Going To Church

[Beth Marie]

Hi everyone. I'd just thought I'd ask for some friendly advice.

I was raised in a Christian home, but we never went to church. My mom and dad did before I was born, but I only went with them a few times. In the rare event we did go, it would be random. I first went to chuch in Presbyterian, where I received communion. Then I went to Baptist with my friends, and was baptized in a nondenominational church. But since then all three of these places have shut down, burned down, or moved. I haven't been to church in about 4 years. I'm 17 and really want to go back...

Now I'm a firm believer in not living by any document by the Bible. I know that most denominations were caused by human disagreements, not any will of God. My question is, where do I go to learn about different denominations?

I get asked all the time whether I'm a Baptist or Methodist or Lutheran. I don't know the difference really.

I'd really like to study each "group" to see what they believe so I have a firm basis when I first enter a church which will be NERVE-WRACKING. Even though, of course, I know it shouldn't.

I've had some interesting experiences. I once walked into a nondenomninational church (not the one I was baptized in) and it should have been called Apostolic or Holiness. All the women were wearing long dress with hair down their waists. I felt uncomfortable and even felt bad because I felt like they thought I was disrespecting them (wearing jeans and a t-shirt). I didn't even give it a chance because I was so embarassed.

There has been other situations like that. I once unknowingly went to a Jehovah's Witness church. :freaked

I just really, really am bothered by this classification. I'd like to be able to call myself something...I'm not saying that being a child of God isn't good enough. I'd also like to know what I'm getting myself into.

It's really scary going into a church by yourself, not knowing whether you will be loved or shunned.

So...does anybody know where I can find some simple information? Or can anyone tell me about their specific denomination? I don't understand what the history books say (I want to know modern differences not the ones that initially caused the split).

Well, I'm sorry this is so long. I really appreciate you reading and any info you can give me. And this is not, I repeat, not me trying to bash any different group. I don't want that either. I just want to grow and try to understand the Body of Christ.

[countmeworthy]

First off, I would pray & ask the Lord to direct you, to guide you to the church, body of believers that will edify HIM and you, as well as vice versa.

Second, go to a college campus. There are often Christian groups meeting there. You will meet kids your age & hopefully a strong group of believers that you can fellowship with & feel very comfortable with. (You don't need to be attending that college or any college. It's just an avenue.

Thirdly, search the internet for churches in your area. Often times, they have background info on what they stand for.

Keep us posted & keep reading your bible. :-)

[busterdog]

Just keep calling on the Lord. Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be known to God.

The Holy Spirit is there to keep you on the right track. He is the gift to those who love Jesus Christ. You don't need skill. Call upon HIm and have patience.

[Apollo]

I don't think it's really stressfull to visit a church, while I was in college I used to sporadically attend a number of churchs and most of the time people didn't even talk to me.

I'm a Lutheran. Our belief in a nutshell is if you believe in God and have been Baptized you are "Saved." We believe in God's overwhelming grace as the means to our salvation.

The best advice I can give is if you have any church going friends ask where they attend and they'll probably invite you.

[Enlightenment]

So...does anybody know where I can find some simple information? Or can anyone tell me about their specific denomination?

Try this quiz to help you determine where you line up with a denomination:

http://www.selectsmart.com/FREE/select.php?client=christiandenom

Then I would check out those types churches in your community.

[carmen]

If I were you, I'd call around first and ask some questions. Get a website if they have one and read through the statement of beliefs. I was raised independent baptist, but have attended a non-denominational church in the past and enjoyed it. I now attend a southern baptist church. The primary criteria for me is whether the bible is the only basis for any teaching, and whether the bible is the read literally. Those are the questions I'd begin with on the phone.

[pilgrimian]

It's really scary going into a church by yourself, not knowing whether you will be loved or shunned.

I know that Holiness is quite a bit like the Nazarenes (much like they were at least when they were founded). They are generally Arminian/Wesleyan -- which is what Methodists are for the most part. There are two groups of Methodists (basically), the United Methodists and the Free Methodists. Free are generally more conservative overall, yet my brother-in-law grew up United and he is conservative (he and my sister later left that church and now attend one that is basically Baptist though they call themselves non-denom).

Being "loved or shunned"....this should give you a good beacon as to where you should go, too. However, if their true brothers and sisters in Messiah then I would hope no one would shun you. I attended a Nazarene Church for some time back in Michigan...and they were very loving. However, as time drew on I noticed that they we were not in agreement with certain texts within Scripture. Namely, they had a woman assistant pastor...which I disagree with (1 Tim. 3). They also believed one could lose their salvation...which I believed at the time until I began digging into the Scriptures further.

May the Lord direct your footsteps...

Blessings,
Matthew

[wsbsteven]

I've been in your shoes before. All I can do is rebuff the advise here that if they don't accept you, that is not where you belong. I would avoid larger churches though because it is harder to keep the small "welcome" enviornment. My church has four figure attendance on Sunday and as hard as the pastoral staff tries, they can't keep up with everybody.