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Posts: 1433
01/29/13 3:24 AM
Sorry, I was not trying to confuse the issue, Art. But I was offering something that I believed could help understand a little more the nature of new denominations that come on the scene, in most likely any generation..
In regard to the emergent church someone said it was the way they presented themselves as a way of being identified by calling themselves the "Emergent Church" as if something new was under the sun. My first thought was the new age, but was not sure they called themselves “new agers” or others did, or perhaps both at one occasion or another depending on the nature of the conversation.I am sure every generation experiences some sort of change to reflect “who is the greatest” in hope people will flock to their doors… some humbly with Godly intent, others according to pride, as a way of worldly gain. The disciples did by pride at one point. But it’s our responsibility, I believe, like that of the noble Bereans to search the scriptures daily to see if what is being taught can hold, what we believe is the water of the gospel, and join that likeminded assembly in worship if we do agree with their conclusions.
It’s like the word Christian. Some say the disciples who were called Jews in a spiritual way for thousands of years and were later called Christians as a derogatory name. While other believed it was a fulfillment of Isaiah 62, using Zion as a metonymy in lieu of the heavenly Jerusalem, described as the mother of us all, in Galatians 4. And to them that believed as Christians, it was not derogatory name to them at all but one that God named for a specific purpose according to the usage of name, Christian… which denotes residents of the city of Christ, the church, as His eternal bride.
To the first century apostate Jews from my standpoint, I believe that the majority most likely looked at the name Christian as “new age” and therefore a very derogatory name to them. But to some of the Jews like the disciples and now that the light of the Gentiles has come to the world they together became Christians during the reformation era because of light of the gospel, ( to borrow a phrase from scripture below) “as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth”.
Christ having fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophecies that exclusively pointed to the cross as the light that revealed His righteousness from heaven as the one kind of righteousness all Christians will be found with. Seeing no man will not be found with a righteousness of his own, but of Christ which again is in accordance to His finished work that was needed to secure the eternal rest for His eternal bride, the church. Which even today remains as the light of the world, a City set on a hill or mountain that cannot be hid. Which I believe does speak of the heavenly New Jerusalem, called Zion, at times as the Christian city prepared as His bride the church.For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Isaiah 62:1-2
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