GSR13
Member
Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 708 |
quote:
Originally posted by chuckster
okay, this is where we don't see eye-to-eye. I do however agree that if a religion is organized with the purpose to "seek out it's own ends", than it is an evil organization founded by the devil himself! There are however churches that do not do that.
I feel as though organized religion in necessary, for many reasons. First of all, a group is stronger than an individual. When those of the same faith can support each other, each individual in the group is edified, and strengthend. Without organized religion, people would not be able to recieve the necessary ordanances to obtain salvation. Christ said to Nicodemus, "Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." Baptism is required for salvation. Without organized religion, one cannot receive it. I could probably talk for hours just about that. How could a person take the sacrament or communion as others might call it? All of these things can be done because of organized religion.
I am a Christian. Pure and simple. I am not part of any "Organized Religion". I believe the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and believe that it was all inspired by God. To me, it is the very essence of God. Every word is God's thoughts manifested onto paper into the written word.
However, I do not believe that God ever wanted Organized Religion. In fact, God has never spoken to an Organization. The only time God ever deals with a group is when dealing with Israel. He treats all Gentiles as Individuals. You can join all the Organizations you want to and that will not get you any closer to heaven. In fact, Scripture teaches throughout the Book of Revelation that it is the very Organized Religions that reject God. They are the ones that cast God out, in favor of their man made Creeds and Dogmas. Organized Religion has done nothing but corrupt the Word of God and virtually every Doctrine in the Bible.
As for Baptism. I do believe that Baptism, under the Commandment of Acts 2:38, is imperative to a persons relationship with God. I believe that one must fulfill this commandment just as one must participate in communion and foot washing. I believe one must Tithe. However, Organized Religion has nothing to do with this. I do these things because the Word of God says so, not because of the Baptists, Methodists or any other Organization. You say that one must be Baptized to be saved, and I disagree.
A person must be Sanctified, Justified and Baptized in the Holy Spirit to be truly born again.
Look at it this way. Lets say you find an old dirty bottle. You pick it up and put it in your pocket. You have saved it, or sanctified it. Now lets say you take it home and clean it up so it looks brand new. Now you have justified it. But before you can get anything out of it, you have to fill it. That is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. It takes all three to complete the process.
That is what is so wrong with the world today. People walk around Sanctified or Justified, or both, but very, very few have the Holy Spirit. They have an understanding of who God is, and know Jesus was His Son. They may even clean up the outside. However, until the Holy Ghost gets hold, they will never live a life that lines up with God's Word.
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In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. JOHN 14:2
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08-17-2001 06:11 AM
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