Choosing a Denomination

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Willie-T

Willie-T

Banned
#41
Feb 7, 2015
22,418
413
0
#41
...................................................DBASA LOL
 
Grace777x70

Grace777x70

Banned
#42
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,431
0
#42
That made me laugh..I wonder if the people back in the apostolic days asked each other.."Do you have a Strong's concordance?"...how about a Greek Interlinear?...how could you possibly understand what we are saying without these??


JesusIsAll said:
Hmm... Being a person who can only understand low liturgy, it must be like what the New Testament translators said, "It's all Greek to me!"
Click to expand...
 
3

3Scoreand10

Guest
#43
#43
Willie-T said:
...................................................DBASA LOL
Click to expand...
Should I be offended by that remark?
Remember some of us are slower than others.
 
T

Todd7181

Guest
#46
#46
I Googled REC and got Reformed Episcopal Church which makes sense with the conversation. If you dont know what something means just Google it! :)
 
Nikki84

Nikki84

Banned
#47
Jan 26, 2016
382
2
0
#47
Todd7181 said:
I Googled REC and got Reformed Episcopal Church which makes sense with the conversation. If you dont know what something means just Google it! :)
Click to expand...
Thanx for the info, that does make sense. And,BTW you guys are too funny! :)
 
Dan58

Dan58

Senior Member
#48
Nov 13, 2013
1,991
339
83
#48
Todd7181 said:
I'm trying to decide what denomination to devote myself to. I have studied them fairly intensively over the past two years but just can't settle on one.
Click to expand...
I personally avoid denominations, they each hold to their own traditions which often detracts from the Truth. Its important to remember that Jesus did not start a denomination or build a church, but simply referred to all that believe in him as his church. Devote yourself to that, settling on Christ is enough. You might also consider a biblically based nondenominational church, I find it less confusing than all the doctrine that comes with organized religion...jmo
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#49
Jul 3, 2015
65,333
33,273
113
#49
Todd and Nikki, welcome to CC! :)

 welcome.gif
 
Nikki84

Nikki84

Banned
#52
Jan 26, 2016
382
2
0
#52
Dan58 said:
I personally avoid denominations, they each hold to their own traditions which often detracts from the Truth. Its important to remember that Jesus did not start a denomination or build a church, but simply referred to all that believe in him as his church. Devote yourself to that, settling on Christ is enough. You might also consider a biblically based nondenominational church, I find it less confusing than all the doctrine that comes with organized religion...jmo
Click to expand...
If I may add to this, my experience visiting nondenominational churches is the people are always friendlier and the music is great.
 
D

DP

Banned
#53
Sep 27, 2015
3,325
41
0
#53
Todd7181 said:
I grew up going to Sunday school (Baptist then Methodist) but then as a teenager I majorly rebelled against going to church and finally my mom stopped taking me. Now, in my 30s, I believe I'm undergoing a spiritual rebirth that has gradually yet profoundly been changing me for the past 1-2 years, which started when I opened the Bible and began reading.

I'm trying to decide what denomination to devote myself to. I have studied them fairly intensively over the past two years but just can't settle on one. I seem to come back to Episcopal/Lutheran/Methodist, but none seem to be a "perfect" fit, and I like aspects of most denominations ranging from Eastern Orthodox to Southern Baptist to the silent worship of the Quakers.

If I had to state a few things I always come back to it is: a) the practice of humility in worship, b) liturgy is nice as I feel it relates to humility, but I am not interested in Catholicism, c) some of the things I see churchgoers doing makes me wonder if they ever read Matthew 6:5-6 on refraining from prayer as a way to gain attention from others.

Thanks for your guidance.
Click to expand...
Just pick one. But don't involve yourself in their extra-curricular doctrines that are outside God's Holy Writ. How will you recognize those extra-curricular doctrines of men? Get a firm foundation in study of ALL of God's Word, chapter by chapter, line upon line, asking God to give you understanding through His Son every time... you open His Word to study.

Get a good cross-reference study tool, like the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance that goes with the 1611 KJV Bible, and/or Brown-Driver-Briggs for the OT, and a Young's, etc. for the NT; an Englishman's Concordance, and The Treasury of Scripture cross-reference tool is very helpful. All of these are included in most Bible study software today. I use BibleSoft.

Be careful of all the more modern Bible translations. Though some here would disagree, the 1611 KJV is still the most accurate English translation, with the NT from the majority of NT texts that the early Church used.
 
3

3Scoreand10

Guest
#54
#54
Nikki84 said:
If I may add to this, my experience visiting nondenominational churches is the people are always friendlier and the music is great.
Click to expand...
Friendly people and great music does not always translate in teaching TRUTH.
It may satisify the flesh but leave the spirit lacking.
What is taught and practiced is what really counts.
 
3

3Scoreand10

Guest
#55
#55
Dan58 said:
I personally avoid denominations, they each hold to their own traditions which often detracts from the Truth. Its important to remember that Jesus did not start a denomination or build a church, but simply referred to all that believe in him as his church. Devote yourself to that, settling on Christ is enough. You might also consider a biblically based nondenominational church, I find it less confusing than all the doctrine that comes with organized religion...jmo
Click to expand...
Just a warning----
If you will notice, most wealth pastors, the ones that make the news, that have the fancy buildings and cars and housed are from nondenominational churches.
 
dcontroversal

dcontroversal

Banned
#56
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,408
113
#56
Kaycie said:
The problem with denominations is that they are dominated (by man). God says they worship Him in vain because their doctrine is merely human rules. You need to make sure you match the bible. We cannot choose how we want to worship, but God chooses how He wants to be worshiped. The whole point is to please Him, so we should do it His way. I go to the Church of Christ because the bible is their only doctrine, and only Christ is the head (authority) of all the congregations of His church.
Click to expand...
It is funny that you would say what you said about denominations and man.....then turn around a boast about being a member of a Johnny Come lately denomination started by a man with many doctrines that are man made and no where near biblical.........Alexander Campbell ring a bell????
 
NayborBear

NayborBear

Banned Serpent Seed Heresy
#57
Dec 6, 2015
2,626
775
113
A deplorable! (so you know, what "state" I'm in!)
#57
Reckon it depends on the reasoning you have for wanting to go to a church building. Cuz, truth be known, the "Church" is within you. God, don't require no "building", cuz YOU, are the temple. Man, requires something to "show the world" it's might/muscle/politicol influences.yada yada yada...but, then, it has to be paid for, right? Jez something to keep in mind. :eek:
 
Nikki84

Nikki84

Banned
#59
Jan 26, 2016
382
2
0
#59
3Scoreand10 said:
Friendly people and great music does not always translate in teaching TRUTH.
It may satisify the flesh but leave the spirit lacking.
What is taught and practiced is what really counts.
Click to expand...
I should have went into more detail. I'm sorry. I have found sound teaching at the ones here I have visited. There are four within a 2 mile radius. I've found the experience to be uplifting and true worship. I have learned at these churches, but have not decided to become a member at any particular one
 
You must log in or register to reply here.