Choice of Denomination

[forrestkc]

What denomination?

Sometimes I think it is all to easy to get into the mode of thinking that

Edited December 22, 2005 by forrestkc

[Rania]

I am a Follower of Christ who attends a Conservative Baptist Church and is a friend of Atheists.

I believe that we have created a formula that we need to somehow follow rather than simply following Christ. Even in my own church if I disagree with something that the church does, I can still remain there as a Follower of Christ and do my best to reflect the relationship that is available to everyone.

Forget the legalism, forget the liberalism and follow Him.

Totallyatpeace

[vja4Him]

I agree! The key element in church, and our lives, should be Jesus only as saviour. There is no other name under heaven by which must be saved (Can't remember where that scripture is?). It is human nature, all cultures, to think that our own belief, way, methods, church, denomination, etc., is the best, or the only right way.

Didn't the disciples in the Bible also argue about who was correct? And one of the disciples rebuked them for bickering among themselves concerning secondary issues. The primary essentials -- salvation, nature of God -- are, well, the "Essentials," that separate true Christians from the cults, as was mentioned in another post (see below).

What denomination?

Sometimes I think it is all to easy to get into the mode of thinking that

[hebrews_beauty]

I totally agree. I just wished more Christians felt the same way.

[Khristeeanos]

I am a Christian first and only. I accept no party names and wish that all would renounce non-Christian names and affiliates, creeds and statements of faith and go only by the Bible.

[jamie]

There are members of the body of Christ mixed in most every denomination, but a denomination doesn't necessarialy make up the body of Christ.

[vja4Him]

Hey forrestkc

I still haven't been able to take a decision as to which church I should attend.

Having a Catholic background, I have my issues with the Catholic teachings because they go a little too far in adding there own interpretations of history, like the coronation of Mary for instance. No where is it mentioned in scripture that Jesus had called her "Mother of All Men or Mankind" Although she was certainly blessed to have been the one to bring forth our Saviour there is nothing that I can find in scripture which allows her to be placed at the right hand of God.

The commandments are quite clear Exodus 20:3-5

3Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

I find it quite difficult to attend Church as a Catholic now that I have turned to God, due in fact that I have actually sought after scripture as my guidance and not followed the sheep (pardon the expression, and I do apologize if you find the remark offensive) to the Church. I could pretty much assume that most of the people who actually attend the Catholic Church in my neighborhood probably never pick up there Bibles to seek the truth for themselves.

Mathew 7:8

8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

If one kneels before a statue of Mary, which Catholics do, mostly the Nuns as well as kneeling before a statue of Christ doesn't kneeling before a statue of Mary brake the commandment of verse 5 "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them"? Does verse 4 clearly say not to make "any graven image, or likeness of anything that is in heaven above"? would Mary not be in heaven? the statue of mary would not be a graven image carved out of stone, kneeling before it (the statue) would that not be considered as "Bowing Down" to it? Is a statue depicting Christ on the cross also an image of anything in Heaven or above?

Saying the Hail Mary, is that not a prayer to Mary and placing her before God, which breaks the first commandment of "Thou shalt have no other Gods before me"?

So as you can see I am quite confused about my own so called "denomination" and place my trust completely in the Bible (KJV) there is no doubt that I may be wrong because I haven't grown up as a "practicing" Catholic so maybe there is something I missed here but all the same the Bible clearly states:

Romans 10:13

13 For

[Guest RickLee]

I like to look at it like my relationship with my own children. Because my two children are quite different from each other it only makes sense that I should communicate with each of them "in there own language", if you will. I believe our Heavenly Father deals with us in much the same way. Because He knows us better than we know ourselves, I believe that He "leads us in paths of righteousness". My path is not your path and your path would likely be difficult for me.

[vja4Him]

I like to look at it like my relationship with my own children. Because my two children are quite different from each other it only makes sense that I should communicate with each of them "in there own language", if you will. I believe our Heavenly Father deals with us in much the same way. Because He knows us better than we know ourselves, I believe that He "leads us in paths of righteousness". My path is not your path and your path would likely be difficult for me.

Yes, our paths differ, but Jesus is still the only way to heaven. Jesus must be at the center of our worship, and the one we are trusting for our eternal destiny.

[Guest Debborah]

Hi Everyone. What an interesting topic. I agree with some of what has been said, but I also truely believe that God has a church which keep the commandments and the faith of Jesus. Rev14:12. He speaks many times in the Bible of his church. I believe that through all the ages he has had a people who keep these commandments and the faith of Jesus. In saying that I think that at no time are we ever to say that if you are not in this church,(which would have to be proved that they are keeping all these things, God says prove me'.) that you will not be saved. We are to search the scriptures for in them we have eternal life. I believe that if we are doing all we know to be true, church or no church, God is our judge. He knows the heart, and we need to remember to leave that part of things to God. I believe that if the scriptures are clear enough for a little child to understand, then we need to come to God in faith, and ask him to show us the Church which teaches only what the Bible is teaching. But I am sure as anything that there are going to be many saved that havent even put a foot inside a church. We just need to do what we know to be right and leave that rest up to God, when it comes to judging other people.

I believe I have found a church that preaches only the Word. And in saying that there are many Judas's coming along to. Satan is working very hard to keep people from being saved!!

Great Topic