I'm thinking of joining a church with my kids

[THE LIGHT]

one small hole in that theory

ALL churches claim to be bible based

You just answered your own hole. Just because they claim it doesn't mean it's so.

the point being, they all call themselves "bible based"
you dont actually KNOW this till you actually visit and see what they teach


case in point, call any church on the phone and ask them if they are bible based
i can almost guaranty that not one of them will say "NO"

I agree. That is why you have to go to some you think might be good and compare what they say with what the Bible says. If what they say lines up with three or more scriptures for each thing then it is likely Bible based.

Don't stop there though. You should continually be checking their sermons with the Bible. Never accept what anyone says about the Bible without researching it yourself.

 

[HUGGY]

I'm thinking of joining a church with my kids

Why screw around? Start a cult!

 

[AllieBaba]

You just answered your own hole. Just because they claim it doesn't mean it's so.

the point being, they all call themselves "bible based"
you dont actually KNOW this till you actually visit and see what they teach


case in point, call any church on the phone and ask them if they are bible based
i can almost guaranty that not one of them will say "NO"

I agree. That is why you have to go to some you think might be good and compare what they say with what the Bible says. If what they say lines up with three or more scriptures for each thing then it is likely Bible based.

Don't stop there though. You should continually be checking their sermons with the Bible. Never accept what anyone says about the Bible without researching it yourself.

Not all churches claim to be bible based. They will say their church has its foundations in scripture, but that's not the same thing as saying they are a New Testament church.

A New Testament church is a church which adheres strictly to the concept of church as it is in the bible.

 

[Smartt33]

What sect do you recommend and why?

If you are searching for a place to go, you must have a reason, a motivation, a purpose. I'd say you need to head in the direction that will satisfy all of those.

However, if you are just bating people to debate which church is best, you will just get bored.

 

[AllieBaba]

I think people who don't believe who go to Church have a better chance of having the spirit enter them through the Word than people who don't go to church and don't read the bible on their own. And it's always a positive experience for kids to belong to a church, if it's the right one.

Methodist churches are very kid-friendly; they always have lots of good stuff going on for kids. Churches of Christ also have incredible youth programs.

I of course am partial to Baptist churches.

 

[THE LIGHT]

the point being, they all call themselves "bible based"
you dont actually KNOW this till you actually visit and see what they teach


case in point, call any church on the phone and ask them if they are bible based
i can almost guaranty that not one of them will say "NO"

I agree. That is why you have to go to some you think might be good and compare what they say with what the Bible says. If what they say lines up with three or more scriptures for each thing then it is likely Bible based.

Don't stop there though. You should continually be checking their sermons with the Bible. Never accept what anyone says about the Bible without researching it yourself.

Not all churches claim to be bible based. They will say their church has its foundations in scripture, but that's not the same thing as saying they are a New Testament church.

A New Testament church is a church which adheres strictly to the concept of church as it is in the bible.

True, there are some churches that claim parts of the Bible are true and parts are not.

 

[Avatar4321]

I suppose that depends on your purposes for going to church.

If it's to socialize or learn morals, any church might suffice.

If it's to help you and your family actually get to know God and the Truth, that's a bit more difficult. For that, I suggest you and your family pray about it together and investigate.

Have faith in God. Investigate. and Listen to the Spirit. I am confident you'll be alright.

 

[Barb]

I've always liked this one of any I studied:

Shinto | Religions of Japan | Japanese Spirituality | Shintoism | Beliefs | History

Shinto is an ancient Japanese faith that dates back thousands of years but it is quite unlike most other religions. Shinto has no major scripture, no predetermined code of ethics or religious conduct and no founder.

Pretty liitle (sometimes big, but the point is they don't have to be) shrines, found mostly in natural settings, to ask or thank appropriate Kami for specific sets of blessings, no compulsory attendance, no socially exalted standing for appearance, and no social disapproval for lack thereof.

Doesn't that look pretty and peaceful?

 

[Foxfyre]

Avoid the churches that claim to be the only church.

Avoid the chuches that tell you you're going to hell if you don't go to their church.

Non denominational is fine but avoid those in which one person is the absolute authority even if he seems to be straight arrow and saintly. Choose one in which the pastor or pastors work with a board of elders or other group of lay people to establish policy and solve problems.

Choose a church that has an active, thriving youth group with religious instruction and other activities. Usually a really good praise band or a youth choir is your first clue that you'll find the kids involved and loving being part of the church instead of out raising hell someplace.

Choose a church that encourages members to also meet together in small groups separate from the main worship service. That will be a church that is likely to take its role seriously and is doing church the Biblical way.

Choose a church that greets people and you see a lot of smiles and hear a lot of laughter. If all you see are gloomy faces or frowns, run, don't walk to the nearest exit.

And when you're visiting, if it feels uncomfortable or just doesn't feel quite right, trust your gut and visit somewhere else.

 

[eots]

HAVE YOU LOOKED INTO ANY OF THE "GOD HATES FAGS" CHURCHES IN YOUR AREA ?


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyv9Zw1ml4s]YouTube - WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH - WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS CALVINISTS (5 of 8)[/ame]

 

[DiveCon]

HAVE YOU LOOKED INTO ANY OF THE "GOD HATES FAGS" CHURCHES IN YOUR AREA ?


YouTube - WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH - WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS CALVINISTS (5 of 8)

hes not in Kansas, toto
LOL

 

[AllieBaba]

I've been in a lot of churches, and I've never seen one individual church say it's necessary to join that church or go to hell.

Now the Catholics think their church is the one true religion, the bride of Christ, the true church.

But I've never been in any other church that has that slant. It's just a Catholic thing.

 

[DiveCon]

I've been in a lot of churches, and I've never seen one individual church say it's necessary to join that church or go to hell.

Now the Catholics think their church is the one true religion, the bride of Christ, the true church.

But I've never been in any other church that has that slant. It's just a Catholic thing.

i have
they are scary when you think about it

 

[AllieBaba]

Ok, dish...what denomination?

 

[DiveCon]

Ok, dish...what denomination?

it was a non-denom

it was quite a cult of personality too
i left when i got into a discussion with another member about infalibility and he couldnt understand why i was questioning pastor XXXXX on a doctrinal teaching
because "Pastor is always right"

 

[AllieBaba]

That is scary. I've been to Episcopalian, Methodist, Evangelical, Church of Christ, Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran, Mormon...but I've never attended a non-denominational service...I don't think.

 

[DiveCon]

That is scary. I've been to Episcopalian, Methodist, Evangelical, Church of Christ, Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran, Mormon...but I've never attended a non-denominational service...I don't think.

they arent all like that, but you WILL run into them

 

[AllieBaba]

I hope not.

An aside....I haven't been in all those churches because I was looking for a denomination. I just know a lot of people who belong to different churches, and have attended a lot of services/functions etc. in different churches through the years. Except the Mormon thing...my dad was a Mormon so when I was little I went to that church. And I've been to Mormon funerals (my dad's was one).

I'm Baptist, have been all my adult life.

 

[AllieBaba]

That's probably apropos of nothing...

 

[Luissa]

Doesn't the Bass claim the Church of Christ is the only true church?

I have never been to a church that was too overbearing. If I do go, I usually go to a Lutheran church, they always seem to be pretty excepting.