Churches and Denominations

    Churches and Denominations, as a general rule, are caused by a
hardening of the heart, much like divorce is allowed by God, because
of a hardening of the heart.
    Churches can separate one of two ways, a church can start a satellite
church. A satellite church is usually built in another part of town or in
a different town. The main church will assist the satellite church until
the satellite church has enough funds coming in to sustain itself. The
idea being to spread The Word of God by building in different areas
as God directs the church. This is the way churches and denominations
were designed to spread. We see this over and over again in Paul's
writings. The church spread from Jerusalem to Antioch to other parts
of the world. If one of these churches got into financial struggles the
other churches helped out financially. This shows the world the unity
of "The Church."
    The other way churches separate and the reason we have so many
dominations today, is because of a hardening of the heart. Most
churches believe the same things about salvation. Acts 2:38 makes
it plainly understood that we have to repent and be baptized, and
receive the gift of The Holy Spirit. It is all the things beyond salvation
that causes splits. One cup or many little ones for communion. whether
the minister is an Elder or not. Whether the minister wears a robe,
a suit, a shirt and tie, slacks or jeans, or whether the minister can preach
in anything they want to wear that morning.
    You may laugh, but churches have split over these issues and many
smaller issues, over the centuries. These issues have absolutely nothing
to do with salvation, The Trinity, discipleship, or anything else related
to whether we go to Heaven or not. A group of people in a church,
harden their hearts on something, and a church gets ripped apart. This
kind of separation or split, is like an open wound that never heals. That
congregation will never be the same again.
    Satan uses the hardening of our hearts, to stop "The Church" from
growing. Yes, Satan can use Christians, if we let him.
    God sees "the Church" as one. It's to bad we can't do the same.