My town has many churches and I am not sure which to attend. Why do we have so many different churches if it's all the same religion? I want to become more religious (Christianity) but do not know where to begin.
-
Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.
How do I choose which church to attend?
- Thread starter onePOINTeight
- Start date
Catherineanne
Well-Known Member
- Sep 1, 2004
- 22,924
- 4,646
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Gender
- Female
- Faith
- Anglican
- Marital Status
- Widowed
Hi, nice to meet you.
One place to start might be to ask which is the nearest church to your home. See whether it is right for you, and if not, try the next one. Find out when the services are and go along on Sunday to see what it is like. See how friendly they are.
There are different denominations for the same reason there are different restaurants; people like different approaches to God, the same as they like different foods. Any mainstream Christian church is fine, by which I mean Anglican/Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Methodist, Baptist or Lutheran. Maybe others as well.
I would not advise Mormons (Latter Day Saints) or Jehovah's Witnesses; they may be very nice people but they are not really mainstream.
So, which is the nearest one?
Upvote
0
- Dec 10, 2003
- 23,896
- 9,864
- Country
- Australia
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Single
Welcome! 
At a personal level, read the Bible more (especially the New Testament, starting with the Gospels) -- and find a church that matches what you read.
At a personal level, read the Bible more (especially the New Testament, starting with the Gospels) -- and find a church that matches what you read.
Upvote
0
Well, this concerns my newly born son more than it concerns me at this very moment. You see, I want my son to be given the privilege to spend eternity in heaven and not hell. But what is something were to happen that would take him away from this world unexpectedly? Would he at the age of 8 months go to hell because he did not accept jesus? What about the age of 6 or 12? What is the cut off age for a child to enter heaven?
Upvote
0
Should be important for you as it is your son.
What a fellow buddy told me when looking for a church.
Make sure first and most of all, make sure they preach the Word Of God, and Jesus is the head of that church, and that they dont take away or add to the Bible, and they teach in and out salvation esp at the end of their service.
What you do with the church choosing beyond that is what makes you comfortable, but as someone said about other denominations, stay away from those that will take away from Gods word.
What a fellow buddy told me when looking for a church.
Make sure first and most of all, make sure they preach the Word Of God, and Jesus is the head of that church, and that they dont take away or add to the Bible, and they teach in and out salvation esp at the end of their service.
What you do with the church choosing beyond that is what makes you comfortable, but as someone said about other denominations, stay away from those that will take away from Gods word.
Upvote
0
americanvet
Saved Sinner
- Jun 15, 2012
- 1,310
- 81
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Libertarian
Upvote
0
No. No one is expected to make a responsible decision at 8 months.
It appears that just about all Protestants believe that children dying in infancy are saved. There are different theological explanations depending upon your school of thought, but most seem to agree. I can't speak for Catholics and Orthodox.
I don't think anyone believes there's a specific age. It depends upon the person. My sense is that children raised in a Christian household slowly take over responsibility for their faith. Some may find that they make a specific decision, but others may find that they grow into faith without one single decision point.
For those who won't have faith as an adult, I would bet that you could often trace that orientation back fairly early in their lives. But when God considers them to be responsible people can only guess. Most guesses are in late childhood.
But a parent doesn't need to know exactly how God is going to judge children of each age. Your job is the same in any case: to provide a Christian home, and bring them in contact with a church that has Christian education and activities for children and youth.
I agree with the statement above that any mainstream denomination is OK. But still, there are differences. Conservative and liberal churches have rather different ideas about what the Gospel is and how Scripture works. In order to make decisions about how to live your life you'll eventually want to pick an approach. Beyond that, there are differences in style of worship. I'm sure God is happy to accept worship in a highly liturgical church such as the Episcopal or a more informal church. But most people find that they feel God's presence more in one kind of service or the other.
Theological differences can also be important to some people. I disapprove of legalistic churches in general, but they are particularly bad for people who are having a hard time appreciating that God loves them and they are saved. I would find it impossible to be a member of anything but a liberal church, because I think more conservative churches have massively misunderstood the Gospel, but most people here feel the same way about liberal churches. So major differences as style of worship and major theological orientation may well matter to you. But there isn't one perfect church you have to find. So don't worry too much about finding the perfect one. Find a church where you can understand the Gospel and learn from it, and where there are opportunities for you to serve and a good program for children.
This depends more upon the specific congregation than the denomination. Size, the pastor, personalities of leaders, and the tradition of that congregation have a big effect. Most people go to a number of nearby churches, and then settle on one. But don't feel you have to do that. It's perfectly acceptable to try one mainstream church, and if it provides what you need in a church, stay with it. If you have any Christian friends, start with their churches. It's always helpful to have Christian fellowship with your friends.
Last edited:
Upvote
0
brojeff
It's not about us!
If you look close enough you may discover people you know that are living out a christian life, not just on Sunday, but you just notice there is something genuine about them. Strike up a conversation and ask them what their religious beliefs are and then investigate their church affiliation. Faith is about a relationship with the God who created us. The Bible tells us that God draws us to Himself. He uses circumstances and relationships to do that. Because you are searching is indication that the Lord is drawing you to Himself. Begin to look around you to see who He has already placed in your life. God is always at work in your life. Seek Him with all of your heart and He will let you find Him. Praying for your new life discoveries.
Upvote
0
WisdomTree
Philosopher
- Feb 2, 2012
- 4,018
- 170
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Catholic
- Marital Status
- Single
Upvote
0
If children as infants are saved because god recognizes they do not take responsibility for their actions, then they have a free ticket to heaven. Maybe at the age of 3 they will still go to heaven because naturally, they still do not have free will over their religious beliefs. I want my son to go to heaven. What I don't want is to have him be naturally tempted by the evils of society in which it's just a matter of time before he sins or rejects god completely as he is educated and forms his own opinions. I would prefer he prosper in heaven for all eternity than live out his life on earth. What is 90 years of life on earth compared to eternity in heaven among angels? It is not a risk I am willing to take. If my son dies at a young enough age before he has personal responsibility to decide his religious belief, he will go to heaven. I would rather have this happen then he live his life on earth and face possible eternal damnation. Is this why people kill young children?
Upvote
0
americanvet
Saved Sinner
- Jun 15, 2012
- 1,310
- 81
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Libertarian
Upvote
0
B
Bible2
Guest
To become a Christian, all you have to do is believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ and the human/divine Son of God (Jn. 20:31, 3:36, 1 Jn. 2:23), and that he died on the Cross for our sins and rose from the dead on the third day (1 Cor. 15:1-4, Lk. 24:46-47, Mt. 20:19, 26:28).
After we become Christians, to help increase our relationship with God, we should pray to him every day, such as with the Lord's Prayer (Mt. 6:9-13), praising and worshipping him, confessing our sins to him, asking him for what we need today, and thanking him for all that he has given us (Philip. 4:6). And throughout the day we should immediately bring to him in prayer anything that we become worried about at anytime (Philip. 4:6-7).
We should also fellowship with other Christians every day (Heb. 3:13, 10:25), at least in some fashion (Mt. 18:20), such as on this forum, being exhorted by them and exhorting them in turn (Heb. 3:13).
We also need to examine ourselves to make sure that we're truly in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5, Prov. 28:26, 14:12). The way to do this is to read every word of the Bible (Heb. 4:12, Mt. 4:4) and see if we accept everything it teaches as having come from God (Jn. 8:47, 2 Tim. 3:16). For just as a true faith will initially come from reading (or hearing) what the Bible teaches (Rom. 10:17, 2 Tim. 3:15), so we can know that we're remaining in the true faith if we continue to believe that everything the Bible teaches came from God (Jn. 8:31b, 2 Tim. 4:2-4, 1 Tim. 4:1, Mk. 8:35-38).
In order to have any real relationship with Jesus and God the Father and the Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:19), most importantly we must believe the right things about Jesus (Jn. 14:6-7): that he's God the Word made flesh (Jn. 1:1,14), that he's the Christ (1 Jn. 5:1, 2:22), and that he's the only begotten (only born) Son of God (Jn. 3:16,36, 1 Jn. 2:23), meaning that he's the only person ever born without any human father (Lk. 1:34-35). And we must believe that Jesus lived a perfectly sinless life (Heb. 4:15, 2 Cor. 5:21) and so he could die on the Cross for our sins and rise from the dead on the third day (1 Cor. 15:1-4). He rose and will remain forever in an immortal flesh and bones human body (Lk. 24:39, 2 Jn. 1:7) as our eternally-human high priest/mediator (1 Tim. 2:5, Heb. 2:16-17, 7:24-26).
Once we come into faith in Jesus, we must obey him and God the Father and the Holy Spirit by repenting from all of our sins and getting water-immersion (burial) baptized into Jesus (Acts 2:38, Rom. 6:3-5, Gal. 3:27). And we must partake of the divine flesh and blood of the bread and wine of communion (Jn. 6:53, Mt. 26:26-28, 1 Cor. 10:16, 11:27-30). And we can get hands laid on us to receive Holy Spirit baptism (Acts 8:17) and one or more of the Holy Spirit's wonderful gifts (Acts 19:6, 1 Cor. 12:8-10). Then, washed from our sins by water baptism (Acts 22:16) and empowered by the Holy Spirit within us (Acts 1:8, Eph. 3:16), we must each and every day for the rest of our lives deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Jesus (Lk. 9:23, 2 Cor. 5:15), by continuing in the faith to the end (Heb. 3:6,12,14, 6:4-8, Jn. 15:6, 2 Tim. 2:12), by repenting from every sin we might commit to the end (Heb. 10:26-29, 1 Cor. 9:27, Lk. 12:45-46), and by doing the particular spiritual works which he has given us as individuals to do to the end (Mk. 13:34, Rom. 12:6-8, Titus 3:8).
But if we as believers wrongly employ our free will to refuse to do these things, we can't expect to have any continued real relationship with Jesus & God the Father & the Holy Spirit. For a continued real relationship with them requires that we not only continue to believe in them but also continue to obey them (Jn. 15:10, 14:21,23). Faith without works is dead (Jas. 2:20) & cannot ultimately save us (Jas. 2:14-26, Rom. 2:6-8, Mt. 7:21, Heb. 5:9).
Upvote
0
Catherineanne
Well-Known Member
- Sep 1, 2004
- 22,924
- 4,646
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Gender
- Female
- Faith
- Anglican
- Marital Status
- Widowed
Your son will not go to hell.
Christian belief says that children are innocent until the point when they understand the difference between good and bad, and deliberately choose bad. Young children may say 'no' to their parents, but not understand the implications of that; they are just pushing boundaries, and that is a good and healthy thing for a child to do. It is an equally good and healthy thing for the parent to maintain clear boundaries for the child, and for no to mean no.
In relation to your son, you have plenty of time. You are right to want to take him to church, and if he is your main reason for going then the place to start is in the provision for children. Ring round the local churches and ask them about their Sunday School. Go to visit on Sunday and sit in on the classes to see what they are like. When you find one you like, ask to see the minister to discuss other aspects of the Christian faith; baptism for one.
Everything else will follow from that.
Upvote
0
Catherineanne
Well-Known Member
- Sep 1, 2004
- 22,924
- 4,646
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Gender
- Female
- Faith
- Anglican
- Marital Status
- Widowed
If you don't mind me saying so, I do not think you are well.
Lord, have mercy,
Christ, have mercy,
Lord, have mercy.
Last edited:
Upvote
0
Let me suggest another approach. People can speculate on the salvation of children. But while there are clues in Scripture, it doesn't actually say. What we know for sure is that God cares about your child, and God thought it was worth the risk. I'm guessing that while children may be saved in infancy, they never have the chance to develop into the kind of people God is hoping we can become. Why else would he create us?
You'll see endless arguments here about whether hell is real or a symbol, and on just how many people are saved and not saved. But the one thing we know is that God loves us and he thinks it's worth it. I'd hang on to that, and not to our speculations.
You'll see endless arguments here about whether hell is real or a symbol, and on just how many people are saved and not saved. But the one thing we know is that God loves us and he thinks it's worth it. I'd hang on to that, and not to our speculations.
Upvote
0
theophilus40
Newbie
Begin with yourself: are you a Christian? Have you ever repented of your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ? Many people join a church and try to live a Christian life without first taking this step. Some of them even become preachers and teach error because they don't really understand what the Bible teaches. That is one reason there are so many churches and it the reason it is crucial that you choose a church that is Biblical in what it teaches.
I know first hand what it is like to be a church member without really being a Christian. When I was 14 I got baptized and joined a church because I thought that was the way to be saved. About two years later I began listening to a radio program called Back to the Bible and found out that I needed to personally put my faith in Christ. I did this and this was the point at which I actually became a Christian. If you want to try starting the same was I did you can find out more about Back to the Bible here:
http://www.christianforums.com/t7706751/
You can learn a lot about the Bible from this site but this shouldn't be a substitute for attending church. Christians need to become involved with other Christians so they can help each other live as they should. But you should find out what the Bible teaches so you can choose a church that follows the Bible. One of the posters recommended going to the church that is nearest to your home; you should go to a church that is near because it will be easier for you to become involved in it but it is more important that you go to a church that teaches and practices the Bible.
You also said you were mainly concerned about your son. The Bible teaches that parents are responsible for the spiritual training of their children. Going to a good church will help but your son will spend more time at home than in church so you will have a much greater influence. The best way you can help your son is to study and obey the Bible yourself so you will be able to train him properly.
Upvote
0
You see, that is what I am afraid of. That my son will choose to sin in his life time on earth which is a blink of an eye when compared to the vastness of eternity. If my son can go to heaven now, why not send him before it's too late. If he goes to hell after he has developed the consciousness to free think and make his own decisions, well I will only have myself to blame. You see, I was not brought up a christian. But, I have listened and seen the way christianity works. I used to ask, "why should I become a christian?", and people would say, "What do you have to lose? What if there is a heaven and hell? You will be sorry". I understand what they are trying to say. If I accept jesus and if he is not real than worst case scenario I am back at square one which is when I die there is nothingness. But what If I am wrong and there is a heaven and hell. Yes, I will be very sorry indeed. Same scenario applies for my son. If I am wrong then there is nothingness for him. But if christians are right and the bible is correct in assuming children do not go to hell, well then the only natural course is a free ticket to heaven for my son. Why would I pass up this opportunity for him? In fact, if the bible says all young children go to heaven when they die and heaven is so the glorious place that we cannot even begin to fathom than our lives on earth are a worthy trade for that splendor. If someone had asked me "Would you like to have died at a young age and go to heaven or live your life and possibly spend eternity in hell?". The answer is "yes" I would have liked to trade my life for an eternity in heaven. I understand clearly now that there is only one sure way to get to heaven, and that is to go at a young age.
Upvote
0
Catherineanne
Well-Known Member
- Sep 1, 2004
- 22,924
- 4,646
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Gender
- Female
- Faith
- Anglican
- Marital Status
- Widowed
Upvote
0
B
Bible2
Guest
No, children as infants aren't saved, because even as babies we're considered as sinful (Ps. 58:3, Rom. 3:10), & we must become believers for our sin to be forgiven (Acts 10:43, Rom. 3:25-26). We're guilty as individuals as soon as we're conceived in the womb (Ps. 51:5). This is because of original sin (Rom. 5:19a), which could be based on everyone having been in some way in "the loins" of Adam when he sinned, so that everyone in some way committed sin when Adam sinned, just as Levi had been in some way in "the loins" of Abraham when Abraham gave a tithe to Melchisedec, so that Levi in some way gave a tithe to Melchisedec when Abraham did (Heb. 7:9-10).
It's not us, but God who decides who will become a believer (and so become saved at that time) and who won't.
The elect are those individuals who were chosen (elected) & predestinated by God before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4-11, 2 Thes. 2:13), before they were born (Rom. 9:11-24), to become initially saved at some point during their lifetime (Acts 13:48b). This initial salvation is possible only because of Jesus' sacrifice (Rom. 3:25-26), which was also foreordained by God before the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8, 1 Pet. 1:19-20).
Everyone on his own is wholly corrupt (Rom. 3:9-12), & so it's impossible for people on their own to ever believe in Jesus & the gospel & be initially saved (1 Cor. 15:1-4, Jn. 20:31, 1 Jn. 5:13) through their own will (Rom. 9:16, Jn. 1:13, 6:65) or through their own intellect (1 Cor. 1:18-2:16). Unsaved people can't possibly understand the gospel (1 Cor. 2:14, 1:18) because only initially saved people, who've received the miraculous gift of some measure of God's own Spirit, can understand it (1 Cor. 2:11-16). The nonelect can't possibly ever believe in Jesus & the gospel & be initially saved, even when they're shown the truth (Jn. 8:42-47, 10:26, Mt. 13:38-42), for the ability to believe in Jesus & the gospel comes only to the elect (Acts 13:48b) wholly by God's grace as a miraculous gift from God (Eph. 2:8, Jn. 6:65, 1 Cor. 3:5b, Rom. 12:3b, Heb. 12:2) as the elect read (or hear) God's Word the Bible (Rom. 10:17, Acts 13:48, 26:22-23), just as the ability to repent comes only as a miraculous gift from God (2 Tim. 2:25, Acts 11:18). Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers so that on their own they can't repent & acknowledge the truth of God's Word (2 Cor. 4:4, 2 Tim. 2:25-26).
Then do all you can to make sure he comes to know what the Bible teaches, and that he has good examples around him of how to live a life that actually obeys the Bible's commands to Christians.
That's nice, but remember his life isn't yours, but God's. It's up to God alone how long anyone is to live on earth.
If they aren't insane, people who murder young children will have to answer to God for it, perhaps forever in hell, and perhaps after they've been arrested, imprisoned, tried, and executed by men for capital murder.
Only unsaved people commit murder, for:
"... no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him" (1 John 3:15).
Even if people are only still thinking about committing murder, and think they'll somehow be justified in doing so, they're giving heed to the lies of the devil himself. As Jesus said to some people who were thinking about committing murder:
"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it" (John 8:44).
Last edited:
Upvote
0
theophilus40
Newbie
Because God has forbidden it. God does want parents to send their children to heaven but they are to do this by teaching them about God and about how to be saved. You can't do this until you yourself have experienced salvation.
Their answer is wrong. In order to become a Christian you must genuinely repent of your sins and put you faith in Christ. You must be fully convinced that he died for your sins and rose from the dead. If you decide to become a Christian just for your protection in case it turns out that the Bible is true then you aren't exercising this kind of faith. You might be able to appear outwardly to be a Christian and to fool other people but God will judge you by what is in your heart.
The only sure way to get to heaven is to put your faith in Christ.
Upvote
0
Similar threads
