Many Denominations, But Which Is The Right One?

SPF

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The correct church is the one that God has called you to be part of.
But it is certainly possible to think God has called you to a church when he actually hasn't, right? For example, do you think God calls people to Kingdom Halls or Mormon Temples, or Synagogues, or Mosques?

How do we know if God is calling us to the correct church?
 
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FireDragon76

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But it is certainly possible to think God has called you to a church when he actually hasn't, right? For example, do you think God calls people to Kingdom Halls or Mormon Temples, or Synagogues, or Mosques?

How do we know if God is calling us to the correct church?

I don't believe there is just one correct church in that way. There are some that get it more right than others but I think each church potentially has different gifts. My purpose was to offer encouragement over specifics. In my own case, part of discerning my vocation involved a great deal of study of the history of the Church and historical theology. Familiarity with the Bible was already a given.

As a generalized rule, one should choose a church where the people there are the types of people you wouldn't mind spending eternity with. If people are mean, nasty, harsh, or overly judgmental, those are not fruits of the Spirit, and no one has to put up with that- those things are not of God.
 
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SPF

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My purpose was to offer encouragement, I have no desire to argue with you since you have proven that you aren't interested in good faith dialogue with anyone who won't agree with you.
I'm more than open to change any non-essential belief I hold. I actually desire to have intellectual and spiritual integrity behind all my beliefs, which is why I am able to support my beliefs when needed. You've just never actually provided any supported, logical, and Biblically consistent reasons as to why I should change any belief we've discussed. If anything, you've never even tried, simply saying like a good Jehovah's Witness would that you are happy to be a blind sheep and follow whatever your denomination tells you.
 
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FireDragon76

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Skip the denominations. The only real question is Catholic or Orthodox.

No, that's not the only real question. There is no reason to think that a contextualized theology of the ancient mediterranean world got it right and is the final word on God.
 
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FireDragon76

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I'm more than open to change any non-essential belief I hold. I actually desire to have intellectual and spiritual integrity behind all my beliefs, which is why I am able to support my beliefs when needed. You've just never actually provided any supported, logical, and Biblically consistent reasons as to why I should change any belief we've discussed. If anything, you've never even tried, simply saying like a good Jehovah's Witness would that you are happy to be a blind sheep and follow whatever your denomination tells you.

Lutherans don't believe the truth of our faith is found in human logic, but in Jesus Christ crucified for us. "The Cross is our only theology", as Luther said. That Christ has died for the ungoldy, justifying us apart from any works we could do. And that God is found in what is shameful, weak, and despised among humans. Our apologetic would rest upon the confession of our faith as consistent with the ancient catholic faith in its essentials, as outlined in the Book of Concord, especially Philip Melancthon's Apologia of the Augsburg Confession.
 
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timothyu

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The Catholic position is that we overcome the schism and become what we are and were over a thousand years ago as one Church with varied Rites and multiple patriarchs.
Would the one who left be willing to return? They left for a reason, no? The prodigal church?
 
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Albion

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Getting back to the original question here, the way to get to the right denomination (or that which is closest to one such) is to study history--carefully.

If that is done, it becomes apparent that many of the claims on which various denominations/communions base their pretentions to being the one and only or to have never changed, etc....are false.
 
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Nicholas Softich

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To answer your actual question: What differentiates us?

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

The basis for religion is based on how many good deeds you can do to earn your way into heaven and be accepted by God.

Christianity tells us that we need to recognize what Jesus did for us on the cross and accept that into our hearts and be saved.

I have never read in the Bible anywhere about someone telling us what kind of music to listen to or what movies aren’t acceptable. The principal behind it all is simple: if you are susceptible to foul living; don’t feed your desires that keep your mind unpure.

Christianity would be best described as the religion of grace. True religion is living in the light of the word of God!

Similarly tho, no matter what denomination you are, Jesus has made the Holy Spirit available to every believer!
 
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chevyontheriver

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But it is certainly possible to think God has called you to a church when he actually hasn't, right? For example, do you think God calls people to Kingdom Halls or Mormon Temples, or Synagogues, or Mosques?

How do we know if God is calling us to the correct church?
God has called you. If you mistake the call it does not mean God has not called you. Just that you didn't hear right and ended up in the other place.
 
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chevyontheriver

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Would the one who left be willing to return? They left for a reason, no? The prodigal church?
If the ones who left are waiting for the other ones to come back to them it could take a very long time. Because everyone is waiting for everyone else to return. Such is ecumenism.
 
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Shimokita

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Skip the denominations. The only real question is Catholic or Orthodox. And they are so close that you won't go wrong. Follow Jesus. What he started is where you ought to be.
Well, I think there are a few others like the Assyrian Church of the East that you would want to throw in the mix.
 
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Laureate

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Like religion, have any of you ever considered or pondered on how the world has so many Christian-like denominations? Even creating an account on this site, I had to scroll through numerous denominations to pick one for myself--- are they all right, or are they all wrong or is there only one that's right?

The question comes down to this; what differentiates us?

In the Matthew 7:13-14, it speaks of how the gate to Heaven is narrow, and only few find it. How does this apply to us? Many denominations, we can't all be right, right?

Let's scroll back and look at the judicial system in the Old Testament. In order for a person's sins to be atoned for, they would have to bring before an animal to the High Priest, lay their hands onto the animal and pass their sins onto the animal, then the animal was killed and the individual was sent scot-free. Now this happened for a while, before it eventually became one animal per family, and then one animal for the entire nation of Israel, in which the High Priest would be the one to lay the sins of Israel onto the animal, before killing it and atoning for the sins of Israel for that period of time. (Book of Leviticus)

But what does this have to do with what I was talking about? Well, let's go to the New Testament. If you take a look at the 4 Gospels very closely, you can see that they all start at the baptism (Matthew begins at Chapter 3), more accurately, they all begin with John The Baptist. Now with God, there are no coincidences, so what does this mean?

See, if you take a look at the genealogy of John The Baptist, he comes from the Aaronic Priesthood (Luke 1:5). Now, the Aaronic Priesthood in the Old Testament, were the only ones who were allowed to carry out the sacrificial atonement. Clearly, these two correlate. See, John The Baptist was not the Messiah, but he was there to prepare the way for the Messiah, which is Jesus Christ.

This is why the baptism of Jesus plays a pivotal role in a born-again believers life, and is the ticket to entering the Kingdom of God;

in John 3:5 it says,
"Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit."

and in 1 John 5:6 it says,
"This is He Who came by (with) water and blood [His baptism and His death], Jesus Christ (the Messiah)—not by (in) the water only, but by (in) the water and the blood. And it is the [Holy] Spirit Who bears witness, because the [Holy] Spirit is the Truth."
Now, this isn't the same baptism one has as a baby. This isn't the same baptism one has by just going into the water. It isn't about that outer body going into the water, but rather a heart matter; 1 Peter 3:21, "And baptism, which is a figure [of their deliverance], does now also save you [from inward questionings and fears], not by the removing of outward body filth [bathing], but by [providing you with] the answer of a good and clear conscience (inward cleanness and peace) before God [because you are demonstrating what you believe to be yours] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

See, the baptism of Jesus is important to us believers because it was at His baptism that His ministry began; Matthew 3:13-17, "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

You see, without Christ's baptism, there would never be a cross. Now why do I say this? Go back to the Old Testament, the sacrificial system. In order for sins to be atoned for, the animal would first need to be brought before a High Priest, who would lay his hands on the animal, and then pass the sins of Israel onto the animal before killing it and sending Israel scot-free. If you take a look in John 1:29, John The Baptist refers to Jesus as "The Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world". There's a reason for that; Jesus was the sacrificial atonement that God provided us.

Now, before the animal was killed in the Old Testament, a few things had to be done first. And remember, with God, there are no coincidences. Everything is planned, and pre-ordained. So in order for the Righteousness of God (our sanctification) to take place, the sacrificial atonement needed to be done, and it has to begin somewhere--- Christ's baptism.

Because John the Baptist comes from the Aaronic Priesthood, he had the qualification to pass the sins of the world onto Jesus. What the animals in the Old Testament could do temporarily, Christ did eternally. This laying on of hands at Christ's baptism occurred the same manner it did in the Old Testament. And once it was done, the Holy Spirit came down like a dove to testify, and God was delighted.

This is why for the next 3 years, Christ was hated, hurt, bruised, flocked, mocked etc. Not because of anything He did or didn't do, but because of the multitude of sins that was on Him, even though He knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21).

This is also why Christ had to die; because the wages which sin pays, is death (Romans 6:23).

Planned and purposed by God, this is the Way, this is the Truth and this is the Life--- Christ. We cannot come to the cross, without first uniting with Christ at His baptism. His death can never be ours, if we don't know where He even took it. And if His death isn't ours, how can His life be ours?

Now this is the Water (baptism) and Blood (death) that Christ speaks of that gives us that ticket to Heaven. If Christ is The Way, The Truth and The Life that we proclaim He is, then isn't there only 1 Way, 1 Truth, and 1 Life?

Very well illustrated, full of Grace and Salvation.

We prophecy in part and we know in part, and for this reason we the Many Members of His Body are separated from one another, but when he who is whole comes, that which is done in part shall become obsolete.

Only the Lamb is able to unlock all seven seals, until then the prophecy of everyone has become like the words of a book that have been sealed.

But when He does come, He will introduce us to a pure language that would permit us to all Call upon His name with One Consent.

But now, to whom shall the Crown of Glory teach Knowledge, and to whom shall the Angel of the Lord make to understand doctrine?

Those who are weaned from the Denominational Milk, and drawn from their breasts, for we cannot digest Spiritual-Meat when we prove to be Babes in H'Meshiach with our Divisions, Envy, and Strife.

In Isaiah 28 Christianity is identified as Ephraim, (the chief of) the Lost Sheep of Israel (the Northern tribes) whom (Î)yésʰûʷəʰ exclusively Sent his apostles to;

Cause and effect the Sephardic (Latin peoples) Manasseh (Spain) and Ephraim (Portugal), and an assortment of (Latin, half Egyptian/half Assyrian) tribes of Iberia (Hebrew), thus the Vatican rests upon saint Peter's tomb exclusively occupied by Latinos.

In Isaiah 28 the Chief Shepherd-Crown of Glory comes as a Mighty One who is Sent by Adonai the Lord, [not (Î)yéhûʷəʰ], and he shall cast the Crown of Pride to the ground as if it it were with a flood of waters, and sweep away a refuge of Lies, and annul thereby their agreement-covenant with Death.

This Mighty One of the Lord, is the Spirit of Truth, whom (Î)yésʰûʷəʰ promised to Send in His Name, He is Rûʷəkʰ H'Kôʷdəsʰ (The Holy Spirit) manifest in the flesh, for the Father seeks to be worshipped in Spirit and Truth.

We are informed that the One who Sits upon the throne shall dwell amongst us, and this Crown of Glory is Him, yet it shall be the Son speaking through Him, as the Father was found speaking through the Son;

The same was John the Baptist, who not only introduced the great and dreadful hour and day, but was also the only one who was able to identify the Son, which only the Father is able to ascertain and declare.

When (Î)yésʰûʷəʰ told his disciples to wait for the promise of the Father, it was John who promised that Baptism.

When Peter declared that (Î)yésʰûʷəʰ was the Son of Alôhâyîm, (Î)yésʰûʷəʰ declared that Peter learned that from his Father, yet again, it was John who informed them that he was the Son of Alôhâyîm;

He came full of Grace, John means Grace, and the Son was in John speaking from his bosom.

He comes again, (as per parable of the vineyard), after the Son is cast out, then comes his Father, and again in revelations where it declares an Angel preaching the Gospel declaring the hour of judgement, a feat which only the Father can perform.

This would not be the first time that the Salvation of Yah referred to Alîyəʰûʷ (Elijah) as Father, Alîyshəʰ (Elisha) 'the Salvation of Alôhâyîm' referred to Elijah as Father when he saw him depart on a chariot of fire.

The Catholic fell away from the Jews, the Protestants fell away from the Vatican, and Many have fallen away from them, saying, We are Anointed Beings (Christian), and in his name deceive Many.❤
 
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Laureate

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But as far as congregations go, one would do good to see that they are in essence a member of the congregation of Philadelphia 'Brotherly Love', or their predisposition, the congregation of Smyrna, they are the only two congregations on the candlestick that are not reprimanded, their angels are the two faithful witnesses.
 
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