Denomination

[Basstrap]

I'm a pentecostal

don't seem very common here

but in newfoundland they're everywhere!

I grew up penty anyway, now I consider myself independant

[nbcrusader]

Originally posted by Dreadsox
I have been reading and reading the Message and my Bible at the same time. More and more I am convinced that Christ came to free GOD from the "church".

Actually, you are very accurate in your statement. How many times did Jesus contradict the Pharisees (the �church� at that time)?

Oh, I am a Christian who is a member of a Presbyterian church (go frozen chosen!).

[AngelofLarrydom]

Non-practicing Baptist

I was baptized Catholic. My Mom was never a churchgoer. I remember going to the Catholic church when she married my stepdad but I never fully understand the Priest (the mass was in Spanish). When I was in the second or third grade, I was invited to go to a Baptist church by a school friend. The church would pick up you up from your doorstep. My mom really didn�t care if I went because she thought it was better than staying home. I have very warm memories about the church, bible study and all the people that I met there. I attended Brook Hollow Baptist Church in Duncanville Texas until I was sixteen. As I got older, I realized that many people who attended the church looked down at the ethnic children who came from the inner city � I included. I have to admit that I was totally heartbroken. I owe a lot to all Church teachers, without them I wouldn�t have the �moral conscience� I have today. I know that many people didn�t care that we were �poor inner city kids� but their prejudice was enough to stop attending. I later moved to Chicago and I never found a Baptist Church to attend but I carry all of the knowledge from the Dallas Church with me. I consider myself a spiritual person. I don�t believe God cares if you go to church or not. I believe it�s how you conduct yourself everyday and how you treat others that really demonstrates if you are a good Christian.
I know so many people that go to church and yet I see them acting worst than most people I know who don�t go to church.
I do admit that going to church is wonderful if you find one that accepts you and makes you comfortable.

[theSoulfulMofo]

I'm nondemon.

[melon]

A disillusioned liberal Catholic, who has recently found solace in the Episcopal Church...but can't abandon Catholicism totally...

Melon

[melon]

Originally posted by Bulow
I love my Church and pray desperately for Christian Unity. Through a family member, I joined the Pontifax (Bridge Builders) Movement. We started with dialogue between the Espiscopal and Catholic Churches and in recent years, the Lutherans and the Methodists have become part of the dialogue. I understand the Presbyterians have expressed interest in joining as well. This all comes out of the Vatican II Council on Christian Unity. I also pray for peace and understanding with all brothers and sisters of faith from all religions. I keep in mind Jesus' prayer, "Father, that they all might be One."

I am familiar with this movement. In my humble opinion, I've found that Catholicism isn't interested in compromise for unity, but, rather, wants to force its will upon Protestants, whom the Vatican implicitly still views as "heretics." For instance, talk of unity between Catholicism and the Episcopal Churches faded once the Episcopal Church started ordaining women and accepting homosexuals. Once again, I often fear that the Vatican itself is Catholicism's worst enemy, as I find the two churches to be very similar, with the exception of the social stances.

I believe that once Catholicism is willing to compromise on its hard-line social stances (i.e., the celibate male priesthood, anti-all forms of birth control, etc.) there will be a chance for unity. As it currently stands, I think it will not happen, as there was a reason as to why there was a Protestant Reformation, and I do not feel that Catholicism has ever really wished to truly study the psychological reasons why it happened in the first place.

Melon

[tiny dancer]

I'm Roman Catholic. But I am very liberal on some of its teachings.

[Klaus]

I agree to melon's posting about catolizism, however i can understand the catholics, because:

if the pope is really never-failing (he must, because he's God's representative on earth) how can he make compromise with people who say he's wrong?
(of course this has become absurd since the current pope excused for mistakes of former popes and he heven atmitted that the world is not a disc)

Originally posted by tiny dancer
I'm Roman Catholic. But I am very liberal on some of its teachings.

I'm happy that only the R.C. leaders are like that ,-)

Klaus

[Dreadsox]

Originally posted by Klaus
I agree to melon's posting about catolizism, however i can understand the catholics, because:

if the pope is really never-failing (he must, because he's God's representative on earth) how can he make compromise with people who say he's wrong?
(of course this has become absurd since the current pope excused for mistakes of former popes and he heven atmitted that the world is not a disc)



I'm happy that only the R.C. leaders are like that ,-)

Klaus

Klaus, I was always taught in my religious classes that the Pope is only infalable in matters of religion.

[Klaus]

Hello Dreadsox,

Originally posted by Dreadsox


Klaus, I was always taught in my religious classes that the Pope is only infalable in matters of religion.

Afik he was a heretic because of this statement - so it seems to me like it was a matter of religion.

Klaus

[Elvis Presley]

I have always strayed away from "traditional" denominations. I was raised in a non-dom church called The Vineyard that is now all over the world. I really think that in sooooo many cases the church has things all wrong. For years the emphasis for churchgoers was all about which had the most members or the largest building. I am now part of a group of about 20 people that meet in homes once or twice a week and read the Bible and sing worship songs. We believe in a "first church" type of setting. In the early church the emphasis was on relationships with each other within community. People did more than put on a church face on Sunday, they actually lived thier lives together! Thier children grew up together. We have made a commitment to not get any larger as a group than we currently are, so as we expand we split off into more small groups. Quite a diff idea as compared to the "megachurches" that rise up all over the US. I still keep good ties with folks from The Vineyard as there is alot of good things going on there........wow Ive said a mouthful

[UltravioletU2]

Originally posted by Elvis Presley
I have always strayed away from "traditional" denominations. I was raised in a non-dom church called The Vineyard that is now all over the world.

COOL!!!

I go to a Vineyard...my father planted one here 15 years ago. Now a bustling congregation of 500 (but that doesn't matter). Personally, I prefer a church where I can go in jeans, worship to upbeat music (full band) and do outreach to the city like food giveaways or hot chocolate giveaways at the Santa Claus parade. I find the Vineyard so practical, and so...me. It's not for everyone, but it's definitely where I fit! As long a church follows the Bible, I'm ok with it (personal opinion).