Returning to Christianity, not sure where I fit [moved from Exploring Christianity]

[theGreenChef]

Hello everyone, this is my first post and I got what is probably going to be a difficult question to answer.

I grew up Catholic and became disillusioned with it during high school and stopped attending. Until about a year and a half ago I considered myself agnostic, until I had an epiphany of sorts. Recently, I prayed for the first time in a long while and begged for his mercy with a very serious situation. I pledged that I would return to the flock and be a better person. The following day I awoke to find the prayer had been answered. I intend to keep my promise, not just for the lord but for myself as well.

My problem is I have no idea what denomination I belong in and would like some help in figuring this out.

Some information to start with.
I believe there is one god
I believe the bible itself is a book written by man, based upon the word of god. It was written by many people and has had many translations over the years. Its a collection of stories and historical accounts meant to inspire us and lead us to live a better life
I believe that people don't necessarily have to be a member of a church or go regularly to be saved. I think living a good life and being a good person is what truly saves someone.

I figure thats a good starting point, feel free to ask me any questions or if I need to clarify something. Keep in mind I have been away from religion for quite some time, so if I offend anyone do forgive me.

Thank you all!
Green

 

[TheGirlOnFire]

What truly saves someone is Jesus, you can be as good as you like and won't make a different

In the bible it calls for fellowship actually Letters of John 1 starts off with this, about jesus being the word etc and fellowship and how we need it....

Have you church surfed at all ?

 

[dcalling]

Welcome back! I would say non-denominational.

I pretty much believe in the same thing you said, and I changed from atheist once I figured out we are created. The bible is very clear on some of the commandments, i.e. the biggest law Jesus told us is to Love God and Love your neighbors as ourselves, so once that is clear just make sure everything else you do is according to it.

 

[hedrick]

Hello everyone, this is my first post and I got what is probably going to be a difficult question to answer.

I grew up Catholic and became disillusioned with it during high school and stopped attending. Until about a year and a half ago I considered myself agnostic, until I had an epiphany of sorts. Recently, I prayed for the first time in a long while and begged for his mercy with a very serious situation. I pledged that I would return to the flock and be a better person. The following day I awoke to find the prayer had been answered. I intend to keep my promise, not just for the lord but for myself as well.

My problem is I have no idea what denomination I belong in and would like some help in figuring this out.

Some information to start with.
I believe there is one god
I believe the bible itself is a book written by man, based upon the word of god. It was written by many people and has had many translations over the years. Its a collection of stories and historical accounts meant to inspire us and lead us to live a better life
I believe that people don't necessarily have to be a member of a church or go regularly to be saved. I think living a good life and being a good person is what truly saves someone.

I figure thats a good starting point, feel free to ask me any questions or if I need to clarify something. Keep in mind I have been away from religion for quite some time, so if I offend anyone do forgive me.

Thank you all!
Green

This is a pretty typical liberal Christian viewpoint. As such, it's consistent with the mainline denominations (Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopal, ELCA, etc.) and with the more liberal evangelical and non-denominational churches.

However all of these denominations or non-denominations vary, so you're probably better off looking at local churches around you than trying to pick a specific denomination.

One note: I think the mainline churches, and in fact liberal Christian theology as a whole, would maintain that in inaugurating the Kingdom of God on earth, Jesus intended to create a Christian community, and not just a bunch of individually saved people. Thus the last point in your list may not go well with the others.

 

[graceandpeace]

I think a mainline denomination would be a good starting point. Given your experience with the RCC, you might find some familiarity with services in the Episcopal Church or the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA).

 

[Sketcher]

Something to consider here is that we as Christians learn and grow. Our character and our understanding of theology develops, where we started at as Christians is not where we will end up at the end of our lives on Earth. We are to grow ever-closer to God, trusting and obeying him more and more, his word over our previously held perceptions. Find a church where the Bible is followed closely, not just in terms of strict morals, but also in terms of the love for people that Jesus modeled and preached. Various churches in probably any denomination may err to one side or the other, find one that doesn't short-change either of them.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Hello everyone, this is my first post and I got what is probably going to be a difficult question to answer.

I grew up Catholic and became disillusioned with it during high school and stopped attending. Until about a year and a half ago I considered myself agnostic, until I had an epiphany of sorts. Recently, I prayed for the first time in a long while and begged for his mercy with a very serious situation. I pledged that I would return to the flock and be a better person. The following day I awoke to find the prayer had been answered. I intend to keep my promise, not just for the lord but for myself as well.

My problem is I have no idea what denomination I belong in and would like some help in figuring this out.

Some information to start with.
I believe there is one god
I believe the bible itself is a book written by man, based upon the word of god. It was written by many people and has had many translations over the years. Its a collection of stories and historical accounts meant to inspire us and lead us to live a better life
I believe that people don't necessarily have to be a member of a church or go regularly to be saved. I think living a good life and being a good person is what truly saves someone.

I figure thats a good starting point, feel free to ask me any questions or if I need to clarify something. Keep in mind I have been away from religion for quite some time, so if I offend anyone do forgive me.

Thank you all!
Green

Hello

I'm focusing on the part above that I bolded in your post. It reminds me of what the Orthodox Church teaches about theosis - which is being changed to be more and more like Christ, and that is salvation according to the Orthodox Church. Of course Christ is part of the picture - it is His death that atones for our sins, and it is through his death that death is defeated, and I don't mean to oversimplify it. But I expect that what you have said would be vigorously argued with in many churches. Most would consider that "works". I don't believe we can "earn" salvation by any means, but I also don't think we are supposed to sit back and not be changed and expect it to just happen to us based on a prayer or single event in our lives.

As an Orthodox Christian - I don't believe it's going to Church that saves me, but on the other hand, the Church does give us tools (the sacraments, prayers, fasting, and more) to help us, and for that reason - since I need as much help as I can get! - I go as often as I can. But we don't have an "obligation" or consider it a mortal sin to miss Church as the Catholic Church (I believe) teaches. It's just that if I don't go, I'm missing the medicine that helps heal me from sin.

If you have big problems with the Catholic Church - depending on why you were disillusioned, the Orthodox Church can seem too much like the CC. It looks and operates much the same. But there are some very fundamental differences in belief such that I consider the Orthodox Church to be as far from Catholicism in some things as it is from Protestantism.

Just something to think about, if it helps.

 

[theGreenChef]

Thank you all for the replies, I appreciate all the feedback! I'm still in the process of church surfing, hopefully I'll find the right spot before too long. So far it seems like a non-denominational church is going to be my best bet. I'm also looking at Orthodox as well, but looking over some information, there are a few subjects where there is some disagreement.

 

[~Anastasia~]

There is a forum especially for looking for a Church. You might find a lot more input there and can ask more specific questions if you need too. (Of course you can ask here too, but you might get more replies there.)

May God guide you.

 

[98cwitr]

Methodist sounds like a good medium between Catholicism and Agnosticism. You seem to hold a tad bit of a liberal view on theology, and the Methodist church, as a whole, seems to be going this direction. You'd fit right in at the church I attend too though, and it's Baptist.

 

[bling]

Do you think God wants us to just acknowledge His existence and be good or would God want us to fellowship with Him and the family?

There are lots of things about the scripture that really boarder on the miraculous, so you might give it a greater consideration. Yes, people did write it, but did the Holy Spirit inspire them and if the Holy Spirit was involved would he also see to its protection and preservation?

I do not want to “sell” you on the Bible, but I would like to sell you on God’s Love (charity, forgiveness, mercy, grace and help).

 

[Receiver]

Are you sure that what you left was Christianity?
I mean, Jesus himself warns that the majority of people that say they are his will be told "I never knew you".

You don't need to be Sherlock Holmes to see that the fact that it wasn't attractive enough to hold you or give you clear directions suggests it might not be The Answer.

Personally, I would find a church like the one Jesus set up (see Acts 2:4-39; 10:44-48).
I'm with these.

 

[aiki]

Returning to Christianity, not sure where I fit

Hello everyone, this is my first post and I got what is probably going to be a difficult question to answer.

I grew up Catholic and became disillusioned with it during high school and stopped attending. Until about a year and a half ago I considered myself agnostic, until I had an epiphany of sorts. Recently, I prayed for the first time in a long while and begged for his mercy with a very serious situation. I pledged that I would return to the flock and be a better person. The following day I awoke to find the prayer had been answered. I intend to keep my promise, not just for the lord but for myself as well.

Okay...Well, this sort of motivation, a sense of obligation, isn't going to take you very far with God - at least, not happily.

My problem is I have no idea what denomination I belong in and would like some help in figuring this out.

Some information to start with.
I believe there is one god
I believe the bible itself is a book written by man, based upon the word of god. It was written by many people and has had many translations over the years. Its a collection of stories and historical accounts meant to inspire us and lead us to live a better life

So, you prayed to the God of the Bible even though you think the Bible is essentially just a lot of moralizing fiction? And now you think you are obliged (in a vague, self-centered way) to embrace Christianity? Why do you give any credence at all to the Christian faith when you think its foundational text does not accurately express the truth of God? And do you really need Christianity to "lead a better life"? If this is all you're shooting for, I would suggest to you that there are any number of ways to do this that don't require fidelity to Christianity - or any religion, for that matter.

I believe that people don't necessarily have to be a member of a church or go regularly to be saved. I think living a good life and being a good person is what truly saves someone.

Well, none of this is what the Bible teaches. In fact, the clear declaration of the Bible (for which, I understand, you have a low regard) is that no one can be good enough to warrant acceptance by God. Which is why salvation is a gift from God, offered to us completely separately from our good deeds.

Selah.

 

[Soul2Soul]

Hello everyone, this is my first post and I got what is probably going to be a difficult question to answer.

I grew up Catholic and became disillusioned with it during high school and stopped attending. Until about a year and a half ago I considered myself agnostic, until I had an epiphany of sorts. Recently, I prayed for the first time in a long while and begged for his mercy with a very serious situation. I pledged that I would return to the flock and be a better person. The following day I awoke to find the prayer had been answered. I intend to keep my promise, not just for the lord but for myself as well.

My problem is I have no idea what denomination I belong in and would like some help in figuring this out.

Some information to start with.
I believe there is one god
I believe the bible itself is a book written by man, based upon the word of god. It was written by many people and has had many translations over the years. Its a collection of stories and historical accounts meant to inspire us and lead us to live a better life
I believe that people don't necessarily have to be a member of a church or go regularly to be saved. I think living a good life and being a good person is what truly saves someone.

I figure thats a good starting point, feel free to ask me any questions or if I need to clarify something. Keep in mind I have been away from religion for quite some time, so if I offend anyone do forgive me.

Thank you all!
Green

I too became disillusioned whilst in the Catholic church and also considered myself to be agnostic in the period after I stopped going to their services. I still believed in God but was seeking answers without Him. I had come to blame God for everything that went wrong in my life and certainly was not at all interested in going to any church. Then one day, nearly 14 years later I "prayed" that I wished I could live my life like how the Christians did in the bible ... I had always been inspired by the Biblical films and great stories of the bible ..... David and Goliath, etc.

I am not quite sure what you mean when you say you "would return to the flock"? If you mean back to the Catholic church .... then it's straightforward. If you have reservations about the Catholic church and don't want to go back , like I did, then it could possibly suggest a kind of Christian identity issue? .... as was the case with me.

The flock as I understand it is the (spiritual) body of Christ and it is synonymous with the church. Problem is which church out of the thousands? Although there are similarities there are many doctrinal variances amongst the denominations.

For me, the Bible is the only way to discern which church is right - in terms of right doctrine and practices. So perhaps visiting churches and getting involved in their Bible studies will help you to understand what scripture informs you about what church is ...... and then you form an opinion about what the flock is (biblically) and not what you think it is .... if that makes sense?

Additionally I would recommend studying what scripture says about salvation and in what way the church is relevant. I would actually disagree with your notion that living a good life and being a good person is what truly saves someone.

Again I would urge you to study the Bible and examine the scriptures ..... what does the Bible teach about what/who is a Christian, sin, repentance, baptism, church, the Holy Spirit and so much more .... because you'll find the answers exist in Gods Word.

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16 -17

" For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:12 - 13

 

[theGreenChef]

Do you think God wants us to just acknowledge His existence and be good or would God want us to fellowship with Him and the family?

There are lots of things about the scripture that really boarder on the miraculous, so you might give it a greater consideration. Yes, people did write it, but did the Holy Spirit inspire them and if the Holy Spirit was involved would he also see to its protection and preservation?

I do not want to “sell” you on the Bible, but I would like to sell you on God’s Love (charity, forgiveness, mercy, grace and help).

Bling,
I do think that god does want us acknowledge him and worship. What I have a hard time accepting that a person can live a good life, be a good person, do the right thing, etc. etc. and still be condemned because he or she had doubts.

About the bible I'm honestly not sure, it has been a while since I've read it so perhaps my opinion may change.

Receiver,
It would make a lot more sense if what I left wasn't Christianity(Catholicism to be more exact). Having a priest tell your mother that if she leaves her alcoholic, abusive husband that she'll be cast out of the church and shunned left me completely stunned. I don't want any part of that.

Aiki,
I had a feeling at least a couple people wouldn't be too terribly friendly but that's OK. I should have been a little more clear in my first post. I have been weighing the ups and downs of coming back to religion over the last few years. After what had happened recently, I took it as a sign that god wants me to have faith.

I try to approach most subjects logically and embrace facts. Unfortunately this way of thinking tends to cause problems when it comes to religion. But I have faith, I believe in god, I want to learn more and I want to get closer.

 

[Inkfingers]

I believe there is one god

Always a good start

I believe the bible itself is a book written by man, based upon the word of god. It was written by many people and has had many translations over the years. Its a collection of stories and historical accounts meant to inspire us and lead us to live a better life

That can be accommodated in many denominations; we aren't Muslims

I believe that people don't necessarily have to be a member of a church or go regularly to be saved. I think living a good life and being a good person is what truly saves someone.

Salvation by works? That will need a "liberal church".

 

[aiki]

Aiki,
I had a feeling at least a couple people wouldn't be too terribly friendly but that's OK. I should have been a little more clear in my first post. I have been weighing the ups and downs of coming back to religion over the last few years. After what had happened recently, I took it as a sign that god wants me to have faith.

I am straightforward in my remarks and ask very direct questions, but I harbor no ill will toward you at all. I am not your enemy. My comments to you were aimed at provoking you to think carefully about your approach to the Christian faith, which can only do you good, I believe.

I try to approach most subjects logically and embrace facts. Unfortunately this way of thinking tends to cause problems when it comes to religion.

This isn't what I have found as a Christian. What you say here may be true of other religions but I have found a very robust philosophical and factual basis for Christianity. The Christian faith is fertile ground for a thoughtful mind.

But I have faith, I believe in god, I want to learn more and I want to get closer.

Great! God calls all who would walk with Him to do so with simple faith. He doesn't, though, call His children to a simplistic faith. An important distinction there, I think.

Selah.

 

[Emmy]

Dear Green Chef. Jesus gives us good advice in Matthew 22: 35-40:
" The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all your hearts, with all your souls, and with all your minds. The second is like it: Love our neighbour as you love yourselves." Jesus also tells us: " on these two Commandments hang all the Law and the prophets." God is Love and God wants loving sons and daughters. Everything we say or do should be done from love and joy, and in Matthew 7: 7-10: we are promised help. " Ask and you shall receive,"
we ask for Love and Joy, then we thank God and share all Love and Joy with our neighbour. ( all we know and all we meet, friends and not friends) We keep asking and receiving, then thank God and share all Love and Joy with our neighbour. God will see our loving efforts, and God will approve and bless us.
We might stumble and forget at times, but then we ask God to forgive us, and carry on loving and caring. Love is a Christian`s great weapon, and love is very catching. The Holy Spirit will help and guide us, and Jesus our Saviour will lead us all the way: JESUS IS THE WAY.
The Bible tells us: " Repent and be Born Again," we change from being selfish and unloving, to be loving and caring, we will be sign-posts to God our Heavenly-Father. Love covers a multitude of sins.
I say this with love, Green Chef. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[JCFantasy23]

MOD HAT ON

Thread moved to 'For New Christians'

MOD HAT OFF
​

 

[AGTG]

You want to be part of a body of believers that's Biblical. How do you know if they're "Biblical?" You need to get into the Bible and let the Holy Spirit teach you regularly.

A few points of faith that should never be compromised:

• our justification is only in the finished work of Christ on the cross, followed by the transformative relationship with Father God through Jesus' Spirit known as sanctification
• The Word of God is infallible, and can be trusted for all truth
• Sin is bad, and cannot be ignored
• The Holy Spirit brings power into the believer's in the form of answered prayer, revelation knowledge of Truth, empowerment over temptations to sin, and all manner of Spiritual gifts which empower one to do ministry
• God is one, expressed in a triune nature

This would likely narrow it down to a pentecostal denomination, but don't presume every pentecostal church is healthy. You should be looking for the love and life of Christ manifesting in any congregation, as it is by our fruit that we are known. I hope this was helpful.