Tell me about your form of Christianity

[David Evarts]

Tell me about your form of Christianity
I really couldn't find a forum that best fit this question, but I hope that you all may have lots of information for me.

I'm interested in the history, culture & sociology of the worldwide Christian church. I'm especially interested in the churches (formerly the widest spread branches of Christianity) not often represented in the west. These would be the non-Protestant and non-Catholic (and yes not even Eastern Othodox) churches such as the Coptic, Syriac, Syro-Malabar, Armenian and Ethiopian churches. I'm also especially interested in the more recent indigenous churches worldwide that are independent of western denominations. But, tell me about your church, whichever it might be or your experience of unique Christian churches. What is different about them? What is the same as or simialar to the churches we know in America? Tell me about your liturgy, worship, history, etc.? Does your church have outposts in America or Europe? Does it send missionaries to Europe or America? What are it's special strengths?

I'd love to hear about other faiths as well. Have you been exposed to any unique ones? Does anyone know a practicing Zoroastrian?

Let's learn from each other. Here in America (and in Europe) there is such a lack of awareness of others beleifs. Most Americans, if they know anything of churches outside their own, beleive that there are two branches of Christianity, Protestant and Catholic (and a few Orthodox beleivers) and that Christian history revolves around Europe and America and that the growth of worldwide Christianity was fueled by European and American missionaries. This is simply inaccurate. Christianity reached and grew in Asia and Africa apart from European Christianity and throughout much of the history of Christianity the main streams of Christianity may have been in Asia and the Middle East. I'd like to know more about the living church descendants of those traditions as well as of the various flavors of EuroAmerican Christianity and todays indiginous independent churches. Lets enlighten each other.

 

[chefjason]

How sad. All I have to say is that I attend a baptist church. I don't even really know that much about my denomination.

I can't wait to see what some of the members respond here.

 

[David Evarts]

How sad. All I have to say is that I attend a baptist church. I don't even really know that much about my denomination.

I can't wait to see what some of the members respond here.

Hey Chef Jason, love your curiosity. I too am very much hoping to hear from some of our brothers from the churches that still worship in a dialect of Jesus's language (Syriac and Aramaic are very close dialects) from the Middle East, some of our African brothers (especially the Coptic and Ethiopian branches), etc.. We'll see if any are on this forum or if anyone here can share info on some of them. I've noticed some Orthodox and Catholic folks here, so at least we might hear from them and a variety of Protestant denominations.

Here's a link to a little info on Baptist history that can be a start for you.
Baptists - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

One thing that Baptists can be especially proud of is that we inspired the "wall of separation" between church and state. Jefferson was quoting the founder of the Baptist church in America, Roger Williams when he responded to Rhode Island Baptists, who as beleivers in "soul freedom" wanted assurance that the constitution would provide for a clear separation of church and state and thus for freedom of religion. He said to them "I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church & State."

On the dark side of our history, the biggest split in Baptist churches, which resulted in most of todays' Baptist congregations, was due to Southern Baptists rejecting the traditional Baptist beleif in abolition and wanting to be clear that they did not want mixed race churches. Today there are some wonderful efforts towards reconciliation, but I'd love to hear southern denominations issue apolagy statements for their origins in racism.

Today, Baptists are a very varied group and taken as a whole one of the largest denominations. I think it's very good to learn something of where we came from as well as to learn something of our brothers and neighbors.

 

[1watchman]

How about having a scriptural worldwide assembly as God intended, rather than the sects men form? I believe there is such a thing that has survived the attacks of our enemy.

- 1 Watchman

 

[suzybeezy]

I belong to a non-denominational church that broke away from the Assembly of God church about 20 years ago. While we still hold alot of the same beliefs as the Assembly of God, we're not as "structured" as previously - we're more spirit driven (if that makes sense).

History of Assembly of God
The General Council of the Assemblies of God (USA), one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the United States, was organized in 1914 by a broad coalition of ministers who desired to work together to fulfill common objectives, such as sending missionaries and providing fellowship and accountability. The founding fathers and mothers of the Assemblies of God met in Hot Springs, Arkansas on April 2-12, 1914 to promote unity and doctrinal stability, establish legal standing, coordinate the mission enterprise, and establish a ministerial training school.



Fundamental Truths (Condensed Statement)
Core Beliefs

1. WE BELIEVE...The Scriptures are Inspired by God and declare His design and plan for mankind.
2. WE BELIEVE...There is only One True God–revealed in three persons...Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (commonly known as the Trinity).
3. WE BELIEVE...In the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. As God's son Jesus was both human and divine.
4. WE BELIEVE...though originally good, Man Willingly Fell to Sin–ushering evil and death, both physical and spiritual, into the world.
5. WE BELIEVE...Every Person Can Have Restored Fellowship with God Through 'Salvation' (trusting Christ, through faith and repentance, to be our personal Savior). [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the AG]
6. WE BELIEVE...and practice two ordinances—(1) Water Baptism by Immersionafter repenting of one's sins and receiving Christ's gift of salvation, and (2) Holy Communion (the Lord's Supper) as a symbolic remembrance of Christ's suffering and death for our salvation.
7. WE BELIEVE...the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a Special Experience Following Salvationthat empowers believers for witnessing and effective service, just as it did in New Testament times. [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the AG]
8. WE BELIEVE... The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is ‘Speaking in Tongues,’ as experienced on the Day of Pentecost and referenced throughout Acts and the Epistles.
9. WE BELIEVE...Sanctification Initially Occurs at Salvation and is not only a declaration that a believer is holy, but also a progressive lifelong process of separating from evil as believers continually draw closer to God and become more Christlike.
10. WE BELIEVE...The Church has a Mission to seek and save all who are lost in sin. We believe 'the Church' is the Body of Christ and consists of the people who, throughout time, have accepted God's offer of redemption (regardless of religious denomination) through the sacrificial death of His son Jesus Christ.
11. WE BELIEVE...A Divinely Called and Scripturally Ordained Leadership Ministry Serves the Church. The Bible teaches that each of us under leadership must commit ourselves to reach others for Christ, to worship Him with other believers, to build up or edify the body of believers–the Church and to Meet human need with ministries of love and compassion.
12. WE BELIEVE...Divine Healing of the Sick is a Privilege for Christians Today and is provided for in Christ's atonement (His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins). [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the AG]
13. WE BELIEVE...in The Blessed Hope—When Jesus Raptures His Church Prior to His Return to Earth (the second coming). At this future moment in time all believers who have died will rise from their graves and will meet the Lord in the air, and Christians who are alive will be caught up with them, to be with the Lord forever. [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the AG]
14. WE BELIEVE...in The Millennial Reign of Christ when Jesus returns with His saints at His second coming and begins His benevolent rule over earth for 1,000 years. This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel and the establishment of universal peace.
15. WE BELIEVE...A Final Judgment Will Take Place for those who have rejected Christ. They will be judged for their sin and consigned to eternal punishment in a punishing lake of fire.
16. WE BELIEVE...and look forward to the perfect New Heavens and a New Earththat Christ is preparing for all people, of all time, who have accepted Him. We will live and dwell with Him there forever following His millennial reign on Earth. 'And so shall we forever be with the Lord!'

 

[suzybeezy]

dup post

 

[JesυsFreακ ツ]

I am an Apostolic Pentecostal. We are basically Bible-based Christians; we follow the Holy word of God, and live by what it teaches.

 

[David Evarts]

I belong to a non-denominational church that broke away from the Assembly of God church about 20 years ago. While we still hold alot of the same beliefs as the Assembly of God, we're not as "structured" as previously - we're more spirit driven (if that makes sense).

History of Assembly of God
The General Council of the Assemblies of God (USA), one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the United States, was organized in 1914 by a broad coalition of ministers who desired to work together to fulfill common objectives, such as sending missionaries and providing fellowship and accountability. The founding fathers and mothers of the Assemblies of God met in Hot Springs, Arkansas on April 2-12, 1914 to promote unity and doctrinal stability, establish legal standing, coordinate the mission enterprise, and establish a ministerial training school.



Fundamental Truths (Condensed Statement)
Core Beliefs

1. WE BELIEVE...The Scriptures are Inspired by God and declare His design and plan for mankind.
2. WE BELIEVE...There is only One True God–revealed in three persons...Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (commonly known as the Trinity).
3. WE BELIEVE...In the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. As God's son Jesus was both human and divine.
4. WE BELIEVE...though originally good, Man Willingly Fell to Sin–ushering evil and death, both physical and spiritual, into the world.
5. WE BELIEVE...Every Person Can Have Restored Fellowship with God Through 'Salvation' (trusting Christ, through faith and repentance, to be our personal Savior). [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the AG]
6. WE BELIEVE...and practice two ordinances—(1) Water Baptism by Immersionafter repenting of one's sins and receiving Christ's gift of salvation, and (2) Holy Communion (the Lord's Supper) as a symbolic remembrance of Christ's suffering and death for our salvation.
7. WE BELIEVE...the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a Special Experience Following Salvationthat empowers believers for witnessing and effective service, just as it did in New Testament times. [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the AG]
8. WE BELIEVE... The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is ‘Speaking in Tongues,’ as experienced on the Day of Pentecost and referenced throughout Acts and the Epistles.
9. WE BELIEVE...Sanctification Initially Occurs at Salvation and is not only a declaration that a believer is holy, but also a progressive lifelong process of separating from evil as believers continually draw closer to God and become more Christlike.
10. WE BELIEVE...The Church has a Mission to seek and save all who are lost in sin. We believe 'the Church' is the Body of Christ and consists of the people who, throughout time, have accepted God's offer of redemption (regardless of religious denomination) through the sacrificial death of His son Jesus Christ.
11. WE BELIEVE...A Divinely Called and Scripturally Ordained Leadership Ministry Serves the Church. The Bible teaches that each of us under leadership must commit ourselves to reach others for Christ, to worship Him with other believers, to build up or edify the body of believers–the Church and to Meet human need with ministries of love and compassion.
12. WE BELIEVE...Divine Healing of the Sick is a Privilege for Christians Today and is provided for in Christ's atonement (His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins). [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the AG]
13. WE BELIEVE...in The Blessed Hope—When Jesus Raptures His Church Prior to His Return to Earth (the second coming). At this future moment in time all believers who have died will rise from their graves and will meet the Lord in the air, and Christians who are alive will be caught up with them, to be with the Lord forever. [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the AG]
14. WE BELIEVE...in The Millennial Reign of Christ when Jesus returns with His saints at His second coming and begins His benevolent rule over earth for 1,000 years. This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel and the establishment of universal peace.
15. WE BELIEVE...A Final Judgment Will Take Place for those who have rejected Christ. They will be judged for their sin and consigned to eternal punishment in a punishing lake of fire.
16. WE BELIEVE...and look forward to the perfect New Heavens and a New Earththat Christ is preparing for all people, of all time, who have accepted Him. We will live and dwell with Him there forever following His millennial reign on Earth. 'And so shall we forever be with the Lord!'

Thanks Suzy, It's good to hear more about the family.

 

[David Evarts]

I am an Apostolic Pentecostal. We are basically Bible-based Christians; we follow the Holy word of God, and live by what it teaches.

Thanks Jesus Freak. Can you tell me more about when and how Apostolic Pentecostals were founded and how your worship, history and understanding of the Bible may vary from other brancehs of the family of Christ. Is there something special and unique about your denomination? Does it serve people who may not be comfortable meeting Christ in other church settings? Your enquiring relatives in body want to know.

 

[Episaw]

Just a couple of thoughts. What we say we believe and what we actually believe can be two entirely different things.

I am part of the church that started on the day of Pentecost. It had its beginnings in the homes of the believers where they met for teaching, prayer, fellowship and meals.

I believe this same church gave expression to the priesthood of all believers and did not have any paid clergy because everyone contributed to the spiritual life of the fellowship as the Spirit gave them utterance.

That is what we do. We meet in homes. We don't pay anyone to be a christian. We don't ordain anyone as the Holy Spirit does that by annointing people for ministry at any given time and we are all about relationship and reality, not religion and ritual.

We are quite a new branch of that church. One home has been meeting for about five years, another four years, another three years and another two. We are focusing on starting up many more churches in homes and are asking God for a breakthough in reaching unreachable young people.

We are very laid back and unstructured, so anything can happen at any time. We don't run our gathering by the clock. We start when we start and we finish when we finish.

One home group for ladies meets during the day and they reach outsiders with art and craft activities. My wife who is an artist and art teacher runs that.

One home meets on Sunday about 5.30pm and it can finish anytime up to midnight depending what the Spirit is doing. Another one meets on a Sunday morning and has often finished at one or two in the afternoon.

The fourth one meets on a Tuesday night and spends it time eating a meal together.

As you can see we don't have a one size fits all mentality, preferring each fellowship to determine its destiny by who attends and who it wants to reach.

The great thing about this church it is very inexpensive to run and when you start up another one it doesn't cost a single dollar. That means you can put all you efforts and money into people, not building funds, mortgages and maintenance.

From what I can see it is becoming increasingly popular, both in the West and overseas. I read about a home church ministry in india that had 100,000 involved and they all met in homes.

I am led to believe it is happening in a big way in the USA as well.

 

[xfisherman]

sorry wrong post

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Hi, I'm a Confessional Lutheran. We are catholic, but not Roman Catholic, we are orthodox, but not Eastern Orthodox. We worship using the Historic Liturgies of Christendom, both East and West; we are not bounded or fettered by legalism, following the principals of the five Solas. We take Scripture literally.

 

[David Evarts]

Hi Mark. Well met. I'm amused by your pints.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Hi Mark. Well met. I'm amused by your pints.

Grab one, and enjoy!

 

[Adam Warlock]

I'm an Anglican. Like Mark's Lutherans, we use historic liturgies in worship. We're pretty close to the Catholic Church in many ways, but we're influenced by Reformation thought in others. We're surprisingly widespread (all over the world!), and many of us are in Africa. Historically, our particular "flavor" of Christianity dates back to the evangelization of Britain. The original Archbishop of Canterbury lived at the end of the 6th century, and the holder of that office is still a central figure in our Communion! Not a Pope, and not quite a Patriarch, but definitely a person of great importance and a connection to the early days of the Church.

We're much more Western than Eastern, despite having quite a few people outside the typical "Western" lands. Like you, David, I'd love to learn more about the ancient & far-flung corners of Christianity!

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Hi Mark. Well met. I'm amused by your pints.

Grab a pint from my siggi, Beer and Theology are most compatible!

 

[Lord Herdsetk]

Right now, I'm in a state of spiritual free fall, so I guess I really don't have a 'form'.

To be honest, I'm not very religious. I believe in God and Christ, but I don't like structure. Maybe its just because I haven't found a good church yet =\

 

[Mr Dave]

Hi there

I belong to the Methodist Church of Great Britain. We came to be in the 18th century in Great Britain and have our roots in the Church of England. We were founded by the brothers the Rev. John and Charles Wesley originally as a Bible study group which grew out of control. As it was intended to supplement Sunday worship in the local anglican parish, not replace it, the structure today is as it was then; there are itinerant ministers (ministers which have several churches, and move between them and every few years move around the country) whilst the rest of the services are taken by non-ordained local preachers. The church structure is Connexional, with decisions coming from the top down. We do not have Bishops, but we have Presbyteral ministers and deacons.

Whilst our statement of faith comes in the form or the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds, our specific theology is termed 'the four alls'

All need to be saved (The Doctrine of Original Sin)
All may be saved (The Doctrine of Unlimited Atonement)
All may know themselves saved (The Doctrine of Assurance)
All may be saved to the uttermost (The Doctrine of Christian Perfection)

We are liturgical with a liturgy very similar to that of the Church of England.
We take Holy Communion once a month.
We recognise two sacraments; Holy Communion and Baptism, although we acknowledge that other things (marriage for example) may be sacramental in nature.

 

[Episaw]

The original Archbishop of Canterbury lived at the end of the 6th century, and the holder of that office is still a central figure in our Communion! Not a Pope, and not quite a Patriarch, but definitely a person of great importance and a connection to the early days of the Church.

Just a small correction. The Archbishop of Canturbury did not live at the end of the 6th century as the Anglican Church (Church of England) did not come into being until the 16th Century when King Henry VIII split from the Roman Catholic Church and formed the Church of England which he became the head of. The position of the Archbishop of Canturbury came into being after that event.

The reigning monarch of England, currently Queen Elizabeth II, is still head of the Church of England.

 

[ViaCrucis]

Just a small correction. The Archbishop of Canturbury did not live at the end of the 6th century as the Anglican Church (Church of England) did not come into being until the 16th Century when King Henry VIII split from the Roman Catholic Church and formed the Church of England which he became the head of. The position of the Archbishop of Canturbury came into being after that event.

The reigning monarch of England, currently Queen Elizabeth II, is still head of the Church of England.

St. Augustine of Canterbury was the first Archbishop of Canterbury, he filled the post at the end of the 6th century.

-CryptoLutheran