I sometimes respond to questions about what church someone belongs in. Rather than repeating a summary of the various kinds, I’m going to put it here where I can refer to it.
First, while there may be thousands of kinds of church, they fall into broad categories. Most people won’t notice much difference between churches within a given category.
Second, churches have personalities, sort of like people. Most people choose a church because a friend invites them, because they like the pastor, or because they have a good Sunday School program, not because they prefer Presbyterian theology over Methodist (for example). I think that’s just fine.
But between the categories, differences do matter, though a new Christian still may be better off going with a group of friends they trust, even if the church may not match their preferences completely.
Roughly we have:
* Catholic and Eastern Orthodox. Traditional theology, formal worship, fairly clear definitions of what beliefs are right and wrong. Very traditional ethics, particularly in the sexual area, and traditional concepts of roles of men and women.
* Traditional Protestant churches: Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopal, etc. denominations. These denominations go back to the Reformation. Conservative versions of these churches accept theological standards going back to the 16th or 17th Cent. Mainline versions have continued to develop, accepting critical views of Scripture, accepting female leaders and gays, etc. Worship tends to be formal, but not as much as Catholics (except Anglicans, whose worship may be very similar to Catholic).
* Evangelical: These denominations (and non-denominational churches) tend to have more conservative theology. Often reject evolution, often don’t allow female ministers. Worship tends to be more informal than mainline, and more focused on personal salvation and “saving” other people.
* Pentecostal. Similar to evangelical, but worship tends to be more emotional. Accept “spiritual gifts” such as speaking in tongues, healing.
Be aware the churches also differ in what I’d call how legalistic they are. Some churches supervise their members’ morals and activities in greater detail than others. Catholics (in the area of marriage, particularly), some evangelical and some Pentecostal will do this. But by no means all. CF is full of horror stories from people involved in very legalistic churches. At their worst, they make people afraid that if they don’t live up to impossible ideals, they’re not saved. You can’t necessarily tell whether a congregation is legalistic or not from its denominational label. If you’re living in constant fear that you’re not saved, talk to someone from outside your church.
To me the biggest distinction among Protestants is whether they believe in the “inerrancy” of Scripture. Those that do tend to enforce traditional beliefs and ethics, traditional gender roles (e.g. no female ministers), and usually reject at least parts of modern science (evolution, sometimes mainstream astronomy). They also generally reject the possibility of there being a gay Christian. I refer to Protestant churches that accept inerrancy as conservative and those that do not as mainline. (I don’t use the term liberal to avoid confusion with more extreme liberal theology.)
All of the Protestant families listed above have conservative denominations and churches. Mainline churches exist primarily within the traditional Protestant (and Anglican) families. However there are a few more liberal Evangelical churches whose theology is similar to the mainline churches.
Note that almost all Protestants who participate in CF appear to accept inerrancy. Indeed you won’t see a serious presentation of the theology taught in churches such as the Presbyterian Church (USA) or the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America here.
But remember, for many people, particularly new Christians, finding a church with exactly the right theological label doesn’t matter as much as finding a congregation with sensible people who can help you develop as a Christian.
First, while there may be thousands of kinds of church, they fall into broad categories. Most people won’t notice much difference between churches within a given category.
Second, churches have personalities, sort of like people. Most people choose a church because a friend invites them, because they like the pastor, or because they have a good Sunday School program, not because they prefer Presbyterian theology over Methodist (for example). I think that’s just fine.
But between the categories, differences do matter, though a new Christian still may be better off going with a group of friends they trust, even if the church may not match their preferences completely.
Roughly we have:
* Catholic and Eastern Orthodox. Traditional theology, formal worship, fairly clear definitions of what beliefs are right and wrong. Very traditional ethics, particularly in the sexual area, and traditional concepts of roles of men and women.
* Traditional Protestant churches: Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopal, etc. denominations. These denominations go back to the Reformation. Conservative versions of these churches accept theological standards going back to the 16th or 17th Cent. Mainline versions have continued to develop, accepting critical views of Scripture, accepting female leaders and gays, etc. Worship tends to be formal, but not as much as Catholics (except Anglicans, whose worship may be very similar to Catholic).
* Evangelical: These denominations (and non-denominational churches) tend to have more conservative theology. Often reject evolution, often don’t allow female ministers. Worship tends to be more informal than mainline, and more focused on personal salvation and “saving” other people.
* Pentecostal. Similar to evangelical, but worship tends to be more emotional. Accept “spiritual gifts” such as speaking in tongues, healing.
Be aware the churches also differ in what I’d call how legalistic they are. Some churches supervise their members’ morals and activities in greater detail than others. Catholics (in the area of marriage, particularly), some evangelical and some Pentecostal will do this. But by no means all. CF is full of horror stories from people involved in very legalistic churches. At their worst, they make people afraid that if they don’t live up to impossible ideals, they’re not saved. You can’t necessarily tell whether a congregation is legalistic or not from its denominational label. If you’re living in constant fear that you’re not saved, talk to someone from outside your church.
To me the biggest distinction among Protestants is whether they believe in the “inerrancy” of Scripture. Those that do tend to enforce traditional beliefs and ethics, traditional gender roles (e.g. no female ministers), and usually reject at least parts of modern science (evolution, sometimes mainstream astronomy). They also generally reject the possibility of there being a gay Christian. I refer to Protestant churches that accept inerrancy as conservative and those that do not as mainline. (I don’t use the term liberal to avoid confusion with more extreme liberal theology.)
All of the Protestant families listed above have conservative denominations and churches. Mainline churches exist primarily within the traditional Protestant (and Anglican) families. However there are a few more liberal Evangelical churches whose theology is similar to the mainline churches.
Note that almost all Protestants who participate in CF appear to accept inerrancy. Indeed you won’t see a serious presentation of the theology taught in churches such as the Presbyterian Church (USA) or the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America here.
But remember, for many people, particularly new Christians, finding a church with exactly the right theological label doesn’t matter as much as finding a congregation with sensible people who can help you develop as a Christian.
