Christian Denomination Selector

[Maniac Craniac]

"Rule changes," if you will, have always been a part of the game. This thread isn't big enough to list all of the Biblical examples. I'd be more wary of a church that refused to change than one willing to admit error and make necessary adjustments. Acts 15 also shows that there is precedent for congregation leaders to make decisions (changes) based in scripture.

Maybe I can give you a contemporary, hypothetical example.

Let's say that Church A forbade its members from using Substance X on the grounds that it was illegal (Romans 13:1), carried a social stigma (1 Cor 10:32) and harmful to your health (Romans 12:1). Ten years later, the laws of the country change, makng Substance X legal for medicinal use due to new research that suggests both curative properties and a better understanding of how to use it safely. Church A responds by telling its members that so long as they get legal prescriptions, it is a personal choice to use Substance A.

And THERE we have the heart of the issue. God's law didn't change, but how it applies in context did. A person looking to be critical might say that Church A changed their rules and therefore cannot be relied upon for accurate application of scripture. A Christian knowledgeable of the scriptures might say that Church A is doing exactly as the scriptures recommend: (Eph 5:10).

That's just a simple, straightforward example- other reasons for change might be that linguistic or historical research further clarifies certain Bible teachings. Or that modern technology makes it much easier to cross-reference and allow for a more conplete picture of what certain scriptures are saying. Church A certainly couldn't be faultrd for not getting it right the first time- certainly not in the eyes of God- rather, the opposite is true. Their efforts to teach and abide by what is true shows thst they are WAY ahead of many other religions. I hate to break it to die-hard fundamentaliststs (no, actually I don't), but CHANGE is good. And necessary, since most of what your Church teaches
contradicts what the Bible says. Either change or be unrepentently wrong- those are your only options. Now, as I mentioned above, the Bible is explicitly clear on what to look for to help identify those doing God's will. I won't make this post any longer by listing them, but I will point out that "avoiding rule changes" or "always being right" are not included. It may sound right to many people that God's true people don't need to improve, but only if you are not familiar with the ENTIRE history of God' dealings with humans.