How did you choose your denomination?

[Katieboo]

I checked out the book Finding the Right Church by Shelly Steig. I identified my opinions on several issues that the book addressed and then made kind of a chart. Baptist matched the best, so I began attending a Baptist church.

 

[Virgil the Roman]

Yeh!, i resolved my issues.

 

[Virgil the Roman]

thanks to the help of a friend.

 

[snoochface]

Raven, there is a lot of good advice here. Unfortunately, you have to make the decision yourself based on where your heart is and where the Holy Spirit guides you.

Your best option is probably to attend a few different churches, maybe sit in the back if you're shy about it, watch and listen for a couple weeks and see if you feel at home there. Many times you can find a church's statement of faith and/or doctrinal beliefs on their website, so doing a little research that way ahead of time can help weed out churches you wouldn't be interested in visiting.

 

[emmamunky]

I go to baptist simply because it's the best church in my area and I love the worship and teaching.

 

[JesusIsHealingMe]

I was brought up in a "Church of Christ" church

my husband was brought up in a "Presbyterian" church

we visited a presbyterian church, a baptist church, an AOG church and then we discovered Vineyard which seems to be very uncommon over hear where we live.

We both really enjoy the church family we are now part of. There is a wonderful book we read called "The Quest for the Radical Middle". It basically talks about the apporach Vineyard were trying to achieve in establishing the Vineyard movement - they tried to be in between a lot of other denominations I guess you could say. They didn't want to be all spiritual gifts with no/little theology and Bible teaching. They also wanted to avoid teaching and preaching so much that gifts of the Holy Spirit were neglected.

so yeah hope that makes sense! I hope you find a church you can call home.

 

[Virgil the Roman]

Thanks to my good friend on CF Paladin Doodler, i've resolved my issues with the Catholic Church!

 

[Virgil the Roman]

Also for any new christians out there I recommend looking into Catholicism.

 

[snoochface]

Also for any new christians out there I recommend looking into Catholicism.

Sorry, but I would recommend the exact opposite, especially for new Christians who are just forming a relationship with Jesus.

 

[Catholic Wife]

Also for any new christians out there I recommend looking into Catholicism.

I would also recommend the Catholic Church (or the Eastern Orthodox Church).

I was raised in a very non-religious home. When I was a teen, I went with friends to their churches. I had a hard time accepting that two Baptist churches would teach different things since they were the same denomination! I just couldn't come to grips with the fact that each church taught different things because of what the individual pastor believed or how he interpretted the Bible. At least the Catholic Church as official teachings that are the same around the world. I also had issues with churches that sprang up from nowhere led by a pastor with unknown religious education.

Second, the EOC and RCC have been around the longest. I asked myself why I should belong to any denomination that split from them (EOC/RCC) or that split from churches that split from them or just sprang up out of nowhere.

I can honestly say that I still wonder whether the RCC or the EOC is actually the "original" church, but I know one of them is. And after learning what the Catholic Church actually teaches, I can honestly say that I accept all of its teachings even though most people can't.

 

[millerrod]

we are each different a person that can read the Bible and by reading alone can enjoy and grow in a Baptist church. those however who learn better through symbolizim, that learn by relating teachings through symbolic way can learn and grow in a Catholic church God has placed many different types-ways of learning availabe to us. we just need to listen to the Holy Spirit within us and attend the church that the Spirit guides us to based on our ability to learn and those that follow Gods Way.

 

[BeLedbyHisSpirit]

I have already posted elsewhere, that the Body of Christ, Jesus' body, is NOT an institution or anything man-made, nor man organized. Having been raised Catholic and gone to Parochial grade school, I feel I am in position to address its flaws adequately. I am not a Catholic any longer. I do not desire to write the following, but I shall, cuz people need to see the truth, I suppose.


Hmmmm, where should I begin!:

1) Catholicism claims that Peter was its first pope, and through succession, the pope's position has continued to the present.

Reality: Peter was just a saved sinner like everybody else, denied the Lord and invoked a curse upon himself when during the Lord's crucifiction, was behaving hypocritically with regard to his friendship with Jews then Gentiles, and was slower than others to get the true depth of the revelation of the Holy Spirit and Grace. Peter held onto the Jewish Law longer than others.

Catholicism began about the mid 4th century, and not a moment sooner, when Constantine convinced Rome's Caesar to unite with the religious christians, as a means to bring about conformity and Rome's sovereign rule over people. "Become a Catholic, and thus a member of the "state", and avoid execution."

Hence, a literal Christ-centered life by the Holy Spirit, was substituted for a Pope and religious system which would bring about anathema if one dared to reject the Pope as all ruling know-it-all. (my words, sorry for the course language).

Most importantly, we all have direct access to God. This is the whole of the Gospel! We rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no need for any man or system, because of God's Son. Jesus is our Life. And His Holy Spirit is our direct Counselor.

1 John 2:26 These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you.
1 John 2:27 And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for any man to teach you; for His anointing (the Holy Spirit) teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.


2) Catholics have been taught, almost universally, NOT to read their bibles because it is too difficult, and only Catholic priests are able to explain it. (I was taught this, as well as hundreds of others who testify to the same thing, including our elders around the country who grew up Catholic prior to WW2).

This is not exactly a scriptural sin, though it may be, but it is so obviously unwise and demonic (if taught knowingly).

3) According to Catholicism, Mary, the virgin, is hailed as queen of heaven, or at least the mother of God, even in heaven. Thus, she hears prayers and can intervene on people's behalf.

The commandment of God states: 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Jesus Christ is Lord, and in Him only do we have access to God. Not Mary, not Moses, not Peter, not Paul, nobody but Christ.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me."

Praying to Mary (or anybody else but God!), is clearly the equivalent of violating the 1st of the 10 commandments (if you wish to be under the Law. I certainly do not, but I'm surprised how so many do. Whatever.) Do you remember the 1st Commandment of the 10? Here, let me refresh your memory:

Exodus 20:2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
Exodus 20:3 "You shall have no other gods before Me.
Exodus 20:4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
Exodus 20:5 "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,
Exodus 20:6 but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.



4) Catholicism, like many other institutions, teach Sunday as the Lord's Sabbath Day. <Arpk...honk!>

TRUTH: Not so. Each and everyday of our existence, is the Lord's day, and we are to be led by the Holy Spirit in all things. The scriptures even state that the Legal Sabbath Day, has changed. Read:

Heb 4:6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience,
Heb 4:7 He again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS."


Read the end of Hebrews 3, and the whole of Chapter 4 to get the full scope. IT is wonderful!!!!! God is our rest. We have great liberty in JESUS, our Savior! YAY!


5) Catholic ordinance upon its "priests" do not allow them to marry.

Truth be known: Celibacy is not a commandment of God. Most of the original 12 disciples, including PETER (oh yes, Peter too!) had wives and children, and there's no reason to implore such a sadistic rule upon men who wish to serve God. Read Paul's writing:

1 Cor 9:2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
1 Cor 9:3 My defense to those who examine me is this:
1 Cor 9:4 Do we not have a right to eat and drink?
1 Cor 9:5 Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

For those of you who don't know, Cephas is Peter.

6) Catholicism tries to blend, or marry, the old covenant legal system with the Spiritual Liberty of Christ and the Holy Spirit, which makes a very strange, polluted mix. The ceremony, the rituals, the philosophies, etc.

God says:

Matt 9:14 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?"
Matt 9:15 And Jesus said to them, "The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.
Matt 9:16 "But no one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results.
Matt 9:17 "Nor do men put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out, and the wineskins are ruined; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved."

Christ is revealing the complete separation from the Old Legal way and His New Holy Spirit way. This is taken up again when Jesus speaks with Nicodemus. Nicodemus is representative of the whole of Israel. Pay special attention to verse 6. Read:

John 3:4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"
John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:7 "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

7) Catholicism teaches priesthood, by celibate men who have gone to seminary, etc. What does the apostle Peter tell all the believers of the Church in his letter?

Truth be known, we are ALL priests unto God. Not just a selected, educated group of guys.:

1 Peter 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
1 Peter 2:10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.


8) Catholicism's rosary, and its millions of recited "prayers" to Mary, has at least 2 flaws:

First, Jesus commanded us NOT to heap up many repetitive words. Read:

Matt 6:7 "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
Matt 6:8 "Therefore do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him.

and

Second, the words recorded as the "Hail Mary" prayer, are NOTHING LESS than a part of dialogue which transpired between Mary and her sister Elizabeth!!! It is simply some conversation between 2 sisters. Read Luke 1:39-43



I could go on and on about the silliness of all this, except that it is really not so funny. It is a severe and grave error to substitute the Liberty, Grace, and wonderful Freedom and LIFE of God via the Holy Spirit, for anything else... let alone a system of man-made rules. Heaven forbid!!!!


Did you know that the only Law accorded in the New Covenant is the one which is most paradoxical, wonderful and gives great joy to your inner-man, if you side with God, that is. It was recorded in James:

James 1:25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, ...


Oh brethren, please, please, please... see Jesus for Who He really is and what He has done!!!!

2 Cor 3:6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2 Cor 3:7 But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was,
2 Cor 3:8 how shall the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?



Christ be praised!!!!

 

[Bernergirl]

I would have to say that I do kinda sorta have to agree on not looking into a Catholic Church simply based on my little knowledge pool (but, you don't have to listen to me as I am a newb to this whole Christianity thing.)

My grandpa grew up in a Baptist home and is now an atheist and my grandma grew up in a Lutheran home and I have no idea where she is at spiritually (I mean, I know she believes in God, but she doesn't go to church or anything like that, so I don't know where or how she would consider herself). My father, consequently is somewhere between the two and my Ma, who is a New Age somewhere-between-Buddhist-and-Christian. (She grew up in a Jehovah's Witness home) So... I had a lot of influences around me spiritually, but it was a dear friend in my freshman year who finally led me to God and I've been attending his Presbyterian church after having attended a local Lutheran church. I feel like I was really led to this church quickly as I feel such a connection there...

Anyway, sorry if that was lengthy... that's how I ended up in my church. I'm glad you feel like you have resolved your issues and I pray that you find peace in Christ however you are led to it.

God Bless!

 

[JimfromOhio]

I have studied Christianity for years, attended churches in almost all denominations and learned just about every denomination's doctrines.

In the last 25 years, I have been a member of two churches before joining my current Church (Northwest Presbyterian Church which is a member of PCA) and they were:

1. Anabaptist/Mostly Calvinism: Fellowship of Grace Brethren Church of Columbus, Ohio (in the 1980's and in the 2000's)
2. Independent Baptist: Mixer of Calvinism and Arminianism (in between) Liberty Baptist Church of the Deaf (late 80's to early 90's)

My younger days were mostly Independent Baptist churches which is a mixer of Calvinism and Arminianism (in between) as well as Arminianism and Legalism. I attended Catholic school for 7 years. Other denominations I have visited over the years are Grace Brethren (Anabaptist), Missionary & Alliance, Mennonite, Methodist, Pentacostal, Congregational and many others. I also got mixed up with "Word of Faith" for a short time. No matter what denomination I go to, God will direct me if I aware of it or not. I am learning that God will always lead me to His providential circumstances for my own good, in His will and for His glory. God knows me so well that He will do His providential actions at the very moment of my need according to His will. For the longest time, I thought I have planned and executed my life all by myself but really never aware that my life have always been guided by God.

Now, I have decided to follow Reformed theology. Not sure if this will help but this is my experience.

 

[Lost_Sheep]

Here's my "spaghetti sauce" analogy. We all like different kinds of spaghetti sauce. I mean, some people like spaghetti sauce with just tomatoes and very little seasoning, others like it with lots of seasoning and/or meat. Some like "homemade" and others like it from a jar. Is anyone "right" or "wrong" because of what kind of spaghetti sauce they like? NO. We're all just different. Me, I like a good meat sauce with lots of tomato chunks and basil...

Anyway, no matter which "denomination" you choose, it should reflect your own personal tastes, likes, dislikes and beliefs. If a certain form of worship isn't your style, don't tell someone else that how they worship is wrong. It may be wrong for you, but it may be just right for them.

 

[AllTalkNoAction]

God *nominated* one way, whereby ALL receive the infilling of His Spirit and start living a new life, with God's nature.
Man has de-nominated this, broken it up to make a name for himself, just like they did at Babel.

By seeking what pleases yourself you aren't actually believing in God. We should seek a church that suits God, like the one he set up.

 

[DawnTillery]

I attend a General Baptist church, not because I am a baptist. I chose the church I attend because of the friendliness I found there, true bible believers and they sing out of hymnals (not the praise and worship) not that I mind that, but they have old fashion values that I really enjoy and want my children to have as they grow up.

 

[millerrod]

Error can be pointed out in each of us and in each church, the Bible states we are to Love our neighbor and the Bible defines Love in 1 Cor13:4-7 when this is read and studyed and these manners of Love are applied to our lives as they should be we must ask ourselves should we critisize and put down another who Loves Christ as much as we do when no doubt we to error, according to the Bible we should not. in tell we as christians apply 1 Cor13:4-7 to each of our lives the unity that the Body of Christ should be , the strength of that body will not reach its full potential . which my freinds is very sad when we all know time is short for those lost. while we are walking away from Love trying to prove what church has it right the world of those lost and dieing are being lost one at a time as we judge one another. we all error believe it or not i error and you error each church has its own error. God knows us best He knows by what method and means we will grow the best and He expects us to be awake enough to reconize that within ourselves and follow His guidence. i hope and pray that God allows me to live long enough to see unity come to the Body of Christ. i kind of doubt that when we stand before God that we will do so in certian little groups thats just doesnt seem to be the picture the Bible paints of those that stand before God. may God continue to have patience with us and in Christs name may we each grow.

 

[BeLedbyHisSpirit]

Error can be pointed out in each of us and in each church, the Bible states we are to Love our neighbor and the Bible defines Love in 1 Cor13:4-7 when this is read and studyed and these manners of Love are applied to our lives as they should be we must ask ourselves should we critisize and put down another who Loves Christ as much as we do when no doubt we to error, according to the Bible we should not. in tell we as christians apply 1 Cor13:4-7 to each of our lives the unity that the Body of Christ should be , the strength of that body will not reach its full potential . which my freinds is very sad when we all know time is short for those lost. while we are walking away from Love trying to prove what church has it right the world of those lost and dieing are being lost one at a time as we judge one another. we all error believe it or not i error and you error each church has its own error. God knows us best He knows by what method and means we will grow the best and He expects us to be awake enough to reconize that within ourselves and follow His guidence. i hope and pray that God allows me to live long enough to see unity come to the Body of Christ. i kind of doubt that when we stand before God that we will do so in certian little groups thats just doesnt seem to be the picture the Bible paints of those that stand before God. may God continue to have patience with us and in Christs name may we each grow.

As much as these words appear to be loving, they can just as easily be construed as lukewarmness with regard to wanting God's best.

Having a critical mind is not a bad thing. Being able to dsciminate properly is one of the marks of a wise walker.

Most importantly, though, is the misconception that the Lord's body (church) is not unified. It most certainly is. We are joined to Him and are One Spirit with Him.

The confusion (and mess) is that so very few believers walk unto maturity. In our daily lives, in our souls, we are so very carnal.

An immature carnal believer is still one with the mature believer. Their maturity levels are at different places, but they are still one, even if they don't realize it.

The question that keeps coming up in this forum is "which church is best (for me)?"

It assumes that Christ's body is split up into parts, and this was God's great plan so that people could find the type of program that fits their lifestyle and beliefs.

OF course none of that has anything at all to do with God. The Lord called people to die. And yet people are still seeking life out of the world.

Not a very popular message, the Lord's, but it stands as it always has: "Pick up your cross and die, follow Me, and lose your life for My sake".


These words don't usually find a place in "believers' hearts", and so then, they go unheeded and they continue to chant their usual rant.

 

[beehoney]

An Assemblies of God branch was started near my home. It was convenient for me and I loved the people there.