What are the differences?

[Logeth]

Hello! I hope I post this in the right section!
I am very interested in the differences between the same denomination from different countries. Not for judging or criticizing, but it is so interesting for me to see that people from the same denomination can act, behave and think so different from a country to other. I am sorry for my spelling&grammar, but I am still learning English.

So, in my country, or at least in my city (even though I think that this is the situation in every city), in the two main protestant cults that are legal (pentecostal, baptist) women HAVE to wear a scarf or something that covers all her hair and a skirt(sometimes they even measure the skirt to see if it is too short/long!). OK, in many churches they won't force you, but if you go dressed with pants they will really look strange at you. Sometimes, they even believe that you are going in hell if you don't obey this (I have read an article on the internet and there were people there who were actually saying this!). The even more saddest thing is that now, in the baptist cult from the nord-east part of Romania, churches get divided because they can't decide weather women should tie their scarf at the neck or at the backhead! Do you have the same problems in your country?

Another issue is who churches receive unchristians. So, I have a very good friend that was an atheist, but then he just realized that God exists. He went to the biggest protestant church from my city, but many men didn't even want to shake his hand, because he had a tattoo. People were rejecting him because of this. .

I also have a question about women in church. I understand the fact that churches don't let women preach, and I think this happens everywhere, but, if women are not allowed to speak in churches, why are they allowed to pray or sing? Isn't this also a way of speaking?

 

[Mr Dave]

Hi there logeth, welcome to the site.

I'm a Methodist, and we're fairly standard the world over, but the big difference between American and British Methodism is that Americans have Bishops and we don't. Sorry this post couldn't have been more interesting

You don't need to apologise for your English, you speak really well

 

[Logeth]

Haha! Thanks for answering! I don't know any Methodist church in my city; does this faith exist only in some countries?

 

[GarrickBrewer]

Wow, that is totaly different than the american pentacostals. We let women dress however they want, and we will welcome anyone into church, if they are there they must want to learn about Jesus and they are welcome. As for women they are equal, it says in the bible God does not care is you are a man or a women a greek or a jew. There are women preachers and missionaries and evangalists all across the united states.

 

[Mr Dave]

Haha! Thanks for answering! I don't know any Methodist church in my city; does this faith exist only in some countries?

Haha no worries. It became very big in the English speaking world, but possibly less so elsewhere.


Checking for Romania....

The Methodist Church in Britain | Our Partner Churches


Eurasia: Bishop Hans Vaxby, The United Methodist Church in Eurasia, Moscow - Tel/Fax: 007 499 242 1774 E-Mail: office@umc-eurasia.ru

Central and Southern Europe: Bishop Dr Patrick Streiff, Evangelisch-Methodistische Kirche, Zürich - Tel: 00 41 1 299 3060 E-Mail: bischof@umc_europe.org

 

[bbbbbbb]

Hello! I hope I post this in the right section!
I am very interested in the differences between the same denomination from different countries. Not for judging or criticizing, but it is so interesting for me to see that people from the same denomination can act, behave and think so different from a country to other. I am sorry for my spelling&grammar, but I am still learning English.

So, in my country, or at least in my city (even though I think that this is the situation in every city), in the two main protestant cults that are legal (pentecostal, baptist) women HAVE to wear a scarf or something that covers all her hair and a skirt(sometimes they even measure the skirt to see if it is too short/long!). OK, in many churches they won't force you, but if you go dressed with pants they will really look strange at you. Sometimes, they even believe that you are going in hell if you don't obey this (I have read an article on the internet and there were people there who were actually saying this!). The even more saddest thing is that now, in the baptist cult from the nord-east part of Romania, churches get divided because they can't decide weather women should tie their scarf at the neck or at the backhead! Do you have the same problems in your country?

Another issue is who churches receive unchristians. So, I have a very good friend that was an atheist, but then he just realized that God exists. He went to the biggest protestant church from my city, but many men didn't even want to shake his hand, because he had a tattoo. People were rejecting him because of this. .

I also have a question about women in church. I understand the fact that churches don't let women preach, and I think this happens everywhere, but, if women are not allowed to speak in churches, why are they allowed to pray or sing? Isn't this also a way of speaking?

I attend a Christian brethren assembly and know that there are brethren assemblies in Romania. You might know of them. In the United States there are many varieties of assemblies. Some are very much like the churches you describe, although none are nearly as particular about various rules. However, there are informal rules. Some assemblies require women to wear hats and do not allow scarves. Others require lace scarves but frown on hats. Still others make it an optional matter and consider a small round lace doily to be a head covering.

The brethren started in England and many of our divisions reflect divisions that took place in England. Also, we have immigrants who bring with them the various traditions of the assemblies of their countries. There are a lot of Indian believers here and, in some places, there are entire assemblies composed only of Indians. I also know of an Italian assembly here.

I think it is a good thing to understand how and why believers in other countries do things in church. It also helps me to know what is actually important and what really does not matter.

 

[makingchristiandisciples]

I've never been to your country. I know in America, most Baptist churches (SBC) don't concern themselves in whether a woman wears pants or a dress. Independent Baptists often have concern over this. I know of no Baptist churches here that require scarves or hats. In our culture, many people don't like markings on the body, regardless of even they are Christians are not. I think God loves us all equally. One of the things I love about my church is that you can come with piercings, tattoos, markings, etc. No one is concerned with those things. Everyone is concerned that the gospel is spread and that is the main issue. God bless you!