If you were to choose a church that isn't Baptist, what other denominations would you consider?

Lady Bug said:

I know I may seem like a stranger here but I have been lurking the Baptist area recently because I feel that this is where I probably belong. I have been drifting here and there trying to figure out what "denomination" (I don't like using that term) is closest to my beliefs, and it was sort of tug of war between Church of Christ and Reformed Baptist. I realized over time that CoC seems to be Arminian, and Reformeds seem to be Calvinist, if I'm not mistaken. I realiized also that I am not an official Calvinist but the Bible really seems to point in its favor, so who knows I may end up an actual Calvinist not too far in the future.

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I wish you well in your search.

One thing though, visit and pray that you will be directed by the Holy Spirit as to where He leads you.

God Bless

Till all are one.

It depends on whichever is more conservative. I’m a Calvinist, but I don’t really care if a church is Arminian as long as they preach the true Gospel, have a Christ-like attitude, and at least tolerate Calvinism.

FaithfulPilgrim said:

It depends on whichever is more conservative. I’m a Calvinist, but I don’t really care if a church is Arminian as long as they preach the true Gospel, have a Christ-like attitude, and at least tolerate Calvinism.

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I'm happy for you.

I just could not do that, knowing what I know about Arminian theology.

God Bless

Till all are one.

DeaconDean said:

I'm happy for you.

I just could not do that, knowing what I know about Arminian theology.

God Bless

Till all are one.

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I could be considered too stubborn but it would be very hard for me to go to a church who espouses certain doctrines that are the opposite of what I believe. The very first thing I consider in a church is what are its doctrines. Then I consider other factors.

DeaconDean said:

I'm happy for you.

I just could not do that, knowing what I know about Arminian theology.

God Bless

Till all are one.

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Well, I was could never come to a real conclusion, but I lean towards Calvinism. I just don’t want any more schisms, which I think we have more than enough of.

twin1954 said:

I would simply not go to church. Moreover I would not go to 99% of those churches that do call themselves Baptist

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I just don't see not attending a church as an option, per Hebrews 10:25. The Missionary Baptist church I serve in holds to the Philadelphia Confession, yet they only hold to Original Sin and Eternal Security of the believer. But I love it there, and they only show me love.

Granted, I have to spit a bone here and there.

But I have learned much from my Pastor.

jesus316 said:

They should find the nearest Catholic Church or Orthodox Church and join as quickly as possible.

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This is actually literally what I am aiming to do. Not as big a jump as you might think.

Conservative Baptists are great about theological conservatism, respecting the Scriptures, resisting feminism and moral relativism, pray really well, and often emphasize discipline and reverence. Those are all good things.

What lead me to the Catholic Church has been a combination of Pope Saint John Paul II, a conviction that Sola Fidé is incorrect, conviction on the Real Presence, and a realization that ecclesial authority is really needed. We need help, as the sheer diversity within Protestantism is a good indicator that Scripture does not automatically explain itself in ways that we can automatically discern and all come to the same conclusions without help.

Conservative Baptists helped pave the way there for me, and if it were not for them, I likely wouldn't be a Christian now. So I owe them a lot.

In no particular order: Nondenominational/Non-charismatic, Presbyterian, Methodist

Jeffwhosoever said:

Let's say for instance you moved somewhere there was no Baptist church within 200 miles. What other denominations would you consider joining as a member, and why?

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In this order:
1. An evangelical non-denominational church
2. A church of Christ (I can live with having to be re-baptized, and as long as you keep your head low they don't cause you any problems; they do at least believe the Bible to be inerrant), provided it isn't one of the new-fangled ones that has abandoned a cappella music (those tend to be pretty liberal otherwise)
3. A charismatic one (generally they also hold to Biblical inerrancy, with the main disagreement being interpretive) provided it isn't too far into the wild stuff (Gateway Church in the DFW area is an example of one I would consider).

No CoC for me thanks, I'm driving.

Jeffwhosoever said:

Let's say for instance you moved somewhere there was no Baptist church within 200 miles. What other denominations would you consider joining as a member, and why?

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I have been to Baptist churches that I would not return to even though I was raised Baptist. We are currently attending a non-affiliated Baptist church, meaning it was planted along with several others in SE Texas by a man who believed the authority is in the Bible, the lesson is in the Word, the spirit is in the Soul, the leader is Jesus the Messiah, and the Trinity is our focus. I have been in your shoes and when I could not find a church that taught that the KJV was the bible to work from and the Bible was the Word of God and to follow it I did not attend a church. Instead we sat at home, read from the bible, discussed and researched the Word, and did our best to live each day as Christ led us. I don't know if that helps but if I had to do it again, and could not find a church that taught what I believed, I would Home Church, like Home School, my family.

DeaconDean said:

A Reformed Presbyterian.

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That is where my wife and I found what we were looking for -- good solid straight from the Book teaching.
M-Bob

Mountainmanbob said:

That is where my wife and I found what we were looking for -- good solid straight from the Book teaching.
M-Bob

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My mothers Dad, my grandfather always said the only reason he was not a Baptist was because he liked an orderly service.

You know how us Baptists are! (From the Amen corner of the back of the church! )



He taught me a lot. He introduced me to "Dispensationalism"! Imagine that from a Reformed Presbyterian!

I wish I could go back in time, and study more at his feet. Miss his knowledge a lot.

God Bless

Till all are one.

Why not go to your Baptist organization and seek to plant a church yourself? And, I don't mean that in a snarky sense. Nobody ever said anything like that to me back when I was younger but now that I know what I know I am going to say it to you. Go plant a church 200 miles away from the nearest Baptist church.

marineimaging said:

Why not go to your Baptist organization and seek to plant a church yourself? And, I don't mean that in a snarky sense. Nobody ever said anything like that to me back when I was younger but now that I know what I know I am going to say it to you. Go plant a church 200 miles away from the nearest Baptist church.

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That certainly is a possibility. But here again, many, many years ago, there was a standard belief that when a church got a certain size, it would "split" into another church. With the old one being kinda like a "sister" church.

Alas, times have changed.

God Bless

Till all are one.

Added to above, I found out later there were quite a few people in that same fix who would have worked together to canvas the area and see how much participation to expect, then find a place to rent out on a Weekend. Our church started in an abandoned C-Store where the owner figured it better to get a little than nothing. The first meeting there were 4 people. The next I believe he said 12, then 20. It didn't take long to need to find more chairs. The services were simple but held to the KJV which people wanted to hear. He is over 80 today and still coming every Sunday even though he has planted more churches and helped them start up. But this was his first and he and his wife are much loved by everybody. As a matter of fact our pastor will be out soon attending his daughters college graduation so our founding pastor will be preaching..., (actually more of entertaining us becasue he as an awesome sense of humor). I also once attended a small church in Channelview TX which was too small to pay a pastor but every weekend one of the senior men would prepare a 15 minute "sermon" based directly on a reading from the Bible. We would open with a prayer from one of the elders, the congregation would stand and sing hymns of praise, and then the lay-pastor would read and give his mini-sermon. I found that to be more uplifting than not going to anything so I pray you find a church or have success in starting one.