I'm new and i dont know who i am!

[Catherineanne]

Let me point out that in the early church, it was never an idea to go shopping around for different ideas of what christianity might be, to see what we are most comfortable with. Instead, it was following someone you know and trust, for good reason.

Times change. Now it is about finding a church that resonates with our own spirituality. Some prefer the order and beauty of a formal liturgy, some prefer a freer worship style, and there are many points in between. Each involves following the Lord.

 

[asiyreh]

Wherever your feet may take you Lainey, remember this.

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

 

[PROPHECYKID]

Romans 14 is dedicated to this topic... Paul calls them "disputable matters" (Romans 14:1). His primary example was whether or not to eat meat, but he also alludes to the proper day of the week for Sabbath and drinking wine, all of which were wrongly believed to be essential doctrines of the time. Paul counters this, and tells us (with repetition) not to judge or show contempt for others who differ on these disputable matters:

"The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not"
"and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does"
"Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?"
"Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind."
"You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister?"
"Or why do you treat them with contempt?"
"Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another."
"So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God."

Now, we can certainly debate what is and what is not "disputable". Let me give you a few examples of what I had in mind when responding to the original post:

Calvinism vs. Arminianism (questions of predestination)
Real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist vs. symbolic representation
Different types of rapture (pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib, etc.)
Creation questions (figurative vs. literal six days, old vs. young earth)
What happens after death (soul sleep, purgatory, straight to Heaven)
... and many others.

All of the above questions have caused division in the Church and sometimes lead to new denominations. Proponents of any of the above positions can back them up with scripture. They have been debated for centuries because Christians do not agree on the interpretation of scripture. Yes, there are may essential doctrines. But my point was that a new Christian need not become preoccupied with these hot potato debates when examining the differences in denominations.



There is plenty of room for diversity without capitulation.

Some speak in tongues and experience physical manifestations of the Holy Spirit. Some do not.

Some prefer a formal, liturgical church service or mass, some prefer an informal service.

Some cry out and "raise the roof" when praying or singing. Some prefer quiet prayer and meditation.

Diverse. All Christian. "One holy catholic and apostolic church" (which is stated in the Nicene Creed that is shared by most Christians, and part of the statement of faith of this forum).

By face value you are right that this is what Romans 14 is saying. Deeper investigation would reveal otherwise. Whether or not to eat mean was not a disputable matter then. It is not talking about vegetarianism. When you read Romans 14 with 1 Cor 8 and 1 Cor 10 you get a clearer picture of what is happening. Those who refuse to eat meat don't do so because they want to be vegetarians. They are doing so because the meat may have been offered in sacrifice to idols. They are weak in the faith because they have not fully let go of past beliefs. The Jews had the same problem too because when they offered sacrifices to God, the meat would then be unclean. Some of these meats offered in Sacrifices would be sold in the market. For fear of consuming this meat and being cursed or watever, they stayed away from meat completely. That is why Paul says in 1 Cor 10 that whatever is sold in the market eat. And those issues are all based on ceremonial observances and sacrifices which were ended when Christ died. Also connected with this was certain holy days and sabbath days. The 7th day Sabbath of the 4th commandments is seperate from this, and it is not referring to this at all.