Belonging to more than one church?

[Sublime_Prince]

I have been visiting many churches and I can’t fiqure out why everyone has to belong to one church that they go to every sunday. That just seems so boring to me, I enjoy visitng many churches, seeing new faces, and being in new buildings.

Can’t I belong to more then one church? What if I don’t want to worship God in the same church every sunday, what if I want to move around between churches?

Like for example I went to my friends Baptist church and did an alter call at his church. I did this not because I agree with all the baptist teachings, but because I wanted to show God my committment, and that I agree they may have a point that it doesn’t hurt to do this act of Faith to tell God your surrendering to him. I also did this because its harder for me now to back down from a goal to start following a more christian path in life.

Now I don’t believe you need to do an alter call to be saved, like my good friend George does nor do I believe one needs to be rebaptised. Nor do I believe the baptist church is the only way to salvation.

George, my friend who invited me to his church, now says that I have been saved I am now going to be a member of the church. I really was just planning on doing an alter call and thats that, but it seems like I am automatically a member now of his church.

I quess this is ok, but I am not planning on being an active member of his church and really am planning on becoming a catholic.

I was thinking though what harm is there in it. I could go to catholic masses and every once in a while go to Georges baptist church. The baptist church has excellent sunday schools and bible study that I could benefit from.

I also enjoy going to several catholic churches, and I really get tired of always going to the same one. Like I will sometimes go to a Catholic church by my mothers. So when I become catholic I think I would like to apply for a dual membership in more then one catholic church, just so I don’t have to always go to the same church every sunday.

Does anyone else belong to more then one church?

 

[notsmart]

You want to donate money to a lot of churches then. How nice of you!

 

[Sublime_Prince]

You want to donate money to a lot of churches then. How nice of you!

Ya thats what I am doing now. Whatever church I visit on sunday I donate money to. It amounts to about 10% of my income but that 10% is spread of many churches. So an individual church might not like that because they only see a small portion of that 10%, but my 10% is still going to God so I am happy.

 

[notsmart]

Ya thats what I am doing now. Whatever church I visit on sunday I donate money to. It amounts to about 10% of my income but that 10% is spread of many churches. So an individual church might not like that because they only see a small portion of that 10%, but my 10% is still going to God so I am happy.

You could also volunteer your time and talents.

 

[1ke]

You say you want to be a Catholic but then you post nonsense in post after post. You want to be a Catholic and a Mason. You want to be a Catholic but only attend Mass “occasionally” and then go to other denominations services and participate in their altar calls. You want to be a “monk” for a “while” because you are “lazy”. You want to know our opinion on angels as beings from Saturn.

You seem like a troll to me. No one can take you seriously if you continue to post nonsense.

If you want to be a Catholic, go to RCIA to learn what the Catholic Church teaches and how to live as a Catholic. Be prepared to commit yourself 100% to the Catholic faith.

None of these things you are posting about are compatible with being a Catholic.

 

[Sublime_Prince]

But I am serious. Is there anything preventing a catholic from also being apart of other denomination church services? No of course not!

I also might join a presbyterian church too that a mason from another lodge is the minister of.

 

[oneGODoneCHURCH]

I have been visiting many churches and I can’t fiqure out why everyone has to belong to one church that they go to every sunday. That just seems so boring to me, I enjoy visitng many churches, seeing new faces, and being in new buildings.

Can’t I belong to more then one church? What if I don’t want to worship God in the same church every sunday, what if I want to move around between churches?

Like for example I went to my friends Baptist church and did an alter call at his church. I did this not because I agree with all the baptist teachings, but because I wanted to show God my committment, and that I agree they may have a point that it doesn’t hurt to do this act of Faith to tell God your surrendering to him. I also did this because its harder for me now to back down from a goal to start following a more christian path in life.

Now I don’t believe you need to do an alter call to be saved, like my good friend George does nor do I believe one needs to be rebaptised. Nor do I believe the baptist church is the only way to salvation.

George, my friend who invited me to his church, now says that I have been saved I am now going to be a member of the church. I really was just planning on doing an alter call and thats that, but it seems like I am automatically a member now of his church.

I quess this is ok, but I am not planning on being an active member of his church and really am planning on becoming a catholic.

I was thinking though what harm is there in it. I could go to catholic masses and every once in a while go to Georges baptist church. The baptist church has excellent sunday schools and bible study that I could benefit from.

I also enjoy going to several catholic churches, and I really get tired of always going to the same one. Like I will sometimes go to a Catholic church by my mothers. So when I become catholic I think I would like to apply for a dual membership in more then one catholic church, just so I don’t have to always go to the same church every sunday.

Does anyone else belong to more then one church?

You can not be a member of more than one Church. if you are Catholic you are Catholic that’s it. You can not be of any other faith or christian denomination. Now with that said Once you receive the Sacraments of Baptism first communion and Confirmation you will be a member of the parish church normally nearest to were you live. That does not prevent you from partaking in the mass at any Catholic Church you chose to go to.

In my family most of the People are not Catholic and on occasion I do visit there church with them I do not make alter calls or take communion. I will stand and sing and Pray with them at the appropriate times and am friendly but I do not make a alter call nor communion. also I will either go to Mass on Saturday night or early Sunday morning before going to this protestant Service.

 

[1ke]

I am serious.

Then act like it.

Is there anything preventing a catholic from also being apart of other denomination church services? No of course not!

Yes. The Catholic Church herself which forbids this.

If you want to be a Catholic, you cannot “also” be a part of other denominations and their services.

I also might join a presbyterian church too that a mason from another lodge is the minister of.

You cannot be both a Catholic and a Presbyterian. If you want to be a Catholic you can ONLY be a Catholic, not any of these other things. This is inherent in the Church’s doctrine and it’s requirements under Canon Law.

If you are not willing or able to submit to the authority of the Catholic Church and embrace all of what she teaches and abide by the laws of the Church, you should not become a Catholic until you are.

 

[notsmart]

I thought catholics could attend protestant services if they did it in addition to mass but not as a substitute. Sublime prince would have a busy sunday.

 

[Sublime_Prince]

Well I know many catholics that don’t 100% believe in the catholic church teachings.

But I am going to be catholic I have made my mind up, wether I choose to follow all the catholics law is my own choice that really no one else can stop me from doing. Many catholics don’t do things according to cannon law, so what. Many become catholic just so they can marry a catholic even though they really are more protestant at heart.

 

[notsmart]

Well I know many catholics that don’t 100% believe in the catholic church teachings.

But I am going to be catholic I have made my mind up, wether I choose to follow all the catholics law is my own choice that really no one else can stop me from doing. Many catholics don’t do things according to cannon law, so what. Many become catholic just so they can marry a catholic even though they really are more protestant at heart.

Why on earth would anyone join a church that they disagree with on key doctrine or dogma?
Why would anyone feel the need to belong to so many different groups?

 

[oneGODoneCHURCH]

Well I know many catholics that don’t 100% believe in the catholic church teachings.

But I am going to be catholic I have made my mind up, wether I choose to follow all the catholics law is my own choice that really no one else can stop me from doing. Many catholics don’t do things according to cannon law, so what. Many become catholic just so they can marry a catholic even though they really are more protestant at heart.

So other are doing wrong. it ok for you to do wrong? Son you need to grow up and do a lot of praying before you do anything about committing yourself to the Catholic Church or any other Faith for that matter. Also that is a difference between following disciplines and following doctrine and Dogma. All are bond to follow the Dogma

 

[ralphinal]

There are several reasons one should be a member of only one church, even if they are not Catholic at all.

First, we are called to a life of service to others. This is primarily through teaching the faith and aiding those in need. Jumping from place to place prohibits you from doing either well if at all. Now, you can serve ina soup kitchen or something like that, but you cannot hand on a faith that you do not profess.

Second, membership in a church grants benefits. Marrige being one of them. Most pastors will not marry someone within their church unless one of the two is a member.

Third, if all Chrisitans had this idea, none of the churches could afford to stay alfoat. Your 10% may or may not be a lot. Divided among several churches, it is less either way.

Finally, there has to be a more important reason that you choose a church other than the new faces, buildings, or even the fellowship. Church membership should bring you closer to God and to your fellow man. If you are bouncing from place to place, you may be missing the message or even hearing messages that are counter to God’s.

Just my insight.

 

[Sublime_Prince]

There are several reasons one should be a member of only one church, even if they are not Catholic at all.

First, we are called to a life of service to others. This is primarily through teaching the faith and aiding those in need. Jumping from place to place prohibits you from doing either well if at all. Now, you can serve ina soup kitchen or something like that, but you cannot hand on a faith that you do not profess.

Second, membership in a church grants benefits. Marrige being one of them. Most pastors will not marry someone within their church unless one of the two is a member.

Third, if all Chrisitans had this idea, none of the churches could afford to stay alfoat. Your 10% may or may not be a lot. Divided among several churches, it is less either way.

Finally, there has to be a more important reason that you choose a church other than the new faces, buildings, or even the fellowship. Church membership should bring you closer to God and to your fellow man. If you are bouncing from place to place, you may be missing the message or even hearing messages that are counter to God’s.

Just my insight.

But you see many people miss out on the true light of God, or only can see one perspective of him. They grow up catholic and have lived catholic all their lives and have never been exposed to all the other perspectives to view God outside of the church. Likewise someone born baptist has no idea about the catholic church of things the catholics do that are vital for salvation.

Only by discovering the true light of God and viewing his light from all perspectives of many denominations was I able to comprehend his full self. By locking ourselves into one denomination we narrow our minds too much.

Its like reading a book and using someones notes about what that book was about to better understand it. In school if I would only use my notes and not confer with classmates about their interpetations of the book, I would not be able to comprehend all the key points in that book. Therefore I am able to fully see Gods true light by consulting with many denominations and accepting almost all their beliefs.

 

[Trishie]

Hi, responding to your claim to be stubborn!

How can I gently express my thought to you! I have sons, I have brothers…I don’t find them aggressive about their will or intentions, just very decent good, strong men…but I do understand how men have their pride…which you appear at least to be showing as you have been challenged and you don’t like that. I do understand…but life mightn’t always be kind to such stubborness…and there’s the example of Jesus to consider.

Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, was born in an animal shelter. Soon afterwards, with his family, he became a refugee as he was in danger of being murdered by Herod’s soldiers. He was the most important person ever born, but he lived for thirty years a humble good ordinary life, of simple goodness and obedience.

Joseph was a tradesman not a leading man of the town. The living was simple and humble. If pride was of God, Jesus could have come into our midst as a glorious adult personage, but he started his human life as a helpless infant. He died an ignominious death. And he taught, that 'unless one becomes as a little child one cannot enter the kingdom of God"…humility again.

“Follow me”,he said, and he wasn’t just meaning walking down the road after him… If we are to be followers of Christ, are we to discount his example?

And if Jesus started only one Church, might we not believe him that this is his truth. Do we not listen to and respect the wish of this humble man who is mighty God?

Warm regards, Trishie.

 

[Sublime_Prince]

And if Jesus started only one Church, might we not believe him that this is his truth. Do we not listen to and respect the wish of this humble man who is mighty God?

Warm regards, Trishie.

But see Peter was the rock upon where all christianity would be built. He was the rock as in the one who spread the Gospel to the world and started the catalyst. Upon that rock christianity was born. He wasn’t refering to the catholic church.

 

[Trishie]

We believe that Peter was the rock upon which the Christian Church was founded and we believe in the direct line from Peter through to our present Pope. The Catholic Church was at first called Christian. Catholic means universal. For a long time there was only the universal Christian Church, the universal, that is, catholic Church. Later there were schisms, other Churches were begun by men.

Anyhow, if you’ve not been through RCIA yet you can’t really know what direction and what understanding you will find during the process. You may be at this time battling with questions that will be anwered in that process. You don’t know that you will find quite the same challenges when you do learn and study in greater depth. I think you could be making things harder for yourself now, when later for all you know you will find yourself taking a different position regarding aspects of faith and practice.

I think you’re a good person who is trying to do what he feels is best, and creative…but wait a little and see what happens when you go through RCIA. You are being formed by the Holy Spirit, and it takes time…God bless your journey, Trishie

 

[LDNCatholic]

Sublime, why do you want to be a Catholic? If you only wish to attend occasionally, and you wish to continue to be a mason? These two things are incompatible with Catholicism.

 

[Sublime_Prince]

Sublime, why do you want to be a Catholic? If you only wish to attend occasionally, and you wish to continue to be a mason? These two things are incompatible with Catholicism.

But many catholics do things that are incompatible with catholicism and they still are catholics.

 

[LDNCatholic]

But many catholics do things that are incompatible with catholicism and they still are catholics.

And that is not right. They are sinning.

They were Catholics before (I assume) they defied the Church, you however plan to become a Catholic all the while planning to defy Church teaching, all the while openly accepting that it is against the rules of the Church to which you seek to belong.