....but no church to go too. A couple of my friends are christians and i fellowship with them but i'm looking to expand. I would like a non-denominational church but don't know what to look for and expect? any suggestions?
also this is my first post and thanks for listening!!!!
....but no church to go too. A couple of my friends are christians and i fellowship with them but i'm looking to expand. I would like a non-denominational church but don't know what to look for and expect? any suggestions?
also this is my first post and thanks for listening!!!!
Hi...and welcome!
While there are people who are believers but choose to "go it alone," there are many reasons why having a spiritual life in the company of other believers is a better way to go. The Bible makes this evident, too. Therefore, I congratulate you on sensing that expanding your horizons is worth doing.
To answer your question more directly, I'd begin by urging you not to start off by confining your prospects to a "non-denominational" church. While this has become almost fashionable for people to say these day, non-denominational churches are really just very small denominations. It's not true that they teach the Bible and all denominations follow some manmade rules, etc. instead. I know that people talk that way, but it's far from accurate.
I get the idea that you have some strong Christian convictions, learned in any number of ways, so I'd recommend that you first study up on the differences between the various Christian churches. You have Christian friends who are happy to tell you why you they prefer the churches that they belong to. Visit different churches and see which ones are spiritually-centered, as opposed to social activism, and which ones have high standards. Doing such legwork as this can take a little time, but it will narrow your choices considerably and make it much easier to settle on the church that is right for you.
Meanwhile, if you do have strong preferences with regard to some worship style or certain controversial doctrines, and you are not sure which churches agree with you there, we'd be more than willing to identify for you which churches to investigate more closely.
To answer your question more directly, I'd begin by urging you not to start off by confining your prospects to a "non-denominational" church. While this has become almost fashionable for people to say these day, non-denominational churches are really just very small denominations. It's not true that they teach the Bible and all denominations follow some manmade rules, etc. instead. I know that people talk that way, but it's far from accurate.
i want to pick a non-denominational church because i would like to see no division in the church. I don't want to join a denomination that supports its own are the only ones that go to heaven(don't know if they all do that).
Well, put your mind at ease! I don't know of any Christian denomination which teaches that only people from their own denomination go to heaven. To teach such a thing would be cultish in the extreme.
Well, put your mind at ease! I don't know of any Christian denomination which teaches that only people from their own denomination go to heaven. To teach such a thing would be cultish in the extreme.
catholics and mormons do and I think protestants don't like catholics going to heaven.
i want to pick a non-denominational church because i would like to see no division in the church. I don't want to join a denomination that supports its own are the only ones that go to heaven(don't know if they all do that).
Well, I just think that's going prove to be a disappointment to you...if you make this your guide to which church to join.
VERY FEW denominations (I didn't expect you'd be joining the Mormons) believe that only members of their own denomination are going to be saved; and that's certainly not true of Catholics, by the way.
Then too, non-denominational churches are just as likely to have internal divisions as are the denominational ones. But I think, overall, that this just reinforces the idea that you'll have to study each church carefully, visit the ones that look the most likely, see what they are like up close, and THEN decide where it's all leading you.
Well, I just think that's going prove to be a disappointment to you...if you make this your guide to which church to join.
VERY FEW denominations (I didn't expect you'd be joining the Mormons) believe that only members of their own denomination are going to be saved; and that's certainly not true of Catholics, by the way.
Then too, non-denominational churches are just as likely to have internal divisions as are the denominational ones. But I think, overall, that this just reinforces the idea that you'll have to study each church carefully, visit the ones that look the most likely, see what they are like up close, and THEN decide where it's all leading you.
its just the point that i hate to see "The Church" being devided. I say "No" to seeing that happen.
its just the point that i hate to see "The Church" being devided. I say "No" to seeing that happen.
I understand completely. Unfortunately, that's what happens when we are dealing with humans. They will act that way, no matter what the church.
Sometimes it's on major doctrinal matters that range across the whole denomination and sometimes it can be on bitter battles within the congregation. The most you can do is to carefully look into the status of every church in your locale that you might consider joining. Please do check back with us and let us know how things have progressed for you.
Deep meaningful relationship with God..... 
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