Looking For A True Church To Call Home

6/21/11 | Me

[NoGrayZone]

Okay, here's the deal in a long story short. I was raised Lutheran, moved out to Long Island and continued to be raised in St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Aunt Jeannie (my name sake) has been a member since. I decided years ago I wanted back, so I went.

I did not feel Him there, thought it was me. I kept looking around the congregation, thinking it was me. After a while, I realized it wasn't (a couple of things happened after that confirmed it wasn't me).

Anywho, the icing on the cake was my Aunt Jeannie stopped going as well. After almost 30 years she felt the change as well. I looked up our church and saw they were apart of the "accept homosexuals as Pastors" crowd. That was 1 of the things that confirmed it was not me.

But my Aunt Jeannie leaving was the icing on the cake.

Here's our delima. Both of us are July babies. She is the 2nd, I am the 18th. We decided on 7/17 we would find a church to attend (we both want one to belong to and believe in), then go have brunch to discuss.

She is much more open minded than I am, but I promised her I would be open minded, if just for an hour, on that day.

I said to her, during our conversation "how do we know if the "Pastor" is a homo or not. She believes He is with us no matter where we are. I agree....to a point. I don't believe a homosexual can be one of His Shepard's leading His herd if that is so.

There have been so many "demoninations" coming out for homosexual "Shepard's" I have NO idea where to begin.

I have called a few churches and left messages for the Pastor to call back so I can interview Him (no lady Pastors for me).

Any advise to where we can look? Anyone know anything about Presbyterians?

[RegulatorCountry]

You’ll do well, the two of you. Your aunt sounds like a fine woman and a great companion on this mission of yours. Maybe what appear to be weaknesses are more a sign of a healthy letting go of worldliness, of recognizing that we’re all sinners in need of forgiveness, and that the forgiven are commanded to forgive in kind?

It’s funny, being middle aged myself and watching my older family members age, how they firm up their resolve in some areas and ease off in others. It seems to strip away the superfluous and hones a focus on the things that really matter, particularly in spiritual matters.

But, a desire for an untainted church in this age is perfectly understandable as well. We’re immersed in the consequences of so many falling away. Church should be a haven from worldliness even as you forgive (but not accept) the sins of others, having benefiting from the amazing grace of God in receiving forgiveness yourself.

It’s all really a rather amazing thing. This world is a vapor, so much misery and pain but so much beauty and love, sometimes all wrapped up together.

[SuziQ]

I always feel like I’m bothering Him when I speak to Him.

Don't ever feel that way! He's always there for all of us! I told the kids in my Confirmation Class that they should get into the habit of chatting with Jesus all through their day; thank Him in the morning for the chance to live another day, pray for classmates who they know are having a hard time, ask Him for help with tests, homework, etc, and then Thank Him at the end of the day for having another day to be with family and friends.

I told them that the more they talked with Him, the more familiar they'd be with Him, and wouldn't find it hard to call on Him when they truly needed Him. Too many adults say they have a hard time praying, but it's mainly because they've gotten out of the habit, or maybe never started it.

[one Lord one faith one baptism]

1 Timothy 4:1 “the Spirit clearly says that in the latter times some will abandon the Faith and follow deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons”

if you sincerely are searching for the Body of Christ on earth, The Church, you must consider 1 Timothy and Matthew 16. these Scriptures teach the True Church has been here for 2,000 years and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. if the Church you are looking at has not been here for 2,000 years, it is not the Church of Christ and if you truly loved the Lord, you wouldn’t be part of rebellion against His Church.
also, i would recommend prayerfully reading John 17 and 1 Corinthians 1 and ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you.

finally, ask yourself why you don’t read about anyone in the NT being faced with this question of what “church” to join. why is that? obviously, there was only One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church then and that Church by the grace of God and protection of the Holy Spirit, is still here 2,000 years later.

[NoGrayZone]

"The quote comes from Andrew Klavan of PJTV. It is an awesome quote.

Thanks to Tamar, I now have the original "quoter" for that line!

Just now put it in my tagline which I should have done from the start.

[MarkBsnr]

Read first about the early Church Fathers - those who suffered under the persecutions and then those who became the first Church leaders after Christianity was made State religion of Rome by Constantine.

Aren't you just a little misguided? Constantine never had jurisdiction over Rome. Constantinople is in modern day Turkey. Rome is in modern day Italy. In Biblical times, it might take a couple of weeks with a dedicated charter to make the journey. More if you were taken on board a passenger ship.

You might want to read up on Paul's journeys for familiarity with the territory in Biblical times.

[MarkBsnr]

Only one problem--They'll have to go back in time almost 50 years to find it. The Catholic Church ceased to exist after 1962.

I won't tell anybody that you got the timeline wrong. The Catholic Church went sedevacantist in 1958, doncha know? That courier must have forgotten about John XXIII. Tsk, tsk.

[SuziQ]

They protected their own....so the money could continue to keep pouring in.

Sadly, no. Catholics are pretty stingy when it comes to supporting the Parishes. It's an immigrant mentality. Many are descendants of the Irish, Italian, French, and Polish Catholics who worked hard to help build the big old Churches in many urban areas. Those folks didn't have a lot of money, but they donated their hard earned pennies to help the priests get those churches built and the Parishes working. Their descendants still talk poor, while driving new cars and living in big houses, but complain when the Parish asks for their support.

As for the Bishops who protected abusers, I have no use for them, and thankfully, many have retired, and a new crop of younger Bishops, who have not been mau-maued by feminists, have taken over Dioceses all across the country. But one thing to remember, and I am in NO WAY excusing what the Bishops did, many listened to what the secular world was saying, and instead of removing those abusers, sent them to be 'healed' by mental health professionals. This was the common practice in the 70s and 80s, and the people advising the Bishops convinced them that's what they should do, so they could be 'pastoral' to the priests. Frankly, I'd have put the priests UNDER the jail, and happily, the Church has realized her mistake, and is much more stringent these days in who she allows into the priesthood.

Even though the Catholic Church got all the bad press about abuse, there has been abuse in many other churches and religious organization, we just never hear about it.

[NoGrayZone]

"and watching my older family members age, how they firm up their resolve in some areas and ease off in others."

Funny you should say that, but I COULD NOT BELIEVE Aunt Jeannie left the church. I was flabbergasted! She is not a gossiper, so I will really never know the true truth of why she left.

I would never question her regarding her leaving, but it had to be something she felt. Like He was telling her to get out. Like I said, she is not a gossiper and never has been. What's hers is hers.

Somehow, we found ourselves on the same path, looking for that crooked, unlit road.

I know it means something, just don't know what it is yet. Although I'm a tad bit excited!

[aMorePerfectUnion]

"If you are Catholic, you know that your religion was founded in the year 33 by Jesus Christ the Son of God, and it is still the same Church."

When someone believes in Jesus Christ, they immediately become part of the Body of Christ,
part of the Bride of Christ, they have eternal life, they are set aside as saints,
indwelt by the Holy Spirit, sealed by the Holy Spirit and part of the one true, universal Church
that was planned in the eternal counsels of the Godhead before time began, and secured by
Jesus Christ in time.

They have no religion at all. They need no religion. They have left religion behind
as man's best efforts to get to God. They don't care for contests of time. Their future
no long rests on one-up-man-ship or useless works or wild claims. Instead, they have
accepted the pure grace of God, are now sons of God and have no need for religion. Their
future is eternity, not earth.

[Former Fetus]

I did Bible studies with them

Watch out! They use a very questionable translation that just happens to fit with their theology. They will try to tie you into a pretzel discussing what they believe about Jesus. I will never suggest that you do not try a certain Christian denomination, even though I would very strongly recommend Southern Baptists. But Jehova's Witnesses... that's another story... they are really a cult. I have witnessed to plenty of them and it is not easy! Whatever you do, do not get into any more Bible studies with them. They will mislead you.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

I just got done watching a video by him—very funny. I love sarcasm and if anyone deserves it, it’s Obama.

[RegulatorCountry]

Funny, to have disdained Jehovah’s Witnesses so, you’re certainly coming across like one, or so it would seem to me.

[one Lord one faith one baptism]

there are those that have no idea of what historical, orthodox, biblical Christianity teaches and because of this ignorance, make idiotic statements. JW’s are 19th century invention of men, hardly the One True Church founded by Christ.

[Alice in Wonderland]

Soon after 9/11 Scott Hahn led my nephew, a NYC firefighter, and his family to the Catholic church. Read about it here:

http://www.cny.org/stories/The-Family-Way-in-Port-Jervis,1772?content_source=&category_id=&search_filter=daniel+bright&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=&sub_type=stories&town_id=

[Elsie]

So true.

But it was SIN that CAUSED the wandering...

[Elsie]

But it was SIN that CAUSED the wandering...

The sin of unbelief.

[Elsie]

I wish I were a better person, perhaps He would just tell me where to go.

HMMmm...

I think I see a bit of a problem.

If you were 'better' ...

[NoGrayZone]

The JW’s were eons ago. Personally, I believe ALL religions are “cults”......except the one He speaks of, which I have not found.

However, I must commend them on getting me into Bible study. They taught me how to read the Bible and believe in it. I CANNOT condemn them for that.

We can all sit here and “condemn” ALL of our different religions, but my heart is with He and He only.

No man or woman can persuade me otherwise. If I am wrong, He will know I was not mislead by a bunch of idiots, but by my own original sin.

Open your Bible and see what He has to say about being mislead. Not very happy.

[RegulatorCountry]

More to the point, they have the reputation of being more than just pushy when proselytizing. That was the comparison I sought to make, oLofob.

[NoGrayZone]

Isn’t he great?!!! Nothing like a real man!