One Church - One City - Biblical?

[DistantStar]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

It does not matter how insistent or not insistent they are, they are still an organized division as long as they remain de-name-iating themselves by calling themselves after "another man's name".

The only difference between the LC and all the other denominations is that the LC does not have an official name. That is the one and only difference setting you apart from other denominations.

Besides that the LC has a distinct faith and organization. Arguing over the lack of a name is splitting hairs.

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by DistantStar

The only difference between the LC and all the other denominations is that the LC does not have an official name. That is the one and only difference setting you apart from other denominations.

Besides that the LC has a distinct faith and organization. Arguing over the lack of a name is splitting hairs.

Jesus and the 12 disciples had a distinct faith and organization, that's not the point.

If we do not have an official name, then we are NOT de-name-iating, so we are not a denomination.

Dictionary time: denomination means "to give a name to".
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/denominate

[DistantStar]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

Jesus and the 12 disciples had a distinct faith and organization, that's not the point.

If we do not have an official name, then we are NOT de-name-iating, so we are not a denomination.

Dictionary time: denomination means "to give a name to".
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/denominate

You are giving a definition of a verb, to denominate. That is different from denomination as a noun. The definition I gave from the OED is applicable, yours are not.

But since you're fond of Merriam Webster, why didn't you look up the noun?

a religious organization whose congregations are united in their adherence to its beliefs and practices

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/denomination

[DistantStar]

As far as I understand, denominate as a verb has no religious connotations at all.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by DistantStar

As far as I understand, denominate as a verb has no religious connotations at all.

Great point.

That's what I call rightly dividing.

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by DistantStar

You are giving a definition of a verb, to denominate. That is different from denomination as a noun. The definition I gave from the OED is applicable, yours are not.

But since you're fond of Merriam Webster, why didn't you look up the noun?



http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/denomination

lol doesn't help you sorry. I realize English may not be your first language, but a word can be both a noun and a verb, it does not change the clear meaning. To denominate (verb) is what they did when they chose a name for themselves. Then they became a denomination (noun), as "ones who denominated themselves". A denomination (noun) is an organization of those who have denominated (verb) themselves.

[DistantStar]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

A denomination (noun) is an organization of those who have denominated (verb) themselves.

You are making up your own definition here after you saw that neither Merriam Webster nor the OED supports your view.

[DistantStar]

Here are some differences I've noticed between the LC denomination and other denominations (please add more).

The LC has no name.
The others have names.

The LC consider other churches as false and heretical.
The others generally believe other churches to be true churches.

The LC has a unique Bible.
The others do not have a unique Bible.

The LC will not cooperate with other denominations.
The others will generally cooperate with other denominations.

Some similarities:

The LC has a common faith.
Other denominations have a common faith.

The LC believes in Christ's divinity, death and resurrection.
Other denominations believe in Christ's divinity, death and resurrection.

The LC has an organization (whether officially or not).
Other denominations have organizations.

[Evangelical]

The LC has no name.
The others have names.

That is not correct. The LC has the name of Christ, others have names other than Christ.

"To deviate from the Lord's word is apostasy, and to denominate the church by taking any name other than the Lord's is spiritual fornication.""


The LC consider other churches as false and heretical.
The others generally believe other churches to be true churches.

Yes, because of the previous point, they are not real churches because they commit spiritual fornication. The other churches have no issue taking a name other than the Lord and approve of others who do likewise. In other words, the one who has the name of Christ is the genuine wife.

The LC has a unique Bible.
The others do not have a unique Bible.

It depends. A church will often tend to use one version over another. Others have unique prayer books and service books. During my 30 years in denominations, I have been in many situations where everyone chose to use a common bible version for convenience, or the pastor recommended one over another.

The LC will not cooperate with other denominations.
The others will generally cooperate with other denominations.

Cooperation but no genuine unity.

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by DistantStar

You are making up your own definition here after you saw that neither Merriam Webster nor the OED supports your view.

Consider what Wikipedia says about religious denominations:

A Christian denomination is a generic term for a distinct religious body identified by traits such as a common name, structure, leadership and doctrine.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_denomination

A denomination (noun) is what results when a group of believers denominate (verb) by calling themselves by a common name other than Christ.

Please do not make yourself look more foolish than you have already by insisting that the word denomination has no relation to the word denominate.

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by DistantStar

The only difference between the LC and all the other denominations is that the LC does not have an official name. That is the one and only difference setting you apart from other denominations.

Besides that the LC has a distinct faith and organization. Arguing over the lack of a name is splitting hairs.

Let's talk about taking names. Whether I look at the state revenue website or in the yellow pages, ones that call themselves "the church in ____" is taking a name. Without that name, I can't tell what their phone number is or where they meet.
The matter of denominating, I see it more of a heart and attitude issue than a name issue. For several years my family and I met with a Baptist denomination. I found them to be less divisive than some of the local churches I've met with or visited.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Terry

Let's talk about taking names. Whether I look at the state revenue website or in the yellow pages, ones that call themselves "the church in ____" is taking a name. Without that name, I can't tell what their phone number is or where they meet.
The matter of denominating, I see it more of a heart and attitude issue than a name issue. For several years my family and I met with a Baptist denomination. I found them to be less divisive than some of the local churches I've met with or visited.

Obviously Evangelical and others in the Recovery are thoroughly convinced that only "the church in __________" is the proper, officially-sanctioned, God-ordained, Biblically-approved church name.

Then what should be done when another church has already taken and registered that name? Are not they now the only proper, officially-sanctioned, God-ordained, Biblically-approved church in that city?

No! Of course not! That proper, officially-sanctioned, God-ordained, Biblically-approved church name then means nothing. So the LSM local church franchise must then find an alternate name that is proper, officially-sanctioned, God-ordained, and Biblically-approved. (This has happened!) And more than once!

And what would that name be? And why don't they all join that church with the proper, officially-sanctioned, God-ordained, Biblically-approved church name? And how many other alternative names are thus available besides the default name "the church in __________".

Let's be honest folks. Names actually mean nothing to LC/LSM leadership. Evangelical why won't you admit it? The whole matter of names is simply used by LSM as a means to condemn all other churches. Like that guy who condemned all churches for praying publicly, and not in their "closets." It sure would be nice if Evangelical would finally admit that LSM only approves churches that buy only their books and attend their trainings.

They really don't care what name you take if you will do that.