Choice of Denomination

[sisterinchrist]

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

I agree.

Everyone had great replys.

[MrSealedEternal]

Christ's "Church" does not consist of denominations, and most religious people are not part of His "Church." The word "church" in the English translations is the Greek word"ekklesia." It comes from two Greek words: Ek means "out" and Kaleo means "call", and this is the verb form. When we put the two together and write the noun form of it, it is Ekklesia and means a "called out assembly." This is the way it is always used in the Greek language. It means an assembly of people who are called out for a purpose. All born again Christians are the Church, but most people who profess to be Christian have not been spiritually reborn.

Most people think of buildings, or denominations when they think of "church" but that is unbiblical, and denominationalism is always caused by error. The original church of the apostles was united, and errors were always immediately challenged and refuted in order to maintain the unity of truth. The different denominations are peoples attempt to band together to defend an error, because humans always feel secure when they are in groups, and it is always difficult to challenge a group that is unified, even when they are wrong. This was Satan's brilliant plan to introduce numerous false gospel's, and then play them against each other in a series of dialectic battles. It's been my experience that all false religions defend their own existence by pointing out the blatant errors of the other denominations, which just keeps them in an argument where virtually no one is right.

God doesn't promise to save us by being religious, nor does he want us to join any religion. Religion is man's attempt to cover his own sins, but God says that only He can do that. Just as He did in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve tried to "cover" themselves with fig leaves, only His covering is acceptable to Him, which is by the shedding of blood to atone for sin. Every false religion tries to offer a covering by man's own efforts which God never accepts. Christianity is not a religion, and that's why denominationalism has destroyed Christ's true "ekklesia."

Most of the members of denominational so-called "churches" that baptize babies for example, are not born again, because they have a gospel that is different than the Biblical one, which is commonly referred to as "Baptismal Regeneration." Other false "Churches claim you are saved or prove you are saved by other works of human effort such as maintaining a level of holiness, speaking in tongues, keeping the Sabbath, etc. Anyone who believes they are saved by their own efforts has denied Christ and His atonement, and are therefore not saved.

Over time, rather than arguing over who is right, people began saying that we each have our own understanding and each view is equally relevant. This began the view known as moral relativism. They would say "we are all on different paths to the same God, and each worship Him in our own way," and that all Christians are really brothers and sisters in Christ, so there is no sense debating over doctrine.

The fact is that God teaches His truths clearly in His Word, but few people want to know the truth. People are more comfortable finding a religion that works for them rather than getting to know Him. You can only become saved by having a true relationship with Him, which comes by knowing Him through His Word and trusting Him with your whole heart. If you trust in the ceremonies and works of any religion, you will not be saved. He's not interested in religiosity, but is interested in a relationship with you.

God doesn't believe in denominations. Either you're part of His "ekklesia" or you aren't. If you are you need to separate from false religions that promote "religion" and join with your brother's and sister's who are in Christ. If you aren't in His "ekklesia" you need to immerse yourself in His Word, and develop a relationship with Him.

Mr SE

[nebula]

My point though is that different people come to God in different ways and different people have a different experience in the walk with God, so just because a Catholic comes to God differently than a Pentecostal or a Calvinist comes to God differently than a Baptist, does not mean that one group is any more or less Christian than the other. It

[GentleGiant]

Some of those posts talk about The Body of Christ being in the churches, and churches and denominations (themselves) not being a part of the Body of Christ (or Christ's Church). So true. I grew up in a Brethren denomination, during college attended first a Methodist church and then an Independent church, and after college went back to the Brethren church. Thru the years, because of the musical gift the Lord has given me, I've been in Catholic churches, Episcapol, Luthern, Assembly of God, Church of God, Methodist, Independent, and probably some I've forgotten. I now attend a Methodist church, because I married a Methodist girl. I go where the Lord leads me. As someone else stated.. I don't identify with any particular denominiation. I identify with being a member of the Body of Christ first and foremost. In my own current church as well as many of the one's that I've visited and frequented, there are those that are truely members of the Body of Christ because of them making Jesus the Lord of their Life, and there are those that are there just to (as I call it), fulfill their social and conciensious obligation to ritual and tradition. In our Methodist congregation, we have a lot of good and well-meaning folks that have never received the Lord's salvation and made Jesus the Lord of their lives. I've seen it in other churches as well.

To try to answer your initial question about "which church" to attend, here is what I do. Pray that the Lord would lead you to where your gifts and talents should be used. Sometimes we want to attend a church where WE get OUR needs fed. There is nothing wrong with that... but maybe God wants you to be a spark or catalyst in some congregation somewhere.

Don't rely solely on one-day-a-week to get fed the Word and/or solely on your church or denomination for getting fed the Word. Seek some variety of Biblical learning on your own time. Stay diligent in your study and meditation, and take the time to verify everything you hear and read against scripture. There are gems of wisdom found in many streams. Even though we sometimes need to be cautious, we shouldn't be arrogant by being "our's only" minded. We might miss something that God is trying to tell us from an uncommon source. Pray consistantly, even when you have a free momment.

[Iryssa]

*nods* well said, guys. I am a Christian who happens to go to an Anglican church. I don't even agree with some of the decisions of the Anglican church in general (though I do agree with the leadership at my home church...they stand out from the rest of the Anglican/Episcopalian order), I just happen to be attending a church called "St. Barnabas Anglican Church."

To me, as far as choosing a home church goes, the types of people that go there (I speak in terms of the heart, not economic/social standing), the teaching given there, and the leading of the Holy Spirit saying that I should be there is FAR more important to me than some denominational title.

[ONE WHO WISHES TO LOVE GOD]

I agree and disagree with you my friend and here are my reasons why.

WHAT I AGREE WITH

is that as followers of Christ we are given only one title that we are to bare that was given under inspiration that name is Christian !!!

NOT EVANGELICAL, NOT BORN AGAIN, NOT BAPTIST, NOT PROTESTANT, NOT LUTHERAN OR so on or so forth.

just Christian NO MORE NO LESS.

However this is not new to the faith, consider please this account 1 CORINTHINS 1. 12 - 13 And observe how they even back then were in a similar way of doing this.

ACTS 11. 26 when the disciples given the name Christians.

WHAT I DISAGREE WITH

is althoug I do agree that both the Jehovahs Witnesses and Mormon denominations are not correct in many of the teachings, neither the establishment nor their relincwishment of their being Christians can be determined in the belief in the trinity. further more God deiceds who are his and who are not, in addition conclusive interpetation belongs to God not man.

Now as to the doctrine of the trinity, you first must prove that the belief in the trinity is essentail in order to be a Christian, and this were the smoke in the mirrors begins. what i mean is that the scriptures says that faith that Jesus is the son of God is required

But for the trinitarian it is the belief that God is made of three persons. So i put it to any one who wish to please show me the scripture that spacificly says that you must believe that God is the three person as a prereqwist in order to be considered a Christian.

but what is often the case with Jehovahs Witnesses is also the case with the trinitarian namely both like to base their theology on connect scriptule dots. So I am ask, NO BEGGING some one to show only scriptuly where in the Bible says that you must believe that God exsists in three persons in order to be a Christian.....PLEASE !!!

Edited December 24, 2005 by ONE WHO WISHES TO LOVE GOD

[ayin jade]

Scripture says you must believe in Jesus. That also means the character of Jesus, who He is. If you dont believe that He is Lord, then you are not believing in his character.

John 8:24 Therefore I said to you that you shall die in your sins, for if you do not believe that I AM, you shall die in your sins.

Can someone believe in only a part of who Jesus is and be saved? That really is an important question. And one I dont have an answer for, since Im still learning about our Lord.

[ONE WHO WISHES TO LOVE GOD]

Scripture says you must believe in Jesus. That also means the character of Jesus, who He is. If you dont believe that He is Lord, then you are not believing in his character.

John 8:24 Therefore I said to you that you shall die in your sins, for if you do not believe that I AM, you shall die in your sins.

Can someone believe in only a part of who Jesus is and be saved? That really is an important question. And one I dont have an answer for, since Im still learning about our Lord.

Ayin Jade i thank you for responding to my search for the truth in this matter however this scripture to dose not establish the necessity in the belief that God exsists as three persons as a requirement in order to be considered a Christian.

however i do believe that Jesus is the Lord according to what 1 CORINTHINS 8. 4 - 6 Which says there is no God but one. For even though there are those called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many gods and many lords there is really to us one GOD the FATHER out of whom all things are and we for him, and there is one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things are, and we through him.

Jade why does this not say one God but three persons ??? it refers to the Father as God but for Jesus as Lord..... WHY WHY WHY ??? please any body

also the thief that died next to Jesus on the cross asked him just to remeber him when he gets to his kingdom, so he put faith in Jesus and in the Kingdom however as to the trinity did he believe if then salvation is granted to him a thief then why not people who do bleleive that the Father is God who believe that Jesus is the son of GOD and who believe that Jesus is the only way we can be forgiven and have fellowship with the Father, have salvation so that one may also be in his kingdom.

please these are fair and honest hearted questions. and again SCRIPTURES ONLY Thank you

[Waimahia]

One Who Wishes to Love God,

You are being cruel to trinitarians when you ask, "So I am ask, NO BEGGING some one to show only scripturely where in the Bible says that you must believe that God exsists in three persons in order to be a Christian.....PLEASE !!!"

You know it's not there. Please give them a break.

all the best,

Waimahia

[Iryssa]

One Who Wishes to Love God,

You are being cruel to trinitarians when you ask, "So I am ask, NO BEGGING some one to show only scripturely where in the Bible says that you must believe that God exsists in three persons in order to be a Christian.....PLEASE !!!"

You know it's not there. Please give them a break.

all the best,

Waimahia

You think so, do you?

"Then Jesus came to them and said,