Posted on 01/30/2022 4:47:46 PM PST by the OlLine Rebel
Just a query to those more knowledgeable and savvy, about church denominations.
Actually, I mean ANY division of organized Christian religion.
I am frustrated by so many churches now, with all the nonsense of the last 2 years. Paying homage to BLM and homos and bowing down to every COVID decree.
Everyone says what was our church, Lutheran Church - MO Synod (LCMS), is good for being true. However, after the riots started I saw a bit too much virtue-signaling. The only thing I can say was the website did not seem to specify blacks and BLM, but the statement seemed to be self-concsious again about looking like social justice proponents.
So, I’m thinking of looking for other churches, which might happen to be reasonably close to us.
Yes, I’m not even sure we really should leave.
And I’m not really leaving the Lutheran denomination….I’m just looking for some church that hasn’t handed itself over to Marxist PC nonsense. Many denom /sects can be flushed out never mind a specific congregation.
We have many, many churches here but still, the rarer ones will only have 1, etc. everyone knows there aren’t that many LCMS churches.
I’m thinking more along my dads family, where they were stuck with 1 church in the various rural places they moved to. Basically all the siblings were baptized in a different denom. It wasn’t because they were devoted to that denom, just that they had no choices but were willing to go to any Christian church.
I feel much the same way…all these churches, but so many are completely apostate. Searching for those that would be OK.
I don’t understand why it has to be The Scriptures AND the Book of Concord, or any other book besides the Bible. Not knocking your church; I know that every church has doctrinal beliefs, but I think that God’s Word, alone, should be followed. (The assumption cannot be made that every denomination’s doctrine is Scripturally sound).
There is quite a difference, apparently, among the LCMS churches. People have told me that the denomination has 2 seminaries, and that one is conservative and the other is not. I’ll have to ask, because I can’t remember which one is which.
As for denominations that are true to the Bible, there are still some. The Orthodox Presbyterian Church is one, as is the United Reformed Church. The PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) is having its struggles. Like the LCMS, each individual church can be quite different from another.
There are also some conservative Baptist congregations, but they would require that you submit to a second baptism to be a member. As a Reformed Presbyterian, that is something that I personally am not willing to do.
God bless. Hope you find a good church.
The mainline Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Episcopalian churches are hopeless. You would be better off joining a country club. At least at a country club, nobody would be preaching heresy.
Also, any church that has a female pastor, is not a true church.
That last I would agree. At least, it strongly indicates something is wrong with the church.
Funny thing is the first time I joined a Lutheran church with my parents was at a church that belongs to ELCA. They had just created that. We liked it much at first, and the assistant pastor was a woman. (Knew that was odd then, but just accepted it.). Actually she was great. Gradually, the main male pastor became less “holy” and we were less impressed with him. Rather depressed, in fact.
Then the church went wholesale silly starting with the theater-in-the-round project. Since then I haven’t been back to ELCA.
I wasn’t quite accurate. Well, that church had gone roundhouse theater by the time I came back from my brief time out of state. In CT I luckily found a Lutheran church down the street, which I loved and was still ELCA. Had interim pastor I really liked. Nothing there offended me. Then I came back home in MD to the roundhouse.
“SSPX, an order of traditional Catholic priests who refuse to go along with the modernist heresies proliferating within the Church…”
This!
Yes. The Anglican Church of North America had to leave everything behind to support Jesus and has lived through the fire to be a witness to the world.
If you like a liturgical church, this is my recommendation.
I visited an Anglican Church and was for warned it would have a bit of catholic overtones in it’s presentation but that the Pastor was worth the listen. They were not wrong. He was right on the money talking about our country, freedoms and didn’t hold anything back. It was refreshing.
However I will say there is much truth in saying so goes the Pastor so goes the church. If the man standing before the people doesn’t understand the centrality of Jesus Christ and His message then it’s not worth the bother.
Not really. Catholicism is unbiblical. Calling your priest, father, asking him to forgive your sins instead of Jesus.
Praying to Mary and putting her ahead of Jesus. Praying to the “saints” and Idol worship.
Sacrificing Jesus over and over when he had said it was finished.
Praying to the dead, thinking they need to be purified to get into heaven.
Salvation is by works.
The list is many
Didn’t see The Evangelical Congregational Church mentioned so: https://eccenter.com
You might try the Church of God (Anderson IN). It’s a nondenominational church that grew from the holiness movement at the turn of the 20th century. It has one doctrine, the Bible, and only three rites—baptism, communion, and foot-washing. Otherwise it’s free of the dogmatic rigmarole that plagues other denominations.
Quakers....Amish
The Evangelical Lutheran Synod (Not ELCA)
Well, Hell.
Southern Baptists tend to be traditional and moralistic rather than conservative - and have a long history with the Democrat Party.
You must be born again as a new creature. Gen 48 tells the story. Joseph's 2 sons were born Gentile to an Egyptian woman. Joseph's Father was renamed by God to Israel. Jacob loved Joseph's sons so much he adopted The pagan sons so they would have an equal portion of the promised land inheritance. A pagan has no part of the inheritance unless they are adopted into Spiritual Israel. When you are reborn in the Spirit, you are adopted into the Family of God. There is absolutely nothing in Scripture that promises anything to Gentiles. The Jews are God's chosen people. We must be adopted into Jacob's family through the cross. Jacob crossed his hands to bless Ephraim as the first born in Gen 48. You must circumcise your heart to be in God's family.
Now for the Babylon shtick.......Nimrod built the Tower to get to Heaven without God. God stopped him. The Babylon religion was started then to worship many gods. It doesn't matter if the god was named Jupiter for the Romans or Zeus for the Greeks, or any one of many gods for the other kingdoms. The RCC changed the Sabbath and added Christmas, which was Tammuz's birthday and Easter was added for the fertility god Semiramis or Ishtar for Easter. The pope forbid anyone from observing the Feast Days under penalty of death. The RCC hated the Jews. That is called the "Spirit of Antichrist" in Scripture. Nothing Biblical happened on Christmas and Easter. Jesus was born on Tabernacles, died on Passover, was buried on Unleavened Bread, and rose on First Fruits. The church was born on Pentecost with the giving of the Holy Spirit. He will Rapture His church on the Feast of Trumpets and judge them on Atonement and return to rule and reign with His people on Tabernacles. Christmas and Easter are pagan days introduced by the RCC.
As for what Paul said, read Romans 8-9-10 for his teaching on Jews and Gentiles in God's eyes. He explains life in the Spirit. We have become heirs with Christ with future glory promised.
Rom 9:6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel,
Rom 9:7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called."
Rom 9:8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
"the children of the promise are counted as the seed" tells us we are adopted in by the Holy Spirit. The "promise" is always the Holy Spirit.
Salvation is from the Jews. Jesus came to us as a Jew. All covenants were to the Jews. The oracles of God were given to the Jews. If you aren't adopted into Israel, you have no part in any inheritance. Anything else is called Babylon in the Bible. The RCC is the Whore of Babylon because she worships idols and other gods. She is dressed in red and purple. She lives on 7 hills and is responsible for killing more saints that all other religions combined. Tear down your statues and stop worshiping Mary and Peter, Paul, and others. Jesus is the only Mediator between God and man, so Mary cannot grant any prayers or hear any prayers. Forgiveness only comes from God. There are no popes in Scripture, no cardinals, no nuns. Scripture tells us forbidding to marry is "doctrines of demons".
Stop looking for denominations to give you the truth. The Truth is a person. Read you Bible.
as per post 156 below.
” You must be born again as a new creature. Gen 48 tells the story. Joseph’s 2 sons were born Gentile to an Egyptian woman. Joseph’s Father was renamed by God to Israel. Jacob loved Joseph’s sons so much he adopted The pagan sons so they would have an equal portion of the promised land inheritance. A pagan has no part of the inheritance unless they are adopted into Spiritual Israel. When you are reborn in the Spirit, you are adopted into the Family of God. There is absolutely nothing in Scripture that promises anything to Gentiles. The Jews are God’s chosen people. We must be adopted into Jacob’s family through the cross. Jacob crossed his hands to bless Ephraim as the first born in Gen 48. You must circumcise your heart to be in God’s family.
Now for the Babylon shtick.......Nimrod built the Tower to get to Heaven without God. God stopped him. The Babylon religion was started then to worship many gods. It doesn’t matter if the god was named Jupiter for the Romans or Zeus for the Greeks, or any one of many gods for the other kingdoms. The RCC changed the Sabbath and added Christmas, which was Tammuz’s birthday and Easter was added for the fertility god Semiramis or Ishtar for Easter. The pope forbid anyone from observing the Feast Days under penalty of death. The RCC hated the Jews. That is called the “Spirit of Antichrist” in Scripture. Nothing Biblical happened on Christmas and Easter. Jesus was born on Tabernacles, died on Passover, was buried on Unleavened Bread, and rose on First Fruits. The church was born on Pentecost with the giving of the Holy Spirit. He will Rapture His church on the Feast of Trumpets and judge them on Atonement and return to rule and reign with His people on Tabernacles. Christmas and Easter are pagan days introduced by the RCC.
As for what Paul said, read Romans 8-9-10 for his teaching on Jews and Gentiles in God’s eyes. He explains life in the Spirit. We have become heirs with Christ with future glory promised.
Rom 9:6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel,
Rom 9:7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.”
Rom 9:8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
“the children of the promise are counted as the seed” tells us we are adopted in by the Holy Spirit. The “promise” is always the Holy Spirit.
Salvation is from the Jews. Jesus came to us as a Jew. All covenants were to the Jews. The oracles of God were given to the Jews. If you aren’t adopted into Israel, you have no part in any inheritance. Anything else is called Babylon in the Bible. The RCC is the Whore of Babylon because she worships idols and other gods. She is dressed in red and purple. She lives on 7 hills and is responsible for killing more saints that all other religions combined. Tear down your statues and stop worshiping Mary and Peter, Paul, and others. Jesus is the only Mediator between God and man, so Mary cannot grant any prayers or hear any prayers. Forgiveness only comes from God. There are no popes in Scripture, no cardinals, no nuns. Scripture tells us forbidding to marry is “doctrines of demons”.
Stop looking for denominations to give you the truth. The Truth is a person. Read you Bible.
156 posted on 1/31/2022, 12:10:30 AM by chuckles “
* * * * * * * * * *
Possibly the blog here could help:
While it addresses the ELCA, your concerns re Missouri Synod are solid. Many formerly ELCA congregations have left and joined other Synods.
Know something of your dilemma.
Also consider this letter while searching:
http://lutherquest.org/walther/articles/jmc00042.htm
“Death of the ELCA:
Is Missouri Next?
by Rev. Jack Cascione
” . . .The correct preaching of the Gospel in the LCMS is seriously challenged in the Missouri Synod by the doctrinal collapse of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). “ . . .
Most of my history has been with the Missouri and Wisconsin Synods. My problem was rarely with doctrine - the raison d’etre for many Lutherans - but rather with discernment and sanctification. If someone gives intellectual assent to the accepted doctrines, Lutherans tend to assume that person is right with God.
I was debating theologians at 16, and attending pastoral conferences at 19 by special request. I spent six years, Junior and High, at a so-called non-denominational school.
(Non-Denominationals are really a quasi-Arminian/Anabaptist grouping unto themselves; they are far from truly non-denominational. None are ever aligned with Lutheran teaching, and I was often treated like a heretic there. It was not my choice to attend.)
I therefore have extensive experience with many denominations and with dozens of clergy. My general assessment is that “conservatives” focus on doctrine rather than wisdom (discernment), while “liberals” focus on feeling rather than lifestyle (morality).
Case in Point: I, then the principal Bible Study teacher, lost favor at one “conservative” M.S. church for questioning certain board and clergy decisions. The last and worst - keeping a man in a position of leadership despite his being functionally lapsed (in hope of keeping him connected to the church until he repented) - was the final straw for me. (See Acts of the Aostles 7.) I left rather than remain to be held partly responsible for whatever evil befell from that decision.
A year after I left, the lapsed man was murdered in a public restaurant during his lunch: He was having a sexual affair with another man’s wife, and the husband caught him and shot him. That particular congregation was famous at Fort Wayne for being ultra-conservative and for sending many “native sons” to seminary. I never heard through contacts that there was a sincere acknowledgment of their complicity in the outcome of the man’s life. They did not have a lax view of sexual immorality; they lacked the wisdom to see that keeping him in authority was neither spiritual nor responsible.
Presbyterian: The aforementioned “conservative” versus “liberal” dichotomy is even more extreme. Hard-line Calvinists tend to be very legalistic, very absolutist, and often intellectually condescending. (The Babylon Bee is obviously run by Calvinists. Entertaining? Yes. Edifying? Not really.)
Baptist: They often are described by secular media as the most conservative in Christendom, but that is misleading. They are really more often traditional (teaching the customs of Man as the laws of God) than consciously conservative (conserving what is of lasting truth and value), and they have a long history with the Democrat Party. (See Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.) The most Marxist preacher I have personally known was born and raised in a very traditional Southern Baptist church; he also attended a S.B. seminary. We were close childhood friends; his militant leftism drove us apart.
To paraphrase another old friend (who is still a friend): The purpose lies not in seeking to find a perfect church, for there is no such thing in this fallen world, but in seeking to find a church that admits it is not perfect, yet strives still to perfect itself.
I was raised a catholic. The catholic church literally touched my family. They are dead to me. God will not save millions of catholics because they believe in abortion, gay sex, and pedophilia. I spent years looking for a good church. I found a Baptist church, and directly asked the pastor his beliefs on certain topics. He had all of the right answers. I was re-baptized and joyful in the Lord for helping me find them. Go to a church and ask questions. The Lord will guide you to the very best one.
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