the church heads of those religions would not allow their members to participate in an “outside” study of the Bible.

I suppose this is inevitably leading to the definition of inter-denominational and ecumenical.

Well I should say, good answer about salvation but I disagree completely with everything else. Let me give a non-heated, not-trying-to-be-a-jerk, reply.

Let me precede this comment with this statement. I have no faith in a denomination. In every denomination you can find a church that is an exception- both good and bad. If a person had a “great, in depth understanding of the differences between and among denominations” they would be a part of the best (read Biblically correct) denomination. Would that person be able to work along side of another who is teaching false doctrine? I think not.

You say that you are a Baptist, and for example: Baptists believe in Salvation by “grace through faith (eph 2:8-9)” and nothing else. This means that people in the Church of Christ who believe baptism is an absolute necessity for Salvation (in addition to grace through faith) are wrong. The Catholics who believe that Salvation comes from doing good works and saying prayers are wrong. The Jehovah witnesses who don’t believe Jesus is equally God like God the Father is God- they are wrong too. They couldn’t possibly be saved by the grace of God through Faith in Christ’s death on the cross.

Your denomination definitely determines your doctrine otherwise you are a certain denomination out of ignorance or convenience. And doctrine divides.

If all you want to do is build buildings or feed the poor- then “interdenominational coordination is fantastic”. But if you are teaching the Bible, all denominational belief will have to be put away and every doctrine based solely on the Bible. Once you start to do this some people will say, “that’s not how I interpret it”. Then you will sit down and begin to teach those people why we believe what we believe which will then turn into a standard of believe which will then turn into a sort of denomination.

If my denomination were wrong about even one major doctrine I would run screaming to the one that was correct or find a church within that denomination that taught it correctly. Again, I do not place my faith in a denomination but rather the Bible. My eternal future depends on it. Christ did not die for the denomination nor did he institute one.

Denominational lines do seem to blur on the mission field, but that’s not a good thing. In our area, if you ask, everyone is a Christian because everyone goes to a church. But half of those churches are teaching false doctrines and deceiving those people. How can we in good conscience, work together with those churches? If we take the liberty to exclude them in our efforts where do we draw the line?
I think the lines are blurred because there are fewer choices on the mission field and people don’t like to be alone.

Jesus said Lk 9:49-50 “…for he that is not against us is for us.” I agree completely, he that is not teaching false doctrine and practice is on our team regardless of denomination. It just tends to be easier to lump them all together- those in my denomination and everyone else.

I’m not sure how much of your comment is directed to me specifically or are thoughts in general. Nor am I sure if you’re being rhetorical in the end. Nor am I sure if it’s wise for me to respond. But I think I will.

First, yes, there is just one way to heaven for all Bible believing Christians: John 14:6. An no, I’m not the authority, Jesus said it Himself.

Second, you state: “Every person in a denomination either has little understanding of the differences among other denominations or believes his is the most Biblically accurate.”

I think I agree with your two-part sentence. However, obviously if someone has great, in-depth understanding of the differences between and among denominations, that person is bound to conclude that some are more Biblically accurate than others. Yet that does not necessarily change the salvation message. Nor does it inherently inhibit working together. That seems unlogical.

I understand that if you take it to an extreme, we’ve got ecumenicalism. But within the realms of Christianity, interdenominational coordination is fantastic. Especially on the mission field, denominational lines seem to blur. Do you disagree?

Because I care so deeply about my relationships and these partnerships, I won’t risk burning them through a thoughtless reference that would be good for some in the US to see, but won’t affect in any immediate way the work on the field positively, but can immediately ruin the work in the field.

Great point that there is less overlap in the 10/40 window. I agree with you that most missionaries are concerned about the lost, wherever it is they are living. This is a given. Thus it seems only natural that writing about what’s going on spiritually would be paramount to their website.

And I’ve looked at your site(s). I do not doubt your intentions or work.

However, in many blogs I’ve seen–where missionaries often write about sports, tech gadgets, and their furlough at the theme park–it seemed strange that in my hour of search, I never once read about “the other” missionary.

peace

Thanks for your input, ladies! I’m glad there are some “opposing” comments to balance out my article a bit. It’s super that you’re involved w/ other ministries and missionaries–and write about it! God bless your work.

http://www.bajacompassion.blogspot.com/

But it is an unfair comparison since helping other ministries is what he does, couldn’t write about the work without writing about them.

But I could see what you mean, I guess it is uncommon for ministries to speak of other missionaries/ministries . . . I have the opinion that there is also a bit a a fear that if you do speak of another ministry someone might ‘jump ship’, either a co-worker or a supporter or someone.

I’ve seen that fear in practice before.