comparing 7 different denominations

NewCreation435

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Lamb

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The list looks correct for Lutherans. I believe you have stated before that you don't believe in baptizing babies or the Real Presence in Holy Communion so it would seem that Lutherans, RC, EO, Anglican, Methodist (?) and Presbyterian aren't a good fit. That leaves Baptist, Reformed and Assembly of God and I'm not sure about Mennonites. There are churches that just have "Christian" in their name but those are usually Baptist or Reformed.
 

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NewCreation435

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The list looks correct for Lutherans. I believe you have stated before that you don't believe in baptizing babies or the Real Presence in Holy Communion so it would seem that Lutherans, RC, EO, Anglican, Methodist (?) and Presbyterian aren't a good fit. That leaves Baptist, Reformed and Assembly of God and I'm not sure about Mennonites. There are churches that just have "Christian" in their name but those are usually Baptist or Reformed.

Yes. I have said that in the past. I'm not sure that it is a deal breaker though in terms of whether or not I will attend a church. I do feel like I need something different than what I have been experiencing (if that makes any sense at all). As I understand it, the congregations you mentioned don't practice open communion anyway, so I wouldn't be allowed to take part anyway even if I wanted to.
 

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Yes. I have said that in the past. I'm not sure that it is a deal breaker though in terms of whether or not I will attend a church. I do feel like I need something different than what I have been experiencing (if that makes any sense at all). As I understand it, the congregations you mentioned don't practice open communion anyway, so I wouldn't be allowed to take part anyway even if I wanted to.

The ELCA which is a liberal synod of the Lutheran church practices open communion.
 

psalms 91

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Yes. I have said that in the past. I'm not sure that it is a deal breaker though in terms of whether or not I will attend a church. I do feel like I need something different than what I have been experiencing (if that makes any sense at all). As I understand it, the congregations you mentioned don't practice open communion anyway, so I wouldn't be allowed to take part anyway even if I wanted to.
The Methodist church has open communion
 

ValleyGal

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The list looks correct for Lutherans. I believe you have stated before that you don't believe in baptizing babies or the Real Presence in Holy Communion so it would seem that Lutherans, RC, EO, Anglican, Methodist (?) and Presbyterian aren't a good fit. That leaves Baptist, Reformed and Assembly of God and I'm not sure about Mennonites. There are churches that just have "Christian" in their name but those are usually Baptist or Reformed.
I'm a Mennonite convert, and do not know any Mennonite denominations who believe in infant baptism or in transubstantiation (if that's what you mean by "Real Presence"). As well, I don't know what "open communion" means either, but in the Mennonite Brethren churches I've been to, anyone can take part in communion as long as you are born again, have a reconciled relationship with God through Jesus.

I wonder why Mennonites are not typically included as one of the major denominations. Are we that small?
 

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I'm a Mennonite convert, and do not know any Mennonite denominations who believe in infant baptism or in transubstantiation (if that's what you mean by "Real Presence"). As well, I don't know what "open communion" means either, but in the Mennonite Brethren churches I've been to, anyone can take part in communion as long as you are born again, have a reconciled relationship with God through Jesus.

I wonder why Mennonites are not typically included as one of the major denominations. Are we that small?

Usually that is what open communion is...any baptized person can commune.

I think they call the Mennonites by the name of Anabaptist and sometimes they're included in some of the comparisons I've seen.
 

ValleyGal

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Usually that is what open communion is...any baptized person can commune.

I think they call the Mennonites by the name of Anabaptist and sometimes they're included in some of the comparisons I've seen.

That's true - we are anabaptist. I do not see much difference between us and the Baptists, though. I went to a Baptist church for a short time growing up - of course, I was young and didn't know anything, and probably hardly listened. So what do I know. I know what I believe, and who I believe in.
 

NewCreation435

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The Methodist church has open communion

Yes, I grew up in the Methodist church. There are a lot of them near me. Many of them are pretty small, but three or four seem to be growing. I do like the emphasis on discipleship in the Methodist church.
 

NewCreation435

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The ELCA which is a liberal synod of the Lutheran church practices open communion.

Yes and the Lutheran church that is closest to me is ELCA, but I don't think their social liberal views are consistent with my views. It would just be asking for trouble to go there.
I noticed yesterday that they are launching a new location of a fast growing nondenominational church near the gym that I go to. It is starting March 30. If it is similar to a seeker sensitive church that I once attended then I don't think that would be for me either. I am looking for messages that aren't a mile wide and an inch deep. Someone who will make me think and help me to grow in my faith with challenging messages. What I have heard from most seeker sensitive churches is not very good or deep.
 

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Have you ever tried Calvary Chapel? Calvary Chapel | Church Finder, Calvary Global Network, CGN
 

psalms 91

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Yes, I grew up in the Methodist church. There are a lot of them near me. Many of them are pretty small, but three or four seem to be growing. I do like the emphasis on discipleship in the Methodist church.
Yes the primary reason I am there is the ability to help others
 

Albion

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There are a number of errors in the listing, some of them significant and some others not so much so. But what stuck out the most was the brevity of the list of churches and, as well, the scarcity of the information given about them.

Only a few issues of concern were taken up in the case of each of the denominations listed, and each of them was boiled own to such a basic statement that each of the churches wound up sounding almost the same as all or most of the others.

Here are several of the significant ones (IMHO) that were not treated well:

1. "The Episcopal Church" and its affiliates around the world ordain women; most other Anglican churches do not. The Episcopal Church is the largest of the Anglican churches in the USA, however.

2. Baptists do not have two "sacraments." They reject the traditional understanding of the nature of a sacrament plus, usually, the word itself. Instead they claim two "ordinances" which are believed to be purely symbolic and to be done as signs of obedience. No forgiveness of sins is associated with an ordinance and no grace is bestowed through the reception of them.

3. While all the denominations would say that salvation is ultimately the result of the gift of God's grace, Catholicism teaches that faith and the performance of good works by us, not just the reception of the sacraments, determine our eternal destiny, either Heaven or Hell.

4. Contemporary (worship) is referred to in a number of places, but the meaning of the word is never given. It is, in fact, a catch-all term and can cover a wide range of non-traditional, non-liturgical, forms of worship. Obviously, I would say, for a seeker reading the book and trying to sort the churches out, this isn't very helpful.
 
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Lamb

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2. Baptists do not have two "sacraments." They reject the traditional understanding of the nature of a sacrament plus, usually, the word itself. Instead they claim two "ordinances" which are believed to be purely symbolic and to be done as signs of obedience. No forgiveness of sins is associated with an ordinance and no grace is bestowed through the reception of them.


The list says Sacraments and Ordinances and while Baptists do not see Baptism or the Lord's Supper as sacraments they definitely view them as ordinances since they practice both.
 

Albion

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The list says Sacraments and Ordinances and while Baptists do not see Baptism or the Lord's Supper as sacraments they definitely view them as ordinances since they practice both.

Sure, but none of that is spelled out in the presentation of the supposed differences between denominations.

Very few people, let alone seekers for whom the book is supposed to be a primer or guide, perceive the difference between these two terms; yet it is a fundamental difference between the Baptistic churches and most other Christian churches, certainly most of the other ones listed.
 

FredVB

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I need to find a church that is biblically based, not appealing to leaders as prophets, that is consistent with acknowledging vegan basis in scriptures.
 

Albion

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A church that thinks being a vegan is a Biblical principle to be observed? The closest to what you may be seeking is probably the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

It was co-founded in the 19th century by a young person considered to be a prophet, but since the church is not run by so-called prophets on an ongoing basis such as the Mormons do, this (sda) could still be the one for you.
 

NewCreation435

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There are a number of errors in the listing, some of them significant and some others not so much so. But what stuck out the most was the brevity of the list of churches and, as well, the scarcity of the information given about them.

Only a few issues of concern were taken up in the case of each of the denominations listed, and each of them was boiled own to such a basic statement that each of the churches wound up sounding almost the same as all or most of the others.

Here are several of the significant ones (IMHO) that were not treated well:

1. "The Episcopal Church" and its affiliates around the world ordain women; most other Anglican churches do not. The Episcopal Church is the largest of the Anglican churches in the USA, however.

2. Baptists do not have two "sacraments." They reject the traditional understanding of the nature of a sacrament plus, usually, the word itself. Instead they claim two "ordinances" which are believed to be purely symbolic and to be done as signs of obedience. No forgiveness of sins is associated with an ordinance and no grace is bestowed through the reception of them.

3. While all the denominations would say that salvation is ultimately the result of the gift of God's grace, Catholicism teaches that faith and the performance of good works by us, not just the reception of the sacraments, determine our eternal destiny, either Heaven or Hell.

4. Contemporary (worship) is referred to in a number of places, but the meaning of the word is never given. It is, in fact, a catch-all term and can cover a wide range of non-traditional, non-liturgical, forms of worship. Obviously, I would say, for a seeker reading the book and trying to sort the churches out, this isn't very helpful.

I would agree with much of what you say. It is a very brief list. I also really wasn't paying attention to the Baptist characteristics, but your also right on about what they believe. I was mainly looking at the other denominations. It is true also that contemporary can mean a lot of things. Generally it means some type of praise band or contemporary music rather than traditional hymns and no choir. The more I think about it that means less and less to me also. I grew up in a church that was very traditional and structured with a lot of information in the bulletin, but as an adult I got away from that. Maybe it's time for me to go back to what I grew up doing?
 

NewCreation435

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Have you ever tried Calvary Chapel? Calvary Chapel | Church Finder, Calvary Global Network, CGN

I did go to one once but realistically it is too far away to go to it on a consistent basis. Of course, I listen to messages all the time online from various churches.
 
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