Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

(Vanity, sort of). Any good and pure church denomination/organizations out there?
Me | 1/30/22 | Me

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.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: baptist; church; denomination; faith; freeper; lutheran; religion; vanity
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 181-200201-220221-240 ... 261-269 next last
To: the OlLine Rebel
I haven't posted this in a long time but here is my 2¢
The One True Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Christ Jesus
                                                                                                                            , that built Christendom(western civilization.)
          The Nicene Creed
          I believe in one God,
          the Father almighty,
          maker of heaven and earth,
          of all things visible and invisible.
+10 One God
          I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
          the Only Begotten Son of God,
          born of the Father before all ages.
+15 Christ Jesus
          God from God, Light from Light,
          true God from true God,
          begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
          through him all things were made.
+ 1 Consubstantial with the Father
          For us men and for our salvation
          he came down from heaven,
+ 1 For our salvation
           and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
          and became man.
+ 1 Virgin Birth
          For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
          he suffered death and was buried,
          and rose again on the third day
          in accordance with the Scriptures.
+10 Suffered, Died and Rose
          He ascended into heaven
          and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
+ 1 Ascended, Seated
          He will come again in glory
          to judge the living and the dead
          and his kingdom will have no end.
+10 Come Again in Glory to Judge
          I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
          who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
          who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
          who has spoken through the prophets.
+10 Holy Trinity
          I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
+10 One Visible Church
          I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
+ 1 One Baptism
          and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
          and the life of the world to come.
+10 Resurrection of the Dead
          The Ten Commandments:
          1. I am the LORD your God. You shall worship the Lord your God
              and Him only shall you serve.
          2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
          3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
          4. Honor your father and your mother.
          5. You shall not murder.
          6. You shall not commit adultery.
          7. You shall not steal.
          8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
          9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
          10.You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.
+10 The Ten Commandments
          The Greatest Commandment
          1. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy
               whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength
          2. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
+ 2 The Greatest Commnadments
          The Seven Sacraments Catholic Church:
          1. Baptism.
          2. Eucharist.
          3. Confirmation.
          4. Reconciliation.
          5. Anointing of the sick.
          6. Marriage.(XY+XX, Till death do us part)
          7. Holy orders.
+ 7 The Seven Sacraments
          The Precepts of the Catholic Church:
          1. You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation
               and rest from servile labor.
          2. You shall confess your sins at least once a year.
          3. You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the
              Easter season.
          4. You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by
               the Church.
          5. You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church.
+ 5 The Precepts
          The seven chief corporal works of mercy:
          1. To feed the hungry.
          2. To give drink to the thirsty.
          3. To clothe the naked.
          4. To visit the imprisoned.
          5. To shelter the homeless.
          6. To visit the sick.
          7. To bury the dead.
+ 7 Corporal Works
          The seven chief spiritual works of mercy:
          1. To admonish the sinner.
          2. To instruct the ignorant.
          3. To counsel the doubtful.
          4. To comfort the sorrowful.
          5. To bear wrongs patiently.
          6. To forgive all injuries.
          7. To pray for the living and the dead.
+ 7 Spiritual Works
          Pro-Life - From Conception Until Natural Death
+10 Pro-Life

          _____ How Catholic am I?
                                   >15 Praise God!
                                   16-87 Good Candidate for RCIA
                                   88-100 Impressive
                                   > 100 You are on the Way.

There are not a hundred people in America who hate
the Catholic Church. There are millions of people who hate
what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church
— which is, of course, quite a different thing. - Fulton J. Sheen

7

201 posted on 01/31/2022 10:27:30 AM PST by infool7 (Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hootowl
...baptism, communion, and foot-washing. ...

All of which are found in Acts chapter 15

202 posted on 01/31/2022 10:29:49 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 151 | View Replies]

To: Elsie
I agree, but I think it would be nice to find a church to go to again.

I tend to get too full of my self and my opinions and then let them become the barrier between me and the church fellowship that I might find with other like-minded believers. My spirit and I need the corrections and everything else you can find there.

On the other hand, as it is now, I figure that I’m barely up to “nearly-normal” these days in these times, so finding even a like-minded girlfriend, let alone a church full of “like minded” believers to hang with and share God with seems, looks and feels like a cross between an insurmountable challenge and the impossible dream.

And so, it’s with that spirit motivating me that I commented as I did.

Anywho, God says it’s not good for man to be alone, right? And this certainly is true for me in all areas of my life, including church, but especially so since the covid madness began.

Gotta shake it off and I need God’s help to do it right. I already know how to do it wrong.

203 posted on 01/31/2022 10:30:44 AM PST by GBA (Endeavor to persevere)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 185 | View Replies]

To: chuckles
...Mary cannot grant any prayers or hear any prayers.

You sure?

She seems so nice.


  

Besides the Indulgences attached to the Rosary, Our Lady revealed to St. Dominic and Blessed Alan de la Roche additional benefits for those who devoutly pray the Rosary.

Our Lady's promise is shown in bold, darker blue text. Additional explanation on and doctrinal connections to each promise is shown following in the smaller normal text font and color

Note that the Rosary is the prayer (non-Liturgical) with the most published Magisterial / Papal documents expounding on its excellence.

Vatican II's summary on Our Lady is contained in Lumen Gentium chapter VIII.

 

1.Whosoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces.

Signal Graces are those special and unique Graces to help sanctify us in our state in life. See the remaining promises for an explanation for which these will consist. St. Louis de Montfort states emphatically that the best and fastest way to union with Our Lord is via Our Lady [True Devotion to Mary, chapter four].

2.I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.

Our Lady is our Advocate and the channel of all God's Grace to us. Our Lady is simply highlighting that She will watch especially over us who pray the Rosary. (see Lumen Gentium chapter VIII - Our Lady #62) [a great more detail is available on this topic in True Devotion to Mary, chapter four, by St. Louis de Montfort]

3.The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin and defeat heresies.

This promise, along with the next, is simply the reminder on how fervent prayer will help us all grow in holiness by avoiding sin, especially a prayer with the excellence of the Rosary. An increase in holiness necessarily requires a reduction in sin, vice, and doctrinal errors (heresies). If only the Modernists could be convinced to pray the Rosary! (see Lumen Gentium chapter V - The Call to Holiness #42) St. Louis de Montfort states "Since Mary alone crushed all heresies, as we are told by the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary)..." [True Devotion to Mary #167]

4.It will cause good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire for Eternal Things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.

This promise, along with the previous, is the positive part, that being to live in virtue. Becoming holy is not only avoiding sin, but also growing in virtue. (see Lumen Gentium chapter V - The Call to Holiness #42)

5.The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary shall not perish.

Since Our Lady is our Mother and Advocate, She always assists those who call on Her implicitly by praying the Rosary. The Church reminds us of this in the Memorare prayer, "... never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided ..."

6.Whosoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its Sacred Mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of Eternal Life.

This promise highlights the magnitude of Graces that the Rosary brings to whomever prays it. One will draw down God's Mercy rather than His Justice and will have a final chance to repent (see promise #7). One will not be conquered by misfortune means that Our Lady will obtain for the person sufficient Graces to handle said misfortune (i.e. carry the Crosses allowed by God) without falling into despair. As Sacred Scripture tells us, "For my yoke is sweet and my burden light." (Matthew 11:30)

7.Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.

This promise highlights the benefits of obtaining the most possible Graces at the hour of death via the Sacraments of Confession, Eucharist, and Extreme Unction (Anointing of the Sick). Being properly disposed while receiving these Sacraments near death ensures one's salvation (although perhaps with a detour through Purgatory) since a final repentance is possible.

8.Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the Light of God and the plenitude of His Graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the Merits of the Saints in Paradise.

Our Lady highlights the great quantity of Graces obtain through praying the Rosary, which assist us during life and at the moment of death. The merits of the Saints are the gift of God's rewards to those persons who responded to His Grace that they obtained during life, and so Our Lady indicates that She will provide a share of that to us at death. With this promise and #7 above, Our Lady is providing the means for the person to have a very holy death.

9.I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.

Should one require Purgatorial cleansing after death, Our Lady will make a special effort to obtain our release from Purgatory through Her intercession as Advocate.

10.The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of Glory in Heaven.

This promise is a logical consequence of promises #3 and #4 since anyone who truly lives a holier life on earth will obtain a higher place in Heaven. The closer one is to God while living on earth, the close that person is to Him also in Heaven. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states "Spiritual progress tends toward ever more union with Christ." (Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 2014)

11.You shall obtain all you ask of me by recitation of the Rosary.

This promise emphasizes Our Lady's role as our Advocate and Mediatrix of all Graces. Of course, all requests are subject to God's Most Perfect Will. God will always grant our request if it is beneficial for our soul, and Our Lady will only intercede for us when our request is good for our salvation. (see Lumen Gentium chapter VIII - Our Lady #62)

12.All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.

If one promotes the praying of the Rosary, Our Lady emphasizes Her Maternal care for us by obtaining many Graces (i.e. spiritual necessities) and also material necessities (neither excess nor luxury), all subject to the Will of God of course.

13.I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire Celestial Court during their life and at the hour of death.

Since Our Lady is our Advocate, She brings us additional assistance during our life and at our death from all the saints in Heaven (the Communion of Saints). See paragraphs 954 through 959 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

14.All who recite the Rosary are my Sons, and brothers of my Only Son Jesus Christ.

Since the Rosary is a most excellent prayer focused on Jesus and His Life and activities in salvation history, it brings us closer to Our Lord and Our Lady. Doctrinally, Our Lady is our Mother and Jesus is our Eldest Brother, besides being our God. (see Lumen Gentium chapter VIII - Our Lady #62)

15.Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

Predestination in this context means that, by the sign which is present to a person from the action of devoutly praying the Rosary, God has pre-ordained your salvation. Absolute certainty of salvation can only be truly known if God reveals it to a person because, although we are given sufficient Grace during life, our salvation depends upon our response to said Grace. (See Summa Theologica, Question 23 for a detailed theological explanation). Said another way, if God has guaranteed a person's salvation but has not revealed it to Him, God would want that person to pray the Rosary because of all the benefits and Graces obtained. Therefore the person gets a hint by devotion to the Rosary. This is not to say that praying the Rosary guarantees salvation - by no means. In looking at promises #3 and #4 above, praying the Rosary helps one to live a holy life, which is itself a great sign that a soul is on the road to salvation. (See also paragraphs 381, 488, 600, 2782 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.) In fact, St. Louis de Montfort says even more strongly that "an infallible and unmistakable sign by which we can distinguish a heretic, a man of false doctrine, an enemy of God, from one of God's true friends is that the hardened sinner and heretic show nothing but contempt and indifference to Our Lady..." [True Devotion to Mary, #30]

Reminder: these promises mean that, by faithfully and devoutly praying the Rosary,

Our Lady will obtain for us the necessary Graces to obtain said promises.

It is still up to each individual soul to respond to those Graces in order to obtain salvation.


http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/prayer/15promise.htm

204 posted on 01/31/2022 10:33:09 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 156 | View Replies]

To: spacejunkie2001

I don’t lay the eggs: I just color them.


205 posted on 01/31/2022 10:42:44 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 198 | View Replies]

To: infool7

Somehow, Mary got little ink your list.


206 posted on 01/31/2022 10:45:44 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 201 | View Replies]

To: GBA

Hang in there, GOD knows what HE’s doing.

(No, you DON’T need to know! ;^)


207 posted on 01/31/2022 10:48:39 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 203 | View Replies]

To: Elsie

you’re apostate. even the Scripture says the Holy Spirit will remind you of what Jesus TOLD you. He TELLS you in His WORD, which you have to read.


208 posted on 01/31/2022 10:49:40 AM PST by spacejunkie2001
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 205 | View Replies]

To: mylife

Thinking about it, one realizes that in both heaven and hell, only one (or three) are not hypocrites.


209 posted on 01/31/2022 11:02:14 AM PST by NorthStarOkie (You are what you are because that is exactly what you want to be. Marcos Aurelius)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: the OlLine Rebel; infool7

Dear FRiends;

While looking at old Lutheran catechism, found that:

Unfortunately, the RC and ELCA at least, have the Ten Commandments in the Creed wrong.

They have changed the Bible. The 3rd Commandment is missing, and instead they split the 10th Commandment on coveting ANYTHING in two.

The 3rd Commandment that is missing is this:

“4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. “

And it is a big one, with a lot to it.

All those statues are a sin under the 10 Commandments, and a foundational issue.

. . What else in these churches is missing . . .”


210 posted on 01/31/2022 11:37:20 AM PST by Norski (Justin Trudeau has tested positive for Coward-19.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: the OlLine Rebel

OK, I am excited that my little request garnered SO MUCH reply! And little fighting - yet.

However, may I please state again:

VERY SIMPLY, I’m just looking for churches that DO NOT bow down to the PC wokeness we’ve increasingly seen even at church.

I want to start with the simple requirement, that I won’t see self-conscious and self-righteous libelous apologetics and kneeling to blacks (as in BLM), and won’t see rainbow flags. I won’t see special public festival days just to kiss BLM/GLAAD rear ends.

That’s all I want. To start. To narrow down my search.

What one is perfectly RIGHT frankly isn’t the question. I’m just looking for those that are not obviously WRONG.


211 posted on 01/31/2022 11:59:22 AM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Federal-run medical care is as good as state-run DMV)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Albion Wilde

I have seen this as well. In an LCMS church (as is biblical) much authority and control is invested in the Elders (maybe even more than the Pastor). If Elder(s) fail to exercise good judgement then problems loom. Part of the problem may be that the only qualification for some elders seems to be longevity in the (local) church. We have one who rants about how unfair it is that his daughter can’t grow up to be a pastor. So the solution, I would think, as has been suggested would be to investigate other LCMS churches.


212 posted on 01/31/2022 12:14:07 PM PST by atomic_dog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 132 | View Replies]

To: Elsie

And...
God’s promise to Abraham, “in you all the nations of the earth will be blessed,” was given before Abraham was circumcised and before there was an “Israel.” All the nations at that time were Gentile.

Then Peter’s sermon on Pentecost mentioned that “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Those afar off would be the Gentiles.

And then Paul’s ministry was to the Gentiles, as you mention the joy in the Jerusalem church at the preaching to the gentiles.


213 posted on 01/31/2022 12:20:36 PM PST by NorthStarOkie (You are what you are because that is exactly what you want to be. Marcos Aurelius)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 171 | View Replies]

To: Flaming Conservative

The Book of Concord is a reflection on the scriptures, and it supports the LCMS’ “Sola Scriptura” creed that the scriptures are the final authority. It was written in a time of great disorder in the RC-dominated world to clarify, not to add or subtract from the scriptures.


214 posted on 01/31/2022 1:18:26 PM PST by Albion Wilde (If science can’t be questioned, it’s not science anymore, it’s propaganda. --Aaron Rodgers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 142 | View Replies]

To: Elsie
Somehow, Mary got little ink your list.

Are you secretly in love with Our Lady?

7

215 posted on 01/31/2022 1:21:47 PM PST by infool7 (Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 206 | View Replies]

To: the OlLine Rebel

I sent some information via FReepMail.


216 posted on 01/31/2022 1:24:00 PM PST by NorthStarOkie (You are what you are because that is exactly what you want to be. Marcos Aurelius)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 211 | View Replies]

To: Norski

If you really believe that

Catholics are worshiping idols

you are SERIOUSLY confused.

It’s actually pretty insulting to even suggest such

an absurd thing in polite company.

Would you even have the courage to say

something that stupid to anyone’s face?

7


217 posted on 01/31/2022 1:38:08 PM PST by infool7 (Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 210 | View Replies]

To: surroundedbyblue

that is an unbelievably false statement. You have no idea what you’re talking about except that you spew catholic propaganda while doing it.


218 posted on 01/31/2022 3:05:32 PM PST by spacejunkie2001
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: Cboldt
Have you shared your thoughts with the district management?

Not sure I could contain my outrage at the gross mismanagement. I left a church with a significant budget deficit and went to one with a budget surplus, for starters. The deficient church had a culture of throwing lunches at which individuals spent money on gifts and meals for one another, rather than having a prayer meeting and contributing gift monies to the church in each other's honor, for instance. When I suggested that for my birthday, I was met with resentment and passive-aggression. The mismanaged church had women in all key positions other than pastor; several had no working knowledge of the Bible, and several of them were seriously "mean girls," including the pastor's wife. Problems were not confronted, but they were gossiped about. That said, the preaching was good to excellent, and sola scriptura; but that was pretty much the extent of the pastor's contribution—little to no shepherding the flock.

The church I migrated to has men galore working in all areas of ministry except the children's classes and the ministries and Bible studies that are specifically for women. There are wonderful adult classes taught only by men, a very vital and involved pastor, and only men teach or serve communion on the altar; although some women have served on the Board, and women head up many outreach ministries and events. The congregation and pastor are warm and welcoming, and the organization and property are very well maintained by member volunteers, with yearly planning meetings open to the entire congregation.

I wouldn't feel right about alerting higher-ups unless there was a gross moral breach. The other church was simply an organizational disaster, with a lack of appropriate discipline. There was an overall lower average level of intelligence, to put it frankly.

219 posted on 01/31/2022 3:12:20 PM PST by Albion Wilde (If science can’t be questioned, it’s not science anymore, it’s propaganda. --Aaron Rodgers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 179 | View Replies]

To: Albion Wilde

Thank you for all that. Great observation skills, and you are fortunate to have had a choice!

Yeah, I think under those facts, just let it sort itself out. Interesting that the more dysfunction congregation had such good preaching, but then, this is a strong point of LCMS on the pastor side.

Interesting fact of humanity, like tends to attract like. The mediocrities tend to unwelcome even helpful challenge.


220 posted on 01/31/2022 3:20:41 PM PST by Cboldt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 219 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 181-200201-220221-240 ... 261-269 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson