#Denominationalism

[adventism-atheism-orthodoxy-me]

This Verse Secretly Undermines All of Christianity...

I just saw this and thought I would process it on my own.

This YouTuber doesn't sound like he's explored much beyond mainstream Western Christianity. He makes the bold statement that EVERY Christian sect finds indispensable the idea that Christ died on the Cross "for our sins". Period.

For the longest time I found that challenging too. He goes on to talk about many of the same things I've asked, "Why couldn't God just forgive us outright? Why must he go through a generational pageant to do something the God of the Universe could have done of his own accord in the first place?"

You can say this is a dumb question. I've been told this many times.

Yet I have never been the only one asking this.

Many, if not all Atheists ask this question. Frankly, many "Christian" answers sound a little unhinged.

Now, I don't think that his examples necessarily contradict the prevailing point of view though. All anyone has to do is look at the banking industry to see that credit on future earnings is a valid payment method. Now it's true that modern banking, and especially credit, wasn't developed until the European Jews, unable to make a living any other way, started lending during the medieval period. Jesuits came up with the idea of insurance, which didn't technically fall under the prohibition against usury. And with ongoing innovation, modern financial markets developed.

None of these, of course, would have been understood by the local people of Jesus' time and place.

What was understood was life and death.

And this is where I found my peace.

Sins can easily be forgiven, but sickness and eventual death? That's a whole other nut to crack. Now, to be clear, unfortunately even the most traditional Christian communities have started to obsess about how SIN must be atoned!

But there is a strain in the oldest Christian traditions that it wasn't primarily sin that was destroyed on the cross, but rather death, disease, corruption (of which sin is a derivation to be sure, but not the point).

Now it's easy to look around and say - "Look! it didn't work." I myself have had to say good bye to both my parents over the last several months.

However, there is a resurrection that is promised. And if Christ has done what he said he did, then there WILL be a general resurrection.

The key is to be prepared for that resurrection. Now we could go on about which denomination is best prepared, but I have little faith in denominationalism. I think it's a means to conquer and divide the faithful, pitting follower against follower. Soon the God who's being worshiped isn't the most High God, but the Deceiver who encourages us all to call each other heretics. I do not think most "Christians" are Christian, but rather following their own wisdom (1 Timothy 6:3-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:11, Matthew 7:13-14, Matthew 24:11).

Now I may be a false teacher myself for thinking such a thing and putting it out there, but I have faith that God will know his own. And while he loves the rest, and has given them life, that life will be so much less for the fact that they reject what he's given them.

I find the idea of a river of fire helpful - Moses and the Glory of God (Exodus 33:20-23), speaks to the idea that to human senses, God is Fire. The Story of the Three Holy Youths (Daniel 3) has also been seen as an illustration of man abiding in the presence of fire, as a proxy for God, unharmed. Pentecost is God's fire experienced by the faithful after his resurrection. How will Gods fire be experienced by the unfaithful?

I have no idea, but I doubt that it will be pleasant (Luke 16:19-31).

In short, I feel this video failed to land it's point. There's enough diversity in Christianity to survive this argument, though I do not think that most modern Christians are open to my resolution.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have mercy upon me, a sinner.

[superbdonutpoetry]

Religion is the Light of the god of this World

The reasons why I do not entertain nominal (denominational) Christianity and refuse to attend, or be a part of their assemblies: They take or profess to own what God gave solely to the nation of Israel, namely the Old and New Testaments. They ignorantly believe because Jesus died for their sins, they have to be grateful and repent of those very sins He died for simply because they put…

[bills-bible-basics]

Denominationalism Graphic 05 #Christian #BibleStudy #Jesus Visit https://www.billkochman.com/Graphics-Library/ to see more. "Man Worship - Personality Cult Worship" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse263.html "Avoid Arguing" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse002.html Article: "Should Christians Engage in Doctrinal Debates?": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/Doctrinal-Debate-01.html "Doctrinal and Spiritual Unity" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse013.html "One Blood Through Faith in Christ" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse550.html "One Body But Many Members" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse369.html "Broken Down the Middle Wall of Partition" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse463.html "Spirit of Truth" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse294.html "Led by the Spirit in Our Understanding" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse479.html "Taught by No Man" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse465.html "Taught by Revelation of the Holy Spirit" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse319.html Article: "Humility in Our Understanding of God's Word": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/Humility-in-Our-Understanding-01.html Article: "Exposing the Tactics of the Enemy!": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/expose-1.html "False Doctrine" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse016.html Article: "Elijah: Where Are the True Prophets of God?": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/elijah-1.html Article: "Mary Worship, Christianity and Roman Catholicism": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/marywor1.html Article: "Where Are the First Century Churches?": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/frstcen1.html "Our True Spiritual Temple" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse056.html https://www.billkochman.com/Blog/index.php/denominationalism-graphic-05/?feed_id=256710&Denominationalism%20Graphic%2005

[preacheroftruthblog]

It Never Was Your Grandfather's Church -- Patrick Swayne

Recently, a news article reported how a church that formerly identified as a “Church of Christ” abandoned this designation, adopting instead a generic name akin to the numerous evangelical community churches that dot the denominational landscape of the United States.1  With this change in branding came other changes to bring the church in line both with other aspects of the community church model…

[normfields]

The Postmodern Attack on Biblical Ethics

It is not possible to live the faithful Christian life while compromising with the Postmodern ideology. Postmodernism is explicitly opposed the biblical ethics. https://rumble.com/v3oclxg-the-postmodern-attack-on-biblical-ethics.html

[andrewpcannon]

Humility

Doctrine does not divide, pride does. Scripture speaks much to humility, and I fear we dislike humility so much that we mostly ignore what Scripture tells us about our own ambition. christoa.com

[spokanefavs]

Walter Hesford talks about his snobbery toward denominationalism, but with some caveats.

"Though I can understand why this mode of worship is popular, I find it off-putting, probably because I myself am archaic. More pertinently, I worry that it is distracting and does not afford serious reflection or centering."

[justarandombrit]

Now I know How the Grunch Cribbed Christmas

[daily-dose-of-joey-richter]

merry christmas! and if you don't celebrate christmas (or even if you do) then still have a holly jolly non-denominationally good golly holiday time! thaaats right ❤️ here's your daily dose of joey richter for today

[62-cents]

its not easy being a (culturally catholic but denominationally who knows) christian and having both of your favorite superhero characters be catholic men who beat people up but someone has to do it

[idylls-of-the-divine-romance]

Nonbelievers/Exchristians: Christianity is so stupid. You're telling me I can be a murderer or a r*pist but if I just *believe* then I can be saved? Give me a break.

Paul: Actually, anyone who practices sexual immorality (fornication, pornagraphy, rape, incest, adultery, etc) and/or perversion (trafficking, prostituting, molesting, and raping children and other weaker individuals), idolatry, thievery and/or fraudulence, covetousness and/or greed, uncontrolled binges and addictions, abuse (including verbal abuse and slander, as well as physical abuse brought on by drunkenness), orgies, extortion, impurity (thoughts that objectify others), debauchery (deeds that objectify others), witchcraft and/or manipulation (especially of others through drugs), hostility and hatred, senseless and contentious discord produced from quarreling, resentment, outbursts of rage, selfishness, sectarianism and denominationalism, murder, lawlessness and evildoing, rebellion, ungodliness, sin (moral failure to love God and Humanity), vicious inconsideration of sacredness, profane defilement of what is holy, patricide and matricide, kidnapping and trading slaves, deceitfulness, and perjury will not take part in the Kingdom of God and it's "riches".

Nonbelievers/Exchristians: Ewww noooo, Christians are so judgemental!!!1! You just want to control me.

[superbdonutpoetry]

Which Brings Me to the Following

WHY do Mohammedans clearly see the differences between Paul’s epistles and the synoptic gospels (albeit for all the wrong reasons), BUT mainline Christian denominationalism fails to see this. The obvious answer is because they (Muslims) read the Bible (even though it is only done to find and then use the contradictions to prove the Bible has errors), while generally speaking, denominationalists…

[bills-bible-basics]

Denominationalism Graphic 01 #Christian #BibleStudy #Jesus Visit https://www.billkochman.com/Graphics-Library/ to see more. "Man Worship - Personality Cult Worship" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse263.html "Avoid Arguing" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse002.html Article: "Should Christians Engage in Doctrinal Debates?": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/Doctrinal-Debate-01.html "Doctrinal and Spiritual Unity" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse013.html "One Blood Through Faith in Christ" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse550.html "One Body But Many Members" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse369.html "Broken Down the Middle Wall of Partition" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse463.html "Spirit of Truth" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse294.html "Led by the Spirit in Our Understanding" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse479.html "Taught by No Man" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse465.html "Taught by Revelation of the Holy Spirit" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse319.html Article: "Humility in Our Understanding of God's Word": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/Humility-in-Our-Understanding-01.html Article: "Exposing the Tactics of the Enemy!": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/expose-1.html "False Doctrine" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse016.html Article: "Elijah: Where Are the True Prophets of God?": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/elijah-1.html Article: "Mary Worship, Christianity and Roman Catholicism": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/marywor1.html Article: "Where Are the First Century Churches?": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/frstcen1.html "Our True Spiritual Temple" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse056.html https://www.billkochman.com/Blog/index.php/denominationalism-graphic-01/?feed_id=252234&Denominationalism%20Graphic%2001

[caspercryptid]

Hey. Remember you can celebrate the holidays non religiously and non denominationally. Decide that December 26th is going to be the day you buy lots of reindeer statues on sale. Decide its going to be reindeer statue day. Do this every year. Or pick a movie you like, doesn't have to be seasonal but it could be winter themed, rewatch that every year. Make your favorite food with it. Invite friends who don't have stuff going on for the holidays. Cook for them. Get on itch.io to find a game to play w your friends or buy a board game. If you don't look forward to this time of year you can give yourself something to look forward to. You can establish your own traditions. You can do this any time. Make this time of year a time of year you look forward to by doing things you enjoy doing. I believe in u

[wild3rpeople]

🎉Well, it's a holly jolly, non-denominationally, good golly holiday time🎉

[technovillain]

I am always thinking so hard about the choice for church imagery in Hollis' mind and what it means for her character. I would say for sure that her inner-sanctum when trying to solve a crisis being a church would suggest that she is religious or had a religious upbringing.

The pews are full of figments of hospital patients. They are nondescript figures but their presence paired with her area to process is by the pulpit suggests that she sees herself as a sort of guide to others in this time, especially helping the helpless find a sense of salvation.

At the very front of this church rest the main dilemma Hollis faces, and based on her train of thought and general dialogue, it is easy to assume that this is a mental connection that she comes back to often. Risk with Death. The stained glass window behind this tableau depicts a shining sun, beneath which lies a cloud, beneath which lies a fade from blue to pink, not unlike a sunset. It could just be pretty decoration or could be indicative of the idea that just beyond any clouded idea or concept (taking a risk) there lies the possbility of an end (death).

I feel it could be argued either way that she has a positive or negative relationship with religion based on the imagery alone, but I feel it is safest and likely more accurate to simply say that it is a complicated one. We don't know anything about religion in the Psychonauts universe, which is why this choice of imagery was so fascinating to me. We have no clue what the major religions are like, or how psychic abilities would possibly play into religious affiliation or scrutiny. Not making any assumptions on that front, the symbolism of this being Hollis' safe space in her mind says that she, at the very least, sees a church building as a safe location, likely due to events in her past. She would want to come here to be alone with her thoughts, sort of like processing thoughts and seeking help for herself or others through prayer or self-reflection.

But this idea of Risk = Death being at the very center of the church could also imply a type of religious trauma that caused her to experience a form of death anxiety, barring her from knowing what risks are appropriate and therefore taking none to protect herself and others.

Despite all of this, there is another route that could be taken to interpret this symbolism that could go hand-in-hand with religious affiliation or could go unconnected. For many of those who are not religious, a church is still an important space which often reflects two major changes in a person's life: funerals or weddings.

After the hot streak section of the level, we see that the church windows now have hearts on the windows. Hollis is kneeling on the ground, something that would typically be associated with prayer, but she is gambling on the table....the table which could arguably be like a casket at the front of the church.

Another way to look at the stained glass motifs could indicate the first one being like her focusing on the idea of death as an impending inevitability to be avoided at all costs. The church being covered in hearts later on has a notably different vibe. I am reeeaching here but the first one could be more like a funeral and the later one could be more like a wedding, a time in a church that has a notably more carefree vibe than a lot of church services (although this does vary from church to church and denominationally) and Hollis does mention having a husband in one piece of dialogue relating to the socks and sandals....

Who knows! I am doing some stretching and just bringing up some symbolism. Please feel free to bring up more symbolism that you might find or other interpretations!