Considering changing denomination...again.

To the OP I hope you do not get upset. I just want to say don't leave the truth, it is the enemy seeking you to give up the truth for bad teaching and warm fuzzies. Resist the devil and he will flee

Ms. Smith, I agree with Marius and Colors. The theology, the heart, flesh, and soul of any truly Apostolic Church is essentially, fundamentally, irreconcilably unlike evangelical, Protestant Christian faith and praxis. It is so different. Yes, "home" can and does feel comforting. I get that, and can relate to that, too. It's homey. It's comfy. But it's not, ultimately Home with a capital H. Learning how to follow Christ within an Apostolic Church is a journey. Take it slow.

The culture of an Apostolic Church is that the Liturgy is where we learn everything, to an extent. The Mass, Divine Liturgy, Christ with us. Real Presence. It's not so much about head knowledge and facts, but more about soul and body learning together. Hope that helps! Hang in there, dear! God be with you!

ms.smith said:

I went once, I did not feel very welcomed. They do have a homeschool group though.

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Thats unusual, I've been to a good 10-11 different Antiochian. Was it perhaps filled with actual Syrians? Did you get a chance to talk to the priest?

Tutorman said:

To the OP I hope you do not get upset. I just want to say don't leave the truth, it is the enemy seeking you to give up the truth for bad teaching and warm fuzzies. Resist the devil and he will flee

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Wondering how'd you respond if someone had written, "To the OP I hope you do not get upset. I just want to say go back to the truth, it is the enemy seeking you to stay where you are amid tradition and works righteousness. Resist the devil and he will flee."

Ttalkkugjil said:

Wondering how'd you respond if someone had written, "To the OP I hope you do not get upset. I just want to say go back to the truth, it is the enemy seeking you to stay where you are amid tradition and works righteousness. Resist the devil and he will flee."

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Feel free to recommend your denomination all you want.

Ttalkkugjil said:

Wondering how'd you respond if someone had written, "To the OP I hope you do not get upset. I just want to say go back to the truth, it is the enemy seeking you to stay where you are amid tradition and works righteousness. Resist the devil and he will flee."

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The truth is what has always been; not what was created 5 minutes ago.

ms.smith said:

I think there were actual Syrians, yes. But it was an older white woman who was particularly rude to me.

I did not get to meet him because it was the blessing of the waters Sunday and they went right after Liturgy to the river to do the blessing of the waters.

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I had an older Greek once spin me around during a service and snap at me about something . Forgive her and pray for her, but I wouldn't write off the parish. Some people are not very pre-disposed to being extra friendly when they have been fasting since the day before

The Faceless said:

The truth is what has always been; not what was created 5 minutes ago.

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Now now lets not turn this into a debate brother. I can understand him feeling slightly attacked with us all treating it like we write off Protestantism.

ms.smith said:

I honestly do not believe that any denomination has a monopoly on salvation. I don't believe that God sits above us, picking out "oh, this church of devout follows who love me do things correctly, and this group of devout followers who love me don't". That isn't a God who loves mankind. I know I'm new to this forum, but I don't want my thread to be a bickering contest about denominations.

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Good thing for you Orthodoxy doesn't believe that either! We have a saying:
"We know where the Holy Spirit is, we don't know where he isn't"

Orthodoxy (we believe), is the fullness of the faith. That doesn't mean pious individuals outside the Church who keep good faith and obey Christ will not be allowed salvation.

ms.smith said:

There were stylistic differences as well, the Greek church has an organ and it's lovely. The Antiochian church did not. The Greek church was very friendly, no one was rude. In fact they were some of the kindest and friendliest people I've met.

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Interesting! An Organ is a rarity.
My parish is Greek and everyone is very friendly. That is probably the main advantage. I think though that there are many problems stemming from the Greek Archdiocese that take a little bit longer to notice. But for you what is most important is getting to know the faith wherever you are most comfortable. Then if you feel there is a problem with your Parish you pray and try to help, or you pray about changing parishes and do so with grace.

When I went to my first parish the very first time no one was friendly, no one said hi, etc. Now I am in an scooter wheelchair and had to sit up front from going in the back so I know they saw me . Now a few weeks later my dad went with me and everyone in town know he and all of a sudden I was no longer invisible and everyone said hi.

ms.smith said:

This is my dilemma. I don't feel like changing churches is going to put my soul in jeopardy or any of that.

My question is, do I continue to struggle in a church that I do love. Where I basically have to start from the ground up learning about the teachings. Where I feel stressed and overwhelmed going to Liturgy every week. (I literally have to leave my youngest with my in-laws almost every Sunday because there is no nursery and the 3 and 6-year-olds are enough work) and then I have to teach Sunday School, Where I feel starved for teaching and guidance.

Or do I go to a church where I don't find their teachings perfect, but that meets mine and my families needs. Where I can go and it feels like a drink of refreshing water. That I don't feel stressed when I go, stressed when I'm there, or stressed when I leave. Where I don't have to arrange outside childcare to make it through the service. Where my children are excited to go.

As a side note, I'm married, but my husband can only come with me when he's not working. He was off every other weekend and we could take the baby then, but now he's back on working Sunday's again. He isn't particularly religious, we met and married when I was away from the church completely.

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Well firstly I'll say don't feel ashamed to bring your kids into the liturgy. My parish has about 400 and sometimes you can't even hear whats going on because of kids running around everywhere. This is accepted in Orthodoxy as Christ taught to be merciful to the children. I'll never forget some toddler bolting all the way from the Narthex through the Royal Doors where the priest then held him for the remainder of the service. Very cute.

Liturgy is overwhelming at first. Especially if you don't understand it. Over time however this GREATLY decreases. I used to be exhausted after Liturgy on Sunday but then over time I was even able to live at a monastery for 5 months where we would sometimes have 8-10 hours of Church a day standing. It is just an adjustment.

I disagree that changing churches doesn't matter however. Why? Eucharist. Communion and proper understanding of it, and theosis along with it, are far more important than anything in this world. There were monastics who suffered horrible conditions, as well as the martyrs tormented for the Orthodox faith, just to keep the faith and prepare themselves for Holy Communion. Its not even that Baptist teachings are imperfect- its that they are VERY far off scope. Going to another apostolic church is what I would consider imperfect, but Protestantism is about as far to the other direction (especially baptist) as you can go. I went to evangelical Baptist missions college for awhile and let me tell you, there are massive spiritual issues right now within. Trust on God and not your environment to find peace. Bring a prayer rope to service and chant the Jesus prayer to tune the stress out. There are many ways to overcome this

The important question is whether or not the particular church or denomination is helping to strengthen your relationship with Christ and feed the spiritual needs of you and your family. You are right that no denomination has a monopoly on "the truth" even though there are denominations out there that will insist that theirs is the only right way, when the reality is that it is *Christ* who is the way, the truth, and the life. If people from any particular denomination have to guilt or use fear, or building themselves up by putting others down, as a strategy to "encourage" you to remain, then what sort of message is that sending? God is not so small as many people can make him out to be.

bekkilyn said:

have to guilt or use fear, or building themselves up by putting others down, as a strategy to "encourage" you to remain, then what sort of message is that sending? God is not so small as many people can make him out to be.

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Was this done somewhere? Are you arguing that there are no churches with spiritual deficiencies?

How do I know you speak the truth? Do you have a monopoly on it?

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