• 2 Billion+ Christians
• 50% of these are Roman Catholic
• Somewhere over 200 denominations in the US alone
• Denomination splits and differences of opinion have existed since the birth of Christianity, even mankind. Jesus number one enemy on Earth besides the Enemy was the pharisees who were so blinded by their theology they missed the Savior walking in front of them! (Luke 10-11)  
• Denominations actually were born out of the Reformation and Protestants  claiming that any believer could read scripture and have a personal relationship with God. But then, "the obvious problem emerged: Whose interpretation of scripture was the right one?
• Scripture actually does not give a mandate for denominations, it actually gives a mandate for union and connectivity in Christ. (1 Cor 1:12, Titus 3:9)

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• It’s pride.
• Ultimately, we are saying internally this: “my view is right because of XYZ, your’s is wrong..” 

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• What we are NOT saying is throw theology out the window.
• What we ARE saying is when evaluating their theology.. use the advice from Jesus himself:  "You shall know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:16). 
• That is, you can learn about them "in terms of what they do, their behavior,"  versus evaluating their theology, which anybody can rehearse and recite.. Even the pharisees could do that.
• Here is the reality… Unless you are marrying a person from your literal church community, you are going to have to make compromises, sacrifices and concessions with your spouse’s theology. There will simply be this, agree to disagree and potentially some things you really care about. 
• However, the most important theology is who is Jesus to them? How is he impacting their life today?!

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