Cross Examine your beliefs
How consistent or contradictory are your convictions
- Does your church, denomination or movement have a corner on the truth or a monopoly on Christ and His Church. Yes or No?
- Did the first century church have heresies. Yes or No? Does the church today have heresies. Yes or No? Does your church have heresies. Yes or No?
- Does 1 Corinthians 1:13 teach us that Christ cannot be divided. Yes or No? Is your church dividing Christ by dividing His Body. Yes or No?
- Does Ephesians 4:5 state that there is only “One Lord, One Faith and One Baptism. Yes or No? Is your church promoting, “One Lord, One Faith and One Baptism”. Yes or No?
- Did Jesus pray in John 17:21 that His church would be one. Yes or No? Is your church one with the whole Body of Christ. Yes or no?
- Does the Bible command us not to subtract or add to the Scripture. Yes or No? Is it fair to say that adding specific and personal standards or convictions to general Biblical principles is equivalent to adding to the Scriptures. Yes or No?
- Would you agree that Christian fellowship is based on the essentials of the Christian Faith. Yes or No? Is your church united with the Body of Christ on the essentials of the Christian Faith. Yes or No?
- Would you agree that the Body of Christ is composed of many different Biblically based Christian denominations? Does your church accept or receive the whole Body of Christ?
- Does 1 Corinthians 2:2 teach that the Apostle Paul determined not make issues of anything except Jesus Christ and Him Crucified when visiting the church? Does your church only make Christ the main issue when fellowshipping with others. Yes or No?
- Does the Bible command us to avoid disputes and controversies? Does your church engage in disputable or debatable issues? Yes or No? Do you agree with the following statement “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind…” Yes or No?
- Do you believe in “Biblical Separation”? Yes or No? Where the Pharisees called “the pious and separated ones”. Yes or No Does Jude 1:19 state that “These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit”. Yes or No? Does 3 John 1:9 state that “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them, receiveth us not”. Yes or No? Can so called “Biblical Separation” sometimes lead us astray into elitism and pride?
- Is your understanding of the Scriptures perfect? Would it be fair to say that some of your understanding of the Scriptures is erroneous and humanly bias?
- Would you agree that faithfulness is based on unity in Christ? Yes or No? Is your church united in Christ with the whole Body of Christ? Yes or No?
- Would you agree that the local church is a part of the collective church? Is your local church connected with the whole Body of Christ? Yes or No?
- Does the Apostle Paul teach us that exclusive or elitist human followings or denominations are a mark of carnality in1 Corinthians 3:3 when he states” For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men. Yes or No?
- Would you consider your church superior or better than others denominations? Does your church value and honour the whole church. Yes or No?
- Does 1 Corinthians 1:10-15 state “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions
among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some
from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is
this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”;
still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized
in the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15
so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. Yes or No? Is your church dividing the
Body of Christ through human followings or denominations. Yes or No?
18. Does 1 Corinthians 1:10-15 state “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions
among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some
from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is
this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”;
still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized
in the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15
so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. Yes or No? Is your church dividing the
Body of Christ through human followings or denominations. Yes or No?
19. Would you agree that there will be no denominations in heaven. Yes or No? Is it fair to say that
there will be no Baptist, Pentecostals, Presbyterians, Anglicans, Catholics etc. in heaven as
denominations will not exit in heaven. Yes or No?
20. Would you agree that your view of the church has human biases and blind spots. Yes or No?
21. Would you agree that if you where deserted on a desert island with no outside human influences
or conditioning that you would never become a Baptist, Pentecostal or any other denomination
on your own. Yes or No?
22. Would you agree that a stereotypical or cookie cutter form of Christianity is not Biblically based,
objective or healthy. Yes or No?
23. Would you agree that it is possible to believe the right things in the wrong way. Yes or No? Can
truth blind and bind us. Yes or No?
24. Does the Bible forbid a human rationalization of our faith that is based on science, genealogies,
debates, reasoning, traditions, personal convictions and denominational distinctives. Yes or No?
25. Is it possible to make a profession of faith but not be a true follower of Jesus? Is it possible to
deceive ourselves. Yes or No? Is the greatest evidence of our faith our love for the brethren. Yes
or No? Is it fair to say that love is demonstrated through deeds of association and friendship
based on truth as outlined in 1 John 3:18. Yes or No?
Is your church faithful to the following Scriptures?
Romans 14 “Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarrelling over disputable matters…do not treat your brother with contempt because of your differences…Each person should be fully convinced in their own mind…why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat… and give account of ourselves to God… Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister…Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of your personal beliefs or convictions…it is wrong for a person to do anything that causes someone else to stumble”. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves”.
1Co 9:18-23 “Mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you
learned; and avoid them. The gospel is made without charge if I abuse my power in the gospel,
therefore I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some”.
Tit. 3:9-11”But avoid foolish questions, and geneologies and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is a heretic…reject. Knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”
1 Cor. 1:11-14,17 ”There are contentions among you…for everyone of you saith, I am of Paul; and I am of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of (even) Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you…lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name (own denomination). Preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words lest the cross of Christ should ne made of none effect”
1Cor 11:16,18,19 “If any man seem to be contentious we have no such custom, neither the churches of God (plural and universal church). When you come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you…for there must be also heresies among you that they which are approved may be made manifest among you…Do you despise the church of God?”
1Cor. 3:3,4,11,22; 4:2,7-10,14,15,18,21 “For you are yet carnal; for there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are you not carnal and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another I am of Apollos; are you not carnal? For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Therefore let no man glory (boast) in men (manmade denominations, fellowships or associations)… Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful (“Be found faithful’ in context is referring to being faithful in having open fellowship with all believers, Christian fellowships and groups). For who makes you to differ from another? (denomination or Christian group). Now you are full (satisfied with your denomination), now you are rich (sufficient in your denomination), you have reigned (operated your denominations) as kings (elitist) without us: for I think that God has set forth us the apostles last (sarcastic remark)… We (apostles) are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are strong (doctrinally correct): you are honourable, but we are despised. I write not to shame you… but to warn you. For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you have not many fathers (spiritual leaders). Now some are puffed up, though I would not come to you. What will you? Shall I come unto you with a rod or in love…”
1 Tim. 6: 3-5 “These are the things you are to teach and insist on. If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is gain”.
1 Cor. 2:2 “for I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified”