At Ask Me Help Desk you can ask questions in any topic and have them
answered for free by our experts. To ask questions or participate in
answering them you must register for a free account. By registering you
will be able to:
Get free answers from experts in any of our 300+
topics.
I want to know how many different types of christianity there are, and what they do. If you are reading this and you are a christian, what is the name of your group? And how do you know you are the right group? Do your prayers get answered and if so, how?
I am a christian, but i feel discouraged by the fact that there are so many different groups and they all believe themselves to be right. I'm not sure whether we just believe what we were brought up to believe or if we actually believe it ourselves. I'm wondering if I only believe because this is all i know, or if this is actually the right way.
Another question i would like to ask is, how did you come across your group, were you brought up in it or did you find it some other way?
I am far from a Bible scholar, and can't answer all your questions, and the seeming contradictions, but here is my take on it.
The Old Testament was about all the rules and regulations to be 'right' with God.
Frankly, its depressing and hard. Alot of the Old Testament is Jewish History and not necessarily doctrinal.
The New Testament and the Gospels [the good news] is about hope and love. That God would send His Son to die for our sins. The Ten Commandments point out our sins and a need for redemption and salvation. In Matthew 5 lust is adultery, in 1 John Hate is murder.
No one can be'good' enough. Romans 3. But it is joyful to know that faith is all you need -
Ephesians 2
It is like having a strict father. Bs in school are not good enough, it has to be an A. A single is not good enough, it has to be a homerun etc.. For that you get a paddling.
Awhile later you are taken hostage, and they demand a ransom from your father or they will torture and kill you. You think your father, the one who was strict, you were never good enough for, would leave you to your fate. But instead he sacrifices himself - takes the torture and death - for your life. Its then you realize how much he loves you, and how much you want to please him. There is no fear because you know he loves you.
All too common a question these days, I'm afraid. I'm not sure my answer will satisfy you, but I'll put it down anyway.
I was raised in the Methodist church, and until I was an adult, I never knew anything different. Once an adult, I sorta left the church (and Christianity in general), because I just didn't see how all the stuff that got preached to me (most of the sermons sounded more like seminary lectures) really MATTERED out there in the world where the rubber meets the road. Sure, I still believed in God and all that, but wasn't sure if He was what had been represented to me all those years. So I fooled around with other stuff like Buddhism, New Age junk, even looked into Islam and Mormonism a little.
However, various events in my life transpired in such a way as to get my full and undivided attention, and to make a VERY long story short, I ended up back in my hometown after many years, sitting in the same pew of the same church I grew up in. I began taking graduate level courses to reinforce and bolster my knowledge of the faith, and that's where I started running into trouble.
I'm not going to slam any denomination, but I decided for reasons of my own that this particular denomination did not "mesh" with what I had learned thus far, and so began seeking. I found myself in a non-denominational church whose members included folks that had come from Methodist, Baptist, Church of Christ, Catholic, Lutheran, and just about any other denomination you care to name. All of us, down to a person, believe that the name on the door of the church is completely and totally irrelevant, and actually seems to be doing more to DIVIDE God's people than unite them.
So there you have it---I am a non-denominational, Bible-believing, semi-educated Christian who believes that--as Christians of all denominations--we have far more in common than different, and is actively working for unity among ALL who call themselves by Christ's name.
[quote=kindj]All too common a question these days, I'm afraid. I'm not sure my answer will satisfy you, but I'll put it down anyway.
I was raised in the Methodist church, and until I was an adult, I never knew anything different. Once an adult, I sorta left the church (and Christianity in general), because I just didn't see how all the stuff that got preached to me (most of the sermons sounded more like seminary lectures) really MATTERED out there in the world where the rubber meets the road. Sure, I still believed in God and all that, but wasn't sure if He was what had been represented to me all those years. So I fooled around with other stuff like Buddhism, New Age junk, even looked into Islam and Mormonism a little.
However, various events in my life transpired in such a way as to get my full and undivided attention, and to make a VERY long story short, I ended up back in my hometown after many years, sitting in the same pew of the same church I grew up in. I began taking graduate level courses to reinforce and bolster my knowledge of the faith, and that's where I started running into trouble.
I'm not going to slam any denomination, but I decided for reasons of my own that this particular denomination did not "mesh" with what I had learned thus far, and so began seeking. I found myself in a non-denominational church whose members included folks that had come from Methodist, Baptist, Church of Christ, Catholic, Lutheran, and just about any other denomination you care to name. All of us, down to a person, believe that the name on the door of the church is completely and totally irrelevant, and actually seems to be doing more to DIVIDE God's people than unite them.
So there you have it---I am a non-denominational, Bible-believing, semi-educated Christian who believes that--as Christians of all denominations--we have far more in common than different, and is actively working for unity among ALL who call themselves by Christ's name.
Clear as mud now, ain't it?
Kindj,
Don't leave out the most important part of all of this....that we Must be born again!
(Joh 3:1) There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
(Joh 3:2) The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
(Joh 3:3) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
(Joh 3:4) Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
(Joh 3:5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
(Joh 3:6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
(Joh 3:7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
(Joh 3:8) The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
(Joh 3:9) Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
(Joh 3:10) Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
(Joh 3:11) Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
(Joh 3:12) If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
(Joh 3:13) And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
(Joh 3:14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
(Joh 3:15) That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
(Joh 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
(Joh 3:17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
However, various events in my life transpired in such a way as to get my full and undivided attention, and to make a VERY long story short, I ended up back in my hometown after many years, sitting in the same pew of the same church I grew up in. I began taking graduate level courses to reinforce and bolster my knowledge of the faith, and that's where I started running into trouble.
DK
I think that the key to this post is "various events in my life transpired in such a way as to get my full and undivided attention..." I truly think that those kinds of events seem necessary for some reason to get most Christians' attention. I had come to the end of my rope as a very heavy drug user and alcoholic. It took nearly 10 years of broken relationships, vehicle accidents, overdoses, jail time, lost money and heavy debt, etc. to finally reach a point where I had to make a decision. When I was in the early stages of cirrhosis of the liver (at age 24) I knew I had to turn to a power greater than myself and that power was Jesus Christ. I'm now 47 and much healthier than I was in my 20s. I give all credit, praise, and glory to Jesus Christ for giving me the strength and the tools to recover from that nightmare. Other people come to Christ through living other experiences. I like to hear the stories.
Poppa said: "Don't leave out the most important part of all of this....that we Must be born again!"
I tried to rate your post but was told I "had to spread my ratings around before I could rate you again"?????????
Anyway, you're absolutely correct. That's what's so difficult about discussing Chrsitianity with non-believers. We're really in two different places or plains which makes it virtually impossible to connect. On the other hand, how will non-believers ever hear the gospel if they don't hear it preached?
Poppa said: "Don't leave out the most important part of all of this....that we Must be born again!"
I tried to rate your post but was told I "had to spread my ratings around before I could rate you again"?????????
Anyway, you're absolutely correct. That's what's so difficult about discussing Chrsitianity with non-believers. We're really in two different places or plains which makes it virtually impossible to connect. On the other hand, how will non-believers ever hear the gospel if they don't hear it preached?
AMEN! it is the TRUTH that sets us free!!!
(Rom 10:9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
(Rom 10:10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(Rom 10:11) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Hey need karma,
Your ignorance, immaturity, and obvious lack of the fear of God is so plain for all to see. Since you seem to be so intent on "bending" the Scripture with you childish actions,I will caution you about this by sharing a scripture with you...Galatians 6:7,8..Be not deceived, God is not mocked:for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. I fear for you when you don't have the sense to fear for yourself. You need to repent and beg the forgiveness of a merciful God.
NeedKarma,
This was in no way meant to be a "personal attack". The answer was strong because I believe the Bible teaches very strongly that each of us will stand before a just God and give an account for everything we've done or sais. I am sorry if I offended you.
[B](2Co 5:10) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
(2Co 5:11) Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.[/b]
Linear Mode
