How do I choose a Church?

[AlegreFe]

What’s the difference between the CC and a “Bible Believing Church??”

The CC is who put the bible together as we have it today. The CC is the authority who has the guidance of the Holy Spirit to interpret and teach the Word of God. The Word of God is not limited to words in a book. The Word of God is Jesus and do you think Jesus is limited to a bunch of words on a page? No way!

tspoonfan:

I was in an RCIA class (I belong to a Baptist Church) and was taught that the Bible, although inspired by God it is also a human endeavor and therefore contains errors.

There is no way that the bible contains errors. What could happen is errors in printing, errors in translation, possible typos… etc. I think that is what the people in your RCIA class could’ve possibly meant.

tspoonfan:

Yet the Catechsim in sections 107 and 136 say that they teach WITHOUT error.

This is true because the Magisterium has the guarantee of the Holy Spirit and the Pope is infallible when it comes to teaching about Faith & Morals. But that does not mean that the Pope is impeccable. No one but God is perfect. So God can guide the Pope when it comes to teaching Faith & Morals. That is what happened the very first time that Jesus asked the Apostles who they thought Jesus was and Peter stepped up and confessed that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. And Jesus told Peter that no flesh has revealed this to him and that God the Father in Heaven revealed this to him. So Jesus made Peter the Rock and built His Church on Peter the Rock. He even changed his name from Simon which means grain of sand to Peter which means rock. Yeah, Peter rocks alright!

tspoonfan:

I’m confused. What’s the position of the CC? The Catechism seems to say that the CC is a “Bible Believing Church” and my RCIA Group (in a Catholic Parish) says they are not.

If that Catholic parish is saying they are not a bible believing Church then they don’t know what they’re saying. And I don’t think that is what they said. Are you sure you understood them correctly? Could they have said something else and you just didn’t hear exactly what they said and possibly misunderstood them? Did they actually say, “The Catholic Church is NOT a Bible believing Church.” Did they really say that? Perhaps they meant that they don’t believe in the “Bible Alone” concept. They don’t believe that you can have the bible and nothing else; there has to be Sacred Tradition along with the Sacred Scriptures and also a Magisterium to teach the Faith.

Perhaps you need to go to a different Parish for RCIA classes. I will pray for you.

 

[dessert]

Mine is # 5 but then I am a kind of hyper “kid” !

YOUR COMPANIONS ARE LIKE THE BUTTONS ON AN ELEVATOR. THEY WILL EITHER TAKE YOU UP OR THEY WILL TAKE YOU DOWN.

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise; but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Proverbs 13; 20 God’s Little Instruction book Honor books inc.

 

[dover91]

Jesus said there would be no more prophets, simple as that. Jospeh Smith was a liar, the BoM has no authority, and according Doctrines and Covenants, God would never break his covenant with the LDS. This would seem like there would be no schisms. Explain the FLDs, The Community of Christ, LDSB, LDST, etc

excuse me… just jumping in here… but where did Jesus say that there would be no more prophets???

im not LDS, but I’m COG (Clev. TN)

if He Said there where no more prophets then why does 1 Corinthians list Prophet as one of the 5 fold Ministries of the Body or Christ??

just curious…

 

[dover91]

personally, choosing a church in my opinion is one of the hardest things to do…

i think it depends on where you are (location) more sometimes than the church… for example, i live in Pickens county in SC… since i live in Dacusville, I go to Dacusville Church of God… but if i moved over to 6 mile ( a community about 45 minutes away) i would rather drive 45 minutes b/c the Church of God there is not a congregation that i would join…

and if i lived over in the next county i would be goin to the Hosannas Christian Fellowship (Zion Assemblies Church of God) … and if i moved two counties over i would be going to Kirby Memorial Baptist…

just b/c i know the Congregations are different… just b/c a church says that it is part of a larger organization just means that they send a tithe to it to support global ministry and evangelism… it does not necessarily mean that they teach everything ‘ver batem’…

(and if i moved down to Atlanta Gorgia, then i would be going to Atlanta City IHOP (International House of Prayer) , yet another Denomination)…

 

[dover91]

Mine is # 5 but then I am a kind of hyper “kid” !

YOUR COMPANIONS ARE LIKE THE BUTTONS ON AN ELEVATOR. THEY WILL EITHER TAKE YOU UP OR THEY WILL TAKE YOU DOWN.

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise; but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Proverbs 13; 20 God’s Little Instruction book Honor books inc.

haha, that verse came up tonight during service…

thought that was funny…

 

[dover91]

Wow, what a cool VBS!! I wish it was like that with ours. But then again the kids there are not to enthused in the first place to even bother going to VBS. I guess I would blame the parents on that one. And we don’t have very many volunteers that would start something exciting like that.

as a presbyterian minister once said… “the reason why the charismaitic church thrives is because they live and move and breath… yes we have all the doctrine and theology… but we lack the spirit… that is where they beat us…”

and then to quote a COG minister … " if you have just the word you dry up, if you have just the Spirit, you blow up, but if you have the Word and the Spirit, then you will GROW UP!!!"

i think it’s hard for the Body of Christ (the whole thing not just certain denominations)(but Christian denoms of course) has a hard time finding that balance…

 

[angelusm]

If I were to leave the Catholic Church for a “bible believing” church, how would I choose one? The following is a list of local churches who all claim to follow the Bible. Do I choose one based on the fellowship they provide, on the worship music style that they provide, maybe what they teach as doctrine, or should I find one that believes what I believe?

ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ALLIANCE BIBLE CHURCH, ALOHA CHRISTIAN CHURCH(DISCIPLES OF CHRIST), ALOHA CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER, BETHEL UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH, BROOKWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH, CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH, CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF HILLSBORO, CHURCH OF CHRIST, CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS, COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH, COMMUNITY OF CHRIST CHURCH, CORRIDOR BAPTIST CHURCH, EVERGREEN CHRISTIAN CENTER, FAITH CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP OF HILLSBORO, FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, U.C.C., FOREST GROVE BIBLE CHURCH, FRIENDS CHURCH OF HILLSBORO, GOLDEN ROAD BAPTIST, HELVETIA COMMUNITY CHURCH, HERITAGE BAPTIST CHURCH, HILLSBORO FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST, HILLSBORO NAZARENE CHURCH, HILLSBORO CHRISTIAN FAITH CENTER, HILLSBORO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, HILLSBORO UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, IGLESIA EVANGELICA HISPANA, LAUREL COMMUNITY CHURCH, ORENCO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, OUR PLACE - YOUR CHRISTIAN CHURCH, REEDVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, SALVATION ARMY, SCHOLLS COMMUNITY CHURCH, SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH OF FOREST GROVE, SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH OF HILLSBORO, SINGING HILLS CHRISTIAN CHURCH, SONRISE BAPTIST CHURCH, ST PETER’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, TUALATIN PLAINS PRESBYTERIAN, UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST COMMUNITY CHURCH, UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, VALLEY HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH, Westport Church, WESTSIDE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP, WEST VALLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH, WORLD OF FAITH FAMILY CENTER, WORLD OF FAITH CHRISTIAN CENTER, ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH

Do you think that the CC is not a “Bible believing” church? Or maybe it’s a “koran believing” church? Obviously there’s also a Tradition and messages given by God later, for example Fatima. All “churches” that you mentioned are not churches. They are communions, communities, denomitations or sects, but not churches. There is the CC, Eastern Churches and Orthodox Churches. Protestant denomitations are not churches, they have no right to call themselves churches. They are heretics, separated ones, cut off branches, etc. They won’t give you Body and Blood of Jesus but they bless gay couples and generaly behave in a weird way, I would say.

 

[dover91]

Wow, what a cool VBS!! I wish it was like that with ours. But then again the kids there are not to enthused in the first place to even bother going to VBS. I guess I would blame the parents on that one. And we don’t have very many volunteers that would start something exciting like that.

Do you think that the CC is not a “Bible believing” church? Or maybe it’s a “koran believing” church? Obviously there’s also a Tradition and messages given by God later, for example Fatima. All “churches” that you mentioned are not churches. They are communions, communities, denomitations or sects, but not churches. There is the CC, Eastern Churches and Orthodox Churches. Protestant denomitations are not churches, they have no right to call themselves churches. They are heretics, separated ones, cut off branches, etc. They won’t give you Body and Blood of Jesus but they bless gay couples and generaly behave in a weird way, I would say.

well, you’ll have to pardon me if i’m wrong, but the catholic church is not the only church that gives communion on a regular basis… we do not get together every morning at 5 and eat a cracker and drink some wine, but every time we sit down for a meal we thank God for it, and ask him to bless it and partake of it b/c it is from Him and in turn are remembering Him everytime as the scripture has commanded… “as often as you do this, do this in rememberance of me”

he didn’t say every time you eat some bread and drink some wine… he was at supper… He mean every time you sit down to partake of the earth and the goodness of God…

and i do not know about all the protestant churches, (being that my church is not protestant but you would probably consider it so) but we do not ordain homosexuality on any form at all… and only very few independent baptist and presbyterian congregations have… in fact i’ve heard of more homosexuals in the catholic clergy then in any other…

 

[JohnnyReb]

Well, doesn’t looking at all these churches who conflictingly claim to follow the Bible make you want to stick with the CC? I mean, unless someone here provides you with a good way of choosing, it will probably come down to which one you feel is teaching the Bible, with no objective way of picking. Do you really want to leave your spirituality up to that? And where can you find better teaching on the Bible than in the Church that put the Bible together (the CC)?

It should draw them, Its what draws me. Each Bible believing church simply follows their interpretation of the Bible. When they say “Bible believing” they are really saying “We believe in our interpretation of the Bible”

Some also issue statements of faith and position papers, that represent their interpretation. However, in many cases, you have to agree with those positions. Those positions become a form of tradition.

 

[excaliber]

You forgot the Jehovahs witness in th first post.
They believe they are the true church because they knock on doors.
They also feel they are a bible church they only had to change a few verses in there bible.
Or if you don’t like the existing churches why not just start your own like everyone else dose…we have thousands of denominations
I am sure there is room for one more LOL…
just kidding ofcourse

 

[bogoljub]

well, you’ll have to pardon me if i’m wrong, but the catholic church is not the only church that gives communion on a regular basis… we do not get together every morning at 5 and eat a cracker and drink some wine, but every time we sit down for a meal we thank God for it, and ask him to bless it and partake of it b/c it is from Him and in turn are remembering Him everytime as the scripture has commanded… “as often as you do this, do this in rememberance of me”

he didn’t say every time you eat some bread and drink some wine… he was at supper… He mean every time you sit down to partake of the earth and the goodness of God…

and i do not know about all the protestant churches, (being that my church is not protestant but you would probably consider it so) but we do not ordain homosexuality on any form at all… and only very few independent baptist and presbyterian congregations have… in fact i’ve heard of more homosexuals in the catholic clergy then in any other…

God bless !

Do you call Most Holy Communion - cracker and wine ?
Can you stop your improper language - how can you speak in such a tone ?

In CHRIST

 

[Mannyfit75]

well, you’ll have to pardon me if i’m wrong, but the catholic church is not the only church that gives communion on a regular basis… we do not get together every morning at 5 and eat a cracker and drink some wine, but every time we sit down for a meal we thank God for it, and ask him to bless it and partake of it b/c it is from Him and in turn are remembering Him everytime as the scripture has commanded… “as often as you do this, do this in rememberance of me”

Do you believe that the Holy Communion is truly Jesus, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, the way Catholics understand it, or do you believe it is symbolic? Most Protestant believe in the symbolic meaning, Catholics don’t. We part take in the sacrifice of Christ by consuming him on our mouth.

he didn’t say every time you eat some bread and drink some wine… he was at supper… He mean every time you sit down to partake of the earth and the goodness of God…

He did say, where ever everyone is gather under his name, he is there.

and i do not know about all the protestant churches, (being that my church is not protestant but you would probably consider it so) but we do not ordain homosexuality on any form at all… and only very few independent baptist and presbyterian congregations have… in fact i’ve heard of more homosexuals in the catholic clergy then in any other…

After the sex scandal, the Vatican issue a document banning homosexual in the Catholic clergy. Since 2002, the new priests coming out of the seminary have are more loyal to the teachings of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. I also heard from Tim Staples that many priests who commit sin against children, only the Pope can absolve them from their sins. No bishop can do it.

However, I doubt if you have any statistical facts to show that homosexuals out number heterosexual clergy members.

 

[Mannyfit75]

God bless !

Do you call Most Holy Communion - cracker and wine ?
Can you stop your improper language - how can you speak in such a tone ?

In CHRIST

I hate it when Protestants call it cracker and wine. See how Protestant degrade Holy Communion. Shameful.

 

[kentuckyliz]

Well, the last time I was in a position to choose a church was when I moved here 13 1/2 years ago. I looked in the phone book and found two Catholic churches in the yellow pages, and I live about equally between them. One had Mass on Sunday at 9:30 am and the other had Mass at 11:15 am. I like leisurely Sunday mornings so I chose the one with the later Mass. I quickly bonded with the people there and love my church. I sometimes go to the other one for weekday services because it’s in the town where I work, so I am known there too, but the other one is my regular church.

When traveling, I use the Mass Times website to find a nearby church with a Mass schedule around whatever meeting or work schedule I have to flex around.

Hope this helps.

 

[bogoljub]

morning at 5 and eat a cracker and drink some wine, but every time we sit down for a meal we thank God for it, and ask him to bless it and partake of it b/c it is from Him and in turn are remembering Him everytime as the scripture has commanded… “as often as you do this, do this in rememberance of me”

he didn’t say every time you eat some bread and drink some wine… he was at supper… He mean every time you sit down to partake of the earth and the goodness of God…

and i do not know about all the protestant churches, (being that my church is not protestant but you would probably consider it so) but we do not ordain homosexuality on any form at all… and only very few independent baptist and presbyterian congregations have… in fact i’ve heard of more homosexuals in the catholic clergy then in any other…

God bless !

1. Stop your improper language.
2. There is a difference to bless/allow a homosexual ordination and when a Priest is guilty of a sexual sin ( wich of course can happen)-the first is a general uncanonical act and the other a personal sin of a priest.

The first is a blessing of a sin the other is a sin of a blessed.

I think when the rcc has a problem with sexual abuse - it is the outcome of the unmonastic Celibathy of the priests and not because the are homosexual or pedophiles.

Priests should be married or should be monks with a strict life of fasting, prayer, ascesis…there is nothing in between !

IN CHRIST

 

[DJgang]

well, you’ll have to pardon me if i’m wrong, but the catholic church is not the only church that gives communion on a regular basis… we do not get together every morning at 5 and eat a cracker and drink some wine, but every time we sit down for a meal we thank God for it, and ask him to bless it and partake of it b/c it is from Him and in turn are remembering Him everytime as the scripture has commanded… “as often as you do this, do this in rememberance of me”

he didn’t say every time you eat some bread and drink some wine… he was at supper… He mean every time you sit down to partake of the earth and the goodness of God…

and i do not know about all the protestant churches, (being that my church is not protestant but you would probably consider it so) but we do not ordain homosexuality on any form at all… and only very few independent baptist and presbyterian congregations have… in fact i’ve heard of more homosexuals in the catholic clergy then in any other…

Hi there…um…you are new here huh? Well, welcome and I suggest reading some forum rules before posting.

Never been to a Catholic Mass huh? You really don’t know much about the Faith huh?

 

[AllSaints1631]

Well, I think he is just asking a valid question. Most Protestants I talk with say just to go to a Bible believing church.

But…they ALL claim to be a Bible believing church and they ALL teach different doctrine. Which one is correct?

The answer is usually an answer that doesn’t answer the question.

It normally sounds like “Whichever one follows the Bible!” (Um…what? But which one follows the Bible?)

I have heard a few other answers, but it normally comes down to “Whichever one you feel is following the Bible.” Betty Butterfield said it best “I just want a church that makes me feel good about MYSELF.” (youtube.com/watch?v=IzY4MQW1juM by the way. I find it funny.)

Most Protestant churches differ on very minor aspects of Scripture that usually involve personal discipline but do agree on major pieces of doctrine such as the Trinity and the Virgin Birth and Salvation. The whole premise of all Protestants disagreeing with each other on matters of Scripture is really way over-rated.

 

[BrianH]

Most Protestant churches differ on very minor aspects of Scripture that usually involve personal discipline but do agree on major pieces of doctrine such as the Trinity and the Virgin Birth and Salvation. The whole premise of all Protestants disagreeing with each other on matters of Scripture is really way over-rated.

That is true. People focus on the fringe movements but what you are saying is accurate in my experiences as well

 

[Mannyfit75]

Most Protestant churches differ on very minor aspects of Scripture that usually involve personal discipline but do agree on major pieces of doctrine such as the Trinity and the Virgin Birth and Salvation. The whole premise of all Protestants disagreeing with each other on matters of Scripture is really way over-rated.

Not really. Just one of the Protestant Churches this time belong to the Lutheran Church just ordained a lesbian priests and refused to take a vow of celibacy. Ok, we know from Scripture lesbianism is condemned as well as other homosexual acts, or the issue of contraception.

In the 1930s all Protestant denominations condemned contraception and sided with the Catholic Church. Then the Anglican twist their views, and no longer consider it sinful. The recent issue of homosexuality in the Anglican Church over ordain bishops nearly caused schism. Despite that some more conservative Anglicans are so discusted with it, they decided to break and some consider union with Rome. The problem is that Protestant in Church Law cannot agree on moral issues. This has become a norm for them.

If someone disagree the elder either breaks from his home church, and form his own church. Hence, the 33,000 denominations just keep on dividing… no sense of unity on doctrinal issues on moral and faith. That is what is lacking…

 

[Don_Hepler]

If I were to leave the Catholic Church for a “bible believing” church, how would I choose one? The following is a list of local churches who all claim to follow the Bible. Do I choose one based on the fellowship they provide, on the worship music style that they provide, maybe what they teach as doctrine, or should I find one that believes what I believe?

ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ALLIANCE BIBLE CHURCH, ALOHA CHRISTIAN CHURCH(DISCIPLES OF CHRIST), ALOHA CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER, BETHEL UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH, BROOKWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH, CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH, CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF HILLSBORO, CHURCH OF CHRIST, CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS, COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH, COMMUNITY OF CHRIST CHURCH, CORRIDOR BAPTIST CHURCH, EVERGREEN CHRISTIAN CENTER, FAITH CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP OF HILLSBORO, FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, U.C.C., FOREST GROVE BIBLE CHURCH, FRIENDS CHURCH OF HILLSBORO, GOLDEN ROAD BAPTIST, HELVETIA COMMUNITY CHURCH, HERITAGE BAPTIST CHURCH, HILLSBORO FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST, HILLSBORO NAZARENE CHURCH, HILLSBORO CHRISTIAN FAITH CENTER, HILLSBORO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, HILLSBORO UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, IGLESIA EVANGELICA HISPANA, LAUREL COMMUNITY CHURCH, ORENCO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, OUR PLACE - YOUR CHRISTIAN CHURCH, REEDVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, SALVATION ARMY, SCHOLLS COMMUNITY CHURCH, SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH OF FOREST GROVE, SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH OF HILLSBORO, SINGING HILLS CHRISTIAN CHURCH, SONRISE BAPTIST CHURCH, ST PETER’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, TUALATIN PLAINS PRESBYTERIAN, UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST COMMUNITY CHURCH, UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, VALLEY HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH, Westport Church, WESTSIDE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP, WEST VALLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH, WORLD OF FAITH FAMILY CENTER, WORLD OF FAITH CHRISTIAN CENTER, ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH

If your question is truly what you are seeking for, I would choose the one that had the priesthood of the Holy order of God, that way you would know that your Baptism was regonized by God, and that the religion required sacrifice, find one that believe in God that is with body parts and passions, that taught his true charater, his mercy, and the power of faith in him, I would chose one that I could have eternal hope. I would ask God through his son to guide you and then be open minded, Ask for a witness of the truth of the doctrine. Find one that taught you about the blessing of Abraham, and of the children of Israel, and how that effects your life. They should be able to explain to you where you came from why you are here and where you are going after life. They should be able to teach you of the Atonement in a way you have never understood before. It should offer you more than any other religion can offer. It must believe that the heavens are not closed and that communicate with man today as he has since he placed man upon the earth. It must give hope to the understand of life. They must be able to have faith in Christ to the point that they can heal the sick. And it must have the staff as was recorded in the scriptures. It must be able to answer your deepest questions, and open the scripture as never before understood. and last. You must in your heart Ask sincerely with real intent, if it is true, and the Holy Ghost will manifest it to you. God bless