Christian Denomination

[yhwhshalomjr]

Right on!!.......

[carmac]

I was a cradle Catholic who never missed Mass. Went to Catholic school through the 8th grade, went to CCD through high school, married in the church, had my babies Baptized before they were a month old, sent my kids to CCD, belonged to the Women's Guild, went to Bible Studies when they were offered, etc.

I am now a Born-again Christian and attending a non-denominational church...thank you Jesus! I will say though, that I am thankful to my mom and the RCC for my basic core beliefs...but, what a joy it is now to have a relationship with the Lord...to actually be able to get into His Word on a daily basis and have Him speak to me...awesome!

[muleskinner]

Southern Baptist as a youngster.

Assembly of GOD in very early teens.

Agnostic and didn't attend any Church for nearly 30 years.

Assembly of GOD now.

I have visited many denominations ...UPC,Pentecostal,Church of GOD,Baptist,non denominational etc etc.

[Saintmarks]

I know of several awesome churches that are still within denominational structures, but the common thread seems to be that they are not THAT entrenched and enamored with the denomination. Meaning they are more concerned with Jesus and the message of the cross and a biblical form of worship than they are about their position within the denomination. Can think of SBC and AoG churches as well as some of the more mainline Protestant denominations that fall in this category.

When a church starts focusing on the denomination, politics gets involved and the message of the cross gets diluted. Denominations can be good sources of support, but when they are exalted, something or someone, namely the God in which they are supposedly in existence to exalt, gets a place of less prominence. And that is not the purpose of the church.

[muleskinner]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

I know of several awesome churches that are still within denominational structures, but the common thread seems to be that they are not THAT entrenched and enamored with the denomination. Meaning they are more concerned with Jesus and the message of the cross and a biblical form of worship than they are about their position within the denomination. Can think of SBC and AoG churches as well as some of the more mainline Protestant denominations that fall in this category.

When a church starts focusing on the denomination, politics gets involved and the message of the cross gets diluted. Denominations can be good sources of support, but when they are exalted, something or someone, namely the God in which they are supposedly in existence to exalt, gets a place of less prominence. And that is not the purpose of the church.

I wholeheartedly agree with you....SOME denominations almost want you to pledge your love to THEM and GOD gets left out after awhile...Constant talk of Church business,political issues etc etc etc will have me running for the exit in a heartbeat ( I realize Church biz HAS to be discussed at times,but not EVERY service)

[ozzie679]

Born a Lutheran
Will die a Lutheran

[AaronK]

Born and raised an atheist until the age of seventeen. I accepted Jesus in my heart, and sought out a Church to go to. Started off with a non-denom, then a Baptist, then a Methodist, went to a Pentecostal, Lutheran, some others. Always felt something was missing.

I was studying Christian theology at my University (I go to a Catholic University). The ministry at my college is not biased in any way toward the Catholic faith, believe it or not. In fact, many of the fundamentalist Catholics I am now friends with are angered at this university for how liberal they are regarding the Catholic faith. But it was in studying theology that I took an interest in the Catholic Church. The sacraments being my main interest.

Then, I came to identify with a core protestant belief that I do not agree with at all, which is sola scriptura, or solely scripture. Basically, most protestant beliefs believe that if it is not found in the Bible, it is not true. Or to put it better, if it is not explicitly stated in the Bible, then it is not true. I always disagreed with this concept. I was always under the impression from the Church founders that the majority of early Christianity was in fact taught based on tradition, and the writings of the apostles. But tradition played just as large, if not a larger part in developing the early faith.

I assume most of us believe in the Trinity? So we believe in the Holy Spirit? The Catholic Church, as I learned in class, believes in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In this way, certain people are able to discern God's intentions and meanings. Just because it is not in the Bible explicitly, does not mean it is wrong.

In fact, the Bible itself does not support the idea that the Bible should be the sole basis for the teachings of Jesus. It just isn't taught in the Bible. The opposite is actually true, the Bible teaches us that scripture and tradition, MAN'S tradition based on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is to be taught.

One day, out of curiosity I entered a Catholic mass. In fact, it just so happened to be on Christmas Day, 2007. The experience was unlike any other in any Church I had been to. All my misconceptions about Catholics proved to be false. A few months later in April, after a lot of hard discerning and prayer, I enrolled into RCIA at my local Catholic parish. Ever since, I have learned TONS more information, and I will never turn back. The Catholic Church is my home.

[Goodpasture]

Originally Posted by Lakeland Yankee

I was a hardcore Fundamentalist Baptist at one time many years ago. I was a baby (new) Christian so I didn't see the error of my ways, lol.

Yep, that's me.............except I went on to pastor a Baptist mission. The ministry was doing fine, the polity was killing me.

Originally Posted by Lakeland Yankee

Now I have newbie "christians" calling me the anti-christ, lol. I find it very comical since I was once just like them.

Yeppers, again.......Or they call you "New Age" (that is the latest version of "he's a heretic! crucify him!").

Currently "Post-denominational" Just like little kids have to sit through math class, "Christians" should sit through church......but there comes a time when some of us graduate, others keep taking the same classes over and over and over for a lifetime......and because they have memorized all the right answers, they assume they are now professors. Thankfully I've found a few (even here) who have moved past the constraints and dogmas of the churches. but I've found even more, in their smug maturity, who angrily exclaim that their "middle school" way is the only right way and that anyone who disagrees with them are "Baby Christians." It really would be funny if it weren't so sad.......

[Miss Blue]

I am a believer without a religion, without a denomination within a religion, without a building to call church, without mans rules,or doctrines, and without dislike or anger with those who do..
I am a believer in the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, and I believe I will be united one day with them for all eternity, because..... I believe...

[sunshineann]

When i was young...my one Grandmother took me to her church which was Church of God...my other Grandmother took me to her church which was Lutheran.
As i got older i strayed away from the church...rebellion and the ignorance of not understanding.
Now that im older and learning the Word of God...I've been to Baptist, Methodist, some church called Harvest..(have no idea) Out of those i enjoyed Methodist more so.
BUT..in reality, when we get to Heaven...there are NO denominations. Therefore, i just want to learn and learn some more of the wonderful word. I want to be with people who like to fellowship and not push "religion" I enjoyed the Methodist church because the ones that i went to, never pushed and never brought up that being Methodist is the way...