Question for Christians: Have you ever changed denominations and why?

Question

I was raised liberal Baptist, then became Presbyterian. For a few years, I have felt pulled in the Anglican / Roman Catholic direction, although I have not changed. What is your experience?

Answer 1

I was raised Baptist and went to Sunday school all of my childhood every Sunday. As an adult, I felt very out of place. I oftern felt snubbed and so I stopped going for a few years altogether. When I married, my husband was Catholic and so I converted so that we could get married in the Catholic Church. I went to Catholic Masses sparadically for 10+ years. I ended up not going anymore as the more I learned about the belief, the less I agreed with the teaching. Altough the Catholic Church has very beautiful masses, I disagree with praying to the saints and I disagree with praying to Mary, even for intercesion prayer. The Bible - God - tells us NOT to pray to the dead. Mary is no exception to that rule. Although she was highly favored by God and although she was indeed the birth mother to Jesus on earth, she is not the Queen of Heaven and she is not a diety. Worship only GOD! That is the main thing that I did not approve of and agree with. I then tried a few other Churches, but ran into the same problem as when I was Baptist and also noticied much hypocrisy. I decided not to go at all, as I thought I knew God anyway and didn't need a church. Well, turns out, I didn't know God like I thought I did and although it is true that you don't HAVE to go to church as it is not a matter of salvation, God does tell us to keep fellowship as the spiritual supports are needed and what greater event than a mass body of brothers and sisters coming together in his name and worshipping. The task was to find a church that I felt comfortable in. Well, I did. I attend a non-denominational church that practice Bible teachings straight from the Bible! I love it, the worship is contemarary and the Pastors are very open and do not try to come off like they are sinnless. They really do care about all their congregation and it shows. I have been there going on 3 years and got born again 2 1/2 years ago, AMEN! Well, thats my story. Its not about religion, its about a relationship with Jesus!

Answer 2

I was raised in a baptist church, attended an assembly of God church through high school, and was later baptized in a methodist church. On strengthening my relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I have found that denomination has done a very good job at achieving satan's plans... Division amongst believers. The Reverend George Whitefield made a comment many years ago that I thinks sums the answer to your question up quite nicely. He said "Father Abraham, whom have you in Heaven? Any Episcopalians? No! Any Presbyterians? No! Have you any independents of Seceders? No! Have you any Methodist? No! No! No! Whom have you there? We don't know those names here! All who are here are Christians." It is not by your faith in a denomination that you are drawn closer to the Lord, but by a close personal relationship and the living of a life that is in accordance with scripture. Have fellowship with those who encourage and uplift, help hold you accountable, and share your burdens. Hope this has helped you, and God bless you.

Answer 3

I changed churches two times. I don't like a lot of liturgy. Might be ok for some people. I prefer hymns and some contemporary music. If you use the same fornal ritual every Sunday I'm going to be planning my schedule or mentaly doing something else. Sorry, but that's the way it is. I believe I need to find a church that is Bible oriented. One in which members accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. I find it hard to find a church in which I agree with everything, It is sorta like the saying If you find the perfect church, don't join it, you'll spoil it if you do. I believe the church I'm in right now is as close to perfect as I better join or I might spoil it. Of couse I felt that way about the last the church I was in {I liked it very much} and I like the one I'm in now. The only reason I changed denominations the last time was I couldn't find another one like the one I had belonged to after I moved. I also want a sermon that is Bible based,challenges you, makes you realize you are not living as close as you could to the Lord. If I don't go home at least part of the time challenged in some way to draw closer to the Lord I feel that my time has been wasted. A church can be any group of believers that belongs to the body of Christ. To be Bible based I believe there need to be some general guidelines established on what the Bible teaches. If you can not agree with the church you are in maybe you need to find another one. I do not believe I have to belong to a denomination. I don't think there is a perfect denomination. That does not stop me from belonging to a denomination. I do think there are some born again believers in all Christian denominations. I believe all Christians should be joined with other believers to worship God regularly. God says not to forget the assembling of ourselves together, especially in the last days. I also want a church in which I feel I can contribute with other members to the glory of God.

Answer 4

I've gone through this myself. I've only belonged officially to two denominations: the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Catholic Church. I was a JW as a boy, but my family quit that religion and thus we embarked on a lonely journey to try and find another one. We visited the Baptists, Assembly of God, other small congregations and so forth, but it was all the same. I had even embarked on my own spiritual quest trying to learn my faith on my own. It worked somewhat here and there, but there was always an emptiness. It wasn't until I finally devoted myself to the Catholic faith that I discovered the home I'd been missing for so long. I went through RCIA, and was confirmed last year. My life hasn't been the same since. Though I'm a dreadful sinner, I know and love Jesus and the Holy Spirit; I study constantly and attend Mass weekly (which I never did before) and on holy days of obligation. I love, LOVE Holy Week, and most of all, Easter (even more than Christmas).

Anyway, sorry for the rant, but that's my story. God bless.

Answer 5

Was raised a Baptist and a Catholic-hater. Learned that the Baptist ideals involving the cessation of the presents of the Spirit had been inaccurate and moved into Pentecostal/Charismatic circles. (The Baptist declare that the verse declaring "while that that is ideal is come" stated the King James Bible used to be no longer some thing I might repeat with a instantly face.) Was certainly specified I could on no account even remember Catholicism considering the fact that of what I were instructed had been their further-Biblical ideals. Then, over the direction of 2 years, I tested their ideals extra cautiously adding the Biblical justification for them. I additionally learn approximately the ideals and practices of the Early Church, and used to be pressured to finish the whole thing I'd been instructed approximately the Church used to be a lie. I used to be admitted to the Catholic Church this beyond January on the age of fifty three. I have no longer completely explored the social features of my new Church. If whatever, they appear a extra reserved bunch. The Pentecostals are the partying church.

Answer 6

yes i have i was dedicated to the Lord as a baby a Nazarene i Later was baptized in water as a baptist filled with the Holy Ghost as a Pentecost do you want to know what i am now i am a born again believer washed in the blood of the lamb child of God who's Name is written in the Lambs book of Life why the change because no name but the name of Jesus Christ can take you to our father for Christ and his body are the true church the word of God is the same yesterday today and tomorrow follow no man but follow Love the Love of our God and his word shall set you free
God Bless you all i pray your eyes will be opened so you can truly see Gods Love is the way

Answer 7

yeah I do not know what you would consider my religion per say, I am a Christian so therefore I am one with Christ and He is my direct link to God. Other than that I have no label to prove my faith. I do not care to prove to anyone that I belong to a church so then I must be good. Too hypocritical for me, its God and I. My family and I go to a fellowship meeting once a week. Although I have been to many many churches.

Answer 8

I went from Presbyterian to Baptist! It wasn't as fun as I expected it to be, so I'd prefer to go back to my Presbyterian church!

Answer 9

I was brough up Catholic...its brutal. Went athiest a long time.
Got saved by grace through a speck of faith and went pentecostal.

Just recently switched to Messianic Judaism because I felt drawn to it....need to understand the feasts, OT and Jewish perspectives.

Blessings
David

Answer 10

Me when i was a child i was raised catholic when I grew up and saw the hypocrisy and lies deceptions and that what we were taught were based on church tradition and not on the Bible after much study and investigation I became a TRUE CHRISTIAN Gorbalizer