How do non-denominational Christians pick a church?

[graceandglory]

]

So now you assume that I am not grounded in TRUTH(which to me is Jesus), based on my choices of worship music(love the old hymns too, BTW).And I am glad that you’re not my mother, or my pastor!

Because I care about your immortal soul. I don’t have to be Catholic or protestant to want you to know what you believe and why you believe it. I want you to grow up in your faith.

 

[graceandglory]

My step Mother goes to a “Non-Denominatinal” Independent Church, which is not part of a bigger group. They **vote **on their Church Doctrine, every year or every two years. I can’t remember which it is.
)

I know first hand this is true, even among larger denominations. Every year they vote whether divorced and remarried men should be pastors. I haven’t followed it, so I don’t know how it stands today. I was appalled back then (as a pentecostal protestant) and said so.

 

[1beleevr]

Because I care about your immortal soul. I don’t have to be Catholic or protestant to want you to know what you believe and why you believe it. I want you to grow up in your faith.

]

I understand, and appreciate your apparent concern! And even though I have been a Christian for nigh on to 43 years, I realize that this walk is a lifelong experience; one that is fraught with many "dangers and toils, and fears! But because I have the peace of Christ, and the willingness to grow, my Saviour has brought me along slowly but surely! I’m still trying to figure out how we made a lateral move from worship and worship music to a weakness of, or lack of faith and knowledge of the TRUTH(whom I have known for those nearly 43 years!

 

[1beleevr]

Uh - no. Worship has to do with the community’s relationship with Christ.

Not at all. They would all be worshipping together. They would be offering up their sacrifice and prayers as a group. One person (the priest) would be speaking on their behalf. They would all be of one mind, together.

]

Would it be at all possible to infer that YOU do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, and that your priest is your mouthpiece, in things spiritual? What do these verses mean to you: Revelation 3:20, Galatians 2:20, and John 14:20? Believe it or not, it is not only possible to worship God alone, and beneficial, also:thumbsup:I was wondering today, how do we as Christians know whether or not our worship is pleasing to God? Do any of us really have the right to tell another Christian that he/she is worshipping wrong?

 

[Constantine42]

I was born into a Southern Baptist family. My father however, was a Catholic before marrying my mother.
My family became fed up with our Southern Baptist Church after the pastor condemned Catholics by saying that they go to Hell. To this day I still pray and hope that the Pastor finds out what he was saying is wrong. I realize that by saying he is wrong, I am condemning him in a similar way. So I pray for forgiveness on that as well.

I chose a non-denominational, progressive Church in Denver, CO after much prayer. It is a great church for knowledgeable Christians to help younger (16 and up) new believers to find God’s love.

I guess in short, through a broken road, God led me to this Church for now.
After being on this site however, I have noticed a growing interest in the Catholic Church. I still have a lot of soul searching to do, and a lot more to learn and discover in God’s Holy Word before making a decision.

Perhaps this is God leading me to another place. Time will tell.
I pray for all of you who are without a Church home, may God guide you to where you belong.

 

[PRmerger]

]

I do not condone human sacrifice PERIOD!!! So we are equally hypocritical about other’s worship?

No, I am not being hypocritcal whatsoever. I am saying that there are somethings that are not worship. God has set the standard for what this is. To the degree that your worship agrees with God’s standard, is the degree that your worship is correct.

I can, and DO say that some types of worship are incorrect.

You say that it’s wrong to criticize anyone’s way to worship, as long as it’s sincere.

Unless you’re willing to say that human sacrifice is a valid way to worship, then you’re contradicting yourself, or setting a double standard.

 

[PRmerger]

Do any of us really have the right to tell another Christian that he/she is worshipping wrong?

sigh!

Of course we do, 1beleevr. Of course we do.

I will come right out here on a public forum and state that a 56 year old pastor who claims that by marrying his 14 yr old sweetheart he’s worshipping God is WRONG.
I will also publicly proclaim that a Christian worship service that ordains a transvestite is WRONG.
I will also publicly proclaim that a Christian worship service that won’t allow blacks to participate is WRONG.

I would hope that your doctrines and understandings of Christianity would allow you to do the same.

Otherwise, we as a society are in a lot of trouble if we cannot condemn certain things.

 

[peary1]

Nor are the Priest that molest little children.

What an ignorant cheap shot against the holy priesthood on your part. Shame be on you!

 

[jmcrae]

]

Would it be at all possible to infer that YOU do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, and that your priest is your mouthpiece, in things spiritual?

You don’t know me very well at all, do you?

I have a very strong personal relationship with Jesus. So strong, that I don’t have to label my least utterances as “worship.” I pray to Jesus, I talk to Him, kibbitz with Him, admire His handiwork in my life, depend daily on HIs miracles - none of these things are “worship.”

What do these verses mean to you: Revelation 3:20,

Addressed to the Church at Laodicea; not to a specific individual, and probably referring to His Real Presence in their Eucharistic celebration.

Galatians 2:20,

I don’t know of any Catholics who would disagree with that one - this is what personal mortification is all about - taking away one’s personal pleasures and replacing them with total obedience to God in all things. There’s nothing in that that implies worshipping God without the community, though.

and John 14:20?

Continue on to verse 21 - “those who obey.”

I was wondering today, how do we as Christians know whether or not our worship is pleasing to God?

By whether we are doing what Christ has commanded us to do, through the Apostles.

Do any of us really have the right to tell another Christian that he/she is worshipping wrong?

As PRMerger so eloquently pointed out, of course we can! Prudence is a virtue!

 

[Xavierlives]

I would stop by churches in the area and briefly meet with the pastors and ask for a statement of faith. I would see what kinds of ministry opportunities there are that might fit with your needs or your gifts. then I would do a lot of prayer and start to visit the ones that fit and see how the congregation welcomes you. If you have kids then a good children’s or youth program should be a big priority. pray pray pray!

Always a lot of prayer!

 

[1beleevr]

What an ignorant cheap shot against the holy priesthood on your part. Shame be on you!

]

Sadly, the truth always hurts! A chosen few brought shame on not only their profession, but their entire religion

 

[1beleevr]

You don’t know me very well at all, do you?

I have a very strong personal relationship with Jesus. So strong, that I don’t have to label my least utterances as “worship.” I pray to Jesus, I talk to Him, kibbitz with Him, admire His handiwork in my life, depend daily on HIs miracles - none of these things are “worship.”

Addressed to the Church at Laodicea; not to a specific individual, and probably referring to His Real Presence in their Eucharistic celebration.

I don’t know of any Catholics who would disagree with that one - this is what personal mortification is all about - taking away one’s personal pleasures and replacing them with total obedience to God in all things. There’s nothing in that that implies worshipping God without the community, though.

Continue on to verse 21 - “those who obey.”

By whether we are doing what Christ has commanded us to do, through the Apostles.

As PRMerger so eloquently pointed out, of course we can! Prudence is a virtue!

]

I believe that Revelation 3:20 speaks also to us as individual Christians; He stands at the door of our heart, and we invite Him in, or we don’t! Galatians 2:20,is a confirmation that because we are in Christ, He lives in us! And because He is on the throne of our heart, we can worship Him one to ONE!!! Yippee! And you are right, prmerger, is eloquent, but not necessarily always right! And yet another assumption about the real presence in their eucharist! Why aren’t things that we do in His Name, and for His glory considered worship?

 

[1beleevr]

No, I am not being hypocritcal whatsoever. I am saying that there are somethings that are not worship. God has set the standard for what this is. To the degree that your worship agrees with God’s standard, is the degree that your worship is correct.

I can, and DO say that some types of worship are incorrect.

You say that it’s wrong to criticize anyone’s way to worship, as long as it’s sincere.

Unless you’re willing to say that human sacrifice is a valid way to worship, then you’re contradicting yourself, or setting a double standard.

]

I’m probably reading this all wrong, but it sounds like you are saying that you believe that human sacrifice is a form of worship, but you condemn it Where specifically did God give you autority to condemn anything I believe that human sacrifice is wrong, no matter what, and I can’t believe that it is considered a form of worship! How do we know that your worship is correct? And your so-called assertion thayt our worship must fit the standard that God has set; is this revealed to you, prmerger as an individual, or does your priest tell you! I would never say that the catholic manner of worship is wrong, however, some of you seem to be inclined to say ours is; sigh!

 

[PRmerger]

Why aren’t things that we do in His Name, and for His glory considered worship?

Because, 1beleevr, some things done in “His Name, and for His glory” are WRONG.

And, I want to add to my comment to you earlier: I would hope that your doctrines and understandings of Christianity would allow you to do the same.

In fact, I believe you (and I) are OBLIGATED to condemn some forms of worship.

In other words: I would hope that your doctrines and understandings of Christianity would -]allow/-] OBLIGATE you to do the same.

 

[jmcrae]

]

I believe that Revelation 3:20 speaks also to us as individual Christians; He stands at the door of our heart, and we invite Him in, or we don’t!

You can believe whatever you like - if you read the actual text, you see that it is being addressed to a whole community; not just to one person.

Galatians 2:20,is a confirmation that because we are in Christ, He lives in us! And because He is on the throne of our heart, we can worship Him one to ONE!!! Yippee!

There is no connection between those two ideas. St. Paul is saying that he has given up his life to Christ - that he himself is as good as dead, because he has given his body to Christ, for His work - he has put aside all of his personal pleasures, etc. in perfect mortification of the body. I don’t know how you get from that, to “one on one worship.” That’s kind of like “one on one partying.” Guess what, if you are the only one at your party, it’s not really a party.

Why aren’t things that we do in His Name, and for His glory considered worship?

There are many things that we do for God. Worship (the gathering of the community to make a communal sacrifice) is only one of these many things. The things we do in His name and for His glory are called “good deeds.” (Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, etc.)

 

[fbl9]

You can believe whatever you like -

and he does just that; and don’t bother telling him he is incorrect because he is falliably correct

There are many things that we do for God. Worship (the gathering of the community to make a communal sacrifice) is only one of these many things. The things we do in His name and for His glory are called “good deeds.” (Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, etc.)

That’s is a good description of true worship

 

[jmcrae]

]

I’m probably reading this all wrong, but it sounds like you are saying that you believe that human sacrifice is a form of worship, but you condemn it.

The Aztecs used to worship their god by offering the hearts of their enemies in sacrifice to him. They would bring the living person to the altar, and the priest would then cut out his still-beating heart, and offer it up to the god.

 

[MyRdmrLvs]

What an ignorant cheap shot against the holy priesthood on your part. Shame be on you!

I understand that people who want to hurt children seek positions that give them access to children and the percentage of priests is about the same as it is for protestant leaders. I am quite confident we can all agree that it is horrible regardless of who the offender is.

 

[MyRdmrLvs]

Because, 1beleevr, some things done in “His Name, and for His glory” are WRONG.

And, I want to add to my comment to you earlier: I would hope that your doctrines and understandings of Christianity would allow you to do the same.

In fact, I believe you (and I) are OBLIGATED to condemn some forms of worship.

In other words: I would hope that your doctrines and understandings of Christianity would -]allow/-] OBLIGATE you to do the same.

PR I have been agreement that some things shouldnt be considered worship., human sacrifice etc. can you give some examples that I might consider worship that you dont.

 

[1beleevr]

You can believe whatever you like - if you read the actual text, you see that it is being addressed to a whole community; not just to one person.

There is no connection between those two ideas. St. Paul is saying that he has given up his life to Christ - that he himself is as good as dead, because he has given his body to Christ, for His work - he has put aside all of his personal pleasures, etc. in perfect mortification of the body. I don’t know how you get from that, to “one on one worship.” That’s kind of like “one on one partying.” Guess what, if you are the only one at your party, it’s not really a party.

There are many things that we do for God. Worship (the gathering of the community to make a communal sacrifice) is only one of these many things. The things we do in His name and for His glory are called “good deeds.” (Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, etc.)

]

I guess you’re right; I don’t know you very well! I figured you coul see that the image of Christ "knocking on your heart or mine, was too much to fathom. And that in Galatians 2:20, yes all of what you said is true of Paul, and should be of us, also, but Christ DOES dwell in me:thumbsup: And I am a fallible man, just like the pope(fallible, that is; not worthy of being called Holy Father) Even my 8 year old granddaughter knows what Christ living in us means!