What denomination am I?

[bibleblevr]

So far, only 1 member voted other than "other". Was this supposed to be a serious poll

Yes, but I now regret adding the "other" option, because it yields no useful information. The purpose of the poll was to better understand which denomination my views are most similar to, or which would be most accepting of my views, not to find out that I don't fit in any category, I already know that!

I don't care if the denomination fits me perfectly, I know that my personal theology is certainly flawed in multiple places, and I am open to change. I hold to my views simply because, at this time in my spiritial development,It is my opinion that scripture and reason best indicate that the belifs I hold are correct.

 

[Anoetos]

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Yes, but I now regret adding the "other" option, because it yields no useful information. The purpose of the poll was to better understand which denomination my views are most similar to, or which would be most accepting of my views, not to find out that I don't fit in any category, I already know that!

I don't care if the denomination fits me perfectly, I know that my personal theology is certainly flawed in multiple places, and I am open to change. I hold to my views simply because, at this time in my spiritial development,It is my opinion that scripture and reason best indicate that the belifs I hold are correct.

I understand and I apologize for the laughing smiley.

But when I saw 2 RCs voting "other" instead of "RC", it made me giggle a bit but perhaps, like I mentioned earlier, neither they or the EOs view themselves as "Denominations". God bless
Steve

http://www.christianforums.com/t7230052-22/#post46816576
Apparently --Catholics are now a "Denomination"

 

[laconicstudent]

heh, that's awful. Or funny? Both simultaneously?

 

[Tangible]

Hmmm, but I don't like the whole charismatic atmosphere, it would be great if the church simply accepted and promoted the charismatic gifts, not centered their worship around them.

Actually my conservative Lutheran denomination has a few rogue pastors that promote Charismatic-y stuff, but if the upcoming synodical election goes the way I have been praying for, toleration of that kind of stuff should wane dramatically.

Our historical Lutheran Confessions come down squarely on the non-Charismatic side of the issue. Word and Sacrament, Theology of the Cross, all that good Lutheran stuff is pretty antithetical to the whole Charismatic setup.

I have been leaning towards the Lutheran, I think next Sunday, I will visit one of their churches and talk to the priest.

I hope you have a great visit. Our first visit to an LCMS Lutheran church was life changing for us. I highly recommend speaking one-on-one with the pastor. Most likely he'll try to arrange a home visit if possible.

You might not want to refer to the pastor as a priest, though, just so you don't get off on the wrong foot.

 

[Anoetos]

Five point Lutherans (and I have known some, I even tried to be one at a time in my life) are generally marginalized persons. It's an unhappy existence.

 

[Tangible]

Five point Lutherans (and I have known some, I even tried to be one at a time in my life) are generally marginalized persons. It's an unhappy existence.

LOL. What's a five point Lutheran?

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Five point Lutherans (and I have known some, I even tried to be one at a time in my life) are generally marginalized persons. It's an unhappy existence.

Well, as Tiny Tim once sang

http://www.christianforums.com/t7382164-127/#post52293555

 

[Anoetos]

Well, in my case it was a Lutheran who was fine with Lutheran theology but who could not let go of the doctrines of grace (TULIP).

That said, I jokingly recommended the Episcopal Church, but really, a mainline "liberal" communion is probably the only place the author of the OP is going to have the freedom to be and believe all the things he wants to.

 

[Tangible]

Well, in my case it was a Lutheran who was fine with Lutheran theology but who could not let go of the doctrines of grace (TULIP).

Yeah, there's one of those floating around here on CF. Trying to fit the Lutheran Confessions into the TULIP framework would be a frustrating endeavor. No wonder he wasn't a happy camper.

Confessional Lutherans would probably be only 1 1/2 point Calvinists at best. T is fine, U is ok as applied only to the elect, L I and P are pretty much right out.

 

[bibleblevr]

I understand and I apologize for the laughing smiley.

No problem

But when I saw 2 RCs voting "other" instead of "RC", it made me giggle a bit

Giggle as much a you like my friend!

 

[bibleblevr]

You might not want to refer to the pastor as a priest, though, just so you don't get off on the wrong foot.

Good to know

 

[Tangible]

biblelevr, I'll boldly take the opportunity to recommend to you very highly an excellent introductory book on Lutheranism that I found to be invaluable when I first began exploring Lutheran Christianity.

Click on the link below and read the reviews.

The Spirituality of the Cross: The Way of the First Evangelicals, by Gene Edward Veith

The author, Gene Veith, has also written a short essay that is well worth the time to read. Evangelical Catholics and Confessional Evangelicals: The Ecumenical Polarities of Lutheranism

 

[Anoetos]

The Spirituality of the Cross: The Way of the First Evangelicals, by Gene Edward Veith

Ditto. This is a really excellent book.

 

[bibleblevr]

I might have to give that book a try!

BTW it is interesting I have two votes for anglicism. Personally I agree more with the Catholics then them, mostly on maters of communion and non-straight priests. furthermore, I don't like the fact that the reason for the Anglician church's conception was to allow for divorce. Not a great way to kick off a Christian community in my opinion, and what is with making th ing the head of the church? that seem like a horrible idea.

 

[Dark_Lite]

I might have to give that book a try!

BTW it is interesting I have two votes for anglicism. Personally I agree more with the Catholics then them, mostly on maters of communion and non-straight priests. furthermore, I don't like the fact that the reason for the Anglician church's conception was to allow for divorce. Not a great way to kick off a Christian community in my opinion, and what is with making th ing the head of the church? that seem like a horrible idea.

Maybe you should look into the Old Catholics.

 

[Aibrean]

Lutheran's don't have priests ^.^ My mom went to our service for Easter and went back later to go to her church to teach Sunday school and told the women about our "priest" and they kept telling her Lutheran's don't have priests and she said he was one then I told her at Easter lunch that they are called pastors and she said "oh now I have to go tell them they were right and I was wrong".

I would agree, not a confessional Lutheran though. Probably wouldn't do so well in LCMS/WELS but probably OK in an ELCA (and hopefully you could get over the women/gayness).

 

[Anoetos]

Lutheran's don't have priests ^.^ My mom went to our service for Easter and went back later to go to her church to teach Sunday school and told the women about our "priest" and they kept telling her Lutheran's don't have priests and she said he was one then I told her at Easter lunch that they are called pastors and she said "oh now I have to go tell them they were right and I was wrong".

I would agree, not a confessional Lutheran though. Probably wouldn't do so well in LCMS/WELS but probably OK in an ELCA (and hopefully you could get over the women/gayness).

Well, they're not ALL lesbians...

 

[Sphinx777]

Society of Jesus

.​

 

[mark46]

OK, you have a very confused confession of faith and are seeking a place to work out your salvation, as Paul would have framed it.

My guess is that a Lutheran Church is a fine place to begin. Understand that there are a wide variety. I would certainly check web sites first. I trust that soon you confession will be a bit more consistent, with fewer petals of the tulip,

I would be most concerned with where you heart for the charisms might be recognized and expressed. Tangible can advise, but perhaps AALC may be better for that than ELCA.

I am looking for a denomination, but I am having a difficult time choosing which one. Here are some of my beliefs, feel free to ask about other ones, or to ask for further explanation of what I believe:

1 I am a full TULIP Calvinist
2 I ask intersession from Mary
3 I believe in transubstantiation
4 I believe that the Bible is not inherent, but it is inspired.
5 I believe that the charismatic gifts are for today
6 I think purgatory is a place for beautifying the elect, not punishing them.
7 I am an annihilationist
8 I don't believe the sacraments are required for salvation.
9 I don't believe that sins should be confessed to a priest
10 I don't believe the pope is infallible
11 I am a premilenialist
12 I lean towards young earth creationism
13 The OT laws are not still valid today, only what they teach is
14 I don't believe in penal substitution, but rather a substitutionary/ransom view