Why are there so many different churches

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Why are there so many different churches?

• The scourge of denominationalism

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denominations
Of Men, Not God

• USA 6,000
• WORLD 33,000

Fraction of the whole (Dividing and Naming)
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Prayers and Pleas for Unity
UNITY

• Jesus, John 1720-23
• Believers to be one (21, 23)
• As Father and Son are one (21)
• Denominations are an affront and an offense to
  the Saviors prayer for believers!
• Can be one based on apostolic word (20) 1 Cor
  110, 13

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Prayers and Pleas for Unity
UNITY

• Basis Word of God, Eph 44-6
• One Body One church, Matt 16 18 Eph 122-23
  44 523
• One Spirit, Lord, Father Godhead Jno 1030
• One Hope Eph 41
• One Faith Gospel, Gal 123, 11
• One Baptism Salvation, Mk 1616

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Why are there so many different churches?
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Why So Many?
ONE

• Not Content with and Committed to Gods Way
• The way of Scripture, 2 Tim 316
• Israel demands a king,1 Sam 819-20
• Result Open rebellion, Jer 616-17
• Itching ears, 2 Tim 43-4
• Developed due to corruption of organization and
  worship

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Why So Many?
ONE

• Human will and wisdom, 1 Cor 121
• Lusts of men, Matt 1624 Rom 612 (1 Cor
  33)
• Selfish pride, Matt 619-21, 33 (3 Jno 9-10)
  Anglican Church
• Convenience, 1 Kgs 1228-30
• Sprinkling for baptism (Col 212)
• Personal preferences, Lk 923

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Personal Preference?
ONE

• Join the church of your choice and glorify
  God. (Billy Graham, My Answer, Dec. 15, 1955)
• I am always tempted to point out how many
  different styles of hats have to be designed for
  both American men and women. We all belong to the
  same human race, but we all have enough physical
  differences to make it impossible for us to wear
  the same style of hat with equal satisfaction.
  (Billy Graham, Peace with God, p. 193)

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Why So Many?
ONE

• False Doctrines, 1 Tim 41-3
• Cause divisions (do not advance unity), Rom
  1617-18
• Real competition serves purpose, even in
  religion If they were all united into one
  congregation and under one organization, they
  might not reach as many people or put as many
  people to effective work for Christ.
• (Billy Graham, My Answer, March 12, 1954)

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Why So Many?
ONE

• False Doctrines, 1 Tim 41-3
• Cause divisions (do not advance unity), Rom
  1617-18
• Corrupt minds, 2 Cor 113-4
• Minimize one true church
• Destructive heresies, 2 Pet 21-3
• Doctrine is not important
• Core gospel of ecumenism

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Why So Many?
ONE

• False Doctrines, 1 Tim 41-3
• Against Christ, 1 John 218-19
• Deceivers, 2 John 7-11
• Doctrine does not harm fellowship
• False destroys faith and fellowship!
• Corruption of Gods grace, Jude 4 (Gal 16-7)
• Evangelical Churches Grace alone by faith alone
  in Christ alone

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Why So Many?
ONE

• Covetousness, 1 Tim 610
• Love of money (Megachurches)
• The average megachurch income was 6.5 million
  in 2007, up from 4.7 million in 1999. About 50
  of it was spent on salaries, the rest divided
  evenly between missions and buildings. Meanwhile
  nine out of 10 megachurches more than doubled
  in size between 2002 and 2007. (Beyond
  Megachurch Myths What We Can Learn From
  America's Largest Churches, Scott Thumma and Dave
  Travis, cited by Jesse Bogan, Americas Biggest
  Megachurches)

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Why So Many?
ONE

• Covetousness, 1 Tim 610
• Numbers (Megachurches)
• Lakewood Church (Houston, TX, Pastor Joel
  Osteen) 43,500 attend
• Not many1 Cor 126-29

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Why So Many?
ONE

• Satan and Sin
• He tempts with corrupt motives and false
  teachings to lead people away from the gospel, 2
  Cor 41-4
• His deception that all the churches please God
  is false! 2 Cor 113-4

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What is the remedy?
UNITY

• Bible authority, Col 317
• Respect and follow in everything
• Repent of denominationalism and obey the truth of
  the gospel, Acts 1710-12 (195)

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God or man?

• Church of Christ
• Built by Christ Matt 1618
• Registered in heaven, He 1223
• Saved, Acts 247
• Glorifies God Eph 321

• Denominations
• Built by men
• Registered on earth
• Cannot save
• Glorify men

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