Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry
When the local churches take a name it's for legal purposes. When everyone else does it's to make a distinction, to denominate.
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The thing that the LCer's overlook, and which is never made clear to them (although it is as clear as the nose on Benson's face) is that the churches in the denominations are ALSO legally obliged to incorporate their entities with the local authorities, and to, thus, register a name. It is not to purposefully denominate! This is a misrepresentation and even an intentional slur!
If anything, the churches in the denominations are to be COMMENDED for their HONESTY and TRANSPARENCY in not trying to hide or de-emphasize this fact from its members (as did, or does, the LC); they instead openly declare it by hanging up a sign announcing who they are and the name by which they were registered. I'm not sure (and those of you who are experts can correct me) but isn't it legally mandated and enshrined in the by-laws of most, if not all, municipal localities that organizations registered and incorporated in those jurisdictions must have some sort of public signage stating the name and the nature of the business? If this is the case (and even if it were not so) how can any one lay a charge against a "denomination" for simply following the New Testament injunction to submit themselves "to all governing authorities" (Romans 13:1) and "to every authority instituted among men" (1 Peter 2:13)?
Granted, the LC's do obey this injunction, but my bone of contention with the leadership's practices is that they then turn around and go right ahead to try to obscure the truth of what they've legally done 'behind the scenes' and lay almost zero stress upon it, probably knowing, I hazard to guess, that if they did otherwise they would have a truly difficult time of it upholding and defending the doctrine on why the denominations are so evil and so bad. Politicians engage in this kind of misdirection all the time!
So I ask, is not all the fuss and bother about names, and names causing divisions, and denominations being evil, doesn't it all amount to little more than political smoke and mirrors? a conjuring trick, I shudder to say, intended to simply mislead the flock?
'Jack'