Let's Scratch Another Denomination Off My List

gettinbranded,

I know this is nitpicky and JV does have a better argument, but...you should probably know that there were literally 100+ forms of Christianity from its onset.

There was never even agreement on how/where Christ was born! Probably the believers in Bethlehem should have been believed, though since he was reportedly born there and they have him being born alone (you know what I mean) in a cave.

Oh, and Pagan/Jewish tradition did not sink in after, either...it was there from the beginning.

Seriously, though, gb...Protestantism opened the door for personal relationship and a great factor in that is finding a church where one feels they are getting a better version of "truth." If there was no choice there would only be one religion.

May I ask what you are, gb?

 

i hate this thread, and i havent even read it.

stop arguing about the same stuff all the time

 

My one question about christianity is that why are all other religions that dont believe that Jesus is their savior damned to Hell.

would this not make Jews damned and Hitler saint????

 

i find this statement troubling...though I recognize you might not mean it to the extreme I'm interpreting it.

king david, while a jew, CERTAINLY had a VERY personal relationship with God...

Paul had a VERY personal relationship with God.

Abraham had a VERY personal relationship with God.

I would argue this was always the case...it was just clouded over by the church for a long period of time...this is, in my opinion, the BEST result of the reformation. An awakening to a very personal relationship with God.

 

please tell me you don't think Hitler sincerely surrendured his life to Christ's will....I don't see Hitler bowing down before ANY God...he merely used God as a means to attempt to justify his agenda. And it seems I've read some statements of his which are VERY critical of Christianity.

Christians in Europe did write the Heidelberg Confession during that period, which was a direct slap in the face of the Nazi government and its attempt to control the church.

 

When I found my home church, I was not looking for the place I could be most comfortable in, but for the place God wanted me to be at. The other members had nothing to do with my decision.

As far as God speaking personally to people, you seem to have a false assumption. If I read you correct, you assume that people who say they're lead by God feel God has picked their church because it is closer to His truth. That is not the case at all. Number one, if you are talking about the God of the Christian Bible, his only "preferance" is that you preach Jesus Christ. Most christian denominations do that already. The only reason, then, that God would speak to someone to join a church is that God knows your needs would best be served at that certain church. For example, if you are a drug addict, you would be served better if you went to a church that had a drug ministry.

 

Max,

Yeah, of course...sorry for being so open ended.

Protestantism oppened the door for personal relationship with God & Jesus for organized Christianity (in the ~1000 years of prior Church history, it was not allowed).

Paul is definitely considered the philosophical father of Protestantism...just not as direct as a Luther, Calvin, Henry VIII, etc.

As for it being the best result - well, there are pros and cons...Luther realized that and, thus, regretted some of his efforts. Personal relationships and interpretation is much more democratic, but it also allows for crazies like Heavens Gate, Branched Dividians, etc.

Too bad nothing can eve be perfect, no matter how good the idea.

 

You still haven't explained how god told you what she wants.

 

I'm not sure whom she is, but I will say that God confirmed my being at people's hope, my church, through a dream. I thought about mentioning this in my previous post, Outlaw, along with a paragraph on what the finer points of God speaking to Christians are, but I didn't believe I could convince you on the matter, so I decided against it.

 

I'm not sure whom she is, but I will say that God confirmed my being at people's hope, my church, through a dream. I thought about mentioning this in my previous post, Outlaw, along with a paragraph on what the finer points of God speaking to Christians are, but I didn't believe I could convince you on the matter, so I decided against it.

So assuming RM95 doesn't have a dream about which Church to attend, <font size=5>how do you</font> (any of you saying this is the wrong way to go about it)<font size=5> suggest RM95 determine which Church to go to?</font>

 

I might suggest you try a Christian church(Disciples of Christ). TCU is from that denomination, and actually Nick Van Exel is an active memebr. That may be a reason you don't want to try it...

But the only requirements for membership are belief in Jesus Christ. Therefore you can find a wide and diverse make up of it's members. The Church has also voted on measurements such as apologizing to the American Indians for Christianities role in destroying so many people, and started language classes in the native language of two of the tribes.

I've found them to generally be very accepting, and my mother was a pastor at First Christian Church of Galveston until her recent death.

 

To confirm rimmy's point: you could actually be tried for heresy and put to death if you said god was speaking to you. I think that's part of why Joan of Arc was killed.

If I was RM95 and I had to listen to some of the Christians in this thread b****ing at me about being too 'flippant' in my search, I'd become an agnostic! Oh wait, I already am. Come over to the dark, directionless, vaguely indecisive side, RM95. You'll like it here. Really you will. Bwahahahahaha!!!

 

this is true of the Presbyterian Church as well....

 

please don't...your focus should be on God...not on the people who show up to a church service on a Sunday morning. i think you're smarter and stronger than that, RM95 (in the event this response wasn't tongue in cheek).

 

<B>RM95</B> and <B>dimsie</b>: I'm so glad to know that you guys are above and beyond discussion. "b****in'" at him? Yeah, right! Thank you for the colorful but full of **** characterization of my POV.

 

RM95, only you and your girl will know the right church to attend that makes you both feel comfortable and spiritually fulfilled. It took me quite a long time to find a church that I felt comfortable in and when you two find it you will be glad you put the effort. If someone would have told me me 5 years ago I would be attending a Pentacostal Church, I would have called them crazy and a few other choice words The moment I walked in, I felt right at home and just as important I belived what was being taught. Good Luck, I know you two will find the right church

 

not at all what i meant...i simply meant don't impart negative qualities of believers (including --and maybe especially---me!) on God.