Fellowship of Believers?

[Aequitas]

Hey everyone. For the past week or so, I’ve been arguing with this kid about faith. I’m a Catholic(not officially, but I begin RCIA this Thursday ), and he’s part of some church called " the Fellowship of Believers." Has anyone heard of this group? He claims that they’re the oldest Christian denomination. I’ve never met anyone who’s claimed anything other than that the RCC is the oldest Church…

 

[b_justb]

Aequitas:

Hey everyone. For the past week or so, I’ve been arguing with this kid about faith. I’m a Catholic(not officially, but I begin RCIA this Thursday ), and he’s part of some church called " the Fellowship of Believers." Has anyone heard of this group? He claims that they’re the oldest Christian denomination. I’ve never met anyone who’s claimed anything other than that the RCC is the oldest Church…

" the Fellowship of Believers.’ Has anyone heard of this group? He claims that they’re the oldest Christian denomination."


From their website: fellowshipofbelievers.us/#about

The purpose of Fellowship of Believers is not to start another church or denomination, nor do we wish to destroy those that already exist. Our purpose IS to bring together believers from different ethnic and denominational groups.

ummmmmmmm if you’re the oldest how then can your purpose be “not to start another church or denomination” wouldn’t you just be the original? Oh but that slots already taken. Guess who has it?

This is a “what we believe” thing: fellowshipofbelievers.org/beliefs.html
It’s Classic Calvinism.

 

[Della]

Aequitas:

Hey everyone. For the past week or so, I’ve been arguing with this kid about faith. I’m a Catholic(not officially, but I begin RCIA this Thursday ), and he’s part of some church called " the Fellowship of Believers." Has anyone heard of this group? He claims that they’re the oldest Christian denomination. I’ve never met anyone who’s claimed anything other than that the RCC is the oldest Church…

First of all, welcome to the RCIA process of discernment! So, already you’re an apologist. Way to go!

If you google “fellowship of believers” you get thousands of hits. It’s just too generic a name to find out which particular group this is, I’m afraid. You’ll have to ask you friend who founded it, if he knows.

It’s the latest fashion in new Christian groups to claim they go all the way back to Jesus. They believe the odd idea that they were the “real” Christians who were persecuted by the Church but managed to survive to modern times, even though there is no evidence for this in either secular or Church histories.

It’s how they claim legitimate authority to speak for Christ instead admitting to being yet another Protestant church started by 5 people sitting on folding chairs in someone’s basement family room deciding they understand better than anyone else what the Bible means. Sigh!

 

[Mystophilus]

b_justb:

From their website: fellowshipofbelievers.us/#about

This is great:
*"The purpose of Fellowship of Believers is not to start another church or denomination, nor do we wish to destroy those that already exist. Our purpose IS to bring together believers from different ethnic and denominational groups.

When these groups come together, each person, (men and women) will be absolutely free to express themselves in discussion and dialogue. We want believers in the Lord Jesus to share face to face their thoughts, ideas, love, hope, experiences for a better understanding and working relationship with one another.

By discussing our common faith, believers will broaden their concept of Christianity and “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus.” (II Peter 3:17,18)

We do not wish to convert anyone. Each is free to hold to his or her convictions, and each is free to change conviction on any point if they wish. We come together to learn from each other, for it is believed that every person has something to add to another’s understanding. Exchange of ideas helps us mature in Christ."*

It is, in essence, a pluralist movement rather than a denomination: believers who belong to different groups meet to communicate, not to evangelise. They are not even ecumenicalists, because they are not seeking unification.

This is a “what we believe” thing: fellowshipofbelievers.org/beliefs.html
It’s Classic Calvinism.

Note that this is from a different site: “.org” rather than “.us”. I do not think that this is the same group: the people behind the other site do not believe in anything other than interfaith dialogue and education.