Choosing A Denomination.

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Feb 9, 2010
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#21
27But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him(1 John 2:27).

13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come(John 16:13).

It might be better to learn the word of God by the Spirit before trying to learn what a denomination teaches,for you might get some wrong teachings,in which some people will try to fit scriptures in to that foundation.I have found a lot of people will believe something their Church taught,and when a scripture contradicts it,they still go by their teaching of the Church,meaning that is how much these man made doctrines influence people.

If you read the Bible without any influence from a denomination,you might stand a better chance to learn the truth of it.

25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching(Hebrews 10:25).

But God does want the saints to come together in fellowship,for it is the body of Christ,but a person does not have to go to a denomination to do that,but can do that at a house,although going to a denomination deals with a larger number of people,so that is good.

11These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so(Acts 17:11).

A person could go to a denomination for the fellowship,and to worship God,and listen to the preaching,but do not adapt it as always being in line with scripture,knowing that a lot of people teach things contrary,so do not take them at face value,and search the scriptures to see if what they are telling you is the truth.

After you learn the word of God by the Spirit,then you can find a denomination that teaches that,and they could teach you if you missed something,but you will understand the main points of the Bible that are crucial to a person's walk with God.

20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work(2 Timothy 2:20-21).


But if you did find a denomination that preaches the truth,and upholds holiness standards,do not be discouraged if there are a few hypocrites,because God said there would be a few to dishonor,but it is still a great house.There usually is a few hypocrites even in the Churches that preach the total truth,but would not be as many as a denomination that does not preach the truth,for people go to a Church they are comfortable with,and the ones that went to a Church that is in the truth,with holiness standards,for the majority of them,they would adhere to it.


Of all the main denominations,I find some teachings to be wrong,hopefully it is not my misunderstanding,and people will say this Church is right but I find many hypocrites,and not a few,but the majority,so something is wrong.And some people will say those UPCI people are wrong,but I have not seen a Church preach and abide by holiness standards more than them.I have seen Mormons uphold good morals more than some Churches that have more truth than them,but the ones that have the more truth do not preach goodness as much having false doctrines themselves,although both the Mormons and the Church with more truth,do not understand complete morality.
 
B

Bloodwashed

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#22
mpaper345! " holiness standards?" Are you talking about touch not, taste not? That is just show of holiness! True Holiness is only found in Christ!
Christ, & Christ alone. Jesus plus nothing!!! God Bless Mark!
 
Feb 16, 2011
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#23
Denominations are important. You should look at what they say on the web. You can find their website and read what they believe. There is a big difference in some denominations. Catholics are a different religon not a denomination. That includes Jehovah's Witness and Mormons aswell; they are not Christianity. Do not let them fool you into believing they are a denomination. As some one mentioned, some things are not just denominational. Pentecostal is not just one denomination. Evangelical is not just one group. Trinitarian is not just one denomination. You should find a denomination that God leads you to.
 

jb

Senior Member
Feb 27, 2010
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#24
...Catholics are a different religon not a denomination. That includes Jehovah's Witness and Mormons aswell; they are not Christianity...
To say that because one is a Catholic they cannot be is a Christian and then to link them into the same kind of heretical cults as Mormons and JW's really shows forth your spiritual immaturity and sectarian mindset...1Cor3v1-8

I know many Roman Catholics, who are born again and love the Lord Jesus with all their hearts, with deep prayer lives and love of the Scriptures manifesting a Christ-like character and the fruit of the Spirit in abundance! Gal 5v22,23.
 
B

becausehedied

Guest
#25
I'm not sure if this is the right place for this thread or not, but I couldn't think of anywhere else to put it. If it's the wrong spot, I'm sorry.

Right now, I go to a non-denominational church. I love everything about it! But, I was wondering how important it is to select a denomination for yourself. I'm not even sure which denomination I would fall under, since I've never really studied the differences. Could someone who is well-learned in the denominations give me a brief run-down of the major ones? Thank you! :D
Christ promised to build His church - Matthew 16:18-19
The church must be important because Christ bought it with His blood - Acts 20:28
He is the head of it - Ephesians 1:22, 5:23, Col. 1:18.

The NT says a great deal about the church.

My suggestion, find a concordance and look up the word church. Find out all that you can about the church spoken of in the Bible, and then set out to find the church that strives to do exactly what it says.

If a church does not follow the Bible, then it is not the right church.

Now that i have said this many on here will argue that there are not perfect churches.
That is right, but what yo must do is find the one that is doing its best to do Bible things, Bible ways.
 
S

SantoSubito

Guest
#26
Denominations are important. You should look at what they say on the web. You can find their website and read what they believe. There is a big difference in some denominations. Catholics are a different religon not a denomination. That includes Jehovah's Witness and Mormons aswell; they are not Christianity.
You opened up a can of worms there buddy. I mean the sheer audacity to lump us Catholics in with new-fangled cults is astounding. We've been around for almost 2000 years, so if anything Protestantism would be the cult or different religion (I'm not implying that it is just making a point), having only been around for a paltry 500 years.
 
B

Bloodwashed

Guest
#27
Really, To lump Catholics in with Mormans & JW's is shameful! God Bless Mark!
 
R

RachelBibleStudent

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#28
You opened up a can of worms there buddy. I mean the sheer audacity to lump us Catholics in with new-fangled cults is astounding. We've been around for almost 2000 years, so if anything Protestantism would be the cult or different religion (I'm not implying that it is just making a point), having only been around for a paltry 500 years.
buddhism is around 2,500 years old...roman catholics seem to forget that being around longer does not necessarily make a religion correct...if anything it could mean more time for innovations and corruptions to appear...

but for the record...i believe roman catholics are christians
 
S

SantoSubito

Guest
#29
buddhism is around 2,500 years old...roman catholics seem to forget that being around longer does not necessarily make a religion correct...if anything it could mean more time for innovations and corruptions to appear...

but for the record...i believe roman catholics are christians
Neither is newer better. But honestly where would Protestantism be (and Europe in general) without Roman Catholicism.
 
Feb 9, 2010
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#30
mpaper345! " holiness standards?" Are you talking about touch not, taste not? That is just show of holiness! True Holiness is only found in Christ!
Christ, & Christ alone. Jesus plus nothing!!! God Bless Mark!
Of course only by the Spirit can we be like Christ,and not of our power alone,and the Bible says a Spirit led life will not sin,for how can you sin if you are led by the Spirit,but few teach that.

They try to use excuses like we are not perfect and we are only human,like they can never live a sin free life,when the Bible says if you are led of the Spirit you cannot sin.
 
Jan 18, 2011
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#31
To say that because one is a Catholic they cannot be is a Christian and then to link them into the same kind of heretical cults as Mormons and JW's really shows forth your spiritual immaturity and sectarian mindset...1Cor3v1-8

I know many Roman Catholics, who are born again and love the Lord Jesus with all their hearts, with deep prayer lives and love of the Scriptures manifesting a Christ-like character and the fruit of the Spirit in abundance! Gal 5v22,23.
"The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day." (Catechism of the Catholic Church #841)

Muslims are adherents to a false religion, Islam, and worship a false God, Allah. They believe that Jesus was created from the dust and deny that he is the Son of God, and in doing so, they deny the Son. Scripture says,

23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. (1 John 2:23)

10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. (1 John 5:10)

Denying the Son, they don't have the Father either. There is no salvation in Islam. Jesus said,

6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)

Jesus says that no one comes to the Father except through him. Catholics say that Muslims come to the Father some other way than Christ (through a false God, Allah, no less!). Attributing salvation to Muslims makes makes the Catholics way very broad indeed, as Jesus warned,

13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

This broad way found in Catholic doctrine leads only to destruction.

This is of course in addition to a large number of other false teachings including purgatory, Mary worship, worship of saints (prayer to saints), idolatry, a false gospel, and doctrines of demons (abstaining from foods and forbidding to marry, 1 Timothy 4:1-3).

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8)
 
B

Bloodwashed

Guest
#32
Of course only by the Spirit can we be like Christ,and not of our power alone,and the Bible says a Spirit led life will not sin,for how can you sin if you are led by the Spirit,but few teach that.

They try to use excuses like we are not perfect and we are only human,like they can never live a sin free life,when the Bible says if you are led of the Spirit you cannot sin.
Are you claiming that you do not sin?
 
S

See_KING_Truth

Guest
#34
The bible discussion forum always reminds me of how denominations came about in the first place.....
 
L

LovesBrokenDream

Guest
#37
I'm really sorry guys! I'm starting to feel like I opened up a can of worms by making this thread. Oh, but for the record, I do believe that Catholics are Christians. They still worship the Lord and get their teachings from Scripture.
 
L

LovesBrokenDream

Guest
#39
Really?? Maybe I just went on a weird day then. I accompanied my friend to church one day, and they were teaching right out of the Gospel. Is that out of the ordinary for the Catholic church?
 
S

SantoSubito

Guest
#40
Really?? Maybe I just went on a weird day then. I accompanied my friend to church one day, and they were teaching right out of the Gospel. Is that out of the ordinary for the Catholic church?
Nope, it happens at every Mass. Each homily is based on the three readings for that Sunday, one from the OT, one from the NT Epistles, and one from the Gospel. I'm surprised you didn't mention how short the homily was, most Protestants are used to 30 minute to over an hour long sermon; while homilies aren't supposed to be longer than 10 minutes.