Posted on 07/11/2026 3:42:32 PM PDT by Jonty30
When you accept Christ, you are justified. However, part of the Christian life is repentance and leaving the old life behind, which is to my understanding sanctification.
My question is, as you study the Bible and are trying to align your life with the Bible, does that mean you should change denominations periodically as you find the church you are part of having doctrines that are not in line with the Bible and find a new church that reflects where you are in your current state of growth?
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim
the fact is, if you dig deep enough, you will always find something you disagree with.
find a church where you like the people, and focus on what you agree on.
As you study the Bible, you’ll find there is no doctrine or basis for denominationalism.
If you find yourself in a denomination, you should know it’s unbiblical.
“One Lord, one faith, one baptism”
~~~Ephesians 4:5.
Living a life of repentance through the Spirt of Christ—all else is fluff.
“If you find yourself in a denomination, you should know it’s unbiblical.”
So...the Episcopal denomination that supports abortion, sexual mutilation and lesbian bishops is no different from the Southern Baptist denomination, that rejects those
AND that consists of 45,000 INDEPENDENT churches who have banded together to support missions and seminaries?
Because in the New Testament, no church ever received support or consulted another church about doctrine or supported missions?
Most likely. Only 37% of pastors have a biblical worldview. Christ isn’t impressed with denominations anyway because.......there is only ONE true denomination. The Way.
It is the responsibility of man to make sure he is walking in it.
Yes.
1992 I joined a Church in Indianapolis
Liked the Pastor,Enjoyed the Service and People. Kids were well behaved and Fun which led to me teaching Sunday School for a time. They Had a weekly teaching for the Kids But One Hit Me right between the Eyes! They Had me take a big FlashLight in teaching that God’s Power could Be Turned on and Off “Just Like This” !!!
The Spirit Grabbed me by the neck !
I Did Not walk But Ran !!
Turned out to be a ‘Word Faith’ Church.
I’ll never Forget that.
.
Thank You Jesus
Church Shopping... it’s a thing..............
That same form of argument could as easily be used to claim the church shouldn’t exist in more than one location, because there would be different people leading each location who could grasp some point of Scripture differently.
We are united with Christ. If a priest or denomination is in-between you and Christ, look out. That’s a problem.
What does the Bible say about division?
https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-division.html
To be correct...
No church in the New Testament ever received orders or instructions from a hierarchical organization or religious structure.
“Church Shopping... it’s a thing..............”
It definitely is. And I have a shopping list.
Have fun!
The Epistles of Paul are precisely what you say didn't exist.
The church is the structure. The elders met and discussed doctrine, made decisions, and implemented church discipline, set standards, etc. This is what the elders as defined in scripture are supposed to do.
God is not the author of confusion. He told us how to have proper church authority and gave the qualifications for elders and deacons. We are to obey Him in this.
When/if to move to a different church body is a tough call. It has to be a serious reason. We have to be honest are our reasons right? As sinners it is hard to evaluate sometimes.
But church is not optional, God has ordained structure, and we should not forsake the gathering together, the taking of communion, the hearing the word preached, the baptism, corporate worship …fellowship… or discipline… of our duly ordained ministers/bishops/elders/deacons/pastors. And we should be working together to fulfill the Great Commission, as ordered.
Our enemy would love to have us all wandering solo.
I don’t mind denominations, as long as the churches in them are independent. We object to a structure with a governing authority between the church and Christ. We left the SBC church we went to, as the tithes and offerings we gave were sent up-ward (and I don’t mean Heaven). Then it was distributed by people we didn’t know, to people and organizations we didn’t know.
Can you name just one order or instruction from a conference or denomination instructing Paul on what to do or where to go?
Or name the synod or organization that was over the church at Ephesus, Collossae or Phillippi?
Paul was an independent missionary. He was not under orders from a hierarchy. He took his support from independent churches. Who took no orders or mandates from anywhere.
Amen. You are 100 percent correct.
“find a new church.” Please go to His Church, the Roman Catholic Church. If you don’t like the gay priests in your parish, go to the straight SSPX. There are many straight diocesan priests. If you want the Lord to be pleased with you, then say the rosary daily, mass weekly and confession monthly.
If it’s the wrong denomination. But as has already been said, you will *never* find a denomination you don’t find issues with. It’s all people. Adam and Eve screwed that whole thing up.
The tensions are real, though. God put you where you are. But God also allowed you to feel the concern you have. It may have come from Him and it may not have. I pray you see yourself and the issues clearly and make a wise decision.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.