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Author Topic: What are the differences between denominations? HopefulHeart Advanced Member Member # 4525 posted                       Thank all of you for your honesty. I was thinking that I might not actually get info on different denominations because what I have learned so far is that not all of them believe in Jesus as Christ and that he died for our sins. Now since I have heard all of you on this board talk about Jesus, I came to the conclusion that it was either non denominational or Baptist assosiated. That's great, at least for me, because I think I'm Baptist. That's the only church that makes me feel good. Well I'd say that I'm Christian, not Baptist. Catholics say that they're Catholic, not Christian. I've always wondered about that. And I think that it is one of the problems between denominations. If you believe Jesus Christ is your Savior then you are a Christian. And then you can go on about what type church you can attend. Well happily I have found a Church that I love. It goes like this... Remember I said that the Baptist church I tried was not "feeding" me and seemed too focused on the "mission", well they weren't meeting last night, so I was a little disappointed that I would not have a church to attend that night. I looked in my mailbox, mind you it was Sunday, and saw the word church so I read it. There was a church, having their 20th anniversary and it just so happens that one of the guys that has been attending that church for 14 years passed out the flyers in our area which is a half hour away. But I was desperate to find a church. As soon as I got there I was part of the family and I was there for 3 1/2 hours learning. I'm so happy that I found a place and God lead me there at the last minute. The Devil was trying to keep me from going too, the traffic was slow and company came over when I was getting ready to go so I thought I was going to be late, etc. When I got there, they hadn't started yet, and so I was right in time to be greeted at the door and led into the service. The Pastor is a missionary from the States, been here for many years, led by God early in life to start the church. He lives off of the Grace of God and the Churches stateside. I was very impressed with his preachings. He wasn't looking at the clock to make sure he didn't go over time, he was lead by the Holy Spirit in his sermens. I had a great time and felt right at home, I will definetly take the trip out there every week. Thanks, God Bless all of you, Jo -------------------- Make my roots deep and strong so that I may stand tall for Harvesting. Posts: 21 | From: Germany | Registered: Mar 2005  |  IP: Logged |  hardcore Advanced Member Member # 4492 posted                       Have any of you ever tried a church that patterns themselves after the early churches (based in Acts)? They have many home groups instead of one big corporate worship service, among other things. There's one in our city and I've always been curious. From what I've read on their website, it seems to make sense, and I can't find fault with their statement of faith. It's just so different and non-mainstream I guess. Just wondered if anyone has experienced a church like this? Posts: 627 | Registered: Mar 2005  |  IP: Logged |  TEXASGRANDMA Advanced Member Member # 847 posted                       We are attending a large Church compared to one in Houston. The one in Houston had 75-100. This one has 500. But, they have about 20 care groups that have 6-10 people in them. We found by joining the care groups we make some friends and get encouragment. -------------------- Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. http://www.indieheaven.com/artists/mm (son-in-law)http://www.myspace.com/mireles Posts: 4985 | From: Washington State | Registered: Jan 2003  |  IP: Logged |  LaurieFL Advanced Member Member # 3794 posted                       I have found personally that the accountability of attending a small church and discipleship and mentoring in my faith were critical parts of my initial growth as a Christian. It is easy to get confused and discouraged early on and we need elders to guide us a bit. Paul was Timothy's mentor, Barnabus was Mark's. In my walk, I had Linda, who I feel has been a mentor for me, as well as my pastor, who the Lord led me to through Ripp, another board member. Funny how the Lord used this board to make sure I got into the proper teaching environment in order to properly grow and ground my faith. Posts: 700 | Registered: Aug 2004  |  IP: Logged |  helpforhomeschoolers Advanced Member Member # 15 posted                          I do not claim any denominational affiliation. I am a Christian, a disciple of Christ. I do fellowhsip in 2 churches, one is Southern Baptist and looks more like AOG, and the other is Evangelical free. I think that if you are going to affilliate with a denominational church, then you should know the soundness of their doctrine based ont he scripture. There are significant differences. For me I want to have a Biblical worldview; all the denominations are rooted in the world view of their founder. Sometimes this lines up with scripture and sometimes it does not. As a new Christian, your worldview is changing. Hopefully, it is changing to reflect the scriptural worldview. I would not worry much about denomination right now as much as I would worry about knowing the scripture. I strongly suggest study of the scripture, first, prayerfully, and without outside influence of the opinions of men...learn what God says first, then look to see how men apply it; the Holy Spirit will lead you in all truth. We run into problems when we view the scriptures with a preconceived idea of what they say based on what man has taught. Posts: 4684 | From: Southern Black Hills of South Dakota | Registered: Jun 2002  |  IP: Logged |  LaurieFL Advanced Member Member # 3794 posted                       I agree wholeheartedly with you, Miss betty. Chuck Smith, the pastor who started Calvary Chapel orginally, has a book he wrote called calvary Chapel distinctives. In it he states that he believes exactly as you stated, that every person is different in their preferences regarding worship style and things like that and that each church, so long as they preach and teach proper doctrine, has a place in the Body of Christ. He holds firmly to the stance that all Christian churches should be in line with the Word on the essentials of salvation and that we should not bicker and argue over the non-essential doctrines such as whether women can only wear skirts or whether Christ was born in March, September or December, etc. Posts: 700 | Registered: Aug 2004  |  IP: Logged |  TEXASGRANDMA Advanced Member Member # 847 posted                       I was raised Assembly of God, but have been attending the Baptist Church for the last 15 yrs. I took a test that Linda posted about and it showed the top three Churches that fit me where Assemblies of God, Freewill Baptist, and Southern Baptist. I never heard of Freewill Baptist and there is not one in my town. I go to a Swedish Baptist but it very similar if not the same as Southern Baptist. What I like about the Baptist is you get good preaching and there really care. We tried going back to the Assemblies of God in November. We went three months. Both hubby and I got very ill and missed Church for three weeks. I called the Church and told them we were ill. We live three blocks from the Church and the Pastor never came to see us or called. We were so ill that the only place we went for three weeks was to drag ourselves to Wal-mart for medication. We went back for a month and then left for good. No one has every called to see about us. It is if they could care less. In Feb, when hubby and I got sick again from being around a sick person at the Veterans hospital, I called the Bible study teacher at the Baptist Church, not only did call make to check on us but he offered to go and pick up medication and food if we needed him too. It is nice to go a Church where people care about you. As far as Calvary Chapel, I love the one in Arizona and listen to it on line but the one here in my area of Washington was a big disappointment. We went three weeks in a roll. No one every talked to us. The last week the Preacher was upset about something and spent the whole Bible study complaining and talking people out of going to the Church at all. When we walked to the car, I asked my husband, if he got the impression that the preacher was trying to talk people out of coming. He said he was thinking the same thing. He would preach abit and then start fussing about unappreciative people and people who could not stand the cold. The Church was quite cold both my husband I were in much pain when we left (we both have illness that cause us much discomfort if we get too cold). But, I had ever intention of going back but, I honestly felt we were not wanted. I don't think having many times of Churches are bad. I think we are all different and like things different from each other. My sister could never be happy in a Baptist Church where as I feel more comfortable there. Some people like services that are very quiet and reverent. Some people like more charismatic services. I don't think there is a wrong or right. I think what is important is to find a Church that preaches the Bible and Jesus. No one would expect or want us to all have to drive the same color car or live in the same style house. So, what is wrong with finding a Church that makes you feel comfortable and yet teaches you God's Word, too! Jesus always spoke the truth but he talked to people in each one's level of understanding. I don't think God is displeased with different Churches being out there. betty -------------------- Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. http://www.indieheaven.com/artists/mm (son-in-law)http://www.myspace.com/mireles Posts: 4985 | From: Washington State | Registered: Jan 2003  |  IP: Logged |  Ripp unregistered posted                 Denominations are like divisionations. They each have an agenda that they try and push. Now, I don't want to sound like I'm bad-mouthing all denominational churches so let's get that out of the way now. However, I believe that most mainline churches are falling away. They have allowed false teachings and flesh to enter and is dampening the Spirit there. I myself left the Presbyterian church because they are allowing issues that I noted to enter into the fold. Homosexuality, refusing to call God the Father, anti-Israel attitudes and pro-abortion are just some of the things that are infiltrating a lot of the mainline churches. My Spirit was saddened and I had to leave there. I also now attend a Calvary Chapel for the same reasons Laurie mentioned. I can't express how beneficial this choice was to my Spiritual growth. I recommend at least checking into them. Here is the link, just click on "Churches": Calvary Chapel I hope and pray that you will find a Godly place that you can call home. God bless. IP: Logged |  LaurieFL Advanced Member Member # 3794 posted                       I was raised Southern Baptist. When I returned to the Lord a year or so ago, I sought out such churches again but was dismayed to find that the ones I visited just seemed spirtually asleep and not growing in the Lord. I now attend Calvary Chapel, a non-denominational church that has many churches around the world. Their teaching technique is called "Biblical exposition" where every lesson and sermon is focused on line-by-line teaching from God's word. Topical sermons are not often preached, except when the pastor feels led by the Spirit to address a certain topic. The teaching and learning of the word has been awesome for me. It has taught me to rely upon God alone and not upon personalities as well, because the teaching does not rely upon a clever pastor with eloquent words. Calvary Chapel believes in a middle ground between denominations which deny the gifts of the Holy Spirit as being for today and denominations which become overly focused on the display and practice of such gifts to the point of neglecting to grow in the knowledge of the Word. This means they believe in the gifts of tongues and prophcy and preaching and exhortation and healing, but that they do not publicly practice those things. We at my church do occasionally lift our hands as we sing, as the Spirit moves. Calvary Chapel is extremely dedicated not only to evangelism and missionary work, but to producing real disciples rather than simply converts in the ares they go as missionaries. They start churches in areas that did not have them and many of our missionaries remain there for their entire lives as part of the communities. My church is helping start an orphanage in peru, and two of our young people ( a husband and wife) have been called by God to move there permanently to act as the directors. We have Bible Colleges where we teach how to do expository Bible teaching to pastors in South America, Russia, and other places. We are involved in the underground church of China. It is very exciting to be part of what feels to me to be the closest thing to the church in the book of Acts that I could find in today's world. They have nine churches in Germany, perhaps one near you, if you would like to check them out one week. http://www.calvarychapel.com/ Click on the "churches link", then on Europe on the map, then choose germany, and it will show you the nine churches they have and will link you to their sites. I hope the Lord leads you to a church home soon! Posts: 700 | Registered: Aug 2004  |  IP: Logged |  HopefulHeart Advanced Member Member # 4525 posted                       I have always wondered why one denomination thinks or acts like they're better than another. Now that I'm a Christian, I'm REALLY curious. Can you share with me what denomination each of you are, why you choose it, and what you think or know the differences are? I have only been to Baptist churches. My dad and his wife are Baptist. My husband's family decided to be Morman years ago (non practicing now). I have gone a couple times to a Baptist church here in Germany, outside of the military post's gate. They claim to be mission focused and I believe them because all they seem to talk about is this mission of building a church I think for the Romanians. Great and all, but I'm not hearing the word of God, just slide shows of their recent trip and praying for more money to give them. Even during "Bible study", I heard one verse in 40 minutes and it also seemed to be geared toward the mission. I'm learning nothing. I don't feel "fed". My 3 year old daughter is learning more than I am in the PeeWee Patch the Pirate Club. Again I've only been there twice, but I'm worried that it's not for my needs. I'm trying another one, a considerable drive from my house tonight, I hope it is better, but then it's a long drive back and forth. Thanks and God Bless, Jo -------------------- Make my roots deep and strong so that I may stand tall for Harvesting. Posts: 21 | From: Germany | Registered: Mar 2005  |  IP: Logged |

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