What’s your faith group?

[grit]

Please note that you are allowed to select more than one category, so be careful before choosing.

This has been done before here at Bibleforums. Recently (http://bibleforums.org/forum/showthread.php?t=142106) and pulled from our archives (http://bibleforums.org/forum/showthread.php?t=45372).

I’d like to express that I have found these very helpful and quite enlightening, and I’d like to thank Buzzword & matthew94 for their efforts.
I’ve read through all pages of these polls and wanted to tweak the choices a bit in considering what our community folk have posted thus far.

I’ve especially tried to include specific Christian denominations as well as more general faith groupings, and I wanted to include some groups not always associated with Christianity, but where, interestingly enough, these groups sometimes associate themselves with Christianity. That’s why I placed this here rather than somewhere in the Christian Life section or Polls. I still had to work within the 40 choice limit, so I’m sure to have left out more than a few.

I’ve generally used past postings in the community as a guide, with reference to Mead, Hill, & Atwood’s Handbook of Denominations in the United States. But for further clarity here’s a repost from matthew94 of a listing from Ron Rhodes Complete Guide to Christian Denominations:

Lutheran Churches (Germany 1517)
1847 Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod 2.5 million +
1850 Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod 400K +
1987 Evangelical Lutheran 5 million+

Mennonite Churches (Switzerland 1520’s, USA 1683)
1725 Mennonite Church About 100K

Reformed Churches (Switzerland 1533, USA 1600’s)
1628 Reformed Church About 300K
1857 Christian Reformed Church About 200K

Presbyterian Churches (Scotland 1567, USA 1706)
1810 Cumberland Presbyterian Church Almost 100K
1973 Presbyterian Church in America Almost 300K
1983 Presbyterian Church, USA 3.5 Million +

Episcopal/Anglican Churches (England Mid-1500’s, USA 1607)
1789 Episcopal Church 2 million +

Baptist Churches (England 1611, USA 1639)
1845 Southern Baptist Convention Almost 16 million
1852 Baptist General Conference Almost 150K
1895 National Baptist Convention 3.5 Million +
1907 American Baptist Churches Almost 1.5 Million
1907 National Primitive Baptist Convention 1 Million +
1924 American Baptist Association 250K +
1935 Free Will Baptists 200K +
1961 Progressive National Baptist Convention 2.5 Million +
1988 National Missionary Baptist Convention 2.5 Million +

Brethren Churches (Germany 1708, USA 1723)
1708 Church of the Brethren 100K +
1880 Church of God, Anderson Indiana 200K +
1885 Evangelical Free Church 250K +

Methodist Churches (England 1729, USA 1766)
1816 African Methodist Episcopal Church 2.5 Million +
1860 Free Methodist Church Almost 100K
1870 Christian Methodist Episcopal Church 700K +
1968 United Methodist Church 8 Million +
1821 African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church 1 Million +

Christian Churches (USA 1811)
1832 Christian Church – Disciples of Christ 800K +
1887 Christian Congregation, Inc 100K +
1906 Churches of Christ 1.5 Million +
1927 Christian Churches and Churches of Christ 1 Million +
1957 United Church of Christ Almost 1.5 Million

Adventist Churches (USA 1816)
1845 Seventh-Day Adventist 800K +

Holiness Churches (USA Late 1800’s)
1880 Salvation Army Almost 500K +
1908 Church of the Nazarene 600K +
1968 Wesleyan Church 100K +

Fundamentalist/Bible Churches (USA Late 1800’s)
1897 Christian and Missionary Alliance Almost 350K
1947 Conservative Baptist Association 200K +
1950 Baptist Bible Fellowship 1.2 Million +
1950 Baptist Missionary Association 200K +

Pentecostal Churches (USA 1901)
1886 Church of God Almost 1 million
1907 Church of God in Christ 5.5 Million +
1911 Pentecostal Holiness Church Almost 200K
1914 Assemblies of God 2.5 Million +
1927 Church of the Foursquare Gospel 200K +
1957 Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ 300K +
1962 Full Gospel Fellowship 250K +
1907 Pentecostal Assemblies of the World 1.5 Million +
1945 United Pentecostal Church 600K +

[Esperanza32]

Hmmm. Very USA-centric, don't you think? :)

[Slug1]

I was to fast on the trigger and miss voted.

For me: Church of God and simply a Christian (since Sword for the Lord wasn't listed, :spin:)

[slightlypuzzled]

Hmmm. Very USA-centric, don't you think? :)

Good point, However, a lot of the cited groups came across the wide ocean to America from the European countries. I wonder what the associated numbers for the analogous European groups would be?

[grit]

Hmmm. Very USA-centric, don't you think? :)
Oooooooh donderdag, I forgot the Dutch! :B

Ik spreek niet erg goed Nederlands. :)

[ChristianKnight]

Other. I have no group that I affiliate with. I do go to my old church, which is a member of the SBC but I am not a Christian, so that doesn't matter.

[Esperanza32]

Oooooooh donderdag, I forgot the Dutch! :B

Ik spreek niet erg goed Nederlands. :)



Dat is goed Nederlands!

I'm just being snarky and giving you a hard time.

I'm really American, living overseas. I'll go vote properly now. My background is Methodist and Lutheran, and now I go to an Anglican church, so I'll check all three. I think you have enough choices there for "real" Europeans and other non-Americans to at least find a "closest fit."

:)

[9Marksfan]

Interesting results - can I ask those who voted "simply a Christian" or didn't vote "evangelical" why not? I don't believe it's possible for Bible-believing, born again Christians NOT to say they're evangelical - unless we understand evangelical to mean something that goes beyond its traditional meaning (maybe I should start a Discussion thread on this!).

[Esperanza32]

9Marks, that would be an interesting discussion. When I see Evangelical in a list of denominations, I assume it means the Evangelical Free Church of America, or something similar. I'm not sure what the intent was here.

I also find that denominational names mean different things in America and Europe. "Lutheran" has a different connotation in America (where the ELCA is quite liberal, MO Synod less so) than in the Netherlands (where Lutherans are more strict and stodgy). "Protestant" means different things too (in America, we often call anything that's not Catholic, "Protestant," even though that's not really accurate).

[Slug1]

Interesting results - can I ask those who voted "simply a Christian" or didn't vote "evangelical" why not? I don't believe it's possible for Bible-believing, born again Christians NOT to say they're evangelical - unless we understand evangelical to mean something that goes beyond its traditional meaning (maybe I should start a Discussion thread on this!).IMO, do away with all the names except Christian... less man in the equation and more Jesus.

[grit]

Interesting results - can I ask those who voted "simply a Christian" or didn't vote "evangelical" why not? I don't believe it's possible for Bible-believing, born again Christians NOT to say they're evangelical - unless we understand evangelical to mean something that goes beyond its traditional meaning (maybe I should start a Discussion thread on this!).
I included "evangelical" in my vote, but the term has fallen on some hard times of late.

I also find that denominational names mean different things in America and Europe. "Lutheran" has a different connotation in America (where the ELCA is quite liberal, MO Synod less so) than in the Netherlands (where Lutherans are more strict and stodgy). "Protestant" means different things too (in America, we often call anything that's not Catholic, "Protestant," even though that's not really accurate).
I originally had "conservative" and "liberal" on the list. I think those distinctions would have been very hepful, but I ran out of room. It was the most difficult cut I made to the list, which originally had about 52 choices. I also cut "Protestant" from the list, and I left "Catholic" without the "Roman" qualifier. Of all the groups I think the marked divide among variuos Lutheran groups being either liberal or conservative is the most dramatic, in my opinion. Most of the old-order traditional denominations (Lutherans, Prebyterians, Methodists, Baptists, etc.) have fragments over liberal and conservative issues, but it seems the most pronounced among the Lutherans.

Another dramatic one is that among "Restoration" groups. I originally gave "Church of Christ" its own place, hoping to distinguish it more clearly from "Christian Churches" and "Disciples of Christ", which have been very important distinctions on the board, but in the end I was more desirous to include some of the other religions that sometimes indentify with Christianity, oddly perhaps including "Muslim" and having to leave "Hindu" off the list - I'd seen certain folk describe themselves as Christian Hindu or Christian Muslim, which seems very odd indeed to most of us.

I also left our dear "agnostic"s off the list, but I had special reasons for trying to flavour that differently.

[dljc]

Please note that you are allowed to select more than one category, so be careful before choosing.

This has been done before here at Bibleforums. Recently (http://bibleforums.org/forum/showthread.php?t=142106) and pulled from our archives (http://bibleforums.org/forum/showthread.php?t=45372).Hey grit, I just wanted to say the link associated with the word "Recently" was a bad link so I fixed it for you, nothing else was touched in the post. :)

[grit]

Hey grit, I just wanted to say the link associated with the word "Recently" was a bad link so I fixed it for you, nothing else was touched in the post. :)
Thanks. Wouldn't you know it, I was so concerned about making sure the one worked that I dug up from the archives that I forgot to check the other one. :hug:
I also forgot to mention starlight's poll (http://bibleforums.org/forum/showthread.php?t=133997), who's mostly looking for a Muslim connection.

[NewInHim]

Hmmm. What do you mean by Evangelical and Fundamentalist? I know I've been called a Fundamentalist, and not very nicely either, lol. But what do you mean by it? So far, I think I can answer about 4 of these. Is that ok, or should I pick one that best describes? In that case it would have to be simply a Christian.

[grit]

Hmmm. What do you mean by Evangelical and Fundamentalist? I know I've been called a Fundamentalist, and not very nicely either, lol. But what do you mean by it? So far, I think I can answer about 4 of these. Is that ok, or should I pick one that best describes? In that case it would have to be simply a Christian.

Hi NewInHim.
Rather than strict to usual denominational classifications I tried to branch out a bit into some more general faith grouping categories that are popular with the board. That's why I placed "Calvinist" and "Arminian" on the list, for example. Both "Fundamentalist" and "Evangelical" are more-or-less placed on the list with that in mind. There certainly are specific denominations known as fundamentalist or evangelical, but I left it for members to self-define. Most folk who strongly identify in one way or another with either of these may likely vote that way.

Wikipedia does a fair article on evangelicalism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelicalism) in general, as well as fundamentalism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamentalist_Christianity) and the emergent (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergent_Church) movement. Answers.com does as well: evangelical (http://www.answers.com/topic/evangelicalism), fundamentalism (http://www.answers.com/topic/fundamentalism-christian), emergent (http://www.answers.com/topic/emerging-church).

Basically, however, "evangelical" has become a popular term generally associated with conservative Christianity (even among Roman Catholics), but has faced some challenges of late as it becomes more generally associated with its Greek root of euangelion, as more broadly representative of "Gospel" or "Good News", and not as strictly associated with Christian conservatism. "Fundamentalist" has gone the opposite route, originally a similarly self-described conservative term affiliating with basic Christian fundamentals of the faith, but now very strongly associated with Christian conservatism, and even a popular pejorative term for Christians others see as perhaps too strict in their conservatism, usually shortened to "fundie".

"Charismatic" is another on the list, that can convey either a Christian movement (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charismatic_movement) among various denominations, or a general theological position (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charismatic_(Christians)). Many of the specific church denominational groups that allign themselves with the theological possition call themselves "Pentecostal".

[Watchmen]

I noticed a couple things about the list
#1 Church of God and Assemblies of God are Pentecostal/ full gosple, yet had separate categories.
#2 Universalist/unitarian/ oneness are 3 completely separate beliefs distinct from one another, but all were in one category.
Universalist believe that all will be saved, unitarians believe that God the Father is God only and Jesus is not, while oneness believers believe that Jesus is God, God the Father incarnate. These three beliefs have very little in common with one another.

[NewInHim]

OK, based on the wikipedia articles, I'm considering myself an evangelical, fundamental, non-denominational Christian, with a Jewish background/upbringing. I never know how to answer when people ask me "what religion" I am, I always tell them I'm simply a Christian, and then get the confused looks. :) I guess many don't believe you can be "simply a Christian".

[Slug1]

OK, based on the wikipedia articles, I'm considering myself an evangelical, fundamental, non-denominational Christian, with a Jewish background/upbringing. I never know how to answer when people ask me "what religion" I am, I always tell them I'm simply a Christian, and then get the confused looks. :) I guess many don't believe you can be "simply a Christian".Yeah, before I retired from the military, the last time I deployed to combat I had to get a new set of dogtags. I put down, 'Christian' as my religion and the person behind the desk asked me, "What type of Christian?" So I answered... "the type that worships Jesus Christ!" So my tags were stamped "Christian".

[Christian Sweetie]

Aww I didn't read the instructions and only voted for one (non-denominational which is what my church is) but I'd also say fundamentalist and just simply a Christian.

[grit]

I noticed a couple things about the list
#1 Church of God and Assemblies of God are Pentecostal/ full gospel, yet had separate categories.
#2 Universalist/unitarian/ oneness are 3 completely separate beliefs distinct from one another, but all were in one category.
Universalist believe that all will be saved, unitarians believe that God the Father is God only and Jesus is not, while oneness believers believe that Jesus is God, God the Father incarnate. These three beliefs have very little in common with one another.

True. There's a few things about my listing that may help to clarify why it is this way.

First, it's meant to be emblematic of the responses our members have made thus far in the similar polls I linked to. That's why "Apostolic" is included, for example, which Rhodes doesn't even list and Mead & Hill include under Holiness, but where we've had some expression of disappointment in being usually left off such lists.

Second, both Rhodes and Mead/Hill include some Church of God, Nazarene, some Church of Christ, and Wesleyan under Holiness as well; with other Church of God, Assemblies of God, Vineyard, and some Full Gospel churches under Pentecostal. Again, gauging from past responses and under the constraints of limiting the choices to 40, I decided to specify "Church of God / Assemblies of God", "Nazarene", among others, by name but also allow for more general faith groupings under "Pentecostal / Full Gospel", "Charismatic", "Wesleyan / Holiness", among others.

Also, some churches in the Restoration movement greatly frown on being classified as of some denominational affiliation; so, based on member responses, I singled our Church of Christ, but included with it (due to choice constraints) the general Restoration movement churches as "Restoration / Church of Christ". It's not ideal, but I found listing broader faith groupings along with specific denominational and church titles helpful.

In my personal selection, for example, I selected "Presbyterian", which is also "Reformed", which generally is also "Calvinist"; but there are some who are "Reformed" who are not "Presbyterian", there are some "Presbyterian" who are not "Calvinistic", and there are some "Calvinist" who are not strictly "Reformed".

Third, my longer list (which I had to trim down to fit the 40 choice limit) had Oneness (which is also sometimes especially Pentecostal), Universalist (which has mostly grown out of Unitarian but is now often quite distinct from it), and Unitarian (which has strong theistic bearings) as distinct listings, since they do indeed represent separate and distinct beliefs. I thought it valuable to include each of these by name, but since they (largely in expression as official church bodies - see esp. the Unitarian Universalist Association) are largely anti-trinitarian, I lumped them together; but even for those who are trinitarian (see a former poll where "Trinitarian" was an option, but oddly with no votes), I felt it at least important to distinguish these out from "Other". It would be sort of like having Coptic, Armenian (not to be confused with Arminian), Moravian, Divine Science, Hutterian, and African also listed together as distinct from "Other". I tried to get as many responses distinct from the "Other" category as I could.

In hindsight I'm thinking the most quizzical one is "Baptist", which I intended to be a catch-all for all the Baptists who aren't either "Southern Baptist" or "Independant Baptist", but I now understand why I don't think it's working out that way. A Baptist is a Baptist, and proud of it! :smile:
Also in hindsight, I would have liked to have found room to especially distinguish "Congregational" out from "Non-Denominational", even though some congregational churches are also denominational, and even though "Congregational" garnered no votes in an earlier poll.

[tayariswife]

interesting! thanx! :)

[Izdaari]

I seem to fit a lot of these categories, and probably a number of others you couldn't include. :cool:

My actual church membership is Assemblies of God, but I don't feel any special loyalty to the denomination, only to my particular congregation. By doctrine I would probably be more at home in an Anglican or Lutheran church, though I've never been formally a member of either. I owe quite a lot to the thinking of C.S. Lewis, N.T. Wright, and Martin Luther. (If I were to become a Lutheran, it would have to be ELCA, as I insist on open communion and gender equality in ministry.)

Though my church is part of the Pentecostal group, my beliefs are charismatic, not strictly Pentecostal; i.e., I don't believe everyone gets the gift of tongues, but I do believe the gifts are still active and available today... though they are over-hyped and oft-abused.

And I would be within the broad groups of evangelical and emergent as well. Also the category you didn't have room for of theologically moderate. Not meaning lukewarm, but conservative on some issues (core faith stuff, like what's in the major creeds) and middle-of-the-road to liberal on others.

[Fenris]

Token Jewish guy here. :)

[Moxie]

In hindsight I'm thinking the most quizzical one is "Baptist", which I intended to be a catch-all for all the Baptists who aren't either "Southern Baptist" or "Independant Baptist", but I now understand why I don't think it's working out that way. A Baptist is a Baptist, and proud of it!

Only if there's food and a back row. :lol::rofl:;)

[grit]

LOL, Church of the Casserole has a nice ring to it.

[HisLeast]

Token Jewish guy here. :)

And secretly, the guy who's REALLY pulling the strings. ;)

[Buck shot]

I fit into several groups also :lol:

I have preached in both independent and SBC Baptist churches (not at an independent) so i just checked Baptist (why divide this group in a poll?)

[grit]

...Baptist (why divide this group in a poll?)

You mean the Southern Baptists and the Independent Baptists? I've found them quite different from one another here in the South, but basically there were so many Baptists who responded in earlier polls, I thought it would be nice to try and see if we could sort the Baptists out a bit. Have you found the Independents to be somewhat more fundamentalist than the SBCs?

[Izdaari]

You mean the Southern Baptists and the Independent Baptists? I've found them quite different from one another here in the South, but basically there were so many Baptists who responded in earlier polls, I thought it would be nice to try and see if we could sort the Baptists out a bit. Have you found the Independents to be somewhat more fundamentalist than the SBCs?
I've been to several very different Baptist churches. When I was a kid, I went to a GARBC Baptist church, and it could easily have passed for non-denominational conservative evangelical. Later, in early adulthood, I went to an ABC Baptist church, typical mainline to liberal Protestant. And recently I visited an Independent Fundamental Baptist church, which was like stepping through a time warp into the 1950's! All three of those churches shared the standard Baptist distinctives, but still had a very different feel to them.

[Fenris]

And secretly, the guy who's REALLY pulling the strings. ;)
Shh! That's supposed to be a secret!

[Clavicula_Nox]

And secretly, the guy who's REALLY pulling the strings. ;)

I'm pretty sure their secret plan involves getting us hooked on chocolate-covered Matszoh.

[Fenris]

I'm pretty sure their secret plan involves getting us hooked on chocolate-covered Matszoh.
Don't forget the secret ingredient: Gentile blood (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_libel_against_Jews)

[grit]

Don't forget the secret ingredient: Gentile blood (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_libel_against_Jews)
:eek: golem Gollum, nice Sméagol, they tricks us, nasty hobbitses, ruins our chocolate matza, our PRECIOUS!

[TrophyofGrace]

Only if there's food and a back row. :lol::rofl:;)


Some of us are good with food and the "spit zone" too....:lol:;):saint:

I'm simply a Bible-believing Christian but the church I attend is Independent Baptist.

[Prufrock]

I'm simply a Bible-believing Christian but the church I attend is Independent Baptist.
Me too. Exactly.

[fuzzi]

Some of us are good with food and the "spit zone" too....:lol:;):saint:

I'm simply a Bible-believing Christian but the church I attend is Independent Baptist.

Me too. Exactly.
Me three!

I looked for 'Bible-believer' but didn't see it, so I voted for 'Independent Baptist', which is the closest to what I believe. That's why I go to an Independent Baptist church.

I sit in the second pew, right in front of the pulpit...talk about being in the 'spit zone'... :D

[-SEEKING-]

I'm simply Christian. Attended a charismatic church for my first 14½ years and almost a year now in a Baptist church.

[Vhayes]

Me three!

I looked for 'Bible-believer' but didn't see it, so I voted for 'Independent Baptist', which is the closest to what I believe. That's why I go to an Independent Baptist church.

I sit in the second pew, right in front of the pulpit...talk about being in the 'spit zone'... :D
That would be four of us then...

V

[Clavicula_Nox]

According to a Facebook quiz, (which is, of course, 100% accurate in all things) my "ideal religion" is Judaism.

[fuzzi]

That would be four of us then...

V
In the spit zone????? :rofl:

[grit]

According to a Facebook quiz, (which is, of course, 100% accurate in all things) my "ideal religion" is Judaism.
:hmm: hmmm... that would most likely make you a Zensunni wanderer of the middle colonies, probably in the vicinity of Pennsylvannia on the far outskirts of Arrakeen? :)

[Fenris]

According to a Facebook quiz, (which is, of course, 100% accurate in all things) my "ideal religion" is Judaism.
Well, we don't proselytize, but we do accept converts.

[grit]

and I'm already circumcised. :blush:

:D

[Fenris]

Well, there goes that impediment.

[CoffeeCat]

I just describe myself as a Christian. Like Slug said... "the kind that worships Jesus Christ". ;)

[NewInHim]

According to a Facebook quiz, (which is, of course, 100% accurate in all things) my "ideal religion" is Judaism.

The same (probably) quiz said my ideal religion is Sunni Muslim! :o

[grit]

I'm gonna be in trouble, huh?

I think veiled women are to be admired.

[The Mighty Sword]

Been attending The Pentecostal Church for 32 yrs now, wouldn't change a thing.

[Izdaari]

Been attending The Pentecostal Church for 32 yrs now, wouldn't change a thing.
I didn't know there was one called The Pentecostal Church. :confused

Well, good to see another Pentecostal here anyway. :hug:

Mine is Assemblies of God, which is part of the Pentecostal group. Though in practice, my congregation seems to more closely resemble a Calvary Chapel... which is fine with me.

[The Mighty Sword]

Yeah, there is also the Four Square churches which are also Pentecostal,
Unfortunetly with some names come a stigma, but not always, My wife came from the ICC, which I went through a small nightmare with, but since I just visited it was easy to cut the binds, not so easy for her, she was considered a "fall away" when she left with me, kinda sad really :confused, let me know if you want the whole enchilada (story). Peace.

[Elijah's Mantle]

:) I checked simply a Christian ,but I am interested in pentecostal Mighty sword , it says full gospel to me full is a glass not half empty :idea:

[ConqueredbyLove]

I think the whole thing is rigged :rofl:

I voted but mine did not even register :rolleyes:

[Elijah's Mantle]

I think the whole thing is rigged :rofl:

I voted but mine did not even register :rolleyes:


:rofl: we need manual write in then :bounce:

[Izdaari]

Yeah, there is also the Four Square churches which are also Pentecostal,
Unfortunetly with some names come a stigma, but not always, My wife came from the ICC, which I went through a small nightmare with, but since I just visited it was easy to cut the binds, not so easy for her, she was considered a "fall away" when she left with me, kinda sad really :confused, let me know if you want the whole enchilada (story). Peace.Yep, there are lots of Pentecostal churches. I'm familiar with Foursquare, which is very similar to AoG. I don't know much at all about ICC, but that doesn't sound good.

[ConqueredbyLove]

:rofl: we need manual write in then :bounce:

...........lol! I assign that to you :rofl:

[Elijah's Mantle]

...........lol! I assign that to you :rofl:

:pp Hey u know what God writes your name in his Lambs Book of Life ,did you know God had books ? :bounce: someday I bet God will let us see those books :idea: its a thought at least .

[The Mighty Sword]

Amen and Amen. Read up on it, if you ever get a chance. Peace.

[The Mighty Sword]

No, it was an ordeal I wouldn't wish on anyone. Go to CARM or Cult Watch under cults, see ICC and read for yourself.

[Elijah's Mantle]

No, it was an ordeal I wouldn't wish on anyone. Go to CARM or Cult Watch under cults, see ICC and read for yourself.
http://bibleforums.org/forum/images/buttons/quote.gif (http://bibleforums.org/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=2113934)

:o wowers u are not kidding :note: what I did read about it is not so cool I did not know that ,I am Grateful that u told me Mighty sword what happened ?
:eek: It must have been a nightmare

[ConqueredbyLove]

:pp Hey u know what God writes your name in his Lambs Book of Life ,did you know God had books ? :bounce: someday I bet God will let us see those books :idea: its a thought at least .

You made my day :hug:

One of my favorite scriptures is:


Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him
Malachi 3: 16-17


Imagine His love for us! There is a special book recorded for those that fear Him, think upon His name and talk together of Him. And we are His and we are His jewels. That's us!

:pp:hug: :hug: :hug: :pp <-------conqueredbylove, overjoyed!

[The Mighty Sword]

Mighty sword what happened ?

Well My friend at the time asked me to take her to church while my brother fixed her transmission so I visited, telling them I'm a visitor the invited me to study with them so I agreed, the 1st thing they hit me with is that i'm prideful, not humble and that they needed to disciple me, I said ok, Prior to that I told them that I had just been baptizd at my church and they tried to talk me into my baptism not being real, after 3 months of this nonsense, I said and I quote, " I'd rather be considered a sinner by you that have you disciple me", once the leaders of that particular church found out, they then wanted to have a meeting with me to tell how bad my church was, I agreed and they never called me back, The Girl left with me, they considered her a "fallaway" 2 yrs later I married her and the rest my freind is history, I praise God he gave me the gift of discernment and I was able to see right thru their deciet. Unfortunetly many others are still there, they have contests on who can get the most people discipled and baptized, as if The Holy Spirit has nothing to do with it, Tragic really.

[teddyv]

Mighty sword what happened ?

Well My friend at the time asked me to take her to church while my brother fixed her transmission so I visited, telling them I'm a visitor the invited me to study with them so I agreed, the 1st thing they hit me with is that i'm prideful, not humble and that they needed to disciple me, I said ok, Prior to that I told them that I had just been baptizd at my church and they tried to talk me into my baptism not being real, after 3 months of this nonsense, I said and I quote, " I'd rather be considered a sinner by you that have you disciple me", once the leaders of that particular church found out, they then wanted to have a meeting with me to tell how bad my church was, I agreed and they never called me back, The Girl left with me, they considered her a "fallaway" 2 yrs later I married her and the rest my freind is history, I praise God he gave me the gift of discernment and I was able to see right thru their deciet. Unfortunetly many others are still there, they have contests on who can get the most people discipled and baptized, as if The Holy Spirit has nothing to do with it, Tragic really.
Hey, that story sounds familiar. I got mixed up with the ICC during university. That was about 3 or 4 weeks I could have done without.

[The Mighty Sword]

Hey, that story sounds familiar. I got mixed up with the ICC during university. That was about 3 or 4 weeks I could have done without.


I hope you fled as fast and as far away as you could get.

[teddyv]

I hope you fled as fast and as far away as you could get.
Not quite. They almost got me. But I have been blessed with a great family that saw the warning signs and worked to make me see sense. My pastor at the time also met with me and we had a very mind clearing discussion. The experience was not wasted as it really spurred me to reading the Bible deeper. I was a pretty nominal Christian at the time.

[The Mighty Sword]

Not quite. They almost got me. But I have been blessed with a great family that saw the warning signs and worked to make me see sense. My pastor at the time also met with me and we had a very mind clearing discussion. The experience was not wasted as it really spurred me to reading the Bible deeper. I was a pretty nominal Christian at the time.


Good for you, I guess we can be called "ICC survivors?"

[fuzzi]

What is 'ICC'? :confused

[grit]

In this case, I'm pretty sure it's referring to the International Church(es) of Christ (ICC (http://www.carm.org/religious-movements/church-christ/what-international-church-christ) , ICoC (http://www.apologeticsindex.org/i05.html), or ICOC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Churches_of_Christ)).

[fuzzi]

In this case, I'm pretty sure it's referring to the International Church(es) of Christ (ICC (http://www.carm.org/religious-movements/church-christ/what-international-church-christ) , ICoC (http://www.apologeticsindex.org/i05.html), or ICOC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Churches_of_Christ)).
Thanks. I've heard of CoC, but not ICoC. Just another branch of that sect, I suppose?

[grit]

Thanks. I've heard of CoC, but not ICoC. Just another branch of that sect, I suppose?
Yeah, the Stone-Campbell Movement (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restoration_Movement) carries quite a lot of diversity. Usually it's still characterized in the three main branches, the Churches of Christ, the Disciples of Christ, and the Christian Churches, but due to the strong independence and congregational nature of the movement in general it's bred not only some admirable unity or conservatism among various Christian groups, but also cult or cult-like followings reminiscent of Jim Jones or David Koresh.

[Izdaari]

Yeah, the Stone-Campbell Movement (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restoration_Movement) carries quite a lot of diversity. Usually it's still characterized in the three main branches, the Churches of Christ, the Disciples of Christ, and the Christian Churches, but due to the strong independence and congregational nature of the movement in general it's bred not only some admirable unity or conservatism among various Christian groups, but also cult or cult-like followings reminiscent of Jim Jones or David Koresh.Hmm. Interesting history. In my teen years, I went to a Christian (Disciples of Christ) church. I guess they must have been the branch of the movement that went mainstream to liberal.

[grit]

Hmm. Interesting history. In my teen years, I went to a Christian (Disciples of Christ) church. I guess they must have been the branch of the movement that went mainstream to liberal.

LOL, soooooo.... you ADMIT you're no longer a teen. :P

:)

[Izdaari]

LOL, soooooo.... you ADMIT you're no longer a teen. :P

:)
Well, it wouldn't be very credible for me to claim teen status at age 54, would it? :P

[grit]

well.... maybe if you were a Februtwentyninarian, a prediluvian, or a turtle? ;)

I wonder if there's a predisposition for people whose birthday is February 29th to be of a particular faith group which either does not recognize the Gregorian calendar or does not celebrate birthdays? :hmm:

[stepbystep]

i see parts of mine listed seperately but not as a denomination. so which catagory would Maranatha Independent Fundamental Baptist fall under?

[grit]

i see parts of mine listed seperately but not as a denomination. so which catagory would Maranatha Independent Fundamental Baptist fall under?You can pick a few together, if you like - you can choose more than one option. I'd guess at least "fundamentalist" and "independent baptist". :hug:

[otrclassic]

I voted to fast. I am a Reformed believer and while I go to an SBC I would like to go to a Reformed Episcopal Church (http://rechurch.org)

[Desperaux]

I am a charismatic (Spirit-filled) non-denominational Christian.

[GreenEyes]

My only affiliation with any kind of church is still just the occasional visit to hear my friend in the local Catholic Youth choir sing. I'm sure she's wishing I'd attend more often, but, yeah..

[grit]

Hey, 'tis the season of Catholic choir, you've just got to go, GreenEyes. :saint:

[nicolapompicola]

I'm a Christian, but I've not found my church yet.

[grit]

I'm a Christian, but I've not found my church yet.
:hmm: Look for a building with one of those pointy tops and a cross, it's probably hiding somewhere under that, or at least you may be able to find some very good clues there. :yes:

[nicolapompicola]

I know what a Church is, I've just not found one that feels right.. :rolleyes:

[grit]

I know what a Church is, I've just not found one that feels right.. :rolleyes:
:saint: I was being a bit devilish, wasn't I. :hug:

I hope you'll find one you like, it isn't always an easy task, but I've found you'll usually find at least a few helpful and respectful Christians in most any church.

[Scubadude]

IMO, do away with all the names except Christian... less man in the equation and more Jesus.


Amen! That's how it was in the beginning.

[Desperaux]

I know what a Church is, I've just not found one that feels right.. :rolleyes:

Do as I did--ask Jesus to lead you to where He wants to plant you. He will. You can count on it. Then what you do is stay there, even when you are challenged! That is where He does His best work in you!

[JohnDB]

I was actually thinking of starting a new church...

Church of the Order of the Holy Hamster.

Something along the lines of where the theology is one where you have to have all of your many children sleep in the same bed as their parents...

Food is stored in corners and what have you carried there by mouthfuls and not hands. (lots of cheek stretching involved)...maybe even we can get to be like Dizzy Gilespie. (ever seen him blow his trumpet?...he was amazing)

Instead of high ceilings we have to make tunnels in our houses...

It was a thought.:hmm:

But....I guess in the meantime I will just have to settle for being a bad baptist. (never was a good baptist):rofl: