The church I was raised in was the "First Church of the Nazarene" and I now attend the "First Free Methodist Church"... What does the "first" in these names mean? There aren't second or third and there seems to be an awful lot of them around... Can anyone tell me it's significance?
2006-07-22 14:31:31 · 9 answers · asked by Sarah 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
To those of you saying the first in the town, not true. There are four or five in my city...
2006-07-22 14:38:31 · update #1
They don't want to be the last church.
2006-07-22 14:34:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Supposedly they are each the first to come to an area or to start the church. You are correct that there are an awful lot of them around and they could not all be the first at what they did. But then how would it sound to be the Second Free Methodist Church? If you go with what the bible says, the first shall be last and the last shall be first. Makes you stop and think.
2006-07-22 21:36:47 · answer #2 · answered by ramall1to 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It happened not too long ago.
Relatively speaking, the division between liberal and conservative protestant churches in America happened sometime in the mid 1800's. Some believe it had to do with the Civil War between the states but that is not true.
The division was mainly between the baptists however the conflict has poured over into other denominations as well.
The worst part about the division is that the church really needs to have a firm grasp on the truth that you can not have love without law and you can't obey the law without love.
Satan has so twisted the debate between liberal and conservative that neither side would ever admit that they need each other.
God has said he hates divorce yet churches divorce with each other every day. God's heart weeps for his Son because his bride is an adulteress.
Conservative churches pinch their penny's and proclaim you must not do this or you must not do that guilting people into endowments.
Liberal churches lavish resources and permit most any behavior in turn reaping benefactors.
Before I get too depressed and indignant at the church for it's wicked behavior, I will cease and allow you to make your own decision as to why conservatives and liberals (in the church) are different.
Now you have First and Second Churches because no one could compromise on what names each church should have.
2006-07-22 21:37:55 · answer #3 · answered by Bimpster 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In most cases it refers to the church being the first of its kind in a given location. First Church of the Nazarene probably stands for First Church of the Nazarene in Your City, USA, etc. Most don't use the full name because it isn't necessary.
2006-07-22 21:36:41 · answer #4 · answered by Mister Bob the Tomato 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about Fifth Third Bank? Fifth Third Church sounds catchy too. If at "First" you don't succeed try try again.
2006-07-22 21:37:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the begining of the practice it simply ment that it was the first "church" of that "denomionation" in the area... there are 1st 2nd 3rd even 8s out there....Baptist, Christian, etc
2006-07-22 21:36:12 · answer #6 · answered by IdahoMike 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ha Ha. It is the first one in that town.
2006-07-22 21:35:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not the second or third.
2006-07-22 21:35:21 · answer #8 · answered by indiebaptist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe its tradition. I never really thought about it like that before.
Have a nice day :-)
2006-07-22 21:36:01 · answer #9 · answered by drewfranklin4 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋