Christianity................help please...?

Question

I was wondering about certain denominations of Christianity. I do not know very much about them. I have heard some do not allow music or dancing at weddings or parties. Or you can't drink alcohol. There are rules as to how to dress. I don't know which these are. Pentecostals, Born again, Jehovah's Witness, Any information on any of these or a place I could find information on them would be appreciated. I am looking for serious answers because I believe in God and Jesus. (and the holy ghost!) Also what is meant to witness to someone?

Answer 1

Okay, let me cover a few of the denominations I know a few things about, and I hope this clarifies things.
I was raised Nazarene. Nazarene is an offshoot of the Baptist denomination. In some ways, the Baptists are more laid-back. In others, they aren't.
SOME sects of Baptists believe that grace is eternal, once saved, always saved. Not ALL sects believe this, but some do. That's why there are so many different forms of Baptist.
The Baptist church I attend closely resembles the Nazarenes. Nazarenes (and Baptists) aren't supposed to drink, but some do in moderation, and that's fine. They don't believe in dancing (unless with your spouse) because of how erotic it can be, and where it can lead.
Pentecostals have a different interpretation on speaking in tongues. They tend to believe that it's a "heavenly" language, and that a person must be "slain in the Spirit" (that's when a person is touched by a minister, and they basically fall unconscious).
Presbytyrians, from my observations, are the most regimented of all Protestant denominations. Their services are SUPER formal, and they focus on the hymns, rather than contemporary music. You usually won't find guitars or drums in a Presbytyrian service!
Same with many denominations of Methodists, and some of the Baptists.
I haven't heard of any that don't allow music period, but there are some that are strict about what KIND of music can be played. Different sects of certain denominations believe that ALL rock and ALL rap is of the devil.
The Assembly of God is the most strict denomination (next to the Presbytyrians) that I've found yet. The women must ALWAYS wear skirts and long sleeves, nothing that reveals more than their throats even, and they may NEVER have their hair short. They're nice people though.
Jehovah's Witnesses seem to focus more on works, and on recruiting than anything. From what I gather, they believe that unless you "recruit" people for THAT denomination, God will not favor you. They are still Christians, at least many of them are, but it seemed to me that they weren't FOCUSED on Christ first.
That's really the ones I know best, I'm sorry I don't know more of them...but there are so many denominations out there!
The thing to remember is that one Baptist or Methodist or Pentecostal church may not be the same as another. As I said, there are different sects within each denomination.
If you really want to know where a church stands, just go there. Sit in the service, get a feel for it, and at the end, ask the pastor if you can have a church manual. Do that at every church. Study their manual.
That should give you an idea.

As far as witnessing, that just means sharing your faith with people. You may do so in deeds, or in words.

Good luck on your search.

Answer 2

Jehovah's Witnesses do not have anything against enjoyment in life as long as God's laws are not broken. There is nothing wrong with dancing as long as it is not vulgar and such. Dress is not restricted as long as it is not immodest or too trendy and by trendy I mean that it would not improperly represent the God we serve. Alcohol in moderation is acceptable as long as it does not stumble someone else, say someone that has a drinking problem and should not be doing it because for them it means that they can't control what they are doing. Did Jesus not turn water into wine at a wedding? To witness to someone is to tell them bible truths and to show them from their own bible. Jesus instructed his disciples to go house to house and make disciples, being fishers of men. That is what true Christians today do. How many religions today do this? Jehovah's Witnesses do not claim to be inspired of God but follow the bible as being inspired of God.
Jehovah's Witnesses What Do They Believe?
http://www.watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_03.htm
What Is Wrong With Binge Drinking?
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20040922a/article_01.htm
Are You A Slave To Fashion?
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20030908/article_01.htm
The Happiest Day Of Our Lives
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20020208/article_01.htm
Ways They Use To Share The Good News
http://www.watchtower.org/library/jt/article_05.htm

Answer 3

Well, one of the big mistakes that people make is linking Jehovah's witnesses with Christianity, because they don't believe he is the son of God, a good prophet, but not the son of God.. Hence, they aren't Christians. Church of Christ members don't have musical instruments in their churches and they don't like dancing. Mormons claim to be Christian too, but they aren't either. They have this belief that they get to be gods of their own world when they die if they have been good enough. Plus, they have their own addition to the Bible which the Bible claims is not right. Naturally, there's more to it than that, but that is just some of the differences. I don't know many of the others. Those are just a few I have researched.

Answer 4

There are three main divisions of the Christian church, Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox. Catholic and Orthodox are vary similar as they split more for geographical reasons rather then religious issues. The Protestants however split from the catholic church because of religious reasons are are pretty different.

Both the Catholics and Orthodox have one single 'ruler-like figure" of their beliefs. They both have their Popes, one in Rome, and the other (I think) is in Istanbul. I believe that 'good' Catholics and Orthodox are going to heaven just like 'good' Protestants are, dispite these differences. It is hard to say though.

Some of the basic differences are their Bible, forms of worship, who they pray too, and how their church is governed. The Catholic and Orthodox Bibles include some books that the Protestants dont, they are called the Apocrypha. Protestants have more issues with just how official these books are rather then what they say.

Some other differences are...
Prayer to Saints and belief that all humans are not perfect are another difference between us and the Catholics. They dont believe that God will listen to us, but he will listen to Saints who are passed away. They also believe that man can become perfect, this is why they have a Pope. Orthodox use 'Icons' which to Protestants is like worshiping idols, but to the Orthodox it is using items empowered by God.

I am a Protestant, and specifically I am a United Methodist. I know more about this group then the other two. The Protestants dont have one human 'ruler' of their church but we do focus more on the teachings of some of these early protesters. Our name is given to us by the early Catholic church because we protested their church customs.

In the protestant faith the denominations include Methodists, Calvinists, Lutherans, Nazarenes, Reformed, Menonites, Quakers, and others. Jehovah Witnesses, Scientologists and Mormons are not generally accepted as official christian organizations by the rest of the Protestants as they do not follow some of our basic tenants or follow some individuals that are concidered heritical.

We believe in 'three in one' (God, Son and Holy Spirit) and being saved and issues of Faith and Love, but we have a slant towards the first Protestors. Basically if you can find the 'Apostles Creed' that is the basis of our beliefs and what all christians should believe. Wesley, Calvin, and Luther. They focused our understanding of the Bible more on understanding Gods will, practicing Faith and Love, and reading the Bible.

Mainly the diffences between the verious denominations within the Protestant group is based on minor interpretations differences of the Bible. Some take these differences pretty seriously, but they are not issues that will keep you from Heaven generally.

Baptist are not quite the same as Protestants but they split from the Catholic church too. Also the English church, call the Anglicans, are not really Protestant either. Anglicans are more a subtype of the Catholic church. The King and Queen of England is the head of that church, just as the Pope is the head of the Catholics.

Finally Witnessing is talking to others about your faith. It has some differences amongst the denominations of the Protestant churches, but basically to the United Methodist, it is talking to others about your faith, sharing how you were saved, and telling them about how to be saved. Being Saved is complicated but belief in the Bible verse John 3:16 is the best start.

Answer 5

Well lets start off with the easy answer. To witness to someone is to present the gospel of christ in hopes of bringing them closer to a relationship with Christ. The process is tricky though bacause so many people are pushy about it you have to be very careful how you witness and to whom you witness to.
Now the rest of it I can't actually tell you about the different denominations but I will tell you the point of the not dancing and drinking. The point is to present yourself in an image of christ. By drinking and dancing you lead yourself into temptation and may cause others to tempt sin. You have to decide for yourself how you feel about drinking and dancing. You can't let a denomination tell you how to believe you have to figure it out on your own.

Answer 6

Jehovah's Witnesses typically do have music and dancing at weddings and parties in the United States. The matter of alcohol is decided by the host, but intoxication is not tolerated. Attire is typically modest and festive, but there are no particular "rules".

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20051008/
http://watchtower.org/e/20020208/article_02.htm

Answer 7

I believe in god and some stories of Jesus but I don't believe in cultish organized religions. The day you have to start doing some rule some man or woman created you are loosing out to the true message. I understand some people are incapable of making decisions and need guidance but I for one am not one of those people. I would find a study group if I were you.

Answer 8

Church of Christ doesn't believe in music, many don't believe in drinking. To wittiness to someone is to tell them the gospel, about Jesus being born, His death and Resurrection. Asking people to accept Jesus as their personal savior, so they can be saved from hell, is witnessing.

Answer 9

OK first of all I'm pretty sure that Pentecostals have all the rules/// and to witness to someone means to share the word of GOD and to make sure that they are saved and going to heaven

Answer 10

I know that mormons do not thrink alchohol or smoke (basically intake anything that would harm you body) I found this out when i was sight seeing in utah (mormon capital of the world or something). and well jehova witness(brainwashed people in my mind) I know for a fact that they drink but stuff like wine with dinner, i dont know all religions are crazy Im catholic catholics have crazy people in there too just like every other ones