Which other denomination could you be?

Charlie7399

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I found a thread asking this question in the Anglican subforum and found it very interesting, so I decided to ask you guys the same thing. If you couldn't be a Lutheran, what would you be?

I'd probably say Anglican or Methodist (conservative or moderate for both), even though I don't think I have any of these churches near me. That's because I see Christianity as being (sadly) divided in three basic "ideologies": those who consider Scripture and Tradition to be infallible (Catholics and Orthodox), those who consider only Scripture to be infallible but take a great part of their interpretation from church tradition (Lutherans, Anglicans and Methodists) and those who consider only Scripture to be infallible and see little to no theological use in tradition (Baptists, Calvinists, Pentecostals, etc.). That's just my two cents, though.
 
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LizaMarie

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Eastern orthodox, very conservative Anglicanism. I like the RCC but I'm concerned about traces of legalism I see in their theology. I also greatly respect the conservative S.B.C. but the real presence in the Eucharist is a deal breaker for me.
 
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I really like the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) and the LCMS. I would join one of those. If I had to leave Lutheranism completely I would go with the Presbyterian Church America (PCA) or the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC). I could also possibly go with a really conservative Anglican denomination.
 
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Sword of the Lord

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I would be another form of Conservative, Confessional Lutheranism. I would never be a Liberal form of Lutheranism. If I can't be Lutheran in any sense, Conservative Anglicanism (like ACNA) or Eastern Orthodox.
 
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MarkRohfrietsch

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I could only be a confessional Lutheran, but if none were available to me (and with diminishing numbers of members it may be the case in the generation after myself), no Orthodox Chruch close by, no conservative Anglicans either, it would be Catholic. From my POV, regarding Churches close by, I would spend a whole lot less time cringing and holding my nose in the Catholic Church than any of the other options.
 
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Charlie7399

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I could only be a confessional Lutheran, but if none were available to me (and with diminishing numbers of members it may be the case in the generation after myself), no Orthodox Chruch close by, no conservative Anglicans either, it would be Catholic. From my POV, regarding Churches close by, I would spend a whole lot less time cringing and holding my nose in the Catholic Church than any of the other options.

I'm on the same boat as you in this. If something happened to my local Lutheran church I'd just be lost. No Anglicans or Methodists near me, and no Orthodox either (my third option). I'd have to choose between Catholics, Baptists, Pentecostals, Neo-Pentecostals, Non-Dems, Adventists and a really small Presbyterian church. All of them with some major problems, IMO.
 
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synger

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I came to Lutheran doctrine through Bible study and the Book of Concord by way of Reformed/Presbyterian upbringing. I have met people who, when we really get to talking about doctrine, I could classify as Lutheran even though they stay in their Anglican, Roman Catholic churches. They focus on Christ and him crucified, they rely on faith and grace rather than works, and they believe in the Real Presence.

I'd probably go conservative Anglican. I might explore Orthodox, though I know the least about it among CHristian denominations.
 
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ViaCrucis

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If every Lutheran church suddenly vanished, I would most likely go Episcopalian/Anglican. Else I would go Orthodox, possibly one of the Ultrajectine Catholic Churches, depending.

-CryptoLutheran
 
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Hard question to answer. I would put more emphesis on the local congregation and pastor than on the particular denomination, so I would have to spend time visiting local churches. I would certainly stick with a mainline church, not one of the independent Christian churches.
 
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FireDragon76

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If every Lutheran church suddenly vanished, I would most likely go Episcopalian/Anglican. Else I would go Orthodox, possibly one of the Ultrajectine Catholic Churches, depending.

I can tell you right away, VC, that you'ld have to be careful in an Orthodox church. Very beautiful, deep theology and worship, sometimes crazy people who don't have "legalism" in their dictionary. Lots of burnout and spiritual abuse, and the church probably churns out more "religious nones" than many others. Having said that, I miss it... but not the legalism. If I lived in another part of the country where they are more laid back, I might still be Orthodox.

We went to an Independent Catholic church for a while (my S.O. was baptized and confirmed Roman Catholic, but spent time in Pentecostalism with a lot of damage from that). It was liberal but the preaching was moralistic, and the leadership there was free-wheeling, and the worship sometimes bizarre: I was bit shocked by the "Salad Bar Eucharist" of just walking up and serving yourself, so I sat with the older folks and had the deacon hand me the Host. Our favorite deacon disappeared mysteriously, distressing us greatly, and the bishop wouldn't talk about it. That and a few other minor issues was enough to convince me not to stay.
 
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Korah

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I would probably just attend services at the local military base, some of the Continuing Anglican Churches may be a possibility, the ACNA? not really so conservative, and I think like the NALC they will fracture and splinter until both are gone.
Are you saying that the NALC will itself split, or are you saying NALC is too small a split-off from ELCA to be viable? NALC is currently my preferred denomination, it's just that it's already so small that there is no parish within 75 miles of me. I need to know what's going on. If you don't want to comment here, could you PM me?
 
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