“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18~
Sherry called last night to report David Allen is being treated for double viral pneumonia. Plans are to keep him less sedated. Eli, his son, posted on David’s facebook page, Your prayers are greatly appreciated.
Please continue to pray for Ronnie Hayden as he recovers from surgery at North Oaks.
Caring Bridge Sites
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/calliecole
http://www.caringbridge.org/visitadriunnacavanagh
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/larkindorris
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/coltonfrazier
Baptist Press
October 13, 2009
PHILIPPINES–Manila relief teams ‘git busy, git ‘er done’.
http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31450
TENNESSEE–Pew study aligns with previous data to fix Muslim population at about 1 in 4 persons globally.
http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31451
WASHINGTON–Sen. panel OKs abortion-funding health care bill.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31456
CALIFORNIA–Calif. schools to learn about, honor gay pioneer.
http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31452
VIRGINIA–25 more missionaries to go overseas.
http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31453
TENNESSEE–CP EMPHASIS: Profiles of passion for cooperation.
http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31454
LOUISIANA–FIRST-PERSON (Keith Manuel): Introduce Jesus at your fall festival.
http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31455
Kne
Email
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10
Mike Benson, Editor
“IT IS MOST likely that in the Apostolic age when there was but ‘one Lord, one faith, and one baptism,’ and no differing denominations existed, that baptism of a convert by that very act constituted him a member of the church, and at once endowed him with all the rights and privileges of full membership…
In that sense, ‘baptism was the door into the church.’ Now it is different…” (Edward T. Hiscox, The Standard Manual For Baptist Churches, Published by The American Baptist Publication Society, 1890, p. 14).
Kind questions:
. Why is it different today? Should it be different?
. Why do we have so many different churches today, when it is freely admitted that there was only one system of faith (cf. Ephesians 4:5) in the Apostolic age? (Denominationalism, by its own admission is composed of thousands of religious groups, often wearing different man-made names, teaching conflicting religious doctrines, and endorsing contradictory practices).
. Since Jesus prayed for unity and oneness (cf. John 17:20-21), how can we justify religious division today?
. How did Paul respond on those occasions when weak and immature brethren in the first century attempted to denominate and fracture themselves (1 Corinthians 1:11-13; cf. 3:1ff)?
. How many churches did Jesus promise to build (Matthew 16:18)?
. Since Christ is the bridegroom and the church is His bride, how can He be married to thousands of different churches and not be guilty of polygamy? Did Jesus endorse “one man for one woman for life” (cf. Matthew 19), yet practice “one Man for thousands of women” Himself?
. Since a bride wears the name of her bridegroom, why would anyone wish to wear any name other than that of Christ’s?
. How many approved denominations can you read about in the New Testament?
. Did the apostles, who were guided into all truth (John 16:13), ever encourage men to join the church of their choice (Galatians 3:27; cf. Acts 2)?
Consider the words of John Wesley, noted Methodist leader of long ago. He wrote, “Would to God that all party names and unscriptural phrases and forms which have divided the Christian world were forgotten: and that we might all agree to sit down together as humble, loving disciples at the feet of a common Master, to hear His word, imbibe His Spirit, and transcribe His life in our Own” (Wesley’s Notes on the New Testament, p. 7).
“Now I plead with you, brethren,
by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that you all speak the same thing,
and that there be no divisions among you,
but that you be perfectly joined together
in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
1 Corinthians 1:10
The Prayer Link 