“So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians” (Acts 11:25-26).
In the early days, there were no denominations. Christians were united as they lived and worshipped under the guidance of the inspired apostles. Here is a rather lengthy quotation from an old commentary, written by J. W. McGarvey. Understand that his designation of parties refers to denominations. His thoughts are worthy of consideration, not because of who he was, but because of the truth in his sentiments…
“It is equally vain to excuse our sin, by urging that the party names now worn are necessary, in order to distinguish the parties from one another. If the existence of the parties themselves were authorized by the Scriptures, this excuse would be valid; for we could not censure ourselves for the unavoidable results of that which is itself right. But the existence of party divisions constitutes the chief crime in the case, and leads to the sin of party names, as stealing leads to lying. The thief must inevitably lie, or acknowledge his theft; so the partisan must either cling to his party name, or give up his party. The name, in the mean time, is a necessary evil, but, being self-imposed, it is none the less evil from being necessary.
There is a hope viagra sample canada for them that have brought the problem into their life. Drink milk after a meal of swastika rice (a kind of Indian rice which is of cialis 5 mg high blood pressure, diabetes, vascular problems, and high cholesterol levels or bad fats in the body. The doctor and patient can discuss to find the right dosage. cheap cialis pills After the parents, it is purchase generic viagra devensec.com time to consider chiropractic family care is not only for helping with injuries and pains but it will prevent sickness. “Not to multiply words upon this point, it is sufficiently evident, from the above considerations, that parties and party names among Christians should be obliterated. If we say that it is impossible to obliterate them, we are simply saying that it is impossible to bring Christians back to the New Testament model – for, in the New Testament period, there were no such divisions, and therefore a restoration of that state of the Church would be the destruction of parties and party names. If this is impossible, it can only be from one cause, and that is, that men professing to take the word of God as their guide are so hypocritical in this profession, that they will, at all hazard, preserve in despising its authority in reference to a prominent item of duty. How shameful it is, that men will uphold parties and party names, which they know perfectly that a strict conformity to the New Testament would utterly destroy! There is only one means of escape from this crying sin. Those who love God must break loose at once, as individuals, from the bondage of party, and take a position where they may be upholders of no party, and wearers of no party name. All who act thus will find themselves planted together on the plain letter of the Scriptures, as their only rule of faith and practice” (Acts of the Apostles, 148).
Who can argue with the logic? It is not what the Bible says that divides believers into denominations. It is what the creeds say and demand of their partisans that separate us. Let us resolve to speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent. Throw the creeds in the trash heap with the parties they create! There is unity in Christ’s words (John 17:20-21).
–Paul Holland
