Denomination Selector -What are the differences?

Hi!
I belong to another Christian Board, this link was posted as an interesting survey of beliefs and how to determine you own. Here are my answers; I am trying to ascertain what I do believe and where I fit in? The questions I answered no preference are issues either I am not sure about or do not understand. Some I think I understand such as predestination, but not sure.

Below are the rankings where my personal belief system falls. (Thank goodness for the latter ones, I would have been quite concerned if I even remotely identified with those!)

I am posting it for others just because it is interesting. But also, for recommendations. I have read a lot about the Mennonites, and approve of many things they adhere to, but overall, I have some issues there. (Although Wonderful People!) So it seems I belong to some version of the Baptist Religion. Just not sure which one? Does anyone have any ideas on the differences of these?

#1: Southern Baptist – I understand that this is primarily the SBC which I am not so sure I adhere to their ways either.
#2: Free Will Baptist
#3: Reformed Baptist

I almost wanted to make two threads on this in case some might want to discuss this test. If you would like to do this it does not bother me Or you can answer here any of your thoughts regarding the test or my questions.

http://www.selectsmart.com/FREE/select.php?client=christiandenom

1. There is one God I agree
2. God (Godhead) exists as three distinct Persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit I agree
3. The Bible is free from error I agree
4. Jesus is God and man I agree
5. Jesus physically rose from the dead I agree
6. One is saved by God's Grace through faith in Jesus Christ I agree
7. One must be a member of a specific church/organization to be saved I disagree
8. Salvation can only be found through Jesus Christ I agree
9. God has predestined some to salvation and passes over others based only on His will I disagree
10. All will be saved I disagree
11. Once saved, always saved (Eternal Security) I agree
12. Pacifism is important I disagree
13. Water baptism should be practiced I agree
14. Infants can (or should) be baptized I disagree
15. Baptism saves (or regenerates, or washes away sin) I disagree
16. Christ is physically present in communion No Preference
17. Infants can receive communion No Preference
18. Tradition plays a part in the church I disagree
19. There a literal Heaven and Hell I agree
20. The preferred day of worship (or Sabbath) is Sunday No Preference
21. People receive charismatic gifts today (tongues, prophesy) I disagree
22. A woman can serve as a pastor or a church minister I disagree
23. Infallible authority in faith is invested in a single person (or few/many people) I disagree
24. Only scripture should be used as a rule of faith I agree


Rankings:

#1: Southern Baptist
#2: Free Will Baptist
#3: Reformed Baptist
#4: Church of Christ
#5: Mennonite Brethren
#6: Presbyterian Church in America/Orthodox Presbyterian Church
#7: Reformed Churches
#8: Assemblies of God
#9: International Church of Christ
#10: Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
#11: Orthodox Quakerism
#12: Presbyterian Church USA
#13: Methodist/Weslyian Church
#14: Evangelical Lutheran Church
#15: Seventh-Day Adventist
#16: United Pentecostal Church
#17: Episcopal/Anglican Church
#18: Eastern Orthodox Church
#19: Roman Catholic Church
#20: Jehovah's Witness
#21: Mormonism
#22: Liberal Quakerism
#23: Unity Church
#24: Unitarian Universalism

 

What is the Church of Christ? And New Alternatives? What would those be?

I have always been under the understanding that the only way that you are saved is through Jesus. Nothing else. Because I stand or am submersed in water will not bring salvation.

I do not think baptism is what saves you?? Is that what you said here? Do Baptists think this way?


Salvation- I believe once saved always saved, IE the word Eternal used as in Eternal Life. But that does not mean I think you can continue to sin without changing or attempting to change. Then I would question if you actually accepted Jesus, in the first place. We are sinners and we always will come short of the Glory of God, but we are to try. Jesus wants to look upon us and see him in our actions and us. I believe only God knows our hearts in this manner.


Pacifism -I believe that we are under Gods Command to obey Mans Law, as long as it is not leading us into sin to a degree. I would love to say, ok we should not fight any wars, but I do not think that is a reality in this day and age so therefore I am in agreement that we are to participate in war to a degree. To protect our freedoms of belief.

However on the flip side, I believe some are too involved in trying to change Mans laws rather than hearts or peoples ideas about God's Sovereignty. Which I think should be our ultimate goal after working on us first! Remembering always that our “home” is really in heaven.

So are you saying by my answers I do not believe as a Baptist?

 

Ed-
Oh! I misunderstood!! Thanks for your explanation! I started rethinking everything I thought about the Baptists.

Thanks for setting me back on the right path.

I think my problems with the SBC mostly revolved around the switching of pastors. Just when you get used to them, out they go and a new one is thrown in. Of course I was a child when these opinions were formed. Another concern I had was that SBC and Free M@son@ry. I had heard that they condone it. I personally feel strongly against this.

What makes most people stray away from the SBC these days? Doctrine examples?

Thanks!

 

Thank you Dr. Griffith for allowing me to explore a bit. Again I apologize for posting in area strictly for those belonging to a churh.

Although I do not, in the past month I have truly been studying and researching.

Here is the link to the church I am thinking of attending, my sons are already in attendance there.

http://www.kearneyfbc.com/index.html

It is First Baptist.

When I read mission statements, they all sound good, so I cannot figure out what in the world the differences are. I am just not well versed enough to know if I am missing something hidden in the background.

And I am concerned about placing myself in a situation of hearing the wrong messages.

Again Thank you for your patience with me on this

 

As far as switching pastors, this did in fact happen, I was quite young at the time, and this was part of the reasoning my family chose to not be involved with the SBC. This was many years ago...I just made comment on what happend to me, not sure about how things are at this time at all with the SBC. Just their reasoning to me as a young child. My grandfather was the deacon of this church until the day he died. It was not too long after that, they changed to Independant?!?!

I am all for free choice, God gives us that! But I am concerned with any affiliation to a group that would promote secercy of their belifs. We are commanded to direct our lives through Gods word and Gods word alone. We are told to Preach from highest mountain tops and spread the word. God wants his gospel shared with the world.

Belonging to a "group" that calls for secrecy of any kind would cause for alarm for me. Would be concerned especially if it was a group directed by man not by God. As that there is no need, when we belong to Gods Open and public Fraternity and Sorority as Believing Christians. He gives us all the protection we will ever need. He is very clear on that! We have no need to join a secret “group” to protect our beliefs. Where does putting your faith in God alone come in?? I have read a few articles and it seems that SBC condones that, and it causes alarm for me.

Thank you so much for your very helpful responses. You have great points! You know I just need to pray on this. I do have a chuch picked out, I just keep going back to it when I read mission statements everywhere else. So I bet this is where I should start. You have to understand, my redirection just happend a month ago and there was much confusion and sometimes still is. Alot to sort out. But the basics are there! I am new in faith, although I practiced the basics as a child, soo much to learn!

Now, I am also not sure a church will take me. without getting into details...For other reasons, this is why I asked that my post be moved to a more appropriate forum. Embarrassed that I might offend.

I did not mean to do that.

Thanks again!

 

DonnA- Thank so much for this link. It was very informative,and seems to fall in line with what I believe. (or what I have most recently been led to believe). I also do not believe in forcing anyone to do anything.

I will have to look around for some links I will pm you with, I would rather not post because I am not sure of the origin...you might be able to help me with that! That speak of the SBC and freemasonary...If I remember there was one site that also suggested Billy Graham condoning it?? I will find those and send them as soon as possible.

Pastor Switching - Well this happened about 25 years ago, I asked my mother about this again the other night but we were inturrupted. I believe that it might have been when they "changed" to the convention. Again, I might be as you say completely misguided (which would not surprise me!)Sometimes you hear things as a child and you "think you know what they were talking about!" LOL! So I will ask again.

The only reason I have not started to attend a church, is finding the right one. Otherwise every day for the past month, all my free time has been devoted to study.

It seems that I just need to go out and visit and try to keep my eyes open!

Thank you so much for taking time with me on this!It has been like pulling teeth to get answers..I am learning so much every day, and I am really nieve I believed all Christians thought the same way...basics....the rest are semantics...Boy was I ever wrong. I just found out that some Christians do not even believe in the rapture..??That really shocked me!

And when I find those I will send a PM to you and you can let me know what you think!

 

Ok I think I have had about enough...I never meant an insult to your intelligence on what you are aware of. I simply asked if you could help me with what I have been told, and show you what I am reading. So you could explain its origin. Privately for fear of posting something I am not aware would be misleading to others. To tell the truth I am tired of feeling as if I am in a position here that I have to walk on eggshells. Respect I can understand, but dealing with a combative nature I do not. My apologies if this offends you but I am quite offended by this board -and saddened. A girlfriend of mine told me - argued with me -that I was in no way close to a Baptist, because they are too judgmental...whew was she ever right and I was wrong. I even had the nerve to tell here that that was the pot calling the kettle black just by making that statement alone. Might be just that this is the type of forum I am in I do not know. I asked that this thread be moved, but regardless I am offended that this is the way you all seem to think Christians should act. And especially with as many posts as I see you all have here. It is very scary to me. Is this how you act outside at your churches? I would never even want to associate myself with this. For fear of God himself!

My apologies again to those who are not part of this. A month ago God brought me back to my faith in him. But for the past month I have researched and determined that I am Fundamental Baptist in my faith. I came here to speak with people whom think as I do, and find the same truths that I do. Not only for reinforcement of my faith, but to learn. I openly explained who I was, where I was from, and why I came here. Very open and honest. I explained more to you and was quite open because this is supposed to be a Christian Baptist Board and it is my understanding private. Feeling as if you deserved that much by allowing me into your territory. I do understand the problems that can come for a Christian message board opening itself via the www. I came here to locate a church that most resembles my beliefs as a Christian who Believes in God and is Saved and Baptized. To start - This has been my experience.

1.)It took a day for anyone to welcome me, yet others that came were welcomed within minutes? I finally wondered what in the world I did wrong?? When I was welcomed I was nicely reminded (too late) that I was not allowed in the Baptist forums. (So what is the point?)

2.)Then I decided to post. One of my questions is what “version” of Baptist I would most likely find comparable because I do not understand the differences. I made the mistake of posting in a Baptist only forum. I did not see that this was the case; I only had seen a category of “Baptist Denominations” So I posted it there. I realized what I had done later, after further review of the site and emailed the moderator apologizing asking if they would move it (not realizing it was a debate forum). They so graciously left my post up. But instructed me NOT TO POST IN THE BAPTIST ONLY FORUM BECAUSE I DO NOT BELONG TO A CHURCH?!?! Of course I felt horrible not meaning to step on anyone’s toes…. then I did it again. UGH! But again immediately I emailed the mod because this time it was in the “today’s topics” and again I did not realize that was Baptist Only. I felt even worse!

3.)Then I reviewed the rules once more, thinking I must have missed something the first time and it said NOTHING about having to belong to a church to identify you are Baptist?! So obviously it is just I for some reason? I am thinking other Christians are people asking questions that want understanding of our faith.

4.)But the most disturbing thing to me was the attitudes to my questions. They were combative, and condescending. I am shocked! I really feel unwelcome. Not to mention I am really disinherited that this is the way Baptist Christians believe it is OK to act to ostracize people because they do not belong to a church. Well let me tell you, lucky my faith is in God and not man, because if I were a new Christian, your ways would have sent me packing.

As I said before, I came here to speak with Baptists only. I have had my fill of “Other Christians” and their ideas. No one asked me why I was not a member yet – or anything else. I do not get it. It might interest you to know just exactly WHY I do not belong to a Church. Because when I was younger, at my very Independent Baptist School. A teacher decided to tell me that this verse applied to me:

Deuteronomy 23
2 A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.

Well you see, I was what you would call an official bastard in Gods eyes – because I had no father. I am the product of a rape.

I know now what this verse means but for an 8 year old girl to have an Christian Mentor/ adult tell you, besides the fact all the other kids knew, you did not dare ask about it. You just hide it for the embarrassment and False guilt it instilled. I did not believe I was one of Gods or would ever be so I just tried to live a good life, but did not believe the bible was infallible. Not to mention I felt organized religion was seriously flawed. I had never met crueler people than the ones who claimed to be Christians. I wanted NO part of that.

About a month ago after living a life without Gods word, searching for answers everywhere else because I just knew God had to be a loving God. He impressed on me how untrue that statement was not to mention other wonderful things I never knew. This was a very pivotal point in my life as that I did not want to wake up the next morning. I thank him every day for leading me to that information.

One of the responses to my question on finding the appropriate church. That I should see how friendly the people are and the sermon etc…well to tell you the truth.. As a Christian whom is Baptist, your sending me packing anyway because I want no part of this treatment of others, I want to attract people to God, not make them feel they are not worthy or welcome. Some people cannot even leave their homes to attend a church. What do you do to them? Do not allow them fellowship? Actually, technically I would fit into that category for the moment. I am sorry if this offends it has taken me several days to find the appropriate way to express how I feel. And there is just no nice way to say this. I thought it over, prayed and slept on it and came back only to find more condescending attitude. Five days later! It really saddens me. Because I am sure there are wonderful people here to meet. But I would rather not take that chance. May be you will think about what has happened to me or may be you will just sweep it under the rug by deleting my post. No worries – I will not be back to remind you. I am sure you will see to that anyway. This is for your heart to decide. I already feel uncomfortable about having to mention such basics of Christian Conduct to fellow Christians.