How much time and effort should one put in search of the right denomination?

[ChristianSwede]

I do not know which denomination is correct. How much effort should I put in search?

 

[thecolorsblend]

My journey to the Catholic Church was a long one. But what ultimately started the process was reading the Church Fathers. Discovering what they had been taught and what they in turn taught to others was a serious punch in the gut. I'd recommend reading their writings and deciding for yourself. Every denomination will promise they "follow the Bible". But discovering what Christianity was by the people who made up the Early Church, to me, is the more authoritative discovery.

 

[inquiring mind]

If you have friends or acquaintances who go to good bible-based churches, talk to them about visiting. The main thing is to start attending (pray and read)... you’ll be led from there. Many of us have changed churches, and even denominations... that may be part of your journey as well.

 

[FireDragon76]

As a priest a long time ago warned me, that question could drive you insane.

I agree with thecolorsblend. I would say in general, the antiquity/age of a church is usually a good thing. Or if not antiquity/age of the church itself, at least an appeal to antiquity. It's not a perfect guide, but it does seem to be a good guide. There's a reason certain traditions and beliefs persist for centuries, after all. This comes down to a pragmatic argument, of course, it's not an issue of absolute truth. But being pragmatic is a good place to start. The perfect religion could be one, after all, that doesn't exist where you live- but you might just find yourself in a "good enough" church already.

I notice it says in your profile your faith is Lutheran. The Augustana, Augsburg Confession ends with the statement that nothing is believed or confessed that wasn't found in the ancient Church.

That's sort of my attitude to Lutheranism, really. It's not a perfect church but it is good enough.

 

[Wolf_Says]

I do not know which denomination is correct. How much effort should I put in search?

I would say alot of effort, although your journey could take just a few days, months, or even years.

Start off by examining the Bible, the early Church Fathers and their writings, and then comparing those to your own church. Read up on other denominations and their beliefs and see if they align with what you are reading.

And do not forget to pray, and simply let the Holy Spirit take you and guide you. Do not force anything, just study and continue to go to your own church.

If there are faults, the studying you have done and the reading/research, along with the Holy Spirit, should open your eyes to those faults.

 

[MWood]

All of your life if need be.

 

[Tigger45]

It took me over twenty years but every step was beneficial. Your journey may be shorter but enjoy the experience.

 

[gordonhooker]

I do not know which denomination is correct. How much effort should I put in search?

I am not sure that there is one the is 100% correct because there is a level of mystery in all faith systems including my beloved Christianity. So I believe the question should be which denomination is correct for ME/YOU but I realise most of us ask that question of ourselves at some point in time, I know I did... I was raised Church of England and over 64 years I have gone around the block and have come back to the Anglican Church of Australia so basically I wasted a lot of time going around that large circle but I have to admit I have learned a lot and experienced a lot in that journey.

Basically it depends on you how much time you have to spend...

The things I wish I didn't waste time on:

1. There is no perfect Church or congregation,
2. I spent too much time trying to determine who is right and who is wrong,
3. When you think you have found it you grow spiritually and then out grow what drew you to the specific congregation in the first place, and
4. It is not all about YOU is about God.

I could go on all day but hopefully you will get my point....

 

[Paul Yohannan]

I do not know which denomination is correct. How much effort should I put in search?

You should make an effort to find a church with a living, continual link to the Apostles, which has preserved through history the practices and beliefs of the early Church.

 

[Kylism]

For me the search for a correct denomination is not too important. There are similar core beliefs in each denominations these are like cake and the extras where they are different are like icing. A cake is a cake even without icing. The cake to me is: Who is God? How am I saved (rescued)?

It is when these core truths are challenged: 2Tim 4:3 "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."

(1) I see myself a Christian first;

1Cor 12:13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.​

Eph 4:4-5 There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called one Lord, one faith, one baptism​

• I see how I am like believers in Lutherans, Pentecostals, Vineyards, etc.

(2) Then part of a local group next;

Heb 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing​

(3) Lastly if that group has expanded into similar groups then I am part of a denomination.

 

[All4Christ]

It took me a long time to find my Church. I grew up in the Pentecostal church, but started attending pretty much every possible Christian Church in my early 20s. Years later, I finally found my way to my church today. It was worth every bit of effort I put into it. Just make sure to keep attending some church service each Sunday throughout the process. It is important to have spiritual nourishment, even if you aren't sure where you will be in the end.

Paul's and Wolf Says' suggestion helped me a lot as well.

You should make an effort to find a church with a living, continual link to the Apostles, which has preserved through history the practices and beliefs of the early Church.

Start off by examining the Bible, the early Church Fathers and their writings, and then comparing those to your own church. Read up on other denominations and their beliefs and see if they align with what you are reading.

And do not forget to pray, and simply let the Holy Spirit take you and guide you. Do not force anything, just study and continue to go to your own church.

 

[Gnarwhal]

Like @thecolorsblend my search took a lot of time. I think it started way back in 2006 when I was a 19 year old college student, and I was exposed to this thing called "theology". From there I started reading, praying, and hoping to discern what was orthodox and what was heresy.

Fast forward 11 years later and I'm about to be Confirmed in the Catholic Church, after taking the time to check out Anglicanism and Eastern Orthodox, I gladly swam the Tiber and am ecstatic to be landing in Rome.

I have a lot of peace about the decision too because I didn't rush it, I took my time, studied whatever I could, had thousands of conversations with different people (Anglican priests and laity, Orthodox priests and laity, Catholic priests and laity) and through this aggregate portrait that I was looking at I felt the Lord Jesus guide me in the direction I've ended up.

tl;dr - take your time, and take every opportunity you have to learn more. Attend a Mass or a Divine Liturgy and take in the ways God is worshiped so you can make an informed decision.

 

[Kiterius]

I do not know which denomination is correct. How much effort should I put in search?

Very little. Just head on down to your local Pentecostal/charismatic church.

 

[Original Happy Camper]

Go with what the Bible says the remnant will be.
(woman in Bible prophecy represents a church)

Revelation 12:17
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 19:10
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

 

[thecolorsblend]

Like @thecolorsblend my search took a lot of time. I think it started way back in 2006 when I was a 19 year old college student, and I was exposed to this thing called "theology". From there I started reading, praying, and hoping to discern what was orthodox and what was heresy.

Fast forward 11 years later and I'm about to be Confirmed in the Catholic Church, after taking the time to check out Anglicanism and Eastern Orthodox, I gladly swam the Tiber and am ecstatic to be landing in Rome.

I have a lot of peace about the decision too because I didn't rush it, I took my time, studied whatever I could, had thousands of conversations with different people (Anglican priests and laity, Orthodox priests and laity, Catholic priests and laity) and through this aggregate portrait that I was looking at I felt the Lord Jesus guide me in the direction I've ended up.

tl;dr - take your time, and take every opportunity you have to learn more. Attend a Mass or a Divine Liturgy and take in the ways God is worshiped so you can make an informed decision.

You're being welcomed into the Church this Easter, yes? Congratulations, we're happy to have you.

 

[T.C]

Hard question, your motive should be looking to find the best church in your area which may be in a denomination that you find less desirable. For example, I know Presbyterians who move and join baptist churches because they Presbyterian churches are bad in that area (gone liberal or not gospel centered)

But to answer your question very important. Seeing that you are currently Lutheran you have to distinguish with in your own denomination. There are Lutherans who agree with Luther on Baby baptism that if they are baptized as babies then God can use the baptism to grant the baby faith... Then there are Lutherans who would say that Baptism itself is a requirement for salvation, thus a false gospel.

So i say investigate on! Realize that most of the differences between PRO denoms are small

 

[Gnarwhal]

You're being welcomed into the Church this Easter, yes? Congratulations, we're happy to have you.

Sorry man, I didn't see this before.

Indeed, I will be Confirmed and receive my first Eucharist this Easter. It's pretty exciting. We're headed to the Cathedral on March 5th for the Rite of Election & Call to Continuing Conversion which is something I've been looking forward to for over a year. I've never been to the Cathedral but I know it's gorgeous.

It's a going to be a great year!

 

[hedrick]

There are families of churches. The exact denomination probably doesn't matter, but there are significant differences in how Eastern, Catholic, conservative Protestant, and liberal Protestant churches conceive of the Gospel and the Christian life.

I don't think God will reject you if you pick the wrong one. But there are implications of what it will be like to live in them.

E.g. legalistic churches can make your life as a Christian pretty unpleasant, and cause you to focus on rather different things than Jesus had in mind. Churches that see salvation as a one-time "conversion experience" can give you a spiritual high, but won't be as much help in guiding you to the kind of life Jesus taught.