/christian/ - Christian Discussion and Fellowship

Go to your local church. If you live in an area with a bunch of churches keep shopping. It really is that simple.

>>539661

>I went to a Catholic church last weekend and was very disappointed.

Why is that?

>>539661

>Sell me your denomination

No.

>>539670

There was a visiting priest that spent the whole sermon trying to raise money for Haiti. I have no issue with charity, but I'm broke and I wanted to learn more about Jesus. Also, I found the rituals kind of pointless. The whole experience was very rigid, and the fact that I wasn't allowed to take communion put me off.

>>539671

Don't you want more people to join your church? Do you see it as some kind of exclusive club?

>>539661

>church shopping

>"lol I only want to be somewhere that fits my tastes" the mindset

>not joining a church based on whether its theology is true or not

>>539681

>Don't you want more people to join your church?

Yes, but I'm not going to "sell it" like some kind of ware to hawk.

>>539682

That's the thing, I'm trying to learn a little bit more about the theology. I think I'm an amillenialist, I think Christians should be able to drink in moderation, I'm uncertain about how I feel about OSAS, but there's so much more to learn.

>>539685

Perhaps I worded that poorly. I would like to learn more about your denomination, and why you think it is the correct one.

>>539687

Oh, well in that case, carry on.

I'm so accustomed to people just going for feelings' sake that I have knee-jerk reactions.

>>539687

>I would like to learn more about your denomination,

Christian

>and why you think it is the correct one

Jesus said it best himself: I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

>>539700

So, non denominational then?

>>539681

>There was a visiting priest that spent the whole sermon trying to raise money for Haiti.

These occasions can indeed be tedious, I would encourage you to try again another Sunday so you can at least learn if you like the church's actual pastor or associate pastor.

>the fact that I wasn't allowed to take communion put me off.

We uphold that the bread and wine become the true flesh and blood of God Himself and thus take its dispensation seriously. It is a terrible sin for someone not in a state of sacramental grace to receive the Eucharist. Our rules may seem rigid but they ultimately serve to protect visitors like yourself from accidentally committing this profanity.

>>539702

I prefer to think of it as "multi-denominational". Jesus built his church upon Peter and the Apostles spread the Word to the world. There are many churches in the world today with many traditions, but all are one in Christ.

I am just as much as home in a Catholic Mass as I am in a down-home country Revival. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matt 18:20)

>>539703

Okay then, I'm willing to give it another shot.

>>539704

I appreciate this line of thinking. It's pretty rare here, and there are many here who are prideful about their church.

>>539681

>the fact that I wasn't allowed to take communion put me off

Well, you wouldn't typically take a woman to the marriage bed immediately after your first date with her, either. If you did, it wouldn't be nearly as intimate because you hardly know anything about her. It becomes something much more special once you've taken the time to learn all the intricacies of the other person. Eucharist is no different. There needn't be any hurry for something so important.

>>539661

idk if there is an orthodox church near you, but you might want to try it, and try it like 2-3 times. Most protestants (especially prot) find it spooky first 1 or 2 times, but i think it's hte most beautiful thing out there.

>church shopping

good metaphor when it comes to protestantism, when you want the real thing you know where to look

>>539681

>the fact that I wasn't allowed to take communion put me off

You don't understand communion at all then.

Go to some prot church if you want easy mode that conforms to you. Please don't bother going to a Catholic church again if you're going to be lukewarm, thanks.