These differences are not clearly laid out, therefore each person may have their own interpretation. To more easily find like minded people, we may group ourselves to a certain denomination, that’s ok.
Actually it's not okay, because if anyone can make up their own interpretation, then how do you know the verses in Scripture mean what you think they mean? Where do you derive the basis for discerning what is true and untrue? If anyone can make up their own denomination, whats wrong with Mormons or Jehovahs Witnesses? By what means can you say their interpretation is incorrect? And how do you know what the "basics of the Gospel" are if it's just your own interpretation? Maybe I disagree with what you think the basics are, whos to say either is right or wrong?
The answer is the Church! And of course these differences are laid out, thats why the Church has councils like the Apostles did in the Apostolic times of the Church, look to Acts 15.
I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth
The Bible is mostly black and white. So I don’t think most denominations are equivalent. Churches that are true churches must hold to the core tenets of the Christian faith. LGBT is directly spoken about in the Bible. There is no question what it says. Interpreting LGBT to be biblical is not an interpretation, it’s a twisting of the scriptures and is of the devil. Things I’ve mentioned are examples of gray areas of the scriptures. I’m not saying I’m of no opinion on these topics, I just don’t believe they are masters of salvation.
But then we have to ask, what exactly are the core tenents? There are no "core tenents" listed in Scripture, this is something left up to an individual interpretation, which again doesn't solve the issue of how do we know whos interpretation is correct.
Yes, there are parts of the Bible that are black and white, love thy neighbor, take up your Cross and follow me, etc.
There are also parts of the Bible that are very theologically difficult, such as Triadology and Christology. An incorrect interpretation of Scripture on these is a direct gateway to atheism, gnosticism, arianism, nestorianism, unitarianism, etc.
There's also no such thing as "the true Churches", Scripture says there is one Church, one Faith, one Body, not multiple.
And one last thing to ask yourself: who do you think compiled the Bible? Why, the Church did through a series of Councils.
I could easily and in long hand prove to you what I’m saying. But to keep it short and sweet, read the west minister larger and shorter catechisms, Belgic confession, cannons of dort, Heidelberg catechism, and the work of the reformers, st Augustine, RC Sproul, Thomas Aquinos, and the Bible pros associated with each. Nh alliance (multiple denominations) have a statement of faith that talks about the core tenets of the Christian faith, to include the scriptural references as well.
People from different sects agreeing doesn't change the fact that there is no exhaustive list in Scripture of "core tenents" that a Church must follow to be true.
And in the Orthodox view, we don't appeal to textual critics and scholars to discern which doctrines are correct. We have the Councils for a reason, like the one in Acts 15. The idea of leaving it to "Bible pros" and textual scholars is an idea from the reformation. It's what led to the thousands of different denominations schisming and splitting from each other, its the reason we have to have this discussion.
Also you appeal to St. Augustine and Aquinas, but these people agree with me that there is only One True Church. The reason we have thousands of Protestant denominations in the first place is because we've separated Scripture from the Church and instead left it to textual critics and scholars.
Actually it's not okay, because if anyone can make up their own interpretation, then how do you know the verses in Scripture mean what you think they mean? Where do you derive the basis for discerning what is true and untrue? If anyone can make up their own denomination, whats wrong with Mormons or Jehovahs Witnesses? By what means can you say their interpretation is incorrect? And how do you know what the "basics of the Gospel" are if it's just your own interpretation? Maybe I disagree with what you think the basics are, whos to say either is right or wrong?
The answer is the Church! And of course these differences are laid out, thats why the Church has councils like the Apostles did in the Apostolic times of the Church, look to Acts 15.
1 Timothy 3:15
The Bible is mostly black and white. So I don’t think most denominations are equivalent. Churches that are true churches must hold to the core tenets of the Christian faith. LGBT is directly spoken about in the Bible. There is no question what it says. Interpreting LGBT to be biblical is not an interpretation, it’s a twisting of the scriptures and is of the devil. Things I’ve mentioned are examples of gray areas of the scriptures. I’m not saying I’m of no opinion on these topics, I just don’t believe they are masters of salvation.
But then we have to ask, what exactly are the core tenents? There are no "core tenents" listed in Scripture, this is something left up to an individual interpretation, which again doesn't solve the issue of how do we know whos interpretation is correct.
Yes, there are parts of the Bible that are black and white, love thy neighbor, take up your Cross and follow me, etc.
There are also parts of the Bible that are very theologically difficult, such as Triadology and Christology. An incorrect interpretation of Scripture on these is a direct gateway to atheism, gnosticism, arianism, nestorianism, unitarianism, etc.
There's also no such thing as "the true Churches", Scripture says there is one Church, one Faith, one Body, not multiple.
And one last thing to ask yourself: who do you think compiled the Bible? Why, the Church did through a series of Councils.
I could easily and in long hand prove to you what I’m saying. But to keep it short and sweet, read the west minister larger and shorter catechisms, Belgic confession, cannons of dort, Heidelberg catechism, and the work of the reformers, st Augustine, RC Sproul, Thomas Aquinos, and the Bible pros associated with each. Nh alliance (multiple denominations) have a statement of faith that talks about the core tenets of the Christian faith, to include the scriptural references as well.
People from different sects agreeing doesn't change the fact that there is no exhaustive list in Scripture of "core tenents" that a Church must follow to be true.
And in the Orthodox view, we don't appeal to textual critics and scholars to discern which doctrines are correct. We have the Councils for a reason, like the one in Acts 15. The idea of leaving it to "Bible pros" and textual scholars is an idea from the reformation. It's what led to the thousands of different denominations schisming and splitting from each other, its the reason we have to have this discussion.
Also you appeal to St. Augustine and Aquinas, but these people agree with me that there is only One True Church. The reason we have thousands of Protestant denominations in the first place is because we've separated Scripture from the Church and instead left it to textual critics and scholars.