Christian denominations often say that the others are wrong in their beliefs. How do I know who is right?

Question

Example: Seventh Day Adventist say that we are required to attend Church on Saturday, 7th Day, and eating pork and shelfish is a sin. Mormons have different ideas. The so-called "Jehovah's Witnesses" belive that there is no hell fire and never will be for the lost souls. Some Pentecostals belive that a true Christian speaks in tongues, (unknown language.) Adventists do not believe that the Pentecostals are really speaking in tongues. The Church of Christ do not believe we should use musical instrument in Church and that naming a Church as Pentecostal, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, ect anything other than the Church of Christ or Church of God is disobeying the Gospel and you are lost. "Jehovah's Witnesses," Mormons, and Seventh Day Adventist are considered heretics or cults by the others. Catholics believe that Christians should pray to the Mother of Jesus because they think she and dead Christians can hear them and answer prayers I guess. Catholics see Protestants as in apostasy

Answer 1

Did you think religion would be an easy subject, like underwater basket weaving? Satan is the author of confusion. He does not care if you view all religions as the same (in other words, it doesn't matter what you believe, just so you believe in something), or if you are so confused by the variety of choices that you give up and choose no religion at all (atheist) Either way, he is out to confuse and destroy you.

Many churches point to the Bible as their source for doctrine. Some use the Bible and other sources such as church tradition, the Book of Mormon or the Watchtower Society. Without agreeing on a common compass, there can be no discussion as to what the correct religion is.

There are many good reasons to believe in the Bible as the foundation for your belief system. Other sources have been shown to be unreliable and contradictory. If you choose the Bible as your compass, that rules out all eastern religions, deists, athiests, Islam, agnostics, Judaism, Mormons, JW's and even Catholicism. These religions teach beliefs that are contrary to what the Bible teaches and many use sources that are in conflict with scripture.

Within the Protestant religions, you should look for a religion that is in harmony with the religion of Abraham, Abel, Noah, Daniel, Joseph, Moses, Paul, John and a host of other Bible characters, including Christ.

What was King Solomon's understanding of death and what happens when you die. Ec. 9:5 states:

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

This and many other scriptures prove that when you die, you sleep and await the resurrection. Jesus confirmed this when at the death of Lazarus, He stated, "he sleepeth". If the dead go instantly to their reward of punishment, what is the purpose of the resurrection or the judgment?

The church you seek should be a commandment keeping church. That includes the fourth one regarding the importance of the Sabbath as a memorial of creation and of the Creator. What type of government would God have if there were no laws by which to govern? A perfect government would have a perfect law, one that could not be changed or abrogated in any way. We know that the 10 Commandments have not been changed because Christ died for our sins. Sin is transgression of the law. If the law could be changed, Christ need not have died. How did Cain know that it was wrong to kill Abel? Where was it written that Abraham should not have lied about Sarah his wife? Why was it wrong for Eve to covet a position higher that what she was created for? What laws were the people breaking in Noah's time that caused God to send a flood to destroy them? How did Ham know that it was wrong to dishonor his father Noah when he saw him drunk and naked? Why was Abraham told to leave idol worshipping Ur of the Chaldees if there was no law against idol worshipping prior to the 10 Commandments? Why was it wrong for Joseph's brothers to sell him into slavery and then lie to their father Jacob? How did Joseph know that to commit adultery with the wife of potipher would be sinning?

The list could go on and on. The commandments were in place prior to Sinai and even in the new earth, the Sabbath will be kept. Isaiah 66:23 states that in the new earth:

And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD

So, what do we have?

A church that believes in the Bible as the soul basis for doctrine.

A church that believes the soul is mortal and that the gift of God is eternal life obtained through belief in Jesus Christ.

A church that does not believe in eternal hell fire because it would mean the soul that sinneth is immortal, but eternal life is never promised to the lost only to the righteous. Eternal hell fire causes God to be unjust and unloving, two principles not found in scripture.

A church that follows all 10 Commandments including the fourth one that enjoins worship on the Sabbath (Saturday)

Did Christ believe in and quote from scripture?
Did Christ understand that death was just a sleep?
Did Christ understand that the soul is mortal and that eternal life is a gift from God?
Did Christ keep all 10 Commandment?
Did Christ worship on the Sabbath?

That should be enough to get you started if you are truly seeking

Answer 2

Let's put it this way, there is absolutely no way to _know_ who's right.

Basically I go with what we can prove, and while I'm fairly agnostic, the basic narrative of at least part of the Christian gospels appears to be independently verified - which should prove somewhat heartening.

We know - based on independent corobrating evidence (Roman public records), (references from the Pharasies) that Jesus of Nazareth very probably existed and was sentenced to death by the Roman governor of Judea, at the insistence of the local citizenry for essentially being a public nuisance (according to the Pharasies).

It seems pretty clear to say that whatever he was doing must have (at least) seriously pissed off some locally powerful (and possibly religious) people. What exactly those actions were, we cannot reliably know (independent of the 3 gospels which speak to the matter).

However, beyond that, independent history has very little to offer us.

Afterwards, pretty much anything other than a simple Christian trying to live the exemplary life is just so much BS.

I say stick to the basics and you're in good form if not in perfect shape. Turning the cheek, charity to those less fortunate, humility towards G*d, given the tremendous amount of religious detritus over the millennia, I'm surprised there aren't more flavor of the week Christian sects.

And for the sake of all that's holy, I wish some of the more degenerate forms of fundamentalism would ditch the apocophilia, as it takes a theoretically benevolent religious philosophy and perverts it beyond the pale.

Answer 3

Hi. Actually Christians are not any worse than Muslims. They are the big guys and they wish to inhibit the other's faith; but they are equally powerful and arrogant. They're kind of like bullies. So no Christians are not more intolerant than other faith, they are just more common around you. In India, different races are segregated, In Islam they have been at war or started wars in the name of Allah, and yes, so did the Christians. I know it sounds strange, I have pondered on that matter too, because religion is supposed to be Love, Respect, Kindness, Charity, and all sorts of good things; yet I've seen some very good Christians be mean, hypocrite, hurtful, intolerant. These people confuse their presence in church with being a good Christian. Blame the people not the faith.

Answer 4

ok this might sound strange but... try to look for jesus(isa) in a Islamic point of view.. Im not bad mouthing or putting down any denomination but it is evident that the bible has been edited by a certain king of england and also changed by a certain Mr Smith.. While Judaism dont mention Jesus at all and The Quran has been in the hands of the people since the day i was first published.. find a Quran from the day it came to be and it will be the same as todays.. So if you want to know about Jesus read here or do your own search.. its basically all the same..

http://media.www.ndsmcobserver.com/media/storage/paper660/news/2003/09/25/Viewpoint/Jesus.Of.The.Koran-475308.shtml

Answer 5

When Jesus picked the twelve apostles he didn't intend for all of them to be the same.Each Apostle went their own separate ways preaching the gospel.So the churches began.NO church that has a great foundation, is without Jesus.The Apostles had to account for one another.I know for myself Pentecostal is my denomination.May God Bless You

Answer 6

Jesus founded and authorized only one church ... the Catholic church ... for the purpose of our salvation.

He also promised to bless and keep that church until the end of time, no matter what.

The Catholic church has outlasted every other form of government on the planet, so Christ's promise seems to be holding up.

Put your money on Jesus, and you can't go wrong.

Answer 7

read everything, pray for the Spirit of God to be with you while you read everything, after you finish, ask God in prayer to show you which church you should join, that is what Joseph Smith did, and most of the rest of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we all prayed to know the truth.

Answer 8

Read your bible, if you fellow it how can you go wrong, it tells you how to worship and live, find a church that fellows the bible, the Church of Christ fellows the bible, go to one and check how they do with the bible, if they don't fellow the bible then check out another church, after all it is God's church and things should be done as he says, don't you think? good luck and God Bless

Answer 9

All Protestant religions were founded by Men who broke away from the Church that was founded by Jesus.

Therefore, their claims are based on the beliefs of men who think that Jesus was wrong. If you are a Christian -- then why would you take them seriously? If you are not a Christian, then why would you take them seriously?

Answer 10

Joseph Smith had the exact same question when he was 14. The link below is his account of his experience. He prayed and asked God which of all churches was correct. God answered his prayer and helped him to know what he should do.