Need your advice

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

Armenian Orthodox? Are they in communion with us?

 

[Daughter of His]

Hi Q_mark,

I really like the advice Edail offered. That is to look for a church that is Bible based. Some churches are even called Bible churches, we have one where I live and it is a good church although I attend a different one by preferance.

Hope your day has been looking up !!

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

That is to look for a church that is Bible based. Some churches are even called Bible churches, we have one where I live and it is a good church although I attend a different one by preferance.

Just don't over-focus on the Bible to the ignorance of important Tradition. The Bible itself was not even put together fully untill the 5th century. And while it is a great source of Truth, there is more Truth you don't want to miss. This Truth is in Tradition

 

[q_mark]

Hello Ed,

1. Get saved. Do you know what that means? If you are not certain, please reply. Once you get saved the doors will open. (That includes where to go, courage, Bible-friends and such)

I don't know what that means. Could you please help me to understand?

2. Find a Bible-teaching and applying church. No church is perfect (except the one in heaven). However, find the one that keeps closer to the Bible - usually the Baptists.

When you said no church is perfect. What sort of disappointments shall I expect?

3. You must walk as close as possible to the Bible, once you get saved that is.

By attending church?

I've found a list of nearby local churches: Methodist church, St Anne's church (catholic), and St Andrew's church. Could you please help me to understand the differences between those churches? Thanks.

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

I don't know what that means. Could you please help me to understand?

When you said no church is perfect. What sort of disappointments shall I expect?

By attending church?

I've found a list of nearby local churches: Methodist church, St Anne's church (catholic), and St Andrew's church. Could you please help me to understand the differences between those churches? Thanks.

1) Getting saved simply means allowing Jesus to work in your life and save you. You have to repent from sins, be baptized, try to follow Jesus' teachings, etc. It's really easy to get started off, and soon you'll be following Jesus like a pro

2) The Church is perfect as a whole. Individual congregations or people, however, are not.

3) Mothodists are similar to Orthodox in some senses, as they put high value on sanctification and doing things (Though they aren't in communion with us)

Catholics were actually one with the Orthodox untill 1054, when the Great Schism occured. They believe in things like Papal Infalliablilty, Purgatory, Indulgences, and other things of that nature.

What denom is St Andrew's?

 

[The Son's Anvil]

If you are new to the Church scene, Catholic church might not be for you hehe.

The Catholics are advanced churchgoing

It would almost be like graduating High School and going directly to the NBA championship game.

Catholic tradition is so in-depth, it's very easy to get lost in it. This is also the reason that those raised in that tradition often defend it with such great zeal. Depth of content. These, though, have been raised in that tradition and understand it in depth, whereas it might take you years to come to a state of basic understanding.

However, if you are new to Church, you might want to find those that more often than not touch on the major issues, rather than the many details. The importance of Grace, Mercy and Salvation go far beyond anything else that is found in Christianity, for example. Here is where the previous poster is saying that perhaps the Baptist church is for you.

And the smaller the better! If you find a Bible Church that has a few families as members, you will get more attention, and questions answered directly. In these, you will also find a great devotion to those basics.

But it all depends on what you are looking for!

If tradition is your bag, there is no finer place than the Roman Catholic Church. There, you have the benefit of 1500 years of heavy theological study by many well-qualified individuals and groups, too. They are well grounded in biblical text. (And John Paul TWO rawks! )

So, in the smaller ones you will find praise, prayer, and direct answers to direct questions, whereas in the larger ones you will find more and more traditions, theological study, and, well, a MASS of people hehe

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

and, well, a MASS of people hehe

 

[The Son's Anvil]

If you want an excellent idea of what the Catholic Church is all about, without diving head-first, get a good copy of the Catholic Study Bible.

(I recommend this for everybody, actually, great footnotes)

Also, find the Catholic Catechism, and put yourself into basic training.

A good comparison to these would be, if you are intending to collect information on each, to ask for a copy of a Doctrinal Statement from each church leader. The Doctrinal Statement tells you, in bullet form, exactly what that church is all about.

It's like a list of ingredients on a Ketchup bottle. At least you get an idea what's going in

EDIT: To give an idea where I'm coming from, I am not Roman Catholic. But, I was raised in a town where there was a great number of these churches, and therefore many of my friends were Catholic. I got some good training from THEM hehe.

Now, I'm much older, and much wiser, and a lot broker, as I attend St Vincent's College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. There, backed by the Diocese of Greensburg, I get the benefit of a good solid basic training in Catholic tradition (while pursuing Computer Science, what a bonus), I get to see one of the three Basilicas in the United States, it's on that property, AND the Benedictine monks run the show, there is a MONASTERY there!

In fact, the head of the Computer Science department is Brother David Carlson, of the Benedictines. A true mathematical genius, and a danged hard worker. There is nothing he wouldn't do for you. He is a good man. The education one gains at that school is beyond monetary measure, in my opinion. I've been around, and I'm here to tell you those Catholics and Benedictines know their stuff!

Actually, anybody looking for a College Education SHOULD check out that College. You would not be disappointed. (and that's where the Steelers training camp is, on that campus, as well as the Rolling Rock Brewery nearby hehe)

 

[q_mark]

1) Getting saved simply means allowing Jesus to work in your life and save you. You have to repent from sins, be baptized, try to follow Jesus' teachings, etc. It's really easy to get started off, and soon you'll be following Jesus like a pro

How long would it take for someone to get baptized? Is it necessary to get baptized before becoming a true Christian?

What denom is St Andrew's?

It's an Anglican church.

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

How long would it take for someone to get baptized? Is it necessary to get baptized before becoming a true Christian?

Well, in Orthodoxy, you are expected to understand basic doctrine and history so you have adequate understanding of the choice you are making. A true Christian is simply one trying to imitate Jesus and follow Him. Being a true Christian is more of a journey than a destination, well, unless you count heaven

If you let me know your city and state, I can find you an Orthodox Church. After the services they have food, and most of them are foods you'd never eat unless you went to places in Eastern Europe. And it's all home cooking

 

[adthrash]

I attend a spirit-filled non-denominational church which believes in the holy spirit and the gifts of the holy spirit. Also you don't have to be baptized to be saved, however when you do find a church to attend you should be baptized. It does not take long to be baptized, different denominations baptize different ways...i.e. sprinking water on your head, dunking you in a pool of water.

You can call the list of local churches and ask what they believe and what there doctorines and traditions are.