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The Denominations of Moab and Edom
“This is what the Lord GOD says: Because Moab and Seir said, ‘Look, the house of Judah is like all the other nations..'” (CSB Ezek 25:8).
This odd observation by God of Israel’s neighbor may have some significant modern applications:
1. The Moabites and Edomites were close relatives who considered themselves as good as Israel (Eze.25:8). Denominations are “close relatives” spiritually to the Lord’s church. The modern world sees nothing wrong with denominational concepts.
2. More and more, God’s people themselves say the Lord’s church is just another denomination. This would be like Israel saying they were no different than the Moabites. Unfortunately, more and more this is becoming true as God’s people lose their distinctiveness.
3. God’s people need to take responsibility for how we are contributing to the lost biblical concept of distinctiveness and separation. How can we diminish this comparative accusation? In what ways do Christians and Christ’s churches make others say, “the church of Christ is just like other denominations”?
4. Whether the Moabites realized it or not, their equalizing themselves with Israel was an indictment in reality against God. When people think modern denominations are the same as God’s church, God is diminished.
Let no one say, “the household of God” is like the all the denominations. Instead, people know how they ought to conduct themselves n God’s household, “which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth” (CSB 1Tim 3:15).
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