My mother was a roman catholic and turned jehovas witness when I was 10. I abandoned that at 18 when I could. My husbands family are Salvation Army. I respect them a lot but dont want to be 'a religion'! How can we be christians without a denomination? I want to take them to church but don't know which one. Help please.
2006-09-05 08:38:22 · 31 answers · asked by helen p 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Jehovah's Witnesses have the true religion.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/library/jt/index.htm
2006-09-07 11:02:18 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hold your own "Sunday Services". It will take some prep work, but will probably mean more to your family if you each take turns preparing part of your own Sunday service.
I don't know how many are in your family, or their ages, but each can participate. A suggested layout might be the following.
Open with a prayer - maybe by a child or the head of the house
Sing a hymn - accompanied or accapela - lots of Christian bookstores have hymn books and cd's with pre-recorded music
Give a talk - try to give each person an opportunity to share and build their testimony each month. Try to have two people give a talk at each meeting. This will take some work throughout the week, so assign talks at least a week ahead. Limit the time to 10 - 15 minutes per talk. Allow younger members of your family shorter times depending on age. Suggest a topic, vote on a topic, or allow the person to pick their own topic. Have guidlines as to what the topics can be about. (The bible I have, has a topical guide in the back, maybe yours does too, any of those topics will work.) Perhaps once per month have a "testimony meeting" where everyone in the family has an opportunity to share their testimony - if they want - no forcing.
Between talks have another hymn or special musical number (maybe a family member has musical talent they want to share?)
The other talk is given.
A closing hymn is sung
A closing prayer is given.
You might also want to read scriptures together (as a family) and discuss what they mean to each person. Even little children (2 years old and up) can understand concepts like Jesus loves me, God made the world and everything in it, etc.
My last suggestion is to really get out there and search for a traditional church home. You may have to drive to another town if you live in a small town, but it may be worth it to you. If you choose to do this, pray first.
2006-09-05 16:29:14 · answer #2 · answered by Tonya in TX - Duck 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion is flawed because people are flawed. We have come a long way from the man in rags who died for us. In two thousand years things have got a bit mixed up.
An excellent book is 'The lost message of Jesus' By Steve Chalke and Alan Mann. Lots of Good Christians feel like you do and thats what the books about.
I am a catholic and to be honest I don't think God will mind which church you join! Listen to your heart. Did Paul have a 'denomination'? Did it bother him?
It also sounds like you had a very religious and complicated childhood. Relax! All in good time! Give yourself time to heal. Pray and listen to your heart.
2006-09-05 15:59:47 · answer #3 · answered by Nicola H 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any Bible believing church would be fine. You DON'T have to join. No where in the scripture does it say join the Baptists and you will be saved. It's all about Jesus not about religion. You can teach the children yourself. It's the shed blood of our Lord that cleanse us not the ideas of a man made religion. It's all about Jesus not about man. So if you need a church to help you in raising the kids to love Christ then GO. just know that isn't a requirement for salvation....Jim
2006-09-05 16:03:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well you believe in God, you don't need to belong to any church, synagogue, mosque etc to say that you believe in the One God. Maybe you could tour? Sit in for a sermon at different places and find out where you like best, because you may decide to join the salvation army but find that the preachers are tedious and that the tea there tastes funny! So go around and test the water.
2006-09-05 17:11:03 · answer #5 · answered by floppity 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dear Helen P,
It's really important to remember that Christianity is an invitation to a relationship with Christ. The church is there to grow you in terms of fellowshipping and learning how to be an instrument of grace to imperfect people.
There are non-denominational churches. Although i myself do not attend a Calvary Chapel (i did go to Bible Ministry School there) i think they are a very solid church that has solid teaching and solid ministries where you can maybe start with a small group and just be surrounded by believers who will really encourage and help grow your faith.
We never put our hope in man and i know that people will often disappoint and disillusion us, but please don't allow that to keep you from the truth of who Jesus is.
i encourage you that a great start is always a bible believing church because God's word is what changes us.
Hope that helps, feel free to email me if there are any questions i can answer or help out with... i'm a youth pastor at a small Chinese Baptist Church although i used to attend a non-denominational church. The denomination is not as important as what they believe and how they practice that belief...
Hope that helps,
Nickster
2006-09-05 15:58:25 · answer #6 · answered by Nickster 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Christianity does not mean you have to be attached to an institution with a name. They are all flawed.
Anything that has existed for a long period of time becomes flawed due to peoples influence and interpretations.
A good christian may be someone who never sets foot inside a church or religious building.
2006-09-05 15:53:16 · answer #7 · answered by crabbie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All Churches have humans in them.
As long as that is true you will never find a religion that is Perfect, and has all Perfect members.
Look at the faith itself, and it's members as a whole, not an individual or two.
After much searching, I ended up going from Protestant to Catholic last year.
Peace be with you!
2006-09-05 15:44:43 · answer #8 · answered by C 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can't take them to church without a denomination so DON'T!
Jehovah witnesses and Salvation Army are worlds apart so give up and hope they stay happy.
2006-09-05 15:47:20 · answer #9 · answered by grassland44 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christian simply stated means the belief in Christ. There is no organized religion inherent in the word. Organized religion is just a way for people of similar beliefs to meet up and talk about it. I mean, if you like basketball, you go to the games to be around other fans who like basketball, plus you pay to be there.
Of course, you can get a beer and nachos at a game, not yet in church.
2006-09-05 15:44:28 · answer #10 · answered by Jay 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when you find the right religion (which there is one). You will see there is nothing flawed. only to be understood. Men are not perfect, the Gospel is.
A dictionary defines a Christian as “one who professes belief in Jesus as the Christ or follows the religion based on [the life and teachings of Jesus],” and “one who lives according to the teachings of Jesus.” 3 Thus two characteristics identify Christians: (1) they profess belief in a Savior, and (2) they act in harmony with the Savior’s teachings. Faithful members of the Church, called Saints or Latter-day Saints, qualify clearly in both characteristics. In our belief and our action, we demonstrate that “Jesus Christ himself [is] the chief corner stone” of our faith. 4
2006-09-05 15:58:27 · answer #11 · answered by kimber g 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋