Picking a Denomination

[Peripatetic]

The Catholics have a lot to offer if you like to obey the rules. Some people feel a lot safer if they follow the rules.

If they are following current Catholic teachings, they should not be teaching from a works or rules based perspective. This is from the Vatican's web site:

Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification

We confess together that all persons depend completely on the saving grace of God for their salvation. The freedom they possess in relation to persons and the things of this world is no freedom in relation to salvation, for as sinners they stand under God's judgment and are incapable of turning by themselves to God to seek deliverance, of meriting their justification before God, or of attaining salvation by their own abilities. Justification takes place solely by God's grace.

I think some of it depends on where else you get your instruction. I think the Protestant churches do a better job with Bible Study, so I listen to their podcast sermons and radio shows all week long in my car. I also use some very Protestant-slanted Bible commentaries. But for worship on Sundays, I prefer the the reverence, ceremony, and kneeling in adoration of the Catholic experience. The sermons aren't as thorough, but the Internet generation allows us to get those anywhere!

Besides the actual worship service, the other main criteria generally has to do with fellowship and outreach, which varies a great deal between individual churches within a denomination. Our church has a great music ministry and youth group, which is important to me.

I'd also echo the Methodist recommendation based on your self-description. They have a really nice balance of good attributes from my experience.

 

[Orahh]

The thing with the church is it's full of sinner's, so it's never going to be perfect! Luckily there is redemption in christ.
For me, I go to a baptist church and I love it. Yes, there is people who are quite out there, but after all isn't that the obligation of all followers of christ to make him known. I don' think anyone has a poerfect way of bringing people to christ, as long as though they are relyant on the holy spirit, that's most important.
As for literal interpretation of the bible, I find in my church that there is a mix of literal and metaphorical. And as far as citisicism goes, I think it's half, half as well.
You really just need to be looking for a community of people who love God and live for him practically, not just saying how great he is, but not actually doing anything with that. Denomination isn't really that important

 

[GaryP]

The main issue, is that you have to decide who you are going to bow down to.
This is outside the realm of human emotions;
You get to pick.

If you think denominations are all alike. think again.

Pick as many as you like, They can be mixed.

1. God
a. Jewish Father in Heaven 7000 years
b. Catholic Trinity 1600 years
c. Lord
d. Son
E. Dove
F. One God
H. 3 Gods
I . 4 Gods ( mary )
J. Trinity mystery



2. Messiah
a. Jesus
b. Christ
c. Lord
d. Infant Jesus
e Jesus with Sun Halo
d Eucharist

Co-god
a. Queen of the Universe
b. Mary
c. Mary with child.


Pray to
a. Father in Heaven
b. God
c. Lord
d. Jesus
e. Christ
F. Mary
G. Dead creation ie saints.

Pray toward or adore
a. graphic images ( pictures of deity ie Jesus, Father, 3Circles, dead creation, stain glass etc ).
b. icons
c. statues
d. wafers
e. doves
f. angels
g. cross
h. dead creation
I. relics
J. Directional, East etc.

crosses
a, Latin cross
b. Solar cross ( cross with circle within it )
c. Sun burst cross
d. Flaming cross
e. Blood red cross, equal length of bars.

Created men that have authority
a. King of the World (Rome)
b. Pope
c. King of Zion ( Salt Lake City )
d. Reverends
e. Most Reverends
f. Right Reverends
G. Vicar
H. Priests
I. Fathers
J, Nuns
K, Elders
L, Pastors
M. Bishops

Bibles

Too many to mention.


Pick as many as you like, But I would first study, as each can be googled
before making a choice, Then I would read each statements of faith and their rules
and regulations.

Then you can make your choice.

Do not let human emotions decide, use street smarts and wisdom
study every symbol and custom.

Examples

Why is the circle placed within that cross?
Why is that dove placed above the alter?
Why does the pope's hat look like a fish?


What you see is not what you get.


or you can say the heck with it and go to the Father in Heaven direct.
Mark 15:38 the Temple Curtain is Torn The Temple is open.
Just go in unto the Father.

 

[Nathaniel Ellis]

There are No denominations in Heaven and Jesus Christ insructed us to pray. Father Your Kingdom Come. Your Will be Done. Hear on Earth, Just as it is in Heaven. There are no denominations in the Bible. only Believers. satan likes to lable people and set them agenst eachother. dont let satan lable you you are allready labled by Christ. Hear is an example of how satan works. If you think of yourself as a Catholic than when someone tells you what is wrong with the Catholic church you will feel under attack and your faith in Christ will be shaken.

Read the New American Standard Bible. the message is satans translation.

 

[laconicstudent]

Orthodoxy. Everything else seems quite lacking in comparison to me. Just walking in the door to Divine Liturgy that first Sunday- I knew it was everything I had been seeking. Come and see.

^^This. Instead of finding a denomination that fits your beliefs, study history and the Bible to find the denomination that most fits that, and conform yourself to it.

 

[Nathaniel Ellis]

No Jesus Christ Is Lord!!!

 

[Nathaniel Ellis]

JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. Christ does not have a denomination. Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. This is what it means to be a Believer. Don't be a wolf in sheeps clothing! Get away from my sheep. All you Lie ers. satan is a lie er. it is ez to tell who there father is.

Reed the New American Standard Bible, and learn seek the truth.

 

[laconicstudent]

No Jesus Christ Is Lord!!!

JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. Christ does not have a denomination. Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. This is what it means to be a Believer. Don't be a wolf in sheeps clothing! Get away from my sheep. All you Lie ers. satan is a lie er. it is ez to tell who there father is.

Reed the New American Standard Bible, and learn seek the truth.

LOL wut?

 

[Nathaniel Ellis]

Yes i get very pationate sometimes. i am not judging any person. i havnt even carefully read any of the posts. but if the shoe fits wear it. lol. no don't wear it repent and live in Jesus Christ.

 

[Chris_G]

Hi, everyone. I live in a smallish town and I'm trying to find a church that is a good fit for me. Here's the disposition I'm starting with:

I grew up with a Lutheran church(Missouri Synod) and I found it to be very cold and unsupportive, and intellectually unchallenging. I find other "mainstream churches" to be similar in this regard.

Pentecostals seem to be a real mixed bag. I think some might just have very enthusiastic, emotional services, but some of their teachings make them out to be megachurch wannabes- "believe and God will bless your bank account."

Baptists appeal to my hard-nosed nature- they get right in your face- but they also seem, uh, crazy. Interpreting the Bible in an incredibly literal fashion, spending most of their time emphasizing negatives, criticizing things they don't understand...

I guess I wish that I could combine some of the confrontational nature of the Baptists, with the warmth of the Pentecostals and the sense of some of the mainstream churches- I'm thinking Catholic, specifically, I guess. But right now it seems like I can choose between cold, mindless and crazy/mean. I'm really just looking for a church that hosts a regular Bible study and has an organized commitment to charity- helping out Habitat for Humanity, whatever. I don't even like church services- I find them boring and pointless.

Oh, and I would LOVE to avoid age-gap churches. The church I grew up in had maybe 4 members under the age of 30, and 4/5 were 60 and over. Grace Lutheran Church... where WASPs go to die...

Suggestions appreciated. Thanks for reading.
-Matt

Jesus didn't say, "Join that church or that denomination." He said, "Repent and believe the Gospel," then "Follow Me." This is the only way to be saved. Go to a church that teaches what the bible says, without compromise. My suggestion is to go to a non-denomination church. Just live by what the bible says, and not by what denominations say.

 

[MunterHiller]

If you can, I don't know your location.. But i say find an Independent Southern Baptist church that has a enthusiastic, God-driven congregation. With practically any church, you will find opposition from the older "religious" crowd and this will run off many younger people and students. I am a member of a Southern Independent Baptist church and the best thing about it is that there is great contemporary, upbeat praise music - Honest and straightforward messages that don't try to hide anything from the people. And considering my age, The student ministry is very fulfilling with energy and seeking God's presence. I use to go to a Methodist church growing up, and all i can remember from it was going to sleep during the messages and the lack of student ministry.

 

[Nathaniel Ellis]

Jesus Christ and satan.

 

[Nathaniel Ellis]

satan tries to make Jesus Christ look so boaring that you wont have energy to seek Him but really He is an all consuming fire. I would pray that God shows me what Church He wants me to be at and than i would look for a Church that Worships for more than 30 minuites and if a pastor says anything contrarry to the Word of God i would leave. I would walk out the second a lie comes out of His mouth.

 

[Aibrean]

I use to go to a Methodist church growing up, and all i can remember from it was going to sleep during the messages and the lack of student ministry.

That's an issue with the congregation...not the denomination itself (I know VERY ministry-based Methodist churches)

 

[razeontherock]

Yea...if you want to go to a church that doesn't know what they believe other than "Jesus" and "God" and the "Bible".

Sounds like:

1 Cor 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."

Sounds like a safe direction to me!

 

[razeontherock]

satan likes to lable people and set them agenst each other.

You mean like this?

the message is satans translation.

Fell right into his trap

 

[razeontherock]

satan wears Manny Masks.

What's a Manny mask?

 

[laconicstudent]

The OP might be interested in this subforum: Looking for a Church - Christian Forums

 

[Nathaniel Ellis]

I am Judging Ideas not People. and the fact that i cant spell does not negate my words. lol.
I call the Message satans translation because it adds new nouns and totally changes the meaning and heart of scripture. If we are called to judge a prophetic word than surely we can judge a translation of scripture.

i cannot show you why the message is so horable because i cannot yet cut and past on my posts. but just compare Psalms 1, In New American Standard with Psalms 1, in the message. nothing could be more obvious. the origional is humbling and the message is flattering. The message is not a translation its a perversion of the Living Word of God.

I am not judging the people who have a message bible. I am judging the message bible itself. and you are taking scripture out of context. Paul was not saying that he didn't know anything. Paul was the most lerned man ever both in biblical understanding and in devine revelation. Paul was saying that instead of using all the stuff he knows to preach the good news. he relied on Power, (miricles) so that your faith wold not be in what you know but in who you know.



But i like everything else you said Razio.....

JESUS CHRIST IS MY LORD AND SAVIOR.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.
JESUS CHRIST HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD.
ALL GLORY BE TO THE COMING KING.

 

[razeontherock]

I call the Message satans translation because it adds new nouns and totally changes the meaning and heart of scripture.

That argument is silly! Catholics tried that already, forcing everyone to learn Latin which they knew they wouldn't. Any time you translate anything, you're going to wind up with "new nouns." The "meaning and heart" remains intact.

i cannot show you why the message is so horable because i cannot yet cut and past on my posts. but just compare Psalms 1, In New American Standard with Psalms 1, in the message. nothing could be more obvious.

Sorry but no. Use your intellect and see that what is not so in obvious in many translations gets brought out via MSG, but the original intent is preserved. The "flattery" you refer to in your favorite version, NASB, is not a Scriptural value!

Anyway this has nothing to do with picking a denomination. There are plenty of threads where you can bash on Eugene Peterson's work. Something you should recognize that:

a) you're in no position to do, and;
b) Our Lord would NEVER commend!