How does one pick a denomination?

[Lilac]

Hello Friends:

How does a Christian pick a denomination? Which Church to go to? There are so many it's confusing? Should you examine their doctrines and decide which one you believe in? Should you look at where you feel comfortable? What you need most of all? Where God calls you to be?

Please lend some helpful advice---would so much appreciate it!!!! Hearing from other Christians. As we all know, where we were raised isn't necessarily the denom we choose to worship in!!!!

God Bless~~

 

[muffler dragon]

Try a home group study somewhere.

Just meet with people who love G-d and enjoy going through the Scriptures. Many times, that is more fruitful than the 'organized' church.

Where do you live?

 

[Dad Ernie]

How does a Christian pick a denomination? Which Church to go to? There are so many it's confusing? Should you examine their doctrines and decide which one you believe in? Should you look at where you feel comfortable? What you need most of all? Where God calls you to be?

This is the command that applies to us:

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

The "assembling of ourselves" may be done in numerous ways today. Together we are a "bodY' that are:

Ephesians 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

Ephesians 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

For this is the purpose of God, that we may fellowship and serve one another.

Most definately we should find "A" fellowship that believes according to Holy Writ, which means we too must have "some" understanding of the Bible before we decide upon a church, BUT, to remember also that God has a place for us - "somewhere", and He will direct us to that place in the body where we are needed and/or where we need to be. We MUST ALWAYS look to Him for guidance as He is the MASTER Shephard, and if you are sincere and diligent enough in the Word, He WILL answer and direct you.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

 

[jhollas]

I have recently been through the question of denomination, and this is my experience:
I have always grown up with the Church of England, as it was the religion in the schools I've been to. However, due to personal circumstances, I went through a period of Atheism. When I decided to come back to God, I knew that it should be through Christ. I don't know how, but I knew that someone unseen was pulling me to Him. As for denomination... This was tough. My father is Salvation Army, although he is not particularly religious. My mother is Catholic, yet turns only to her faith in times of need.
I wanted to find out what was right for me, so by attending different Churches, and Youth Groups, I came to the one which I felt was right for me. The one in which I felt most comfortable, and the one in which I felt I belonged and could therefore praise Jesus with all my heart.
For me, this was the Church of England, and I am to be Baptised and Confirmed into it tomorrow!
I hope my experience may help you in some way.
God Bless!

 

[Daedalus]

I was born an orthodox christian.
For you, it depends on why you need a church.
If you try to sell your products in a church and make christian busniess, I don't recomend Orthodox Church .
If you look for continuity, laws an rites unchanged by the will of man, I recomend the Orthodox Church.

The Orthodox Church doesn't have guitar music or any such things, it has however beautifull music.

You should also know that the Orthodox Church puts both faith and good works as necesarry for salvation.

The orthodox churches are quite beautifull as well;
We are also VERY reticent to any changes -- we're not about fancy new words and things.

Basically, the Orthodox Church is the apostolic church of Jesus Christ founded in the year 33.
Study the history of the Orthodox Church and you will see that it avoided wars, avoided intervening in science, was tolerant with others, not to heresies .

Study the history of christianity (from more than one perspective) and you will find no flaw in the Orthodox Church.

That was the advice I gave you as an orthodox believer and the advice of a man who has studied a bit on christianity and a man that had and has doubts, but all of them found, and I'm sure when new ones arise, will find solution in orthodox dogma and teachings.

Trying to be impartial (very hard to ) again, study the matter more by learning each denomination's history.

 

[lands21]

I think you need to agree with there doctrines forsure, and go were you fell God is calling you. But make it an educated choice, not just a feeling.

Example: I am a Calvinist, and attend a church that agrees with his doctrine, however, there are members in our church that do not know anything about predestination, and did not even know it is in our doctrine!! Makes me wonder sometimes...

 

[Bulldog]

By linig the doctrine of that church up with the Bible.

 

[Basil]

Try to find one that pleases God, not one that is what you want or that pleases you.

If you do find this you will find much greater joy than if you find one that tells you what you want to hear.

 

[ps139]

Study the Early Church, and what they believed. Read the writings of the Early Church Fathers. http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/
Some of these men were the disciples of the disciples. Read what they wrote, what they were presumably taught by the 12 apostles, who were personally taught by Our Lord.

 

[revrobor]

If you are looking for a church home avoid denominations. Seek a church that is not affiliated with any denomination but is Biblically sound. The problem with denominational churches is that they are primarily concerned about propagating denominational doctrine and building the organization at the risk of failing to minister to the individual. There are those who claim their church was established by Jesus when the truth is Jesus did not establish a religious organization (those were established by man) but a body of Believers and He was concerned about building up the individual Believer NOT the organization.

Large attendance does NOT necessarily mean the organization is Biblically sound. Check it out against Scripture. As has been suggested you might want to connect with a small home-study group.

 

[ps139]

If you are looking for a church home avoid denominations. Seek a church that is not affiliated with any denomination but is Biblically sound. The problem with denominational churches is that they are primarily concerned about propagating denominational doctrine and building the organization at the risk of failing to minister to the individual. There are those who claim their church was established by Jesus when the truth is Jesus did not establish a religious organization (those were established by man) but a body of Believers and He was concerned about building up the individual Believer NOT the organization.

Do you believe that only a non-denominational church teaches sound doctrine??


Furthermore - "non-denominational" churches are in a way their own denomination. With some minor exceptions they mostly teach the same doctrines, based on "sola fide sola scriptura."

 

[Daedalus]

Exactely.
And how can you trust a self educated priest?
We have priests that go to seminaries for at least 4 years.
It's harder for them to missunderstand the bible; and they do not interpret the bible themselves, they do so with guidance from the books of the saints and their advices.
See, anyone can start a church, but not anybody can enter a seminary in a Orthodox (and Catholic) church.
The reason we are preocupied with dogma and rules is to make it impossible to stray from the narrow path we should walk on.

Mathew 7:22 "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works?"
Mathew 7:23 "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
"Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock:
and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon the rock.
And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand:
and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof."

So, you see.... we are not many churches unlike some that have spread like mushroom after the rain.
You should enter the right church if you seek salvation, and not just any church.


"All the roads lead to Rome", and I tell you, only one road leads to Heavens.

 

[nikephoros_spatharios]

Ask yourself which Church has preserved the truth of Jesus Christ and the Apostles, handing it down from generation to generation, from Bishop to Bishop for almost 2,000 years.

The choice is simple: the various churches believe different things. They cannot all be right at the same time. It is also clear that God did not intend his Church to disappear, but to live continuously until his Second Coming (*). So, the inescapable conclusion is that one of the churches existing today is the true Church.

Seek and you will find which is the true Church. I hope that you will realize that the true Church is not one of the various Protestant denominations founded in the last five hundred years. Because if they are right, then before 1500 or so Christians were wrong, so the Church disappeared from Earth which is patently wrong (see * above).

Then, ask yourself whether the Roman Church is the true Church. Study its history and the doctrines it introduced before and after the Schism of 1054. Ask whether Purgatory, Papal Infallibility, the sale of indulgences, the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Holy Inquisition, the Index etc. are what Jesus intended for His Church.

And then, by this process of elimination you will finally arrive to the Truth.

IC XC
NI KA

 

[revrobor]

Do you believe that only a non-denominational church teaches sound doctrine??


Furthermore - "non-denominational" churches are in a way their own denomination. With some minor exceptions they mostly teach the same doctrines, based on "sola fide sola scriptura."

There is a better chance the Spirit can move and teach the truth in a church that is not affiliated with a denomination than one that is. Take your case. You have been told what your church says is truth, whether it comes from Scripture or church tradition, and if you dared teach anything contrary to what your church says that truth is you'd be out of the priesthood.

 

[KleinerApfel]

The choice is simple: the various churches believe different things. They cannot all be right at the same time. It is also clear that God did not intend his Church to disappear, but to live continuously until his Second Coming (*). So, the inescapable conclusion is that one of the churches existing today is the true Church.

ALL truly Christian churches have at least some of the truth.
I don't believe any single denom., or any individual church, has it all sewn up.
We all follow Christ as we are able, and different parts of the truth shine brighter in different places. Likewise all churches have imperfections. We are not perfected yet!

So there is room for different styles and expressions of the truth.

If I were choosing a church today, I would not focus too much on which denom. it was.
I think these are important:

*The Bible held up, taught as the truth to be trusted and followed.
*Love and unity between members of the congregation.
*Love reaching out to the local community in need - both materially and
spiritually.
*Opportunities for personal growth and development of gifts and service.
*How near to your home is it?
(You need to be able to easily get to Bible
study/fellowship groups, services, outreach and service to community
opportunities. Also to invite neighbours perhaps in time to come?)

Talk to folks attending different places locally, and ask God where He would like you to begin to get to know Him and His people better.
Spend a few weeks checking out a few, but don't fall into long-term church-hopping - you need a home!

The Lord has a place ready for you to do all this!

Bless you, Susana

 

[c a s t i n c r o w n s]

The best thing I can say about choosing a denomination is pick one that feel right to you. We can stay here and argue denomination over denomination, but I trust that when you get in the right denomination where you can recieve the most spiritual growth and posatively affect the most people, God will take over and help you make the right decision.

:+:Lexi:+:

 

[Daedalus]

All have some truth, I do not argue with that.
A bit of cianide is a bit of cianide anyways.

 

[KleinerApfel]

All have some truth, I do not argue with that.
A bit of cianide is a bit of cianide anyways.

Whatever has cyanide to do with this?

 

[NJA]

God only nominated one way - see his abilities, believe, repent, get baptised and receive His Spirit / His Life.

All received the Spirit & knew it, they spoke in tongues (Jew and Gentiles).

Masn has de-nominated this way (broken it up). You should fing a church that sticks to God's way, I have:-
http://www.revivalfellowship.org

Meetings are according to what God actually says in 1 Corinthians 14:-

choruses/spiritual songs
tesimony by someone of what God has done for them
talk from the bible
hymn & communion (sunday meetings only)
2 or 3 gifts of tongues, each with interpretation
2 or 3 prophecies
prayer line (gifts of healing and faith)
closing song/notices
tea

. . . ."all things done decently and in order", "the spirit of the
prophets are subject to the prophets", God does not "take people over" . . .go on, treat yourself !

 

[pastordan]

Hey all! I think it is very important to choose a church more than a denomination...I don't think when Jesus told Peter He would build His church He envisioned what we see today...However, we are where we are and that being said, the following should be evident in a good church:

1.) Solid Bible Teaching
2.) Heart for the lost
3.) Ability for the gifts to flow through the church members
4.) Discipleship and Bible Study.

Church is so much more than a denomination, it should be a place where a community can gather and seek the Lord.