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Hey, Y'all. I wondered why is it that we have so many different denominations in christianity? I have not chosen a denomination. My parents took us from one to the next and I grew up pretty danged confused. I got curious about wicca and some other types of religion because I didnt know where I belong. I believe in God yet I have alot of respect for wicca and people in Islam and I think that maybe my parents not leaving us to one particular branch christianity helped make me to not grow to be one of the many close minded and judgmental christians that I know. lots of other christians i know call them selves people of god and speak of gods love yet they are racist and hatefull. Youll hear them use the n word quicker than anyone. I dont go to church because of these things and all the denomination confusion. Why have all this denomination when they all believe in the same God? life is confusing enough i say.
I did not read any of the other responses. I might not be able to answer you with details but I will let you know my opinions and thoughts of your questions.
I myself was raised as a catholic. My step fathers nanny was johova witness, and My step father is baptist. So there were times that we went to the catholic church and sometimes we went to the baptist church. Johova witness, no offense to any, but when I went there not all dressed up and a visiter they looked at me like I did not belong and that I was not welcomed.
As far as I am concerned Protestant, Catholic, Baptist,Orthadox, and Pentocost, and others that maybe I missed. They all teach about the same God, they all teach about Jesus Christ, but each church has a different outlook on the bible. Each church has a different history and some of the churches broke away from the catholic church to start their own with differing opinions and beliefs. The churches pray differently have different customs and different ways of carrying out the word of God, and mass.
For me I was actually opened to trying out other denominations and my grandfather would say you know how many years that this church has been in our family, but Now as an adult I find myself open to other churches other teachers but I feel most comfortable in the Catholic church.
As far as judgemental, as far as hyprocrital people you get them everywhere and anywhere but not all are like this.
I had someone tell me because I do not go to church 1 a week but this person does in so many words he is a better christian then I am. The way I feel though is that it is not how many times you go but how you live your life on a everyday basis and how you treat each other. Being judgemental and hypocritical is against the teachings of God and Jesus. There are some churches where you go in not looking your best and people frown and judge you for not wearing the proper dress(Dresscode) yet Jesus excepts us all, especially the humble at heart.
Well What do you think about what I wrote? For me personal I think everybody is in a growing path and that there is not one perfect choice of denomination. My advice to you is if you really want to start a path to a denomination or spiritual adventure. Go to different denominations attend a service at different churches and denominations then whichever one that makes you feel the most comfortable the one that moves you the most spiritual, stick with that one.
What I also found even in the catholic church in the last three months I have been to three different catholic churches. Each one was different in some way and I like one over the other two for certain reasons. It all depends on the priest and what community you are in.
Well I think I wrote enough and please reply to what I wrote I am interested in what you think.
I certainly didn't mean to be offensive to anyone, but it appears I struck a nerve in at least one person here, and for that I apologize. All I was trying to convey is that in my OPINION the bible should be the basis for any religion calling themselves Christian. We all have our own belief system and I do not believe I was trying to convert anyone to my way of thinking, only giving advice to look to the bible for accuracy. I was baptized Catholic before my parents were divorced, then attended mulitple churches of my dad's choosing throughout my upbringing including, Methodist, Presbyterian, Assembly of God, and a few others I can't even remember. The end result was a very confused me! I didn't attend church for many years as a young adult due to the fact I didn't know who was "right". I still believed in God and I bought a study bible to help me understand the teachings of Christ and biblical principles. After many years, I longed to fellowship with other like-minded Christians. I chose the church that I did, because the teachings are purely bible based, and everything I have been taught can be found in the bible. This wasn't always the case with other churches I attended. I can find no reference to pergatory in the bible, along with a lot of other religious beliefs I was taught growing up. I chose to join a church who can back up it's teachings through the bible. I know this sounds over-simplified but I don't pretend to be a scholar of religion or the bible for that matter. I have read it, and re-read many books of it, but I don't pretend knowledge I don't have. All I can share is my own experience and the joy I have known since accepting Jesus as my savior, and making him Lord of my life. After re-reading my post, I wish I had left out the blah, blah blah, but I was alluding to my own personal experience with a multiple religion upbringing and the confusion it brought to my life until I sought out the truth as stated in the bible. All said and told, I am not trying to minimize anyone else's belief system or religion, only relaying my own experience.
I think it was the "blah blah blah" that annoyed people, Dana... not your religious beliefs. When I'm talking and someone says, "blah, blah, blah" to me, I feel as if they're dismissing everything I'm saying or else just telling me to shut up. Thanks for explaining it a bit better.
I agree with you Orange, and point well taken. Hindsight is always 20/20 and again, the blah blah blah was read out of the context I originally intended it to be. After I read it again, I was a bit mortified at how it actually "sounded". I did sound rather condescending opening a post that way. Much apologies and future posts will be read twice before I hit submit. Thanks for the response. I can accept and appreciate constructive critisicm. Hugs to all I offended.
I think the best church I went to was with my favorite cousin and his family when i was a preteen. It took place in this familys basement and everyone wore jeans, t-shirt and sneakers. You could dance if you felt like dancing and sing too and no one judged but everyone would dance and sing with you. They had a guitar player and a couple that sang and the preacher had a nice smelling after shave and when he talked it was like he was talking soley to you. They also did cute little skits and plays.
Personally I like a church with authority. Of the 3000 or so denominations only a few have earth and heaven authority. I speak of "The Church" as mentioned in the Holy bible as the foundation (or ground) and pillar of the truth. That Church was founded by Jesus Christ on Simon whom Jesus named as Peter or The Rock who was the original leader of the apostles as the bible indicates.
Yes I like a Church that goes by what the Bible teaches and indicates. As such I changed from the church I grew up with to the Catholic Church, because it has the Christ given earthly authority and was inspired by the Holy Spirit to promulgate The Holy Bible.
Nearly all of the other denominations teach some fairly good Christianity, but for full true Christianity complete with the God given graces of the Sacraments the members partake of the Catholic Churches of Eastern and Roman rite in communion with each other are for me the way to go.
And I do recommend that others seriously consider looking into that.
Peace and kindness,
arcura (Fred)
Most of you know I'm a Catholic Christian - and agree wholeheartedly.
I was raised in a sincere Christian (Protestant) home. For that I am incredibly greatful.
But in my more inquisitive years, it hit me: What about the first 1500 years?
Christ founded a Church, set up the Apostles to lead it and gave them and their successors authority over his Church. The books of the New Testament show this clearly. And even after that, we have tens of dozens of writings that tell us what Christianity taught.
Only after about 1500 years of Christianity do we find leaders espousing the "invisible Church" and "sola scriptura" doctrines.
It was after the first 1500 years that those heresies crept in to spread around the world in the next 500.
And that is sad.
So many millions have been lead astray.
Perhaps the most dangerous one is the so-called "Know so salvation" of sola scriptora.
The adherents to that one use the trick of selective verse manipulation to lead people to believe that the teaching is biblical when it is really not.
The bible is full of passages that insist one must have faith and work it, but those are skipped over or ignored.
The fact that there are over 3000 different denominations and the list keeps growing should be a wake up call to an intelligent mind that there is something seriously wrong there.
Peace and kindness,
Arcura (Fred)
Christianity in its pure form is any and all believers, no titles not real man made doctrine just people living thier lives for the glory of God.
Of course in the matter of man, man wants to rule and contol all things so we as human mess it all up.
Most know I am Orthodox Catholic, so I do not defend it or attack others for it.
I was a regular guest speaker at a local methodist church for over a year and found good christian friends there.
The divisions of man started before the end of the Bible, we only have to read the letters of Paul to see how man started doing this or that different and Pauls letters are corrections to them. So it did not end at the last writing of Paul, but churches continued to want to and try to follow incorrect paths, and the church leaders after Paul and after John and after Peter had to deal with them. But even as all did not fully accept Paul, others never accepted this new leader ( now called Bishops) or that leader.
During the first 1000 years the church was not merley one unit, but made up of various churches each under thier own Bishop normally. As man does they looked up to and/or followed the Bishops of the larger or largest churches in an area. We see this at the very first church councils, divisions first by some beleifs and then by division as to where the churches were located.
There were disagreements, over the trinity, over the human nature of Christ, over the divine nature of Christ. Over the proper creed and so on.
It was never a 100 percent agreement. But though it all and inspite of mans desires the spirit control and allowed the truth to prevail.
Was there sin and corruption in the early church, of course as it is in all churches today. We see early how a husband and wife sold some property and in an attempt to look big to the eyes of the church lied about how much it sold for. They paid the price, today more often than not, you will not be struck dead for a lie to the church but the example of mans sin is seen early in church history.
I love and respect all Christians and beleive we are saved often in spite of our denominatin because of the love of Christ.
It is the lifestyle that shows if we are christian or not, the denomination or any public profession means little.
Last week these two Mormom (LDS) came to my door. I guess the stautue of Mary in the front yard did not scare them away.
I had them come in, I knew of thier faith, so I did not offer them a soda but offered them apple juice or water, told them to sit down and rest. I found they had rode thier bikes 15 miles to our community and was going now door to door. I invited them back if there were in the area and hungy ever.
Would not Christ had done the same to any man.
They were respective of my faith as I was of thiers ( although they still left me one of those little mail in cards) I had shocked them in that I had actually read the Book of Mormon at least 3 times and may have know some of it better than they did.
So yes I do beleive I have the best denomination but I will not fault you for your faith, but it is having a faith in Jesus that is the most important. yes I believe I have a special closeness because of the sacraments that I have but I beleive it is in the living of our faith that we prove it.
It is difficult to define "believer", so it is a reasonable thing for a person to investigate Historical Christianity to help them decide where to go to worship - and get good direction that is based on good doctrine.
For example, Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons call themselves Christians, but I, personally, have to disagree...but without attack of any sort.
It's a tough ground to play in helping folk determine what is good Christian doctrine and what is not.
Sola Scriptura being a perfect example: It's not found in the Bible, and it's not found as a teaching by "church leaders" until many centuries later.
...so while I recognize Protestants to be Christians, I must also, when asked, point out that Sola Scriptura is not a doctrine taught by Christ or his Apostles.
...of course all I've said in this brief post is addressed in literally thousands of volumes - so justice cannot be done in a post or three...
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