- Feb 22, 2017
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After a few years I think it's been, I've personally began my walk with God. But it has been me reading the Bible and coming online here for what worship and fellowship that's possible. I'll admit I have a long way to go and probably won't ever know for certain if my beliefs are accurate. But finally at thirty years after a long delay in life, I have my first car and can eventually go to church regularly. I've realized it's much different offline and in person when considering church, as it's more than what you believe and practice mostly alone according to your will or convenience. Actually feel the need to consider what I believe and what I must compromise to find a church. No church will be perfect as all are comprised of people just like me who're imperfect, but seeking the Lord Jesus in their journey to know God.
Beliefs I know for certain are "God, community, and family", I believe a church has an important role in all three and each should be valued and promoted among it's members (also the world too). Another is I belief at the heart of God's word and the Gospel of Jesus are mercy and justice; these seem to be major themes in the Bible and characteristics of God and Jesus; so an active church volunteering, donating, addressing social/economic issues etc would be great. Preferably I rather not be expected (required) to believe certain things not essential or very interpretative, but left to me and others to learn for themselves personally.
Presently I consider myself since the beginning as non-denominational as I've never identified or associated being a regular church goer. I do remember when I was young going to a protestant church of some type and also another time a catholic church for summer daytime events involving children (e.g. play reenacting a Bible story). Other than that a couple times I think my sister and I got our mom to take us to the catholic church on Sundays.
Now where I live with my family (Uncle, Aunt, and two cousins), we have three churches near us . One is a small and older (supposedly) Baptist church, only of the three if I remember correctly to have graves. Second is a Methodist church has a fenced children's playground and my Uncle said he had gone there when he was younger. Third is an Episcopal church that's liberal or progressive as it has a female minister, possibly well known to certain people as I think she's a Dr. of some type and has her name under the church on the sign, also on the website it has Dr. Ellen Davis YouTube video who believes in teaching people to apply the Bible to their lives. Seems the third would be the church for me but I'm more traditional about what I believe and don't think it's Biblical for women to be ministers.
I'm not sure about any of these three, I'm looking online about non-denominational (What are non-denominational churches and Churches of Christ), think I saw a church somewhere named Churches of Christ but not sure if it's near enough as working with my Uncle takes me as far as thirty to an hour away. Thank you in advance for reading this long post, any advice or thoughts would be great.
Beliefs I know for certain are "God, community, and family", I believe a church has an important role in all three and each should be valued and promoted among it's members (also the world too). Another is I belief at the heart of God's word and the Gospel of Jesus are mercy and justice; these seem to be major themes in the Bible and characteristics of God and Jesus; so an active church volunteering, donating, addressing social/economic issues etc would be great. Preferably I rather not be expected (required) to believe certain things not essential or very interpretative, but left to me and others to learn for themselves personally.
Presently I consider myself since the beginning as non-denominational as I've never identified or associated being a regular church goer. I do remember when I was young going to a protestant church of some type and also another time a catholic church for summer daytime events involving children (e.g. play reenacting a Bible story). Other than that a couple times I think my sister and I got our mom to take us to the catholic church on Sundays.
Now where I live with my family (Uncle, Aunt, and two cousins), we have three churches near us . One is a small and older (supposedly) Baptist church, only of the three if I remember correctly to have graves. Second is a Methodist church has a fenced children's playground and my Uncle said he had gone there when he was younger. Third is an Episcopal church that's liberal or progressive as it has a female minister, possibly well known to certain people as I think she's a Dr. of some type and has her name under the church on the sign, also on the website it has Dr. Ellen Davis YouTube video who believes in teaching people to apply the Bible to their lives. Seems the third would be the church for me but I'm more traditional about what I believe and don't think it's Biblical for women to be ministers.
I'm not sure about any of these three, I'm looking online about non-denominational (What are non-denominational churches and Churches of Christ), think I saw a church somewhere named Churches of Christ but not sure if it's near enough as working with my Uncle takes me as far as thirty to an hour away. Thank you in advance for reading this long post, any advice or thoughts would be great.
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