Question about Christian Denominations Pt. 2?

Question

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnKQQW.xb5QsL__ZGCcfFPLzy6IX?qid=20060830082208AAWVRIe

That was Pt.1

So based on the 1 answer I recieved, would you be better off not going to church and just instead studying the Bible and believing in God on your own terms? Wouldn't you be safer that way?

Like I said this question was based off of the 1 answer I had at the time.

By safer, I meant, less chance of going to hell.

Answer 1

What do you mean by safer? If safeness is all you base your beliefs on, is that really a belief in the first place?

One example that comes up in my mind is in the movie "The Mummy" where Benny is holding religious articles and saying prayers to the various gods, so that if he were to die, he would be saved no matter what. It's a very superstitious way of looking at the world. If you just want to be "safe", as he did, chances are you'll know only a little about each belief, instead of trusting and believing something wholly.

Answer 2

Your worse off, in my opinion. If you are your own authority on interpreting the Bible, and you are just a man, then you can be wrong. However, if there is you and your brother interpreting the Bible together, then when he gets something wrong, you can show him how he is wrong, and vice versa. If you, your brother, and your cousin study the Bible together, then you've got two people to correct you when you're wrong. If you have you, your brother, your cousin, and you send your neighbor across the street goes to college for five years studying Biblical literature, then you can all correct each other, but your neighbor across the street will have a more solid foundation. And thus it goes as the group gets larger.

Answer 3

Absolutely, yes; not because it is safer, because it really doesn't matter, safety-wise, but because your head will not be corrupted (too strong a term?) by any particular agenda of that particular church, most of which has to do with the collection of money for inappropriate purposes, I'm afraid. Yes, study the Bible, all of it if you can, with as many footnotes and historical background notes as you can find. Then commune (a spiritual term) with your own inner, direct, connection to Divinity which is always there and available to you. "In secret" I believe is the original term for that.

Answer 4

The Apostle Paul told us that we should not "forsake gathering together" in worship.

We need to look around and find a good solid Bible preaching church and not stay away because we do not agree with everything that the church says or because of what the people say or do (think of how messed up we must look to them). Keep praying about those things that bother you, that God will give you the right attitude about errors you see and what He want you to say about them (remember to remove the beam out of your own eye first).

Answer 5

To a point. But in Hebrews we are told to congregate with like-minded (christ minded people). But you are right, denominations split over differences in opinion so you must find the right one. I believe the correct course of action must be to read the bible first, learn it and follow it. Then find the church that fits in with what you read and therefore follows the ultimate authority, then you can do both (follow the bible and still congregate with those who can provide love and support later).

Answer 6

That depends on what branch of christianity you believe in.


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