Division in the Church

Division in the Church How many of you have had other Christians walk away and shun you or stand and argue that you don't have the Holy Spirit in your life just because they go to a different church from you? Just because they are of another denomination they act like there's something horribly wrong with you. They think that their denomination is the only one that is right and that everyone else is lost. I just wanted to bring some scripture to the attention of anyone who thinks like this. 1 Corinthians Chapter 1 10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethern, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul cucified for you? or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 1 Corinthians Chapter 3 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have palnted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. When we say the I'm a Baptist, or a Methodist, or Pentecostal, or Catholic, Lutheren, and so on, we are being just like those who said I am of Paul, or I of Apollos, or I of Cephas. We are being carnal because we are causing division among God's children. We are all of Christ! That fact that we have different ways of worship is great because some people are more comfortable in certain churches, but we shouldn't argue and put fellow Christians down because of the name over the sign on the building. Just as the Apostle Paul addressed this issue to the church at Corinth centuries ago, someone needs to address it all the of the churches of today. We shouldn't argue over the doctrine of our churches. The only doctrine that matters is the doctrine of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that he gave to us through the gospel. Remember that we are all God's children and when you meet another Christian or Messianic Jew, welcome them as a brother or sister. Don't be divided! Would you like to explain it to Christ on your day of judgement, why you helped to spread division among His children? Pete 12-8-08