seeking

[d.roland]

Hello. I am new here. I have been seeking God, and a church. Knowing nothing, I have been researching different faiths. I tried a baptist church but was put off when told I had to attend a 4 hour long class to be taught baptist doctrine, before I would be allowed to repent and accept Jesus and be baptized.

After much seeking, I am going to a christian church this sunday. It is non-denominational. I don't know the rights and wrongs of so many faiths, but feel this one may be right for me.

I am new to discovering God, but I do believe that I must repent, ask for forgiveness, and be baptized by immersion. I don't feel any church should deny me this before I am forced to take class in their particular doctrine. I am seeking to join Jesus' church. Am I on the right track?

I am very open to hearing opinions and direction.

 

[ebia]

Well, if you approached our church we would encourage you to do a course of some sort (eg Christianity Explored) to ensure that you were fully aware of the faith you were taking on. The vows you take at baptism are extremely serious and should not be taken on lightly but after a proper period of preparation.

You can take on repentence and following Jesus right now - you don't need anybody to do that for you - but baptism quite appropriately should follow a period of learning about the faith and the nature of the full life committment you are making. You wouldn't go to your death without understanding why as fully as possible, and that is exactly what you are doing in baptism.

The post-apostolic church from very early had a much longer period of catechesis before baptism - at least the whole of lent and anything up to 3 years. Until the end of which you would not be allowed to stay for the full church service!

 

[drich0150]

One of the things we must learn as a christian is how to wait on God and His people. Waiting to be baptized is more for your potential brothers and sisters than it is for you. Primarily because your relationship with God started the moment you decided to take Jesus into your Heart. Baptism is an important step, but you must remember it is only one step in a journey that takes a life time to complete. So while you wait, take this time and prepare yourself for the rest of your journey. Pray, fast, meditate, read the bible.

 

[d.roland]

Thank you for your replies. A church that would make me wait three years would not be where I would want to be.

I do understand the seriousness of being baptized and do not take it lightly. I am going to church Sunday just to listen and get a feel for the place. I believe God is leading me. The church I am attending Sunday does have a class about baptism, so if this church is right for me, I will of course take this class.

 

[salida]

Maybe this test will help you: denomination test;

▷Christian Denomination Selector SelectSmart.com free Religion personality test, selector quiz, matching, choose, compare.

Taking a 4 hour class is an institution thing. I know my church wouldn't force you to take a newcomers class if you wanted to repent and be baptized first. The priority is to make a committment to Christ. I'm very happy with my denomination-and I have looked for years-the Holy Spirit is at work there and we don't allow people outside our denomination to speak there. Why? Especially in the last 15 years a rise in heresy has occurred. Thus, speakers who have theology with no bibical basis.Feel free to email me if you have any more questions.

 

[Van]

If you are unwilling to spend 4 hours learning about how folks understand the Bible, it sounds like you are a tad judgmental. Would you invite someone into your family that was unwilling to learn what it means to be part of your family?

As for your claim that a baptist church said you could not repent and accept Jesus unless you attended a four hour class, lets leave it with the fact that I am dubious of your assertion. On the other hand attending a class before being baptized is a fairly routine practice.

 

[childofGod31]

Lots of churches today are simply man made organizations, like a club. That's why they would require you to follow certain rituals/traditions (like in any other club).

There are lots of dead churches, where the Spirit of God does not live. So it's hard to know which one is right.

I would pray to God and ask Him to lead you to one. And overtime, maybe you can find one where you are comfortable.

But faith is not about church.

I wrote here the difference between religion and faith. Lots of churches today have become simply "a religion" instead of "living in God".

http://www.christianforums.com/t7448799-4/#post54360803

The best thing to do is to read the Bible, and talk to God in your thoughts. He can hear you. Him is - all you need. He will open your eyes to the truths of the Bible. He will teach you through your heart and your thoughts. Let Him be your teacher. Do not make men your teachers, they can mislead you. Jesus mentioned that it could be the case of "blind leading the blind".

God's Spirit is our teacher. Listen to His voice (through thoughts, impressions, ideas, revealings, dawning understanding).

Just you and God. That's all you need for your spirit to become alive.

Once you get to know God, you can join the church (He can help you decide. Fellowshipping with a few people would be good enough. After all church is - simply for fellowshipping with like minded people. People have made it into something more. But it's not. )

Jesus said: where there is 2 or 3 of you together, I am there with you. Two or three people already is a church.

Some say: I will go to church to worship God (or to serve God). Not so.

Worshipping God takes place inside of you, in the heart. You are God's temple once He comes to live in you. (When you call Him by your desire to get to know Him.)
Serving God takes place outside of church - serving others. We serve God by serving others.

We do not serve nor worship God in church necessarily. We do those things outside of church. In church we simply fellowship (and sometimes, when a preacher is under God's spirit, we can get some spiritual food.) But in many churches, the preachers are not inspired by God's spirit and their teachings are simply man made stuff, which is not helpful for spiritual growth.

Read the Bible! And ask God to help you understand it.

 

[d.roland]

If you are unwilling to spend 4 hours learning about how folks understand the Bible, it sounds like you are a tad judgmental. Would you invite someone into your family that was unwilling to learn what it means to be part of your family?

As for your claim that a baptist church said you could not repent and accept Jesus unless you attended a four hour class, lets leave it with the fact that I am dubious of your assertion. On the other hand attending a class before being baptized is a fairly routine practice.

I have no problem attending a class to learn what is in the bible. I do have a problem being forced to take a class to teach baptist convention doctrine.

I am seeking a church that puts God above all else. Not a religion that makes up their own doctrine.

 

[Emmy]

Dear d.roland. I sincerely hope you find what you are seeking, and I say this humbly and with love. God gave us 10 Commandments, and Jesus told us that the whole Law and the Prophets hang on these 2 Commandments. In other words, follow these 2 Commandments and you are obeying God`s 10 Commandments. 1) Love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. God made us in His image, He loves us and He is our Heavenly Father. 2) Love our neighbour, (all others, friend or enemy) love them as you love yourself. That is easy to remember, but not easy to do. Try by treating all you know, and meet, try to treat them as you would like to be treated. You will find as you keep doing this, life will become more enjoyable, more satisfying. When Jesus sees us doing this, and He will know, He will give us His Love and Joy to share with each other. Jesus told us again and again, REPENT, exchange our selfish and wilful character for loving selflessly, and forgiven others as God has forgiven us. Jesus died that we might live, Jesus reconciled us to God, and now Jesus is waiting to help and guide us. " Ask and we will receive" as long as we ask sincerely, and keep trying. We have years to become as God wants us us to be, His adopted sons and daughters, and live with God eternally. God will see our hearts, He will know our thoughts and wishes. Trust and show your love, d.roland. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[aiki]

I have no problem attending a class to learn what is in the bible. I do have a problem being forced to take a class to teach baptist convention doctrine.

I am seeking a church that puts God above all else. Not a religion that makes up their own doctrine.

How have you come to conclude that this church "makes up its own doctrine"? If you are brand new to Christianity, how are you in a position to judge what is and isn't "made up doctrine"?

I attend a Baptist church and can tell you that the doctrine to which I and the other members of the church hold is not "made up."

As some have already noted, it is not unusual for there to be a "Christianity 101" course offered to those interested in becoming Christians in most evangelical Christian churches these days. The church I attend uses the Alpha course, among other things, to introduce "seekers" to the basic tenets of the faith.

Peace.

Peace.

 

[zaksmummy]

Listen only to what Jesus said in the bible in Mark 1v14 "After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Then be baptised - this is a ritual immersion, an outward sign of an inward change.

Just remember that this is the start of your relationship with God. On the way you will find many people who will tell you different things and encourage you to follow one doctrine or another, or their interpretation.

This is not always a bad thing, as long as you check it out with the bible, if it matches up to what Jesus said, and you feel led by God, then follow. Never be afraid to question, God wants disciples, not clones.