Can you tell me about your denomination of Christianity?

Question

I am curious about other denominations besides my own and was wondering how they differ and compare. Please state your denomination and just tell me anything you would like about it. I respect differences and am not biased in any way. I am Lutheran. I have relatives who are Episcopal, I have friends that are Catholic, Covenant, and Lutheran. I've heard of Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, and several others. Please give me as much info as you can. Thanks. And this question is by no means to be taken offensively, I dont mean offense to anyone, just making that clear, I respect your beliefs so please respect mine. And feel free to email me if you want to. God Bless.

Please? Pretty Please?

Thank you to those who've provided informative answers. Some of you have made some points that are quite thought-provoking. Please continue to post answers as more are always appreciated!! :)

Answer 1

It is good to see you do your research. I was raised as a Lutheran. I became an atheist while in High School. I got saved at a Baptist Church when I was 19. I attended a Lutheran Church a couple of times a year because my exwife was a member. I thought that the services were too long and boring. My exwife filed for divorce when I was 30. I became an alcoholic and a drug addict. After a few more years I became homeless with no hope or power to change. I started going to a Pentacostal Church called the Vineyard where I received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. My whole life changed! Then I was introduced to the United Pentacostal Church. I attended both Churches until they both wanted me to make a commitment to their Church only. I stumbled into a a small Nondenominational Church. All of these Churches that I have mentioned have some truth to them. But as I have grown to become strong in the Lord. I have discovered that I have learned from each one of them. But I do feel that the Nondenominatioal Churches that believe in the "Baptism of the Holy Ghost" with the evidence of speaking in other tongues to be closer to the truth than all the other Churches. I find them to be very exciting and fun. The worship is contempoary with a mood of freedom. I like to wear Hawian Shirts to Church. I enjoy lifting my hands and clapping. I blow the Shofar and we love to dance and run in the Church. When I go to Church, I expect the Lord to be there and to speak to us because we excerise the gifts of the Holy Spirit. There is no agenda and we never know what is going to happen. Someone might get delivered, or healed, or receive salvation, or prophecy. We have many guest speakers and home groups and activities to develop strong relationship with each other because we consider everyone as our brother or sister because we are in the Family of God. There is a lot of joy and we enjoy helping others. We believe that the Bible is the Word of God and that Jesus's Spirit resides in each "Born Again" Believer!Please stay away from occults. You will know them because they will tell you that their church is the only correct church. I believe that God will lead you to the Church that you need to be at. I hope that this can help you. At a good day and God Bless!

Sincerely Yours, Pastor Jeff Ludin

Answer 2

Well, I'm Roman Catholic personally. The best way to examine the differences in denominations is to scrutinize their version of the creed. There's a lot of theology squished into those little prayers! Roman Catholics use the Nicene Creed most often, which is as follows:

We believe in God, the father, the almighty
Maker of heaven and earth
of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in Jesus Christ
His only Son, our Lord
Eternally begotten of the Father
God from God, Light from Light
True God from true God
Begotten, not made, one in being with the Father
Through Him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation, He came down from heaven
By the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary and became man
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate
He suffered, died, and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
In fulfillment of the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead,
and His kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son, He is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the body,
and life of the world to come.

Answer 3

I'm a member of the Reformed Churches, which is the oldest denomination with a continuing history. It contains Calvinist theology and statements of faith that people lost their lives over, and I'm shocked at how they are simply glossed over and dismissed in todays world. The Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, and the Apostle's/Nicene/Athenasian creeds were cornerstones of faith built on the foundation of the Bible -- Man's writings, yes, but this was their interpretation of the scriptures, written down nad published so that there could be absolutely no misunderstandings as to what they thought the Bible said. I agree with 'em, and I'm glad they're there. Solid, logical, scholarly, well-debated sense being made of that most Holy book.

Answer 4

Kiara,

Nice name, by the way.

I am Methodist, which many Irish Protestants in the U.S. are. We believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God translated by humans. We are similar to Baptists, except we baptize children at any age, and we don't dunk baptizees in a hottub, baptismal, lake or swimming pool. We are not immerse-rs. We are not adverse to dancing, as some Baptists are, nor do we think drinking wine is of Satan. In fact, during communion in our churches, we partake of the same elements that Christ and his disciples did. Most Protestants are similar. Here in the southwest, a growing number of believers are becoming non-denominational.

Over and out............

Answer 5

Hi,
To All:
If denominations don't matter, why practice it?
Actually it's more than "doesn't matter". YOUR BIBLE FORBIDS IT!
I Corinthians 1:10 ..............speak the same thing, and that there be NO DIVISIONS among you,...........be perfectly joined together............
That's from Paul; speaking the oracles of Christ.
Christ himself prayed that we would be ONE in all matters (faith, doctrine, practices, etc) in his prayer in John 17.

Get this; IF HE PRAYED IT, I GARANTEE HIS PRAYER IS HONORED. Now where should we stand on oness?

When will those that profess to be christians open up to the truth and admit this. And even further, START PRACTICING THE ONE CHURCH DOCTRINE OF THE BIBLE. I don't believe we will ever see this happen in this world. I think there will always be denominations and divisions. But, I'M not going to tell the world, "It's OK for the Church to be divide!". And I'm not going to be a part of one of the divisions. I ONLY consider myself apart of the New Testament church that we read of in the bible. And I worship with those that practice the same. I respect all who profess to be a christian as well as all other people no matter what they believe.

No wonder it's next to impossible for non-believers to accept Christ. They see a mass group of people that don't even believe EACH OTHER. How can they believe us?

God Bless

Oh....................church of Chirst (not as a denomination, but as a description of who we belong to)

Answer 6

Hi,
I'm from an Evangelical church (I grew up in an Anglican church).
The Evangelical church is made up of English and Mandarin worship services/congregations; our pastors dress in regular suits, we've an English worship team and a choir in the Mandarin worship. We have communion service once a month on the first of the month. It is like family in a lot of ways; we have lunch after service most of the time; on Friday nights we have a cell group meeting or a fun activity.

My former church was more formal, the pastor dressing in robes, the music quite different from the hymns that my church sings (the style mainly), and there are probably other differences too.

Answer 7

I am full gospel Christian. ie: Charismatic, Pentecostal etc.
Full gospel means I use the whole text of the bible and do not skip any parts or leave out the parts that suit me.
We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. We are baptized, fully submerged, into a water baptism as symbolically being crucified with Christ and raised again. (Born again.)
Upon conversion we receive the Holy Spirit, but then we are baptized in the Spirit as in the book of Acts. Being baptized in the Spirit means we are endued with power from the Holy Spirit to live the life that Christ has called us to. We accept all the gifts of the Spirit. Let me tell you, after growing up baptist, I am thankful that the Lord led me in this direction.

Answer 8

I go to a international outreach Church they teach and believe all of the word of God and they pray in toques and speak in toques and they are very loving there and they build churches all over the place my pastor has about 5000 members and they have started over 100 or more too in other places around the country and in other country's too!!! ppl have been healed by God in that church and ppl in are church has seen angels and my little girl is one of them my son on the other hand saw a demon when he was little that freaked me out CZ I didn't see it and he was so scared!!!

Answer 9

first off there is NO denominations in the bible.just believers and non-believers.thats why we have different denominations today so people can worship in different styles,singing,etc...
BUT as long as they are worshipping jesus christ the risen son of god.(really does it matter as long as this applies)when we get to heaven there will be people from all kinds of denominations and maybe even some suprises.because it depends on ones faith in jesus christ not what church that he/she goes to.to answer your question raised baptist,church of god,now assemblies of god.

Answer 10

I am a Seventh-Day Adventist. We believe the Bibile is the inspired word of God and that through diligent, faithful study of it's teachings we can understand God's plan for us.

We have 28 core beliefs that you can read at: http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/index.html.

Another great link to check out is: http://www.truthfortheendtime.com/. Steps to Christ is a great book and you can read or listen to it for free at this site.

Great question, God bless.

respectfully,

Your Brother-in-Christ