Considering all the many thousands of religions in the world, and also the many thousands of Christina denominations, how does one who is looking for truth determine which of these religions and denominations is the correct one? If you were not a Christian, or a believer in nay religious tradition, and you -- for whatever reason, wanted to find out if any religion was true, how would you go about that? How would you decide which one was the correct one?
More specifically, suppose you became convinced that Christianity was the true or truest religion. How would you decide which of the multiple thousands of expressions of it (denominations) is the true or truest one?
Which is correct?
Discussion in 'Other Christian Denominations' started by Rebel, Feb 8, 2015.
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If I was a Christian and then looking for the right denomination -- start by reading the Gospels.. What did Christ teach.
Then from there read at least the book of Genesis and first half of exodus - minimum.
Then the NT and notice where the NT quotes the OT - read the books of the OT that are quoted in the NT.
I wold make a list of doctrines.
Who is God.
Is the Bible the Word of God
Is man immortal
What is the Gospel - how does it work. Does God "So Love the World" for real
Is hell reall
What is the mission of the Church.
Why is there evil
Does loyalty to God as Creator, Savior and Lord - matter
When will the 2nd coming happen?
Where are we in history and what should we be doing to survive the end time
Even if I could not answer these questions I would ask that whatever group I selected take a stab at answering them from the Bible -
Scarlett O. ModeratorModerator
I don't believe that any particular denomination has the 100% monopoly on the truth.
I'm not looking for truth in man and his "thousands of expression" of Christianity. I'm looking for what God says to me from His Word and Spirit. In my own church, I am not in agreement with everything that the average member believes.
Much of what makes some denominations is traditions of men.
Find a Godly body of believers who seek and practice God's truth. -
The thing is, all these groups choose and interpret the evidence in one way and ignore evidence that doesn't back up what they believe. Since many of these views are completely contradictory, some of them must be wrong. How does an objective seeker determine which is which? -
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Scarlett O. ModeratorModerator
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Truth begins with:
Those who accept the truth do so because:
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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I am curious: If a seeker approached you looking for what the gospel is, would you give him your version only, or would you suggest that he compare the beliefs of all the denominations as he reads the Bible and other sources? -
IF any church teaches another Gospel, with another jesus, then they are NOT the real church of Jesus Christ! -
1. Christianity is not a religion. There is NO organized "system" of beliefs. Salvation is by God's Grace through Faith. Even the Faith to believe (Romans 10:8-13) originates with Him, comes through Him, and is by Him. We don't "generate" it ourselves. Faith is the substance, Faith is the evidence. Share that with your listener(s).
2. I will never believe that "I" am correct. I would never give a seeker MY version, or the version of anyone else. I would never suggest that he or she compare Christian "belief systems," as in denominations. I would never lean to a specific denomination, or try to "blend" or "merge" two or more. I would never look to "other sources," those outside the Bible. I would never quote ANY of the early commenters as a reliable or even suggested reference (Philo, Augustine, et al). Share that with your listener(s)
There is the "I" of the sinful nature, and the "I" of the Spiritual Nature.
When the Spiritual Nature reads or speaks or types, It is HE who is the source of each of those. I get out of the way, yielding to the Holy Spirit. HE is my only source.
Lean not to your own understanding; in ALL your ways acknowledge Him.
How? Prayer. Prayerful meditation. Bible writers themselves, Genesis through Revelation. Internal Bible cross-references and supporting scripture, prayerfully discovered and retained; take notes, record notes. Share what God reveals to you.
God is Good. He will NEVER lead us into paths of unrighteousness, or a war of words.
:godisgood: -
The American Dream MemberSite Supporter
It is almost a process of elimination. What lines up with Scripture especially on essential doctrine? You can throw out the LDS because they do not believe Christ is God or divine. They also believe in a works salvation. The next one to eliminate is the RCC. They teach a false gospel, pray to created beings, and go through sinful priests to confess sins. They treat the Lords Supper like a magic act. Charismatic denominations put their faith in gifts of the Holy Spirit that have ceased instead of Jesus Christ. (tongues, prophecy, healings, raising people from the dead, word of knowledge, etc) The Church of Christ and SDA also teach a works gospel. That pretty much leaves Baptists and mainline Protestants. Episcopalians and the PCUSA sanction same sex marriage, strictly forbidden in Scripture. Methodists believe heavily in free will as the agency of salvation, and one can lose that salvation contrary to Scripture. The rest of the way be guided by the Holy Spirit.
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Rebel has presented an interesting proposition here and many of his "advisors" on this board are using a sola scriptura model as a given. Before doing this it might be good to explain to your seeker why sola scriptura is the correct pathway. Otherwise you have arbitrarily, without any reason at all, eliminated a large portion of the Christian world.
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When you say that losing salvation is contrary to scripture, you are looking at it from a certain perspective. Others would say that OSAS is contrary to scripture. Both sides have scripture that they pint to as evidence for their belief. How would a "seeker" know which was right?
All Christians think they are guided by the Holy Spirit, but they end up believing things that mutually contradictory. That's why there are so many denominations. And I count the RCC as a denomination also.
So, the question remains; Which is correct, and how does one determine which is correct? What if a person comes to have beliefs that span many denominations. What then? -
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Jesus said go into the world and preach the gospel not versions. Paul said to preach the word not versions. Liberalism diminishes the gospel and I will have no part of it. What you are suggesting is extreme and ungodly. -
If, as you say, "There is only one version in scripture and it is clear with no room for doubt", why is there not just one denomination? And I suppose that denomination would be called the "Mitchellites", if what you are saying is true. :rolleyes:
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