Apartheid in south Africa and the role that the dutch reformed church played in supporting it?

terry g asked the question:


No one can deny that the dutch reformed church in south africa supported apartheid. But wonder of christianity is that every other christian denomination not only condemned aparthied but became a vocal voice towards abolishing it.

when are we going to see muslims taking that stand in islam and openly speaking out against islamic cruelty?

xmuslim

Filed Under Religion & Spirituality | 2 Comments

Do you believe that the church is under spiritual attack?

Vic asked the question:


First of all, let me say that I am not Pastor, Prophet, or Priest, but I do believe that the church right now is under a spiritual attack. I have been looking at the situations that have been coming up in the recent week and I am ashamed of what we as believers have allowed to happen. I’m not perfect, but I think that as the Body of Christ we need to come together and fast and pray. I don’t care what denomination you are or what your religious background is. I’m just asking if we can just come together and agree on this one thing. If you don’t believe in God or if what I have written is not for you it is not for you to respond or take offense. If you would just agree with me I would appreciate it and I’m sure God would too. One body, one mind, one spirit. Father, son, and holy ghost.

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Would any Christian of any denomination ever admit that their church is not the True Christian Church?

Adder_Astros asked the question:


You would sooner defend a Roman Caesar… one of the lieingous, theivingous, murderous types of Humans ever conceived than to aknowledge the FACT that many of the key figures responsible for turning ‘Letters from the Apostels’ into ‘The New Testament’ were… well… untrustworthy at best? Or is it that you just can’t bring yourself to admit that you may not have thought this all the way through?? I hope you understand, then why I cannot trust you OR your precious Caesar.

Adder_Astros
Powerful Member of the House of Light
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http://www.adder-astros.com/aa_ins_fod_one_001.html

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What is a non-denominational church?

. asked the question:

The term “non-denominational” makes me think of a church that has no leadership and no organization. For example, if I went to a non-denom church in L.A., called the ABC Church, and I moved across the country to N.Y., would I be able to find the same ABC Church there, or any church at all that teaches the same exact doctrine as the ABC Church in L.A.?

Do any two non-denominational churches teach the same doctrine? If they do, doesn’t that make them a denomination? Furthermore, do any non-denominational churches claim to be God’s one and only true church? If so, which one(s)?
Veterinary technician schools

I know I’m asking a lot of questions here, but I would like to know exactly what it means to be non-denominational. Thanks.

Filed Under Religion & Spirituality | 11 Comments

help me with denominations?

sharla j asked the question:

what couls u say to describe the following? presbeterrian…..reg. baptist…..freewill baptist….catholic……pentecostal……methodist…..jehovah witness….assembly of christ

please give a brief definition as im unfamiliar with a lot of other denominations and would like to know more about them, like general beliefs and how theoir church services are

sharla
related

Filed Under Religion & Spirituality | 3 Comments

How do you grow a 3 year old church of 40 regular attendees without modifying doctrine or practice?

Andre asked the question:


I will accept answers from the spiritual to the practical…

-Pastor has stated that he could handle up to 200 members.

-Reformed Presbyterian/Calvinist, affiliated with larger denomination.

-1 full time pastor

-Church is located in an urban area in the midwest. “rents” space from another church.

-Meets twice on Sunday for worship, once on Wednesday for Bible study.

-Regular monthly fellowships (3-4 times a month)

-Majority white/families, people of all ages

-online weekly newsletters

-quarterly print newsletters

-sermons downloaded to popular sermon website

-no radio ministry

-denomination frowns upon TV ministry

-revenue of $116,000 through contributions/grants

Filed Under Religion & Spirituality | 17 Comments

Will those who reject Christ because of false church teachings be condemned?

grassfell asked the question:


There are over 30,000 Christian denominations, so some of the ones you don’t believe will probably in your view be false. Eg. some Anglicans view Catholics as Mary-worshiping idolaters, and some Catholics have negative views of the Orthodox & other denominations as being ‘false’ break-aways from the true church. Some Greek Orthodox say they’re the only true, original Church, since the new testament is a Greek bible.

Most Christians believe if you reject Jesus you’ll be condemned for eternity. So who do you believe and hope God will rather accept:

- the person that accepts Jesus for the wrong reasons; ie.a person who believed and defended the wrong denomination, whose false teachings are directly against what Jesus actually taught;

OR

- the person who rejected the Church because the Church’s teachings were indeed false and the person who left was exactly right. The person subseqently left Jesus because perhaps the majority ignorantly convinced that person they’re wrong.
I’m reading into Christian Universalism- what the majority of Christians in the first centuries believed. It appeals to people who believe in God but reject the idea of eternal damnation, calling hell an insult to God’s loving character, which many atheists say has more in common with a sadist than anything to do with love.

Eternal torturing in hell has possibly led more people to atheism than any other church doctrine. It’s already been proved many references to hell are gross mistranslations of elementary words, like the Jewish ’sheol’.

But those who don’t understand universalism will continue to reject God because they’re possibly being taught the wrong thing. It’s unfair that they be condemned, while what could be called heartless hypocrites who say they believe in love but are comfortable with eternal torture with no way out are ’saved’ because the believe the wrong God but for the wrong reasons.

Filed Under Religion & Spirituality | 10 Comments

I’m looking for a church?

Freddie de Lange asked the question:


I want to go to a new church. Now, I realize there are a lot of different denominations out there.
I want to ask it in two ways:
1. To what denomination should I go, and why?
2. To which denomination shouldn’t I go, and why not?
CHRISTIANS

Filed Under Religion & Spirituality | 25 Comments

how do u feel about the articles of faith lds church?

Tracey P asked the question:
Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization modernized.

Of this classic, Elder B. H. Roberts (1857–1933) of the First Council of the Seventy wrote: “The letter is one of the choicest documents in our church literature; as also it is the earliest published document by the Prophet personally, making any pretension to consecutive narrative of those events in which the great Latter-day work had its origin. … For combining conciseness of statement with comprehensiveness of treatment of the subject with which it deals, it has few equals among historical documents, and certainly none that excel it in our church literature.” 1

March 1, 1842.—At the request of Mr. John Wentworth, editor and proprietor of the Chicago Democrat, I have written the following sketch of the rise, progress, persecution, and faith of the Latter-day Saints, of which I have the honor, under God, of being the founder. Mr. Wentworth says that he wishes to furnish Mr. Bastow [Barstow], a friend of his, who is writing the history of New Hampshire, with this document. As Mr. Bastow has taken the proper steps to obtain correct information, all that I shall ask at his hands is that he publish the account entire, ungarnished, and without misrepresentation.

I was born in the town of Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont, on the 23rd of December, a.d. 1805. When [I was] ten years old, my parents removed to Palmyra, New York, where we resided about four years, and from thence we removed to the town of Manchester. My father was a farmer and taught me the art of husbandry. When about fourteen years of age, I began to reflect upon the importance of being prepared for a future state, and upon inquiring [about] the plan of salvation, I [found] that there was a great clash in religious sentiment. If I went to one society they referred me to one plan, and another to another, each one pointing to his own particular creed as the summum bonum of perfection. Considering that all could not be right, and that God could not be the author of so much confusion, I determined to investigate the subject more fully, believing that if God had a church it would not be split up into factions, and that if He taught one society to worship one way, and administer in one set of ordinances, He would not teach another, principles which were diametrically opposed.

Believing the word of God, I had confidence in the declaration of James—“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” [James 1:5]. I retired to a secret place in a grove and began to call upon the Lord. While fervently engaged in supplication, my mind was taken away from the objects with which I was surrounded, and I was enwrapped in a heavenly vision and saw two glorious personages, who exactly resembled each other in features and likeness, surrounded with a brilliant light which eclipsed the sun at noonday. They told me that all religious denominations were believing in incorrect doctrines and that none of them was acknowledged of God as His Church and kingdom; and I was expressly commanded “to go not after them,” at the same time receiving a promise that the fullness of the gospel should at some future time be made known unto me.

Filed Under Religion & Spirituality | 8 Comments

the church of christ?

fish for christ asked the question:


I have been a southern baptist all my life. there are many denominations out there, and i do believe one is right from another, but i dont believe it matters to the extent that many people make it out to be, as long as the church praises god and preaches the word. But i have heard that the church of christ believes you cant go to heaven unless you are a member of that church and you can use musical instruments in there services, and a few other odd beliefs. Can someone explain to me there maybe different beliefs and why they do believe so?? Thank you
i apologize! odd was a bad choice of words, but DIFFERENT FOR ME would be a wiser choice than odd. thanks

Filed Under Religion & Spirituality | 10 Comments

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