Starting church

Dansiph · Dec 7, 2018

Shawn Stuart said:
I recommend you try the LCMS Lutheran denomination they stick closer to the scriptures and history of the church.

Thanks for the suggestion and I had a quick look at the denomination. I'm heavily leaning towards Baptist atm so I am going to go to the Baptist church first although Lutheran almost threw a spanner in the works if I'm honest

Mountainmanbob · Dec 7, 2018

For your first time at church just try to relax and enjoy being with fellow believers and a good sermon from God's word.

If you get a chance to ask anybody when they take their communion? Although the church may require that you're baptized before you can take communion.

The wife and I attend a Reformed Presbyterian church but I have attended several Baptist Churches and type churches in the past probably a good fit for you at least for now

M-Bob

Albion · Dec 7, 2018

Yes, it is (potentially awkward). And there is no way to control that. Most people would be offended if no one welcomed them, but on the other hand, no one wants to be set upon by members asking a lot of questions of the newcomer. It is a problem for both parties.

My advice is just to be prepared and if you are asked about your visit just say that you are interested in learning more about the church and thought you would stop by. Be gracious and don't volunteer too much more on a first visit.

Dansiph · Dec 7, 2018

Albion said:
Yes, it is. And there is no way to control that. Most people would be offended if no one welcomed them, but on the other hand, no one wants to be set upon by members asking a lot of questions of the newcomer. It is a problem for both parties. My advice is just to be prepared and if you are asked about your visit just say that you are interested in learning more about the church and thought you would stop by. Be gracious and don't volunteer too much more on a first visit.

I'll remember that. I'm sort of black and white about honesty and will just start telling people too much information about myself sometimes. It retrospect I know that honesty means what you say is true not that you have to reveal your life story etc

NW82 · Dec 7, 2018

Shawn Stuart said:
The Bible doesn’t mention infant baptism so we have no scriptural proof but we do have the writings of the Early Church Fathers.

Which aren't the Bible. Maybe stop arguing about infant baptism and support a new believer in what they are trying to do.

Shawn Stuart · Dec 7, 2018

NW82 said:
Which aren't the Bible. Maybe stop arguing about infant baptism and support a new believer in what they are trying to do.

I’m not going to support the Baptist denomination as I don’t believe they stick to the pure Word and I don’t believe they are the best church to attend.

Shawn Stuart · Dec 7, 2018

Aspzan said:
Thanks for the suggestion and I had a quick look at the denomination. I'm heavily leaning towards Baptist atm so I am going to go to the Baptist church first although Lutheran almost threw a spanner in the works if I'm honest

Go to lcms.org

Christian63years · Dec 7, 2018

To new Christian just starting to attend church. Hooray! Please go several times to become comfortable. Start with Church service because it’s less social interaction unless you desire to jump right in then go to Sunday School too. About baptism: that can wait. Some denominations insist it must be done immediately because they are sure you won’t make heaven without that outward ceremony. But honestly... it can wait until you talk to a minister about it. I’ve been Christian 63 years.

Christian63years · Dec 7, 2018

Aspzan said:
Hello,

As a few of you might know or have read I became a Christian on the 11th of July this year. I still have not attended church. I have decided this needs to change and will be attending soon.

I am looking into a Baptist church and I have found one I would like to attend. Since becoming a Christian my mother has also, so I hope she will also be attending with me.

Some back story is that I wasn't leaving the house much before becoming a Christian but a lot of my anxieties and such have gone away after I became a Christian. I had a psychotic episode (now gone completely) which made going outside scary. It's been strange getting back to normal, especially socialising. I also have aspergers which adds difficulty.

I am hoping to attend the above church this Sunday or next Sunday and then if it is suitable, for the rest of my life. I am a 25 year old single male, if that is important at this time.

So to hurry this up...

I am strangely nervous about going to church for the first time, is this normal?

What should I expect at an English Baptist church?

How soon after attending will I be baptized?

Should I attend both the morning and evening service? Both are on a Sunday.

I can't think of anything else at the moment besides asking for general advice. Please ask questions if you need to as I've probably forgot some information.

Christian63years · Dec 7, 2018

I wrote a reply. I was raised Baptist. They are terrific. I highly recommend it. Please read my post. I’m Pentecostal now but Baptist are terrific.

Christian63years · Dec 7, 2018

I just read your post again. I discovered you said you’d rather be ignored. So please go to the main service Sunday morning, arrive only a few moments early or even as the service is beginning. Next week go a little early. Get used to everything. Increase attendance at meetings as you get more comfortable.

mmsyther · Dec 7, 2018

Dont let all these naysayers get to you. You do what the Bible tells you to do and ignore all this church history stuff . Church history is only good insofar as it agrees with scripture.

Every baptist church is different and so are the people. So I cant help you out much with knowing what to expect since every church is different.

If you have believed the Gospel and repented of your sins . Then there no reason you cant be baptisted pretty soon . The bible says to repent and be baptized Acts 2:38. One of the first steps Christ calls us to do is be baptized . This is a great picture of what had happened to us in Christ . I encourage you to talk to the pastor of the church and let him know your situation. He should be able to help you out alot.

As far as membership, I think you need to take it a step at a time. Going to church according to Hebrews 10 :25 is a must. Getting baptized is a must too . Getting plugged into a church will help you do what these verses tell you to do .

Glad to hear that you became a believer !

whereloveandmercymeet · Dec 7, 2018

I’m always nervous around new people so I found the first time I went to my church awkward. But it turned out that like most churches, they were lovely people. Most churches will go by your lead, they will probably notice you’re new and talk to you but if you’re not super talkative and you seem shy they’ll be nice, greet you, tell you anything pertinent (like if anything different is happening today like a baptism or if there’s somewhere easy to sit or something) and then offer to answer any questions you have.

The important thing is not which church you go to first or their membership rules or how speedily thy do baptism but that you find a church you think fits your interpretation, and try it, and get a good feel for it before your decision. Not every church within a denomination is the same, it’s just a good guide. Even if their doctrine is identical their atmospheres are all unique.

And remember it’s your views that are most important when choosing a church for you to attend. Not anyone else’s, thats for them choosing theirs.

I know you said your mum has also become a believer, I hope she’s able to go with you and enjoy fellowship at a church too.

I hope you manage to go this week, and please update us on your experience

As a slight aside thank you @SkyWriting foe the info graphic on denominations in US, I found it quite interesting!

com7fy8 · Dec 7, 2018

Aspzan said:
a lot of my anxieties and such have gone away after I became a Christian.

Jesus says,

"'Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'" (Matthew 11:29)

So, yes Jesus takes anxiety away. But we need to share with one another, and not try to hide in isolation in order to have peace. God makes us able to stay stable even while we are relating with various people who can be wrong and different than we are. So, it is good to seek God to have us doing well in this. This takes growing and correction and maturing.

So, it is good to be ready for love when going to a church >

"with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love," (Ephesians 4:2)

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)

So, I would say be ready for different people if you visit a church. Ones may be kind and sensitive and sensible and help you grow stronger in love. Others might be otherwise, and you, even a visitor, can be their example to help them find out how to love.

So, be ready for love, by sharing as family with any real Jesus people. And in case you discover a member or a pastor or another visitor is not for real, love that person by being his or her best friend . . . by being that person's example and not giving up on anyone

But I would not be too quick to trust anyone you don't know. One way to test, I think, is see who is feeding you very good example which helps you get more real with God, and they are every one's best friend by being a good example of how to love. These people can be in churches where even the pastor can have issues, but they have vision of hope like Jesus on the cross had hope for any and all people. So, these are the real pastors >

"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)

It takes time to get to know someone so you know his or her example in real life. So, I would say be ready to spend time with people.

AlexDTX · Dec 7, 2018

Monk Brendan said:
Actually, it doesn't.

The Didache is very clear about that.

So are the writings of the early martyrs.

The opinions of men do not equal holy writ.

Interesting. This seems defensive.
"Stating or implying that another Christian member, or group of members, are not Christian is not allowed."

NW82 · Dec 7, 2018

Shawn Stuart said:
I’m not going to support the Baptist denomination as I don’t believe they stick to the pure Word and I don’t believe they are the best church to attend.

And you don't get to make that determination for anyone other than yourself. Going to church, any church, for exposure to the word is a good thing, regardless if you agree with a specific denomination's predilections. Either support this new believer with faith the Holy Spirit will guide, or stop posting, because you're not helping.

Shawn Stuart · Dec 7, 2018

NW82 said:
And you don't get to make that determination for anyone other than yourself. Going to church, any church, for exposure to the word is a good thing, regardless if you agree with a specific denomination's predilections. Either support this new believer with faith the Holy Spirit will guide, or stop posting, because you're not helping.

He’s asking for advice. I’m free to encourage a different denomination. You don’t make the rules here last time I checked. He said he is considering the Lutheran Church and I am free to encourage him in that.

AlexDTX · Dec 7, 2018

Aspzan said:
Hello,

As a few of you might know or have read I became a Christian on the 11th of July this year. I still have not attended church. I have decided this needs to change and will be attending soon.

I am looking into a Baptist church and I have found one I would like to attend. Since becoming a Christian my mother has also, so I hope she will also be attending with me.

Some back story is that I wasn't leaving the house much before becoming a Christian but a lot of my anxieties and such have gone away after I became a Christian. I had a psychotic episode (now gone completely) which made going outside scary. It's been strange getting back to normal, especially socialising. I also have aspergers which adds difficulty.

I am hoping to attend the above church this Sunday or next Sunday and then if it is suitable, for the rest of my life. I am a 25 year old single male, if that is important at this time.

So to hurry this up...

I am strangely nervous about going to church for the first time, is this normal?

What should I expect at an English Baptist church?

How soon after attending will I be baptized?

Should I attend both the morning and evening service? Both are on a Sunday.

I can't think of anything else at the moment besides asking for general advice. Please ask questions if you need to as I've probably forgot some information.

First, you are the church of God, as are all believers in whom Christ dwells. But this is a simple technicality, and I understand your questions.

The first thing you want to do, is read the Bible. This is the first step in discipleship. A scientific method applies here. Never listen to another opinion on a subject until you have examined the subject for your self first. All commentary creates a bias that blinds your view because you will only look at what you have been told instead of what is there. Bible reading is a lifetime discipline. So read it even if you do not understand it. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will bring all things to your remembrance. How can you remember if you have not read it? But as you read it again and again, like layers of an onion, understanding will grow.

You do need fellowship. Listening to one man give his interpretation is not fellowship. Fellowship means interacting with one another. I recommend going to Sunday School. However there will some group pressure for you to attend the main service. That is fine, attend and hear what is said. However, as Reagan, said, "Trust, but verify." Read what was said in the context of the chapter and book.

If all you did was attend a Sunday congregation, you will miss out on a lot of what God wants you experience. Sharing Christ with others, evangelism, brings a more powerful and intimate experience of Christ, because the Great Commission is the duty of every Christian. Do not be afraid to share what you do know. You know the changes that have occurred in your life. Nor be concerned with trying "to close the deal" in getting them to pray the "Sinner's prayer." Just be honest about your experience and let the Holy Spirit use that exchange as He sees fit.

The Lord is with you always, so talk to him. That is all prayer is. Do not be concerned with religious formats. God knows your thoughts before you speak. Just talk to him. He listens to everything and answers according to His will. So don't be disappointed when you ask and don't receive. Father knows best. Simply trust that He is working on your behalf.

The greatest in the kingdom of God is servant to all. Be helpful and volunteer to help others. You can help the congregation as an organization, of course, but look for individuals that you can help.

These are 5 basic disciplines that I learned early in my walk with Christ and I have been walking with Him for 30 years now.

com7fy8 · Dec 7, 2018

Whether you go to a Baptist or a Lutheran or Orthodox group's church, each church can be different because of the pastor and members in each church. There are scandals in every group, but not in every church, by the way. And in a particular church there can be the ones who are really Christian along with others not exactly. And they are humble, not trying to just control ones who are not right, but they trust God for how He alone is able to deeply change any person right. We offer our example and things we say; God does what really works, and this better than we might have hoped.

You can't go only by what people say and claim and do. This can be outward acting.

But I have shared in various churches, and I would say there are a few things which show with ones who are really Christian.

They are easy on you, gentle and humble, not trying to control and conform you outwardly. But they will say things to help you get real correction. They can quickly become able to see through you and have compassion and help you, not only criticize you.

They know to pray about whatever is a concern, and trust God with this.

They know how to relate with you, even though they have just met you; they are comfortable sharing with any person and they know how to handle any issue you have, since they are simply giving it to God and offering what they can. But they do not dictate that you have to do only what they say.

They know love, even if they don't know every verse in the Bible; they know the loving which the Bible means. They can experience God in ways they have not read in the Bible, yet. Because Jesus in us is the basic meaning of God's word.

They do not put their church or pastor above question. And a pastor like this expects to be tested and evaluated according to the Bible, and even will share how he or she has been getting personally corrected by God, so you can benefit from this and see how you too need correction.

in my opinion

High Fidelity · Dec 7, 2018

Stick with the Baptist church. A lot of Lutheran churches are more or less Catholic, so I wouldn't recommend that.

Don't worry about your first time. Pick a service that's convenient to you and try to stick to it as that's likely the same one the church family you will develop will attend.

Baptism isn't immediate and isn't to be rushed. Speak with the pastor about studying and praying with him to prepare you for that commitment.

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