Do I have to be in any certain denomination?

Christian Sonic Fan

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Yes, that's why they are Calvinist. The OPC teaches what the Bible teaches, and the Bible teaches Calvinism.



Good choice! Most of them are Calvinist too!



In my personal opinion, yes.



Infant baptism is also practised by the Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, and Reformed churches.
hmm... Interesting. So, in all cases does the bible basically teach to be in the OPC church? Is that all of what the Bible teaches? Every word, everything? Calvinism? Just wondering. I ask this because I want to practice all of what they do. I've read a lot of the Bible but it's quite hard to figure out which denomination goes true to the word so to speak.
 
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Radagast

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hmm... Interesting. So, in all cases does the bible basically teach to be in the OPC church?

I might have some minor differences with the OPC, but I consider them to be as solidly Biblical as anybody else, and a lot more than most.
 
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Christian Sonic Fan

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I might have some minor differences with the OPC, but I consider them to be as solidly Biblical as anybody else, and a lot more than most.
Hmm, ok then. I'll more than likely be in that denomination. Thank you
 
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Skittles

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God bless you in your search.

A thought - did Jesus Christ start a Church that He intended to be a visible “city on the hill”? If you conclude He did - then pursue that Church since that would be His intent.
 
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Philip_B

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God bless you in your search. A thought - did Jesus Christ start a Church that He intended to be a visible “city on the hill”? If you conclude He did - then pursue that Church since that would be His intent.

That would seem to be an Orthodox Argument.
 
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Light of the East

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QUOTE="Victor in Christ No, i do not believe the bread and wine as literal. I take the NT spiritual. If i took it literal in every sense, i'd be trying to open up physical doors to Christ, i'd be out in the field plucking up the weeds, removing the stones, the tares.....its an endless list.

Okay. I used to believe the same thing. I did so because I had no knowledge of any Christian history prior to 1517 and the Reformation. None. I honestly thought that the worship that Christ established was found in Calvinism. Then I read the Early Fathers. And here's your problem. They were taught by the Apostles. And they taught that the Body and Blood of Christ are truly found in the Eucharist. What you believe (and I used to believe) wasn't taught until some 1500 years after Christ, so you are literally saying that Jesus and the Apostles were wrong. Ponder it a bit.

I know baptism is a tricky subject for all denominations, but this is my honest opinion.

Water baptism does nothing in regeneration, its an outward sign for the believer but can in a negative way be used an outward show- ie- "look i got baptised, i'm now for heaven. there's the picture/video". I hold true to believers baptism by the Holy Spirit and if someone of understanding age know about salvation through Christ and want to be baptised by water (in the trinity) there should be no issue. Also if parents want to get their child baptised, its upto the parents and the church to bring that child up into the faith (adopt them in a physical sense) until they become of the understanding when Christ will adopt them spiritually into his Heavenly kingdom, but no regeneration should be forced to take place through baptism.

Same thing as above. This is what the Church has carried down from Jesus for 2,000 years. Parents didn't wait until their son could "make a decision for the God of Israel" before having him circumcised. And if you read Genesis 17, you find that circumcision is so important that if a son was not circumcised, he didn't belong to Israel, the earthly kingdom of God.

not sure what you mean, bishops are the same as elders. Priests seem to be the same as ministers.

That is also wrong. Bishops are the successors of the apostles and have authority which was given to that office by Christ Himself. The reason that there are priests is that as the Church grew in the first couple of centuries, there were not enough bishops to go around. People were waiting months to get the Sacraments. Therefore, bishops ordained priests to go forth in their authority and act in the authority of the bishop. That is why every parish has a bishop's chair in it, so that it reminds them that the bishop is the true ruler over the parish.
 
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Light of the East

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hmm... Interesting. So, in all cases does the bible basically teach to be in the OPC church? Is that all of what the Bible teaches? Every word, everything? Calvinism? Just wondering. I ask this because I want to practice all of what they do. I've read a lot of the Bible but it's quite hard to figure out which denomination goes true to the word so to speak.

The Bible does not teach Calvinism. Let's think this through a moment. If Jesus, who's words are recorded in the Bible, was teaching Calvinism, then Calvinism would have been taught in the first 5 centuries of Christianity. You would find those teachers who went all over the world spreading the Gospel to have been teaching Calvinism. Calvinism would have existed long, long before the 16th century and John Calvin.

What Calvinism teaches, as with all denominations that cannot trace their lineage back to the Apostles (i.e. Roman Catholic and Orthodox) is their interpretation of the Bible. Then they sit down and say it is true and because they say it is true, you are supposed to believe that their interpretation was taught in the first century.

In fact, the first of the Fathers of the Church to mention any of the doctrines which morphed into Calvinism, such as limited atonement or the depravity of mankind was Augustine. That is why Augustine is so beloved in the PCA and so widely quoted.

If you want to know what Christianity is, you have to go back to the beginning and find out what the first preachers of Christianity taught. They learned directly from the Apostles.
 
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Radagast

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If Jesus, who's words are recorded in the Bible, was teaching Calvinism, then Calvinism would have been taught in the first 5 centuries of Christianity.

It was, by the Apostle Paul.

And St. Augustine.
 
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Christian Sonic Fan

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The Bible does not teach Calvinism. Let's think this through a moment. If Jesus, who's words are recorded in the Bible, was teaching Calvinism, then Calvinism would have been taught in the first 5 centuries of Christianity. You would find those teachers who went all over the world spreading the Gospel to have been teaching Calvinism. Calvinism would have existed long, long before the 16th century and John Calvin.

What Calvinism teaches, as with all denominations that cannot trace their lineage back to the Apostles (i.e. Roman Catholic and Orthodox) is their interpretation of the Bible. Then they sit down and say it is true and because they say it is true, you are supposed to believe that their interpretation was taught in the first century.

In fact, the first of the Fathers of the Church to mention any of the doctrines which morphed into Calvinism, such as limited atonement or the depravity of mankind was Augustine. That is why Augustine is so beloved in the PCA and so widely quoted.

If you want to know what Christianity is, you have to go back to the beginning and find out what the first preachers of Christianity taught. They learned directly from the Apostles.

I think I'm just going to scratch all of my guesswork off and throw away what I have written down in my tablet and just go to the Benedictines which is a Catholic monastic order and be Catholic. Some of my family members are in this order and they are monks so I probably should do that too. They write to my family and tell of how peaceful it is dedicating their lives to the Lord. It feels quite medieval but that is what they want. I might just end up doing that too. I'm just going to forget how I see how others interpret the bible and just trust that they know what they are doing and get used to it I suppose. It was that way for thousands of years anyways, so who is to say that the Catholics are wrong? I certainly won't question the abbot of whichever abbey that I go to.

I have a catholic prayer book and a king james bible anyways staring at me so why not.
 
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Light of the East

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I think I'm just going to scratch all of my guesswork off and throw away what I have written down in my tablet and just go to the Benedictines which is a Catholic monastic order and be Catholic. Some of my family members are in this order and they are monks so I probably should do that too. They write to my family and tell of how peaceful it is dedicating their lives to the Lord. It feels quite medieval but that is what they want. I might just end up doing that too. I'm just going to forget how I see how others interpret the bible and just trust that they know what they are doing and get used to it I suppose. It was that way for thousands of years anyways, so who is to say that the Catholics are wrong? I certainly won't question the abbot of whichever abbey that I go to.

I have a catholic prayer book and a king james bible anyways staring at me so why not.

You may you may find the life of the monastery to be very peaceful and exactly what you need to get close to Christ. In addition they have the Sacraments and mostly good sound theology. I would have course like to see you be Orthodox, but this is a good choice.
 
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Light of the East

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It was, by the Apostle Paul.

As I said, this is your interpretation of Paul. If it was the correct one, you would find it practiced in the first 15 centuries of the Church. Since you can't, it isn't.
 
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Radagast

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I think I'm just going to scratch all of my guesswork off and throw away what I have written down in my tablet and just go to the Benedictines which is a Catholic monastic order and be Catholic.

I'm no Catholic, but that's better than just jumping around everywhere.
 
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Paul4JC

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Best way to go is Inter-denominational, but outside of some missionary orgs this is hard to achieve. Much to be learned all over the place, but better than any denomination, as all of them are limited, first is Christ.
 
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Rugged Cross

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I think it is important to where heart and the spirit leads you. I was baptized and confirmed into the Church of England and during my time I have attended and been part of various other denominations. However, I always felt attracted to the Catholic faith and have found some peace. Some may not that the RC is for them but with prayer keep searching til you are guided to the church for you. Some never find a church but they are Christians provided they follow Christ, one example that my wife is a Christian and a much stronger one than myself and quite often keeps me straight and she is a non-denominational Christian.
 
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PaulCyp1

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The existence of denominations is a violation of the clearly stated will of Jesus Christ concerning His followers, which was and still is - "that they all may be one, even as I and My heavenly Father are one". He knew that truth can exist only in unity, because truth cannot conflict with truth, and conflicting beliefs therefore always mean false beliefs.
 
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Renata8

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I struggled with denominations as well, once upon a time. I realised that God made it easy for us to be Christians, start by observing the Ten Commandments and read your bible. Get involved in a good bible based church or group that you feel comfortable in and go with God from there.
 
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Rugged Cross

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I struggled with denominations as well, once upon a time. I realised that God made it easy for us to be Christians, start by observing the Ten Commandments and read your bible. Get involved in a good bible based church or group that you feel comfortable in and go with God from there.
Agreed, but would add observe the two commandments that Christ gave, Matthew 22:37 - 39 '....."You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it. You shall love your neighbour as yourself."' NKJV.
When I did my period of searching over many years, I learnt quite a bit from the other churches and as a result have great respect and love for them. I realized that we are all on the same journey but just taking a different route. Also, life is too short for all the arguing as to who is right or wrong in the beliefs they hold, all have a piece that is true, God will reveal all when it is our time.
 
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Light of the East

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I struggled with denominations as well, once upon a time. I realised that God made it easy for us to be Christians, start by observing the Ten Commandments and read your bible. Get involved in a good bible based church or group that you feel comfortable in and go with God from there.

WHICH "good Bible-based Church?" Fundamental Baptist? Episcopalian? Methodist? SDA? Anglican?

If you look around this forum, you will see constant debates/conflicts between people, all of whom use the Bible to defend their beliefs. So which one of these dozens (hundreds?) of different beliefs is correct? Which one is Bible-based? How do you know and how are you sure you know?
 
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Renata8

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WHICH "good Bible-based Church?" Fundamental Baptist? Episcopalian? Methodist? SDA? Anglican?

If you look around this forum, you will see constant debates/conflicts between people, all of whom use the Bible to defend their beliefs. So which one of these dozens (hundreds?) of different beliefs is correct? Which one is Bible-based? How do you know and how are you sure you know?
Use common sense and do research into good Bible-based churches; check their websites, listen to their sermons online, read their reviews, and visit if possible. I lean towards non-denominational churches or Christain churches. Im not into mormon, RC, or catholic churches. Church started as small groups of people gathering in homes once upon a time. Everyone has preferences. I just really believe God made it easy for us by giving us the commandments.
 
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