Posts Tagged ‘denominations’
Is the church of God the one true church?
Question: Good day brother Jeffrey, I need your help. Where does the church of Christ get the year 33 AD? What is the basis for this? Another question: Is it true that no religion can save? The Church of God said that the one true church is the Church of God because it is written…
Read MoreCan a person be scripturally baptized in a denomination?
Question: I am a member of the church of Christ and lately, an issue has arisen. A few of our members were baptized in denominations but have been allowed to join our congregation on the basis that their baptisms were valid or scriptural based on an investigation. According to these members, as soon as they…
Read MoreJust a Church?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2014Spring5JustAChurch-1.mp3 by Brian Faulkner On Being a Christian
Read MoreNoah, You Have Got to be Kidding!
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/NoahYouHaveToBeKidding.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Most are familiar with the story of Noah, the great flood, and the ark Noah had to build A. However, Noah was also a preacher of righteousness – II Peter 2:5 B. The world Noah lived in was a moral cesspool. 1. Some scholars estimate that the world’s population at that time equal…
Read MoreWith so many ways being taught, who am I supposed to follow?
Question: Christ liberated us from legalism. I’m confused about determining what is wrong in our culture. I’ve always been brought up with a tough view on things that aren’t customary. My question is: if we’re called to preach the gospel to the world, how do we do it? Are we to be with the world…
Read MoreEvery Jesus Is Not Right
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013Fall1EveryJesusIsNotRight.mp3 by Terry Wane Benton Let Me Tell You About My Jesus
Read MoreI know it’s wrong, but I do not know what happens when we are together
Question: I am writing this due to the guilt that I am having. I am born again and I minister in our church on the altar in one way or another, though I am not a preacher. I am 25 years old and last year I met with my boyfriend and we clicked. We fell…
Read MoreHow do I repent of something I enjoyed?
Question: Hello, I’m a Christian and I am a praise and worship leader and a Sunday school teacher in my church. For a while, I have been struggling with my fiance to not have sex, even though we started before but not completing it. However, today we did have sex, and I don’t know how…
Read MoreWhat is exactly meant by works?
Question: I am a member of the Missouri Synod denomination, although I really don’t like to see the denominations as “separations.” I like to see us all as Christians — just Christians with different ideas. Anyway, I had read that faith without works is dead. Which I do agree with. I have always been taught…
Read MoreChrist’s Prayer for Unity
by Jefferson David Tant In Christ’s final hours before his crucifixion, we find him in the garden in earnest prayer to the Father. Much of his prayer expressed his concern for his disciples who would be left behind to carry on the mission that Christ had been sent to accomplish. He referred to this in…
Read MoreShould I speak at a denominational church?
Question: Hi brother Jeff, I was discussing the Bible with a man who happens to be a member of a denomination. He also occupies a high position in their church. After reasoning with him from the Scripture, he asked me to come and preach in their church. I told him to give me time to…
Read MoreI was removed from leadership because I behaved badly with my boyfriend
Question: Hello, I’m currently going through a hard time right now. l guess I just need someone to encourage me. My ex-boyfriend and I went too far. We went out earlier, but it didn’t last very long. I broke up with him, but not because I had an issue with him. It was mostly because…
Read MoreI’m all alone because I can’t find anyone with the same beliefs as mine
Question: I have been searching for a group with this concept for years. I hope this is really it. I strongly believe in I Corinthians 1:10. It seems like I am all alone because I cannot find anyone with the same beliefs as mine. Answer: If you make your personal beliefs the standard by which…
Read MoreShould we visit my grandfather’s church when we are there even though we left that denomination for the true church?
Question: Hi, Okay, we have been in the Lord’s church for less than a year. My husband, our little son and I are going to visit my grandma and my mother for my son’s birthday. We will be there for almost two weeks and one of the days we will be there is a Sunday.…
Read MoreIs it wrong to take classes from a university connected to a denomination?
Question: When I was trying to earn my high school diploma I took five online high school courses from BYU independent study. BYU is a Mormon university, which I believe is funded by the Mormon church. Was it wrong for me to take these courses? Would it be considered supporting the Mormon church? Also could…
Read MoreHow do you know if a church is just there to entertain?
Question: How do you know if a church is just there to entertain? Answer: It caters to what people want. The Bible is rarely if ever referenced. Few people ever ask if this is according to what God authorized. You hear people talking a lot about what they feel should be done and no appeal to what…
Read MoreI realize now that the church I’m going to teaches Calvinism. Should I go or stay?
Question: I grew up in the Catholic church but then I converted to Protestantism. When I converted I discovered the true love for Christ, and I started changing my lifestyle. For the first time, I felt hungry to learn about God’s Word, and it also made me into a better person. The only problem is…
Read MoreCan you be saved and in a denomination?
Question: I understand that the word “church,” as used in scripture, has two meanings: (1) the universal church – consisting of all redeemed souls that have obeyed the authorized steps of hearing the Word of God, believing (that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and our Savior), repenting (change in mind that brings about…
Read MoreIs there anything wrong with being a part of a scouting troop that meets in a denominational building?
Question: My little brother’s boy scouts meets in a Catholic Church Community Center. Is there anything wrong with that? Answer: I look at it this way: Your brother is a member of the Boy Scouts. All funds that he pays goes to the Boy Scouts. Where the scouts found a facility to use is their…
Read MoreDoes a person leaving the Christian Church need to be baptized again?
Question: What is your thinking (based on Scripture) on a situation where someone has been baptized in the Christian Church but says they were baptized for the remission of sins and they want to place membership in the church of Christ? Do they need to be baptized again? The argument is that we are placing…
Read MoreWhat is the difference between Pentecostals and Baptists?
Question: Hi, I have a question about the differences between the Christian religions. I started going to a Pentecostal church. I love this church. I got baptized in this church, but I moved to a different city so I started to look for a Pentecostal church. I found one near my house but after going…
Read MoreCan a church be wrong in doctrinal teaching?
Question: Can a church be wrong in terms of doctrinal teaching? If they are in those areas that are less fundamental, will it do them any eternal damage? Answer: The answer should be obviously “yes.” In the letters to the seven churches in Asia in Revelation 2-3, only one didn’t have anything said negative about…
Read MoreWhy do you list cults among the denominations?
Question: I have just viewed your web site, and once again have seen cults included in a listing of Christian denominations. I fail to understand why church of Christ folk do this. I have emailed a few different ones, asking for an answer, but no one seems to want to respond. As someone who has…
Read MoreHow can I know which church is the right one?
Question: Hello, I have a high-functioning form of Autism. After living many years in a false religion, I have recently heard about Christianity a few years ago. I am still trying to get the hang of understanding how Jesus can love me when he died many years ago. There is a problem that is blocking…
Read MoreHave You Heard About the Church of Christ?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton The churches of Christ are not a denomination. They are neither Protestant, Catholic, or Jew. They are comprised of individuals born again through obedience to the commands of Christ (John 3:1-5; I Peter 1:22-25). The church of Christ is the church Jesus said he would build (Matthew 16:18), coming into existence…
Read MoreIsn’t the use of “conservative,” “non-institutional,” or “mainstream” to describe churches wrong?
Question: Since the “Church of Christ” is the only authorized name for the church, why do some take pride in calling it the “conservative church” or the “non-institutional church”? I also hear of the “mainstream church.” Is this not liberalism and denominationalism? Answer: First off, “church of Christ” is not the only name found in…
Read MoreIs it wrong to get married in a different church?
Question: I have a question. I took your advice and want to get married. My mum, my wife-to-be, and I are cool with getting married in a Lutheran church. Our bone of contention comes from our best man and woman who are born again, like ourselves. They will not do a wedding at a Lutheran…
Read MoreHave you heard of the Christian and Missionary Alliance?
Question: I respect and appreciate your spiritual and professional opinions and thank you all very much for your hard work. Have you ever heard of the C&MA — Christian and Missionary Alliance? Answer: The Christian and Missionary Alliance started in the late 1800s as two societies dedicated to the spread of Christianity. In time, the…
Read MoreI’m finding flaws in my denomination and I don’t know what to do
Question: Hello. As a fellow believer of the true gospel, I thought I’d ask you for some personal advice. I apologize if this gets a little long. This is a problem I haven’t been able to receive any real help with and had to battle by myself for years, and I’m still without a sense…
Read MoreHow a Church Loses Its Distinctiveness
by Tom Holland via The Sower, Vol. 54, No. 3, May/June 2009. When “called out” people who are supposed to be distinct and committed to the Lord and His Word become like everyone else, what right do they have to make a claim that they are a “church of Christ”? The Lord Jesus created His church…
Read MoreShould Catholics call their leaders “Father” and is the church the light of the world?
Question: My questions are about: Catholics call their spiritual leaders “father.” In doing so they claim they follow Paul’s example: “I became your father in Jesus Christ through the gospel” (I Corinthians 4:15). Jesus said his church would be “the light of the world.” He then noted that “a city set on a hill cannot…
Read MoreWhy must the Christian community continue to try to prove one denomination better than the other?
Question: Why must the Christian community continue to try to prove one denomination better than the other? This article is simply untrue in many of its claims. I would recommend further study and prayer before continuing to include it on your web site. Answer: Now, why would I want to put teachings contrary to God…
Read MoreIt’s obvious you have little to do but bash other religions
Question: Regarding “Should Christians Help Support the Salvation Army?” It is obvious that you have very little to do but bash other religions. Maybe I should do one about yours. No, that would make me just as un-Christian as you! Answer: Quite a broad generalization based on one sermon outline. My job as a preacher…
Read MoreHow do you define “church” and “scripture?”
Question: How do you respond to I Timothy 3:15 where Paul refers to the “church of the living God” as “the pillar and bulwark of faith?” As a follow up how do we define “church?” There seem to be literally thousands of different churches, with almost all claiming to be Bible-based, full gospel or something…
Read MoreAre you saying that Roman Catholicism is not legitimate?
Question: In one of your articles, you state: “But I would like you to note that the core of the argument is that the doctrines of the Bible could be modified to suit local customs — a long-standing Roman Catholic practice.” My entire family is Roman Catholic and I was raised in the Catholic church as well. Currently, I…
Read MoreWhat about people who spend their whole life following the wrong religion in ignorance?
Question: People are born into other religions and live their entire lives thinking that they are following the correct religion. They live life doing good deeds but follow their own religion. How does God view these people? Thank you for the web site and the learning that it provides to people such as myself that…
Read MoreWhen Christ returns, will he unite the denominations into one body?
Question: In the last days, before Christ’s second coming, will he unite his people who are divided into many church denominations into one body of his bride? Answer: There is no passage in the New Testament that states Jesus has ever accepted the concept of denominations. Instead, Jesus’ prayer was, “I do not pray for…
Read MoreAre there Christians in all churches?
Question: I have a friend that is a member of a denominational church. I am a member of Christ’s church. We had a discussion about Christians. I told her that she is not a Christian because she has not been added to the Lord’s one and only church of Christ. Do you have any Scriptures…
Read MoreDo all churches of Christ teach that the Ten Commandments were nailed to the cross?
Question: I stumbled upon the La Vista Church of Christ web site in the course of searching for an answer to the question, “Were the Ten Commandments Nailed to the Cross?” Simply stated, your answer is “Yes,” and I fully agree with every single comment I found on your web site regarding the answer to this question – good work; I’m impressed. Somebody…
Read MoreThere are so many religions that I am confused thinking that one is right and another is wrong. What should I do?
Question: I was just pondering over an article written on the differences between Catholicism and Christianity. I was raised Catholic and my whole family is Catholic. My grandmother is very adamant about her faith and spends the major part of her day in service, prayer, community service, etc. She believes in the Ten Commandments, the Virgin Mary,…
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