Christianity – Unity vs Division
What causes division in Christianity?
Apparently, right now there are about 40,000 denominations of Christianity.
Why is this so?
Simple: we refuse to “speak the same” thing (the command in 1 Corinthians 1:10). Where is the yardstick? Apostle Paul’s “inspired” writings whether in “our flesh we agree or not”, it doesn’t matter.
Yes, this is the “requirement” to be “spirit-led”, being “spiritual” or as a “prophet” too (1 Corinthians 14:37 – 38).
An author would write about the ‘contradictions he claims to see’ & then challenge the inerrancy of Scripture. After that, he would write “his opinion” which “seems good to him” and “claim it as truth”.
Honestly, between ‘such words against Holy Scripture’ and Holy Scripture Itself, I choose Scripture.
Also, there is a common Fallacy regarding contradiction claims as follows (due to arguing a general from a specific or vice versa, or confusing between relative & absolute statements even ignoring the element of time in proper exegesis):
(i) A is B
(ii) A is not B
Are (i) and (ii) Contradictory?
Only if it occurs at the “same” time. If it “does not” occur at the “same” time, statement (i) may be relatively true due to a “cause” and when it’s addressed accordingly, statement (ii) becomes true, even absolutely from that time thereon.
Another example is not understanding Judgment vs Love or Good vs Evil as described below:
(iii) God is Good & Overcomes evil with Good (Psalm 119:68, Romans 12:21) and hates evil (Proverbs 8:13)
(iv) God allows evil with sufficient control measures against it (1 Corinthians 10:13) & created the knowledge of knowing evil allowing “creation’s choice” with warning not to choose it (Genesis 2:17) but does no evil (Psalm 5:4, 1 John 1:5) and only returning one’s “own evil” back to them especially during “afterlife or earthly Judgments” as He speaks such evil which comes upon men to “His Prophets first” (Amos 3:6 -..8) – giving sufficient warning & time for repentance too (Principles from Deuteronomy 28:58 – 62, Deuteronomy 28:45). God Works “all things after the Counsel of His Will referring to Good only, His Good Pleasure toward the end (Isaiah 46:10)” to ‘Solve’ the problem of evil by gathering all things to Christ eventually (Ephesians 1:8 – 11, Colossians 1:20, 1 Corinthians 15:24 – 27) till finally, God becomes “all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28) meaning that evil ceases to exist from “all creation” being set free as “Children of God” (Romans 8:20 – 21).
The evil we feel is either due to another creation’s evil Choice including “such gods & evil men wrongly abusing their authority” (not God’s Will, e.g. Psalm 82:1, Ephesians 6:12) who will all be judged by ‘suffering’ the same evil & pain they caused to others (Psalm 82:2 – 4, Isaiah 3:11) in afterlife Judgments in “Hell” accordingly (Psalm 82:6 -.. 8.) including for “men” too (Matthew 5:26, Galatians 6:7).
Example verse for Judgment Principle
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7, NASB)
Explanation:
For the righteous vs wicked, reaping what they have sowed means this:
“Tell the righteous that it will go well for them,
for they will eat the fruit of their labor.
Woe to the wicked — it will go badly for them,
for what they have done will be done to them.” (Isaiah 3:10 – 11, CSB)
Please note the next verse which speaks of a “Judgment state” (in Principle) Where “Women” will “rule” (spiritual context, primary) such “disobedient ones” (a ‘cursed state’) whose leaders “confuse” their paths even teaching such things (not God’s leading as Scripture clearly implies):
“Youths oppress my people,
and women rule over them.
My people, your leaders mislead you;
they confuse the direction of your paths.” (Isaiah 3:12, CSB)
Yes, God “Judges His People” Righteously for all these and more (again, ‘next’ verse, in context):
“The Lord rises to argue the case
and stands to judge the people.” (Isaiah 3:13, CSB)
Casting down all arguments against God’s Word is a Biblical attitude:
“overthrowing arguments, and every high thing lifting itself up against the knowledge of God, and taking captive every thought into the obedience of Christ,” (2 Corinthians 10:5, BLB)
It’s “noble-minded” to check & stick to “Scripture ONLY” regarding Spiritual matters as the ‘Berean attitude’ is highly commended in verse below:
“Now these (Bereans) were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11, NASB)
The Best Christian Walk of Faith as a Gentile believer is to “obey” what God delivered to apostle Paul, the “apostle of the Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 14:37, 1 Corinthians 11:1 – 2):
“For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.” – apostle Paul (Romans 16:19, NASB)
P/S:
If apostle Paul taught and obeyed these commands and became great in the kingdom of the heavens, it is certainly the best way to “imitate/follow” Christ as 1 Corinthians 11:1 implies.
I don’t think the Christian leaders who teach against apostle Paul’s divinely inspired writings would exceed Apostle Paul either.
So, let’s follow the “Faith” as “it is written”.
How