I am not going to sugar-coat this

[LuxPerpetua]

I am having serious misgivings about Protestantism. I don't believe in one "true" church but I do believe that some churches are closer to the truth than others. I think that everyone who believes in the Trinity and in Jesus as the Christ and final atonement for sins will be saved, but I think that we can have a more fulfilling and rich experience in this life if we find the church that is closest to the original Christian church. I am not saying this to get flamed, booted, or whatever, but only to ask you some questions to help me in my journey:


FOR PROTESTANTS:

~ Have you ever had doubts about Protestantism as the truest form of Christian faith? If you have, why? (specifically, please)

~ If you have never had doubts, why not? (again, please be specific)

~ Did you convert to Protestantism, and why did you convert?

~ What is it about your specific denomination that makes you feel that it is the truest form of Christian expression in regard to the body of believers that are the church?

~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism?

~ And, lastly, what keeps you a Protestant?



Thanks in advance for your thoughtful replies. I'd appreciate your prayers as I seek God's will in my life in regard to this. :hug:



*****
FOR NON-PROTESTANTS:

~ Why do feel that your church is the fullest expression of Christian faith?

~ What brought you to your church (birth, conversion, etc.?)?

~ What do you love most about your church?

Again, thanks for your replies, and I'd appreciate your prayers, too, if you wouldn't mind. :)

[dsdumpling]

FOR PROTESTANTS:

~ Have you ever had doubts about Protestantism as the truest form of Christian faith? If you have, why? (specifically, please)
Sure, I think I would have doubts no matter which faith I was in. I want to be Christ-like, what faith is that...any of them.

~ If you have never had doubts, why not? (again, please be specific)

~ Did you convert to Protestantism, and why did you convert?
I was born into a Methodist family. I have been a member of other Protestant faiths but came back to the church of my youth.

~ What is it about your specific denomination that makes you feel that it is the truest form of Christian expression in regard to the body of believers that are the church?
I don't think there is a "truest form of Christian expression" in any church.

~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism?
I've never studied early church history.

~ And, lastly, what keeps you a Protestant?
I'm very involved in my church and may not believe everything it stands for in a whole, but love the congregation.

[fingerprint]

FOR NON-PROTESTANTS:

~ Why do feel that your church is the fullest expression of Christian faith?
I firmly believe that it is the church that Christ started and is the closest to how things should be.

~ What brought you to your church (birth, conversion, etc.?)?
Birth

~ What do you love most about your church?
Mass, the seriousness with which we take our faith, Eucharist, the chills I get while being in the church making me know God is with me.

[artybloke]

I don't think there is a "truest form of Christian expression" in any church.

I'd agree with this statement. And I think the arguments and behaviour of some of the early church fathers (acting as theological bully-boys as Athanasius did) don't lead me to change my opinion.

My theology, by the way, is liberal Catholic with a large dollop of Quakerism. I've always thought, though, that the Spirit blows where it wants to not where I would like it blow.

[JOYfulbeliever]

~ Have you ever had doubts about Protestantism as the truest form of Christian faith? If you have, why? (specifically, please)

~ If you have never had doubts, why not? (again, please be specific)

The Bible is my guidebook and Authority...not the church. However, yes, I do feel as though my church teaches, obeys, and preaches the only Truth - God's Word.

~ Did you convert to Protestantism, and why did you convert?
No, I was raised in the Baptist church. I left for quite some time while I was in college...for many reasons, mostly because I became very bitter towards God, and very angry with Him and wanted nothing to do with Him whatsoever. However, when He grasped ahold of my heart and jerked me back to attention, I got back into the Word on my own. I was in a new town, in a new place, and visited SEVERAL (that's an understatment) different churches, of many different faiths and beliefs until I found the one that preached the Word of God - in this town, it happened to be a non-denominational church. When I returned home, I did the church hopping thing again until I found one that was a true Bible-believing church...and in this case, I was back in a SBC church, which is now my church home where I am able to serve and learn.

~ What is it about your specific denomination that makes you feel that it is the truest form of Christian expression in regard to the body of believers that are the church?
Well, the body of believers are a bunch of sinners - that is what we all are!!! However, as a group of sinners, we know the Truth. We know the Answer. We know the Way. That is what is important to us. :) Again...the biggest thing for me is that the Word of God is taught, believed and preached.

Outside of that, the love and friendship, the encouragement and support are great things about my church. I feel comfortable with these people. I enjoy their fellowship. They are my family. There are so many that I can just walk up to and pray with, and that is something that I haven't experienced in a lot of churches that I have attended. I just really enjoy the atmosphere...but that certainly isn't what keeps me there!

~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism?I am doing a bit of studying right now on it...and No. If anything, it has confirmed my beliefs even more. But, that's all I'll say about it.

~ And, lastly, what keeps you a Protestant?
The title means nothing to me. Protestantism just happens to share the same beliefs as I do. No church or denomination is without it's flaws. However, the Bible has no flaws. Yes, I may be categorized as a Protestant, SBC to be even more specific, and I have absolutely no problem with that! I'm proud of who I am. But, I do not believe what I believe BECAUSE I'm a Protestant/SBC. I'm a Protestant/SBC because they believe what I believe and what the Bible teaches.

[alaurie]

FOR PROTESTANTS:


~ What is it about your specific denomination that makes you feel that it is the truest form of Christian expression in regard to the body of believers that are the church?

~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism?

~ And, lastly, what keeps you a Protestant?



Thanks in advance for your thoughtful replies. I'd appreciate your prayers as I seek God's will in my life in regard to this. :hug:



Hey again LP :wave:


I just quoted the questions I can answer.

I'm now nondemoninational but tend to stay in Protestant denominations because I'm excluded from communion in Catholicism and I think ? Orthodoxy without officially converting into the church. I do however have friends and family who are Catholic and wonderful Christians. It makes me sad that I can't share in communion with them.

I just church shop when I move to a new town to find the one that lifts up Christ, grace, and preaches living to glorify him. I wish there was a church match-website (kind of like the personality test sites) that you could go to and answer questions about what you beleive and a match for your area would come up.

As far as studying church history, I worshiped in a calvinist denomination for 6-7 years but eventually left because some inflexibility of some- not all members to any deviation in Calvins teaching. I then began to study Calvin's life and found some pretty horrible stuff.

Several books that have helped me in my quests have been Mere Christianity by CS Lewis, Disappointment with God, Church Why Bother, The Jesus I Never Knew, and What's So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancy. Yancy has struggled with a lot of the same questions you're dealing with.

:) Allye
Am praying!

[Metanoia02]

Lux,

Maybe you should place your request for the non-protestants in the other sections where we can answer the questions without stirring up thing here.

[II Paradox II]

I am not saying this to get flamed, booted, or whatever, but only to ask you some questions to help me in my journey: ok, I'll give you some things to think about.

~ Have you ever had doubts about Protestantism as the truest form of Christian faith? If you have, why? (specifically, please) Sure. I research and read constantly, often with those who radically disagree with me. As such, I am constantly filled with doubts about virtually everything I hold dear (and no, I'm not a masochist, I just find it helpful to not let my mind get lazy). For instance, I am personally a Calvinist, but I've put quite a bit of time into looking into Thomistic critiques Calvinist orthodoxy as well as Eastern Orthodox critiques of iconoclasm...

That being said, the more I read and experience the more I am convinced that salvation is more of the grace of God than getting a "perfect" knowledge or church on this earth. One thing to note is that for us, we have been dropped into an ecclesial mire we did not create, driven by thousands of years of presuppositions, emotions, brilliant thoughts and absurd thoughts, anger, divisions, love and many other things. At some point we have to acknowledge that salvation comes from God and that things may never be perfect or entirely comfortable, but God has put us here nonetheless. Catholicism has had many enticing aspects for me, but at the same time there are things I could simply never believe about it. At the same time, the theology of the reformers has many grand highs, but many things driven more by haste and theological reactivity. I say all this to simply reiterate my point that my POV, salvation is of the Lord because we would deserve no portion if it was based on our own faithfulness and ecclesial perfection. I grow where God planted me because I have found life there and I have yet to be so compelled to leave it.

~ If you have never had doubts, why not? (again, please be specific) I have doubts all the time.

~ Did you convert to Protestantism, and why did you convert? I was raised agnostic/atheist. As I grew up, I was very disturbed by both my own anger and the way the explanations of my teachers did not fit the world around me. When I reached my middle to late teenage years I began attending church and reading the scriptures. I converted upon reading how Christ forgave sinners and loved them. When I put my faith in the Lord and he took away both the anger and the intellectual dissonance I had experienced most of my life. Since then, God has changed my life radically and I am who I am today.

~ What is it about your specific denomination that makes you feel that it is the truest form of Christian expression in regard to the body of believers that are the church? I'm actually don't think it is. But it is sufficient for me to grow and serve the Lord. I honestly have yet to see a theological system that has the euphemistic "fulness of truth", despite what various apologists say. I could shift churches but I would find things that are less than certain there as well. Ultimately, life for me is not a search for certainty or perfection, but for sufficiency through which God can do his work in me and through me.

~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism? Yes, my favorite area is historical hermeneutics and anything connected to interpretation and development of theological systems. That being said, It has caused me to see where our largely protestant theology misses the mark, but also where it recovers or amplifies ancient concepts that have been obscured by the march of doctrinal development. Altogether, it has caused me to see both the weaknesses and strengths in both the ancient and modern expressions of Christianity (in other words, it convinces me even more than salvation must be of God, because uor own attempts of carve out ecclesial and theoretical perfection are sorely lacking IMO).

~ And, lastly, what keeps you a Protestant? Lack of sufficient reason to go elsewhere. God gave me life here and he grows it here, despite things that may be lacking. Despite getting some things right, I am not at all convinced that the central claims of Catholicism are true, hence for me to become Catholic would essentially make me a liberal at best, reformation-sympathizing syncretist at worst. As for Eastern Orthodoxy, though I admire much of their theology, I'm not convinced their idea of salvation is sufficient in the right places, among othe issues.

Ultimately for me with regard to issues of truth, I cannot give up the evangelical insights of the reformation. Simply put, I think Luther and Calvin are right here. With regard to authority, while the protestant churches certainly overdo their interpretive freedom, I nonetheless reject Catholic theories of authority as nice on the surface, but prone to deep criticism over the issues of lanaguage and meaning, consistency and even practical application. There is a middle ground there somewhere, but it has yet to be found.

ken

[LuxPerpetua]

Several books that have helped me in my quests have been Mere Christianity by CS Lewis, Disappointment with God, Church Why Bother, The Jesus I Never Knew, and What's So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancy. Yancy has struggled with a lot of the same questions you're dealing with.

I love Philip Yancey, too, Allye! I really identify with him. I haven't read this C.S. Lewis book. I'll try to check it out. Thanks. :)

[LynneClomina]

FOR PROTESTANTS:

~ Have you ever had doubts about Protestantism as the truest form of Christian faith? If you have, why? (specifically, please)

~ If you have never had doubts, why not? (again, please be specific)

~ Did you convert to Protestantism, and why did you convert?

~ What is it about your specific denomination that makes you feel that it is the truest form of Christian expression in regard to the body of believers that are the church?

~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism?

~ And, lastly, what keeps you a Protestant?


ok... no doubts. because i had awful experiences in a catholic church as a child. i refused to say anything in confession, as i had heard from God that i dont need a man (preist) to go between me and God. i can talk to God directly. the preist said who told you that? i said God. he said i was lying. being forced into the confessional was hell. the catholic church forced me to think and act like them, and not on my convictions. no, i wasnt a christian yet, not by protestant standards, though i was baptized as a child into the catholic church. i left the church disillusioned and "wandered" into witchcraft, world religions, new age, and a wicked lifestyle. and then God brought me home. i found freedom in many areas, for example, that i DONT have to confess to men. that a preist can't absolve me, only God can. that is all BIBLICAL. i found the catholic church to have many, many UNbiblical traditions. i dont think any ONE denomination has a hold on accuracy in any way that makes it BETTER than any other - it really depends on the individual congregation and the pastor. if the pastor teaches love and sanctification, and the congregation arent out to fire the pastor because He preaches BIBLE, then there is a good chance of finding what the early church was all about. loving each other. fellowship (koinonia). sharing the GOOD news. seeking God. becoming more christlike. making disciples.

yes, i studied early church history somewhat. and i am convinced that MOST of church history has been off base... there is good in most of it of course... but CHURCH has become a STRUCTURE as opposed to what it really is, a BODY of BELIEVERS. the church is not a structure, it is not rules and regulations, it is not (man-made) traditions, although those things CAN be good... but if that's all there is, then it's a form of godliness that denies the power thereof.... CHURCH is the BELEIVERS, we are LIVING STONES. we are the TEMPLE. we are the DWELLING PLACE OF GOD. we are to WALK IN LOVE. SEEK after God. become more and more SANCTIFIED and CHRISTLIKE.

THAT is what church is supposed to be.

and finally, what keeps me a protestant?

hmmm. i guess becuase the label fits - i am not catholic or orthodox. some would say i'm not even protestant, that i am actually anabaptist... but that is a technicality. i'm a calvinist, but that too is a finer technicality yet. the real question is WHAT KEEPS ME A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST? His love, the love of his ppl, the Laws of Liberty and Love. the desire to be pure and holy. HIM.

it's not about what kind of church you go to. it's what kind of heart toward God you have.

:bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: JESUS

[Reformationist]

FOR PROTESTANTS:

~ Have you ever had doubts about Protestantism as the truest form of Christian faith? If you have, why? (specifically, please)

Not any serious doubts, though I have faced the questions you face now.

~ If you have never had doubts, why not? (again, please be specific)

Well, it's simply just an issue of what the Gospel clearly and regularly attests to. I could not, at this time, embrace the "non-Protestant" view of the Gospel because I feel that their views contradict the Gospel in too many ways to be reconciled.

~ Did you convert to Protestantism, and why did you convert?

I converted from non-believer to believer. I was never a non-Protestant though, if that's what you mean.

~ What is it about your specific denomination that makes you feel that it is the truest form of Christian expression in regard to the body of believers that are the church?

Every single aspect of my faith is centered on the sovereignty and majesty and holiness of God and does an amazing job of putting man in his proper relationship to the Creator. All glory for every aspect of our salvation is rightly placed in the Savior and the necessity of a Savior and the sinfulness of man is properly understood to glorify God in every aspect of the reformed faith.

~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism?

I assume you're talking about after the Church age. To that I will say simply somewhat. I will tell you that I am in dire need of study of early Christian history. I do not believe, however, that anything that the church fathers said would change my mind about the validity of the reformed view of the Gospel.

~ And, lastly, what keeps you a Protestant?

I remain a reformed Christian because I feel that it is the most accurate understanding of the Gospel.

God bless

[JVAC]

~ Did you convert to Protestantism, and why did you convert?
Yes I did, I converted from Catholocism. I was brought up Catholic, nominally, that is I went to Mass about thirty times a year or so (about twice a month). I grew to not like it. Probably because I didn't understand it too well. I found my way to the Lutheran Church and I thank God so much that I am a Lutheran now.

~ Have you ever had doubts about Protestantism as the truest form of Christian faith? If you have, why? (specifically, please) Yes, I have had doubts, we are sinful creatures. It isn't possible for us to have such a perfect faith. If I had faith the size of a mustard seed, I could comand that mountain to move from there to here. As a fallen creature all I can do is hope always on the Christ of God for salvation from my own self.

On another note, I have more doubts about other protestants than about my particular denomination.

~ What is it about your specific denomination that makes you feel that it is the truest form of Christian expression in regard to the body of believers that are the church?
The Lutheran Church is the closest resemblance to the early Church. We have accountablility to Bishops and a Synod. We have an Apostolic Succession. We practice infant Baptism, and confirmation. We affirm the Real Pressence in the Eucharist. We acknowledge the three ecumenical creeds and first seven Church Councils. We love the Lord, the Triune God. We retain the tradition of the Church, with respect to Holy Scriptures.

~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism? I have read some church history though not as much as some scholars. It has affirmed my beliefs. It has affirmed my Church. The Orthodox, Catholic, Anglicans, and Lutherans are all churches that will hold to tradition. Were we differ is that the Lutherans will not allow tradition to supercede Holy Scripture, ex: Papal infallability. Yet I am a firm believer in the necessity for Bishops and even a Pope (ELCA has a "presiding Bishop" who is not really a pope but a chief executive of the Church). I believe that the Church should be headed by a Person ordained to keep the CHurch Holy. (I never did enjoy the democratic spirit that much).

~ And, lastly, what keeps you a Protestant? What keeps me protestant is Papal infallability. I cannot accept this concept. For it has been said in the early Church that we should not seperate the Species in The Holy Sacrament of the Altar and yet Church policy is that Communion under one species is valid. There are many contradictions like this as a result of "Papal Infallability". Also what keeps me protestant is the "Augsburg Confession". I believe this to be a Spirit inspired document, and to be the true confession of the true church. I cannot deny this document, everytime I read it, it strengthens my resolve in my Church and My God. There is no other document I have ever read that has instilled such emotion in me.

-James

[Hands&Feet]

Traditions, convictions, emotions, rationalizations, manipulations, proselytations. These are among the things that help us to choose where we belong. The old saying "birds of a feather flock together" hold a lot of weight in our decision of where to fellowship.

I've contemplated various denominations, nondenominations, protestantism and Catholicism over the years. But, I always come back to this: Jesus' last prayer was that we would be one as He and the Father are one. Ever since then, we have built on division rather that on the unity we find in The Lord Jesus Himself. God has created us a individuals--like snowflakes. None are the same, but all are simliar and all have the same creator.

Once we find our peace in our relationship with Jesus alone--not in a religious institution--then we can deal with finding a group of believers with whom we find like spiritual, emotional and social chemistry. Just like finding a mate. God uses these institutions not because they are necessarily right but because he knows that each one has just the right fellowship to offer a certain group of individuals. God reveals Himself to people in all these places of worship. If there is no connection, it comes down to 2 things: Either we are trying to find a relationship with God through religion instead of faith, the only place it can be found, or else we don't have any common ground with the people we are fellowshipping with because they are different than us. Sometimes this is a good thing and sometimes it's not. By faith, we will work through these things and find where God wants us and who we really are in Him.

If we could all understand this process, it would serve God well. In the Kingdom of God, it's not us against them, it's all of us for Him. We can build His Kingdom together until He comes to finish it, or we can divide our Kingdom by demanding a greater allegiance to our particular theologies than to God Himself. In the latter, all lose.

[seebs]

FOR PROTESTANTS:

I'm not sure that I'm technically Protestant, but for purposes of this board, the Religious Society of Friends is considered Protestant.

~ Have you ever had doubts about Protestantism as the truest form of Christian faith? If you have, why? (specifically, please)

Sure. I guess the underlying thing is that I'm not sure there is a "truest form" to be had; thus, I would have doubts about ANYTHING as the "truest form". I believe that some forms may be closer than others, but I have no idea how to tell which ones.

~ Did you convert to Protestantism, and why did you convert?

Not exactly. I was raised Lutheran, but never really a believer. I converted to plain old Christianity some time ago, and I am now a convinced attender of RSoF meetings. I expect I will become a member in time. (Quakers are not impatient about these things.)

~ What is it about your specific denomination that makes you feel that it is the truest form of Christian expression in regard to the body of believers that are the church?

I am not sure it is. Things that attract me to the RSoF are:


No distinction between priesthood and lay members.
No distinction between sacred and secular world. Everything is to be thought of as sacred.
350 years without a major atrocity. (Actually, arguably, the first efforts at rehabilitative prisons were fairly awful, but given the competition of the time, I'm not even sure they were worse than the alternatives.)
Leaders in recognition of civil rights for nearly everyone - women, slaves, people with mental disorders, you name it.
Many safeguards against empty creedalism.


This doesn't guarantee any kind of perfection; I just think they do pretty well, and they teach things it took me fifteen years to work out on my own.

~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism?

Yes. No.

~ And, lastly, what keeps you a Protestant?

I do not believe that any organization is inerrant. I believe that the Catholic and Orthodox churches are both potentially capable of error. Given this, I cannot in good consicence try to join them. There are specific issues on which I think the Catholic Church has been in error.

Furthermore, I am not convinced at all that a priesthood was ever intended. I buy into the "priesthood of the believer". I know that I am sometimes called to some kinds of ministry; I assume everyone else is too.

[ByzantineDixie]

I am having serious misgivings about Protestantism.... but I think that we can have a more fulfilling and rich experience in this life if we find the church that is closest to the original Christian church.

I sincerely appreciate your journey...I started down such a path just a few months ago but quickly realized that it was distracting me from the one true source of fulfillment--my relationship with Jesus. My eyes were no longer focused on Christ but were looking for other things. Don't get me wrong...sometimes we are led to change churches, change denominations...but sometimes we are seeking something other than God. I found myself in that position. Just search your heart, your motives.

FOR PROTESTANTS:

~ Have you ever had doubts about Protestantism as the truest form of Christian faith? If you have, why? (specifically, please)

Yes...I struggled with the whole one true church thing--so I studied Orthodoxy and re-evaluated Roman Catholicism and realized they both had their issues, too. There is no one true church from a humanly recognizable stand point (the one true denomination) but there is only one true church from God's perspective and all believers are members of that church.


~ Did you convert to Protestantism, and why did you convert?

Yes...I come from a long line of devout Catholics on both my mother and father's side. Attended 8 years of Catholic school...and had a very rich religious life in my youth. I loved Jesus so much.

Then I went to college and studied the Renaissance and I learned things about the Catholic church that no one had ever taught me. I learned that rich Italian families bought popeships. I learned about the time when there were two popes and both of them got kicked out and replaced with a third pope. I learned about other corruption in the church. This devastated my faith. I became an atheist. If my church would have instructed me that there had been some problems in its history then I would have been prepared--but I was only instructed on the infallibility of the pope and that just didn't jive with buying popeships and the two pope problem.

The story of my return to God's family is a little long...suffice it to say I married a Lutheran and God never turned his back on me, even though I rejected him.


~ What is it about your specific denomination that makes you feel that it is the truest form of Christian expression in regard to the body of believers that are the church?

I don't know that it is the truest form of Christian expression. I absolutely love Lutheran theology though and am so grateful that God has directed me to where I am. Here is what I do know...God is working in our church. Long story there, too, but the Holy Spirit is working overtime with us!!! Our church is not dead but very much alive in Christ...what can be a more truer form than that?

I think it is very important to be grounded in good, solid doctrine but that is not the goal...it's all about the relationship.

~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism? Not so much. And to the small extent that I have studied it has only reinforced my current position.

~ And, lastly, what keeps you a Protestant?

Interesting that you should bring this up...my marriage! ;) I was just talking to my husband last night about this and asked him if he realized that the only thing keeping me from returning to the Catholic church was him! (It's an inside joke--started when he was teasing me about my First Communion "bride of Christ" picture.) Actually, it would be hard to be Catholic again...as with JVAC, I struggle with the papal infallibility thing, the assumption of Mary and it would be impossible for me to forego my belief in salvation by grace through faith. There are things about the Catholic church that appeal to me. I love their contemporary celebration of the Mass. I support the Catholic position on birth control...in that if one truly trusts God, they would have no problem in leaving that aspect to Him to manage. I also love the childlike faith of many Catholics...they do not need logical, ordered, systematic theology to believe...they are truly the children of the church and precious in the eyes of God. But I agree with a previous poster...God is enabling me to bloom where I am planted. One happy Lutheran here!

Thanks in advance for your thoughtful replies. I'd appreciate your prayers as I seek God's will in my life in regard to this. :hug:

Good...seek His direction...not what tickles your ears or tugs at your emotions.

May Truth, that is Christ, and the light and peace that comes from Truth guide you in your journey. :hug:

Love

Rose

[countrymousenc]

Lux, I thought it best to wait for others to go first, especially since you know that I'm deeply interested in Orthodoxy. But here are my responses, just in case it might help.


FOR PROTESTANTS:

~ Have you ever had doubts about Protestantism as the truest form of Christian faith? If you have, why? (specifically, please)

I have no doubt that God has shed His grace upon all believers in Christ, but I have for a while doubted that Protestantism could be the truest form of Christian faith. Most of Protestantism has proven to be unstable, and Protestants have never been able to come to any agreement (across the board) regarding what is basic, essential, and unchangeable. For a long time, and until fairly recently, I tried to embrace the Protestant principle of sola scriptura, but seeing that no church actually lives by it, and no two believers in Protestantism actually agree regarding interpretation, I have finally abandoned it. It's noble-sounding in theory, but in actuality, I have never seen it work. Also, once we abandon Holy Tradition, we have to start "reinventing the wheel," and this has led directly to methods of textual criticism and hermeneutics that undermine the historic Faith.

~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism? I have been studying early Church history for several months now, and it has helped change my perspective about Protestantism. I now see Protestantism as a short-term provision, and I wonder whether that term isn't almost up.

Just another little bit, and I'll bow out. I don't see the dichotomy between Christ and Christian community that most Protestants do. For me, to be in Christ is to necessarily be in community with other Christians in a (primarily) peaceful and loving relationship. I have come to appreciate the Orthodox teaching that the Church is mysteriously truly the Body of Christ in the world. Here on earth, while I abide in this body, I need that communion with a visible congregation of believers that is in communion with other visible congregations, with historical stability and continuity that is based solidly on Biblical theology, not on a comparatively recent systematic theology that may be discarded for another one in five, ten or even thirty years. I don't believe that Christ was not able to build and maintain such a Church, and I believe that where that Church is, Christ is.

May God bless you as you journey ever toward Him.

:hug:
Dianne
*****

[Lotar]

FOR PROTESTANTS:

~ Have you ever had doubts about Protestantism as the truest form of Christian faith? If you have, why? (specifically, please)
Yes I have. Mostly it came from some talks I had with a few Orthodox Christians about what the early Church was like, their theology, them being closest to the truth, ect.



~ Did you convert to Protestantism, and why did you convert?
Lutheran to Calvary Chapel and back to Lutheran again.


~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism?
Yes. Though at first this is what made me question my beliefs, it ended up bringing me back to the Lutheran Church and since has only strengthened my beliefs.



~ What is it about your specific denomination that makes you feel that it is the truest form of Christian expression in regard to the body of believers that are the church?
They don't ignore or twist history yet at the same time allow the Gospel to govern tradition, instead of the other way around.

They follow the biblical church government structure and are confessional, so people don't just pick and choose whatever they feel like believing. They hold the sacraments.


~ And, lastly, what keeps you a Protestant?
The number one reason is justification. One cannot truly read scripture and study theology with an open mind and not see that justification is by grace through faith alone, the predestination of the elect, and the sinful nature of man. As a wise man once said, "Justification is the doctrine upon which all others stand or fall." If a Church cannot get this cheif doctrine right, then they cannot possibly be the truest representation, let alone claim to be the Church.

I have read and continue to read the works of the Church fathers, especially that of Augustine, and my faith is only strengthened by it. Though they do not agree with Lutheran doctrine completely, it is much closer my beliefs than that of the Catholics and Orthodox, who continue to claim that them as their own.

I cannot become Catholic for a few specific reasons other than what I have already stated. One is of course, the position of the Pope, which is contrary to scripture and tradition. Their constant need to make dogmas that are superfluous to scripture, especially those pertaining to Mary, the saints, ect. Scripture was given to us as a guide to measure all tradition by, so that we know what is the tradition of man and what is the tradition from God. When one makes traditions contrary to scripture, (sinlessness of Mary, merit, ect.) it is obvious which it is and cannot be accepted. When tradition is extrainious but not contrary to scripture, (assumption of Mary, prayer to saints, feast days, fasting days, ect.) it cannot be verified either way, so it cannot be made into a manditory belief, though if someone wishes to believe it they should not be forbidden from it.

Also, I could never be convinced that a council (Trent) made up of men who obtained their positions through bribes, or by even worse means, can be infallible.

Some of those reasons cross over into the Orthodox Church, but there are additional reasons as well. Their strict adherance to tradition is one. Legalism abounds in their Church, where they will criticize others over how they make the sign of the cross, what calendar they use, what type of bread they use, ect. It reminds me of the pharasies, Christ freed us from such blind legalism and traditions of men, yet they wish to bind us again.

Their doctrine of justification, sanctification, and election has been so influenced by neo-platonism and Aristotelian thought that it barely even resembles anything Christian. Not only that, but they refuse to think on the subject and develop it. Reading the letters between the Lutheran Church and Constantinople convinced me beyond a doubt of their error.

Reading material:
R C Sproul - Faith Alone
Martin Luther - Commentary on Romans (highly recommended)
Martin Luther - What Luther Says
St Augustine - The Confessions
The Book of Concord http://www.bookofconcord.org (http://www.bookofconcord.org/)

[Col]

~ Have you ever had doubts about Protestantism as the truest form of Christian faith? If you have, why? (specifically, please)
No

~ If you have never had doubts, why not? (again, please be specific)
The Bible. Whilst some would have you believe that thousands of denominations means a fragmented faith, this could not be further from the truth. Despite the thousands of denominations (non-Catholic) that exist today, the simple core message of Jesus Christ and Christianity is preserved in all of them. Inidicative of the Holy Spirit guiding those who earnestly seek to know God. You could visit a different denomination every Sunday and would find that the underlying message is the same. The message delivery and theological emphasis may vary, in order to reach the demographic it serves, however the inspired word of God is perserved, with "nothing added nor taken away". This is truly liberating and life-changing.

~ Did you convert to Protestantism, and why did you convert?
No

~ What is it about your specific denomination that makes you feel that it is the truest form of Christian expression in regard to the body of believers that are the church?
Although Baptised Presbyterian, as an infant, I feel no allegiance to a particualr denomination and my places of worship may vary. I like to think of myself as a "FLC" Freelance Christian. Hey maybe we should have a faith Icon for that. After all I have seen so many new ones popping up recently what would one more matter.

To ask "what is the truest form of Christian expression?", well you may as well ask "what is love?"

~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism?
Studied ?- Yes
Changed my mind? - No, it simply re-inforced the understanding of the need at the time to return to the Gospels and Christ's true message. Corruption is corruption, and well established corruption does not make it right.

~ And, lastly, what keeps you a Protestant?
Freedom
- the freedom to have a personal relationship with my Lord and Saviour
- the freedom to read my Bible and openly discuss my own personal opinion with others who can do likewise.
- the freedom that I have in knowing Christ is with me always, not just during a ceremony or in a particular building.
- the freedom of being able to celebrate my faith with other Christians at their particular church and knowing that the Lord is everywhere and ones geographical location matters not.
- the freedom in knowing we are all called to spread the Good News
- the freedom of being able to shout praises to God or sit quietly in contemplation, depending on the circumstance
- the freedom I have to live within the boundaries of a Christ centered life



P.S. Being a Christian is not about institutions or belonging to this "club" or that "club" it is simply about trying to live a good life, a Christ like life, a loving and giving life. Churches are simply places we go to encourage each other for the other 6 days of our week.
Christ is what Christianity is about, it is not about belonging to the "right" Church.

[theologia crucis]

~ Have you ever had doubts about Protestantism as the truest form of Christian faith? If you have, why? (specifically, please)

Yes. I was raised in a church which later became part of the ELCA. I hated going to church as a kid, all the way through college. However, when going through Communion classes and Confirmation, when it came to the Lord's Supper and sin, the Lutheran position seemed to be the most consistent with the Bible, and accurate to what I experienced. But, I was not convinced about Lutheranism.

In college, I visited other Christian churches (Protestant and Catholic), but didn't go to church much, and my faith festered. I never became atheist or agnostic, but I could not tell you much about Christian teachings, except maybe the Trinity.

After I graduated, I met my future wife. She was a commited LCMS Lutheran. I thought the LCMS was the "snake throwing" arm of Lutherans. But, I was (am!) in love with her, so when she accepted my marriage proposal, she decided I was going to join her church, since I was not active in mine. Her church had just got a new pastor, and he made me go through new member classes, and my wife sat through them with me. My eyes were opened!!! I saw the light!!! I had never really understood the Christian faith, but he should me (from Scripture alone, of course!) how everything related to each other and to the Cross (sin, repentance, justification, sanctification, the Sacraments, Law & Gospel, etc.)

I also have a very good friend who was born and raised RCC, but he had many questions about Christianity. So we started discussing theology, and he made me study. So I looked at official doctrinal statements from various church bodies (for example: the Baptist Faith and Message, Calvin's Institutes, the Council of Trent and other councils, including some stuff from Eastern Orthodoxy). I compared them to the Scriptures, and found consistently that the Lutheran doctrines were closest to the simple reading of Scripture.

I then started reading ancient church history, and did not find the modern RCC or EO churches. Elements were there, of course, but not like I found in the Scriptures. I did not find a lot of modern Protestantism in the ancient church, either (I found the ancient church firmly believed in infant baptism and the Real Presence). In short, I found a lot of Lutheranism in the ancient church.

I tried to be as unbiased as I could, and I looked at the Lutheran Confessions very critically, too.

I then got a book about Lutheran Dogmatics, and it had lot's of proof texts and comparisons to the other Christian theologies. I compared that book to those other official documents and the Scriptures, and didn't find any great dispariging occurring, i.e., the Lutheran writer wasn't blatantly lying about other official theologies. I found the Lutheran doctrine hands down to be the most consistent and biblical statement of doctrine out there. It was also very historic in regards to the ancient church.

So, now I am a very committed Lutheran, not because of Luther, but because of Jesus Christ.

~ If you have never had doubts, why not? (again, please be specific)

I had doubts, see above!

~ Did you convert to Protestantism, and why did you convert?

Sort of. I was born and raised ELCA, but hated church. Then my wife made me join her church, and I got a great dose of historic Lutheranism that was lacking in my home church. Now I'm a committed Missouri Synod Lutheran for life, God willing!

~ What is it about your specific denomination that makes you feel that it is the truest form of Christian expression in regard to the body of believers that are the church?

See above. Also, I like the fact that Lutherans aren't afraid to state exactly what they believe and why they believe it, and teach it in their churches.

Also, I haven't found a more Christ centered church out there. Christ crucified is proclaimed at EVERY service, and since I've become and LCMS member and visited other churches, there is NO other church that preaches Jesus like we do (if you're gonna boast, boast in the Lord, right???!!!).

~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism?

See above. But yes, and no, respectively, at least in regards to Lutheranism.

~ And, lastly, what keeps you a Protestant?

God's grace alone through faith alone for Christ's sake!

My $0.02. Sorry if I bored y'all!

[LynneClomina]

I tried to embrace the Protestant principle of sola scriptura, but seeing that no church actually lives by it, and no two believers in Protestantism actually agree regarding interpretation, I have finally abandoned it. It's noble-sounding in theory, but in actuality, I have never seen it work.

aw, too bad. :hug: i have seen it work, and work well. sorry you had bad experience with it.

[LynneClomina]

Freedom
- the freedom to have a personal relationship with my Lord and Saviour
- the freedom to read my Bible and openly discuss my own personal opinion with others who can do likewise.
- the freedom that I have in knowing Christ is with me always, not just during a ceremony or in a particular building.
- the freedom of being able to celebrate my faith with other Christians at their particular church and knowing that the Lord is everywhere and ones geographical location matters not.
- the freedom in knowing we are all called to spread the Good News
- the freedom of being able to shout praises to God or sit quietly in contemplation, depending on the circumstance
- the freedom I have to live within the boundaries of a Christ centered life


sorry, just have to have to have to say it....

AMEN!!!!

[Henhouse]

Hello!
Just wanted to say I think it's good to question things. That's how we find answers. ;)

I attend an Assembly of God church; that is the denomination I was raised in. I have had doubts about its doctrine, and there are things I don't agree with. But I have looked around and I find that (of the 'mainline' denominations) the A/G beliefs are closest to scripture.

Selectsmart.com has a test for 'religion selector' that helped confirm I am in the right church - you should check it out.

The standard for any church has to be the Bible. (coupled with history, many would argue.) Does the church spend a lot of time and energy explaining how the Bible "didn't really mean that" or why they do things differently from the Early Church? That's a bad sign.

Any rate... (more random thoughts)
I am not RC because they have extraBiblical (and flat out nonbiblical) teaching. A biggie for me is they (seem to) require a mediator - whether the priest or a 'saint' - and the Bible says we don't. (1Tm:2:5: For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; John 16:23-27).

I do believe the A/G has good doctrine (as above), and until proven otherwise, that is the church for me. However, I know that wherever 2 or more Christians are, that is the 'true church.' I have felt the Spirit (presence) in Anglican churches, Baptist churches, Foursquare, non-denom... most any church I've been to. This tells me that God acts more in spite of our best efforts rather than because of them. (And that one can be a 'true Christian' and attend any of a large number of churches.)

I've done some church history study, but not as much as I'd like. So far it hasn't changed my views much.

Other denoms I've looked at include Quakerism (thanks to a fav author, Howard Pyle) and the Mennonites, but niether of these have a congregation nearby to 'try out.'

To sum up, I believe my church is the best of the options I have available. I'm not convinced I could find a better church if I had more options. The differences I do see, I am willing to work towards reform on, rather than start a new church.

[Knight]

~ Have you ever had doubts about Protestantism as the truest form of Christian faith? If you have, why? (specifically, please)
Serious doubts? No. Questions perhaps but no serious doubts.

~ If you have never had doubts, why not? (again, please be specific)
I was raised in the church. God has always been a part of my life in one way or another. (wether I liked it or not sometimes.) At one time I did have some doubts about Christianity being the only way to God but those doubts did not stand up under investigation.

~ Did you convert to Protestantism, and why did you convert?
Nope. As I said I was brought up in the church (Church of the Bretheren). Now I'm non-denominational (though docturnally I'm very close to Reformed Baptist.)

~ What is it about your specific denomination that makes you feel that it is the truest form of Christian expression in regard to the body of believers that are the church?
I believe that Reformed Theology is true because it strives to look at things from God's perspective rather than man's.

~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism?
A little. As Reformationist said, this is a topic that I'm starting to become interested in and plan on doing further study.

~ And, lastly, what keeps you a Protestant?
Faith. Faith that God is soveriegn and will see His will done.

Thanks in advance for your thoughtful replies. I'd appreciate your prayers as I seek God's will in my life in regard to this. :hug:
No problem.

In Christ,
Knight

[LuxPerpetua]

I used to think that all Protestants taught the same message, but I've found out the hard way that they don't--which is why I am now concerned about finding a church that I feel holds as close to the Bible and early Christianity as possible. I don't want to raise my kids (when I have them!) in a church that teaches that sin isn't a big deal--which is what I've unfortunately found out my current church seems to teach. :(

[LynneClomina]

I used to think that all Protestants taught the same message, but I've found out the hard way that they don't--which is why I am now concerned about finding a church that I feel holds as close to the Bible and early Christianity as possible. I don't want to raise my kids (when I have them!) in a church that teaches that sin isn't a big deal--which is what I've unfortunately found out my current church seems to teach. :(

it's unfortunate that some teach like that. the united church here is much the same way - dangerously so. ppl can go to church there for YEARS and they have never heard the true gospel, i've heard - from ppl who went there for years.

the thing about the catholic church, from my experience, is that the EMPHASIS is on sin.... and that's about it. oh, confess your sin - if you havent confessed that sin before you die in the car accident you might have you'll go to hell; ...make sure you see a priest for last rites before you die or you will go to hell;... if you dont go to mass and have the eucharist every week (ideally every day) you run the risk of having unforgiven sins that will send you to hell. see, the general message is that you are a dirty rotten filthy stinking sinner (which we all are) and there is NO WAY OUT. sure, Jesus died on the cross for you, but if you dont do all these things too, you'll still go to hell.

it denies the sufficiency of Jesus' death on the cross.

it denies that, for the believer, IT IS FINISHED - their sins have been covered, once and for all.

it keeps one in fear that they might not make it into heaven.

it keeps one acutely aware of everything they do and second guessing themselves and worrying about their chances of heaven.

it binds one to the doing of good works, (specific ones set up by the church, not the bible - confession to a mediator, mass and the eucharist, etc) TO ADD TO THE WORK OF JESUS - becuase, if you dont do everything the church tells you you're going to hell. don't matter if you believe on Jesus or not, and He is Lord in your life.... WE are the authority here.

this is my experience with 8 years in the catholic church.

:prayer: i am PRE, so i assume it is acceptable to share my issues here, seeing as how i am not attacking anybody. :holy:

[LuxPerpetua]

I currently attend a United Church of Christ (in case anyone is interested). When we joined we didn't have a clue how "open" they really are. My complete shock and disgust at some of the things I've heard there has caused me to reconsider Protestantism altogether (although Lutheranism is looking really good for me right now). I agree with what you've said about Catholicism. I don't think that I would ever been accepted into that church because I cannot accept all of their dogma--a lot of it doesn't seem right to me, and I think that church leaders are accountable to their parishoners, and are therefore neither infallible nor the ultimate authority (I was actually thinking yesterday about Christ's words to the Pharisees and their strict adherence to tradition rather than the spirit of God's law). I'm currently looking deeper into Orthodoxy, but I still know very little about this church.

I firmly believe that "it's not the building that makes up the church but the people," but on the other hand I do think that serious doctrinal error is a big deal in God's eyes, and not recognizing blatant sin (which is what the UCC denom and many other Prot denoms seem to be doing) is a serious problem. I grew up Baptist, but each Baptist church is independent, which means that although the teaching may be the same at all Baptist churches the style of worship isn't. What I really want is uniformity among the churches of the denomination in regard to teaching and worship, and a close adherence to Scripture.

[LynneClomina]

there are LOTS of protestant churches that DO recognize blatant sin.

i dont know if you're going to find COMPLETE uniformity ANYWHERE. i have been to churches of the same denomination in different towns where the attitude at one is Godly and vibrant, and the other is stagnant and critical and all about outward appearanced. a denomination is NOT going to GUARANTEE right attitudes of the ppl OR the leadership. by the way, those churches i visited were Pentacostal Assemblies of Canada - which i believe is the canadian "name" for the AofG elsewhere.

i know i love my denomination, doctrinally (it is Apostolic Church of Pentecost), but would i be happy in every one of their churches? i am sure there are some not-so-fresh-eggs in their basket, too. (from what i understand, ACOP is similar to PAOC/AofG - but a little looser in structure, and more "apostolic" - ie, trying to live like the disciples/apostles of the very early church - the apostolic era. try to follow the Bible closely, and not have legalism.)

[Lotar]

I used to think that all Protestants taught the same message, but I've found out the hard way that they don't--which is why I am now concerned about finding a church that I feel holds as close to the Bible and early Christianity as possible. I don't want to raise my kids (when I have them!) in a church that teaches that sin isn't a big deal--which is what I've unfortunately found out my current church seems to teach. :(
That was one of the problems I had with your initial questions, but I forgot to address it :D All Protestants do not teach the same thing, so I wouldn't say that Protestantism is the truest representation of the faith, because I believe, for example, that the Anabaptists are in as much error as the Catholics and Orthodox. I would say that Lutheranism is the truest form of the Christian faith. (no offense intended to my Baptist friends, just making a point ;) )

Despite what the RCs and Orthodox would have you believe, it's not because "Luther failed" or "the Reformation failed," but because different groups started from different movements.

There is the Lutheran Church which has only suffered one break, which was with the Reformed Churches. After that (to my knowledge) the Lutheran Church has not been splitting into new denominations. The Reformed Churches have several denominations, but mostly do to how and where they were formed, not because they split.

There was the Anabaptist movement, which has split into many many denominations. And they produced the "non-denominational" churches.

There was the Anglican Church, which produced the Methodist, other Wesleyian denominations, and the Puritans.

They all formed from different backgrounds and have different theology. It's not because of a failing of "Protestantism" but the fact that multiple groups who have little to do with eachother are lumped together in one large group.

This also means that you can't just go to any church and assume they teach the same thing. Though most of the will say they follow sola scriptura, sola fide, etc.; what they mean by these terms often differs. It is important to find out where your church stands on issues and doctrine. Too many people choose their church based on what type of music they play.

[LuxPerpetua]

What are anabaptists? Are Baptists anabaptists?

[LynneClomina]

What are anabaptists? Are Baptists anabaptists?

uh, since technically i am sort of an anabaptist, i'll try to answer that.

anabaptist means they dont baptize infants.

i'm kinda technically anabaptist becuase i agree with that.

but there is a whole lot more to "anabaptism" (is that a word?) than that. mennonites and amish and baptists and stuff are all anabaptists.

um, that's about as far as i can go really. :help:

[Lotar]

What are anabaptists? Are Baptists anabaptists?
Most broadly defined, they those who do not baptize infants and re-baptized those who were. So yes, Baptists are Anabaptists.

[bigsierra]

~ Have you ever had doubts about Protestantism as the truest form of Christian faith? If you have, why? (specifically, please)

How could a person not have doubts? Now we have groups, supporting ideas that have never in the history of the church, been acceptable. The "Church" splits every time someone wants to have a sin justified. It's nothing new though.

"Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly." and "No sin will separate us from the lamb, even though we commit fornication and murder a thousand times a day." As I understand, this was in a letter from Martin Luther. I’m sure this can be put into context by one of our folks that follow Luther’s teachings.

The Churches that were once bastions of holy living are now rife with support for homosexuality, even to the point of putting making it allowable for leadership.

ALL churches stood against contraception, until about 100 years ago. Which churches still holds to this belief?

Which Church has stood the test of time? The only one I've seen has been the Catholic Church.
Were they perfect in all that time? No. Did they splinter into a million fragments as Protestantism has? No - It takes God to hold together any group. Just think about how many things really have held together over the past 2k years.

I've been to one Catholic Church in my life and since I was too young to remember it, I can't really count that. I'm Not Catholic at this point, but they certainly have some things in their favor. There are also some things I have problems with. I'm not sure whether they are things that fall into Augustine’s "In Essentials, Unity. In Non-essentials, Liberty." I will keep studying though.

~ Did you convert to Protestantism, and why did you convert?

I grew up in the Nazarene Church, but never believed in "entire sanctification," this side of Heaven. The way Calvinism deals with sin and salvation makes a whole lot more sense, so I moved over to that group. God is Sovereign.

~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism?
Not as much as I should have. My major studies have gone back a couple hundred years. Enough to see a lot of Humanism, in the Church.

~ And, lastly, what keeps you a Protestant?
As far as protestant theology goes, I would say Calvinist beliefs have kept me, as well as that's where I am.

Scott

[Dominus Fidelis]

FOR NON-PROTESTANTS:


~ Why do feel that your church is the fullest expression of Christian faith?

Because it is the historical version of Christianty and it has all the marks of the Church as described in the Bible. I wrote about the marks of the Church here: http://www2.ministries-online.org/s0uljah/defense/marks_of_church.html

~ What brought you to your church (birth, conversion, etc.?)?

I converted via the grace of God from being born a Methodist.

~ What do you love most about your church?

The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. There is rarely a Mass where I don't tear up and kneel in awe that Jesus would have me receive His Flesh and Blood in order to give me life.

Second would be the wonderful feeling of being cleansed of all my sins after confession. Its like being brand new over and over again.

Third would be the Communion of Saints and especially Mary's motherly love that points us towards her Son. St Paul described it as we are running a race and we have a cloud of Heavenly witnesses cheering us on.

Fourth would be the fact that the Church doesn't change or bow to cultural pressures on things like gay marriages, contraception, abortions, etc. The fact that it alone remains built on solid rock gives me faith that "the gates of Hell shall not prevail."

I could go on and on, so I will leave it at that, since you ask what I love most about the Church.

:)

[Rechtgläubig]

I’m sure this can be put into context by one of our folks that follow Luther’s teachings.
Here you are :wave:

"If you are a preacher of grace, then preach a true and not a fictitious grace; if grace is true, you must bear a true and not a fictitious sin. God does not save people who are only fictitious sinners. Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly, for he is victorious over sin, death, and the world. ... Do you think that the purchase price that was paid for the redemption of our sins by so great a Lamb is too small? Pray boldly you too are a mighty sinner." (LW 48:281-282)

[Epiphany]

FOR NON-PROTESTANTS:

~ Why do feel that your church is the fullest expression of Christian faith?

~ What brought you to your church (birth, conversion, etc.?)?

~ What do you love most about your church?

Again, thanks for your replies, and I'd appreciate your prayers, too, if you wouldn't mind. :)
To Life Immortal

I believe the Orthodox church is the original Christian church. We follow the Bible and the Traditions of the Holy Fathers.

I converted to Eastern Orthodox from being a Asatruar (Germanic Paganism) and Egyptian Paganism. I have been searching for God since my 20's. I read books about Orthodoxy and liked what I read. Orthodox do not have or follow the Pope, no purgatory, no immaculate conception. I like the idea of married priests and no statues in church. It was years later when I finally got up the courage to visit an Orthodox church. I have been a Christian since 29 February 2003.

What I love the most about my church are the traditions and the beautiful mystical form of worship. I like the icons and ritual. Seeing a Divine Liturgy is like watching a great opera about Lord Jesus. Everything has meaning. My favourite parts of Divine Liturgy are the Great Entrance and the Communion. That's when the priest comes from behind the iconostasis and carries the elements of the Eucharist around the church. It represents when Lord Jesus took bodily form and walked among us. I love to receive the Body and Blood of Lord Jesus during Divine Liturgy. We believe in the Real Presence of Lord Jesus in the bread and wine. I also like the fact that Orthodoxy remains true to Christian standards and will not be 'politically correct'. We will not change with the times.

Peace and Long Life
~*~ Epiphany ~*~

http://img13.photobucket.com/albums/v38/Tijger/violetpic.jpg

[NewToLife]

~ Why do feel that your church is the fullest expression of Christian faith?

Well I'm another Orthodox, I feel that my church has devoted itself to the maintainence of the belief and praxis of the early church and that it can trace its roots directly to the day of Pentecost. Its traditions fit well with scripture and it has not innovated, preferring to preserve the teaching passed down to us. It is charismatic with a history of the Spirit working visibly within it and has proven to be able to survive and even thrive under the harshest conditions such as Islamic or Communist repression.

~ What brought you to your church (birth, conversion, etc.?)?

I was originally protestant, I have been both Anglican and Baptist at different times. In the end i could not match up the practices of other churches that I have attended with what I saw in scripture or the documentary evidence that exists of the early church, neither could I reconcile what I believe to be contradictions within their teaching. I also had problems relating protestant theology to the reality of the experience of the average believer, of which of course I am one. After a lot of searching I found the Orthodox church which has been able to offer answers and solutions for any problem that I have raised.

~ What do you love most about your church?

The Divine Liturgy is my favourite thing but close behind would be the friendliness and welcoming attitude of those I worship with. I have not previously encountered such a commitment to attempting to follow Christ matched by the humility to judge themselves in harsher terms than their neighbour. Finally I love that Orthodoxy is a deeply non cerebral experience, one must live Orthodoxy to understand it, thought alone will not provide the illumination to understand our Church.

[Greeter]

I am having serious misgivings about Protestantism. I don't believe in one "true" church but I do believe that some churches are closer to the truth than others. I think that everyone who believes in the Trinity and in Jesus as the Christ and final atonement for sins will be saved, but I think that we can have a more fulfilling and rich experience in this life if we find the church that is closest to the original Christian church. I am not saying this to get flamed, booted, or whatever, but only to ask you some questions to help me in my journey
I think we all have our moments. I know I have had mine lately. Hopefully you will find a church to help you in your walk with the Lord. Know that you are not alone as others have similar challenges. As someone who is strongly drawn to another faith I can relate to your misgivings.


FOR PROTESTANTS:
~ Have you ever had doubts about Protestantism as the truest form of Christian faith? If you have, why? (specifically, please)
Sure, but I think that is normal. My guess is we will all have moments where we feel challenged.


~ Did you convert to Protestantism, and why did you convert?

Yes, I converted from Catholicism to Calvary Chapel (while a ND church it can be considered to be its own denomination). Calvary Chapel is simply incredible. My walk with the Lord has become so much richer. This has been an incredible blessing, one I am continually thankful for. :)


~ What is it about your specific denomination that makes you feel that it is the truest form of Christian expression in regard to the body of believers that are the church?

Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale matches what I have read in God's Word.


~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism?

I have studied the early Christian history, and it does raise questions.


~ And, lastly, what keeps you a Protestant?

Since Catholicism is the other faith I feel drawn to, I will use it as an example of my personal challenges. There are elements of Catholicism I find to be quite enticing. I will try to address some of the big areas and why I have remained where I am. :)

Family: Both my parents came from Catholic families so obviously I am going to be somewhat drawn to the Catholic Church. It gets complicated since I am named after my father who was named after an uncle who was a missionary Priest who died in his service to the Catholic Church. Things get more complicated since the women from my mom back many generations are very spiritual.

Eucharist: Catholics often talk about their incredible experiences with the Eucharist. I have them as well except I have them upon entering the grounds of Calvary Chapel. As soon as I near the Sanctuary I know I am home.

Fullness of the Faith: Obviously we all want to be as secure within Christianity as possible so this is an important area. As with others I continue to read and watch. Something that keeps me where I am is the fruit of the tree. If Catholics were the only ones to have the fullness of the faith I would expect to see something in them that I don't find in other Christian faiths. Something my grandmother used to complain about is how Catholics would wish peace for each other and then curse each other out in the parking lot. Seeing how the people at Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale care for each other, both in the Sanctuary and in the parking lot, it is difficult for me to consider converting back.

Something related to the above is something I have witnessed here at Christian Forums, especially in recent weeks. Just as there are many fine Christians here who are Protestant, there are others who are Catholic as well. One would think that having the fullness of faith would create a stronger unity. While there are signs of unity among the Catholics here, there are also signs of disunity. I have noticed Catholics coming down on other Catholics (some of whom I consider to be great examples of Christian behavior) for not being . . . "good enough" or maybe not "Catholic enough" for lack of a better description. Since the road travels in both directions ( a favorite expression), I have trouble finding reason to convert back.

Saints: This one may be a personal problem as I have always enjoyed reading about heroes. I bring this one up as it closely relates to my recent problems. The day before Saint Patricks Day had me thinking about heroes and saints. One in particular is Joan of Arc. I find her story to be fascinating. She had her problems, but then so did Martin Luther (someone who would probably have ended up being sainted if history went a little differently). As a side note this just gave me an idea for a signature.

At any rate, I found myself questioning my path as to whether I was in the right faith or not. Afterall, Catholicism would actually be the easier path for me to follow for a variety of reasons. What I witnessed here at CF that night and the day to follow only strengthened my view that Catholicism is simply another Christian faith, no better or worse then any other. Calvary Chapel has made its share of mistakes, and has its own problems, but then so do the other Christian faiths.



Thanks in advance for your thoughtful replies. I'd appreciate your prayers as I seek God's will in my life in regard to this. :hug:

You are very welcome. As you can see, you are not the only one in need of prayer at times in this particular area. :)

[LuxPerpetua]

I'll be praying for you, too, Greeter. :)

[Yitzchak]

FOR PROTESTANTS:

~ Have you ever had doubts about Protestantism as the truest form of Christian faith? If you have, why? (specifically, please)
Yes. The main reason is the division and the amount of different interpretations. while all claim to be led by God , it is quite difficult to get many to work together or agree. Unity in the body of Christ is a huge issue and the protestant churches seem to have very little concern for unity except among individuals in a congregation.

~ Did you convert to Protestantism, and why did you convert?
I converted because a friend invited me to his church. I was converted to Christ there. So I could just as easially have converted to whatever denomination he had taken me to if they preached Christ.

~ What is it about your specific denomination that makes you feel that it is the truest form of Christian expression in regard to the body of believers that are the church?
Currently I am attending an Anglican church. but for much of my christian walk I attended an Aseembly of God. I was converted in a Mennonite church. The thing that has always attracted me to a church is sincerity. If the people there are not playing games and there is a sense of the presence of God there. I think we serve a living God and I can't stand a dead religion where God is not there and people don't even know the difference in whether he is or not.

~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism?
This has convinced me that a true move of the Holy Spirit seldom lasts long amongst a group. Each group seems to attempt to take control of the church. I have boiled it down to one of the key killers of revival when a church no longer sees the church as God's church and starts to think of first and second class members in that church. It makes God seem like he is a respector of persons when that happens. It also makes people into followers of men rather than God.

~ And, lastly, what keeps you a Protestant?
I am happy as a protestant and see no reason to change. I think God accepts whosoever will come to Him whether they are protestant, Catholic, or Eastern Orthodox, or nothing.

[Matrona]

FOR NON-PROTESTANTS:

~ Why do feel that your church is the fullest expression of Christian faith?Simply put, I am Orthodox because I am orthodox. In Orthodoxy I see a faith where truth is absolute. Orthodoxy never sells out. Doctrinal purity is very important to us. When I was in Campus Crusade, they didn't think it was important what I believed, as long as I "accepted Jesus as my savior". How am I supposed to do that if I don't know what accepting means, who Jesus is, or why in the heck I need a savior? Orthodoxy explained all of that and more. But they did not use tracts or little bible study kits they bought at Lifeway--they used the wisdom passed down from the Apostles (who, of course, received it from Christ), through sacred Scripture, the early church fathers, the seven Ecumenical Councils, and Holy Tradition. Instead of descending to my level (five stories below rock bottom, spiritually speaking), Orthodoxy demanded that I climb up to its level. It is hard work, yes. Becoming Orthodox is the hardest thing I've ever done in my whole life, and I do not say that lightly. But anything worth doing is hard--Lord Jesus commands us to take up our crosses and follow Him, not sit around and wait for Him to bail us out.

To quote from the movie A League of Their Own: "It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great." :)

~ What brought you to your church (birth, conversion, etc.?)?Conversion. I had been involved in Campus Crusade for Christ before, but I count my years as a Christian from the day I was baptized into the Orthodox Church.

~ What do you love most about your church?--LITURGY!!!!
--the quiet reverence for God that is so characteristic of Orthodoxy
--Vespers
--Matins
--Akathist Hymn
--Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
--Orthodox baptisms
--icons
--beautiful churches
--worshipping in a way that has been tested for 2000 years and always draws us closer to God
--everything about the Eucharist
--chrismation
--holy water
--everyone stands up throughout most of our services
--midnight Pascha services
--being baptized in a horse trough
--Orthodox prayers
--fasting... yes, even fasting
--prayer ropes
--miracles
--deep prayer
--monks and nuns
--lighting candles for my prayers
--being part of Christendom's best-kept secret...

...and of course, more than everything else combined and multiplied by itself, our Lord, God, Savior, and Founder, Jesus Christ. Since I found Orthodoxy, Jesus Christ has been everything to me, absolutely everything.

[cadworm]

ok... no doubts. because i had awful experiences in a catholic church as a child. i refused to say anything in confession, as i had heard from God that i dont need a man (preist) to go between me and God. i can talk to God directly. the preist said who told you that? i said God. he said i was lying. being forced into the confessional was hell. the catholic church forced me to think and act like them, and not on my convictions. no, i wasnt a christian yet, not by protestant standards, though i was baptized as a child into the catholic church. i left the church disillusioned and "wandered" into witchcraft, world religions, new age, and a wicked lifestyle. and then God brought me home. i found freedom in many areas, for example, that i DONT have to confess to men. that a preist can't absolve me, only God can. that is all BIBLICAL. i found the catholic church to have many, many UNbiblical traditions. i dont think any ONE denomination has a hold on accuracy in any way that makes it BETTER than any other - it really depends on the individual congregation and the pastor. if the pastor teaches love and sanctification, and the congregation arent out to fire the pastor because He preaches BIBLE, then there is a good chance of finding what the early church was all about. loving each other. fellowship (koinonia). sharing the GOOD news. seeking God. becoming more christlike. making disciples.

yes, i studied early church history somewhat. and i am convinced that MOST of church history has been off base... there is good in most of it of course... but CHURCH has become a STRUCTURE as opposed to what it really is, a BODY of BELIEVERS. the church is not a structure, it is not rules and regulations, it is not (man-made) traditions, although those things CAN be good... but if that's all there is, then it's a form of godliness that denies the power thereof.... CHURCH is the BELEIVERS, we are LIVING STONES. we are the TEMPLE. we are the DWELLING PLACE OF GOD. we are to WALK IN LOVE. SEEK after God. become more and more SANCTIFIED and CHRISTLIKE.

THAT is what church is supposed to be.

and finally, what keeps me a protestant?

hmmm. i guess becuase the label fits - i am not catholic or orthodox. some would say i'm not even protestant, that i am actually anabaptist... but that is a technicality. i'm a calvinist, but that too is a finer technicality yet. the real question is WHAT KEEPS ME A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST? His love, the love of his ppl, the Laws of Liberty and Love. the desire to be pure and holy. HIM.

it's not about what kind of church you go to. it's what kind of heart toward God you have.

:bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: JESUS


AMEN and AMEN

Mike

[ab1385]

I can't be bothered to type out a long and complex description of what I bleieve, its too late for that!

I have never believed in a certain denomination over another. I believe, as the bible says, that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He died for me, so I can go to heaven, and I love Him dearly for what He has done for me.

As to how I believe we should do certain things and how different denominations believe we should act, I always try and work on the WWJD principle. What would Jesus do is far more important than what did the early church do...

I have very little opinion as to what a church should be like, other than it should aim to be as Christ would want it. Styles of worship etc are up to the church as far as Im concerned. The only thing that worries me is when churches do things which put people off the church (absolute refusal of change is one I noticed in a brethren church I went to a bit last year). People were leaving the church due to its complete refusal to have any forward movement, and there was absolutely no chance of gaining any new members, which is sad, and no doubt not what Christ would want.

Hmmm, I seem to have rambled on a bit... :)

[RhetorTheo]

*****
FOR NON-PROTESTANTS:

~ Why do feel that your church is the fullest expression of Christian faith?

The Melkites are both East and West, having been Orthodox through the 1700s and now in communion with Rome. And they have access to the traditions and teachings of both lungs of the Church going back to the earliest times, when the Church was both Catholic and Orthodox, East and West, and communion between all the churches.

~ What brought you to your church (birth, conversion, etc.?)?

Ongoing conversion, inspired by a Catholic fiancee and my interest in the Orthodox from what I'd learned over the years.

~ What do you love most about your church?

The divine liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and drawing from the wisdom of both East and West.

[Svt4Him]

I am having serious misgivings about Protestantism. I don't believe in one "true" church but I do believe that some churches are closer to the truth than others. I think that everyone who believes in the Trinity and in Jesus as the Christ and final atonement for sins will be saved, but I think that we can have a more fulfilling and rich experience in this life if we find the church that is closest to the original Christian church. I am not saying this to get flamed, booted, or whatever, but only to ask you some questions to help me in my journey:


FOR PROTESTANTS:

~ Have you ever had doubts about Protestantism as the truest form of Christian faith? If you have, why? (specifically, please)

~ If you have never had doubts, why not? (again, please be specific)

~ Did you convert to Protestantism, and why did you convert?

~ What is it about your specific denomination that makes you feel that it is the truest form of Christian expression in regard to the body of believers that are the church?

~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism?

~ And, lastly, what keeps you a Protestant?



Thanks in advance for your thoughtful replies. I'd appreciate your prayers as I seek God's will in my life in regard to this. :hug:



*****
FOR NON-PROTESTANTS:

~ Why do feel that your church is the fullest expression of Christian faith?

~ What brought you to your church (birth, conversion, etc.?)?

~ What do you love most about your church?

Again, thanks for your replies, and I'd appreciate your prayers, too, if you wouldn't mind. :)
Can you tell me what the truest church looks like?

[ufonium2]

Can you tell me what the truest church looks like?
Yes, but not in this forum ;)

[GreenEyedLady]

FOR PROTESTANTS:

~ Have you ever had doubts about Protestantism as the truest form of Christian faith? If you have, why? (specifically, please) No doubts I have done enough research

~ If you have never had doubts, why not? (again, please be specific) God has led me where he wants me to be

~ Did you convert to Protestantism, and why did you convert? Yes I was a Catholic and converted. Why? Well, first I was not born again even though I was confirmed. I had to "work" for my salvation even though Christ did it all on the cross. The biggest thing for me to leave was all the graven images in the church that are displayed and where they came from.

~ What is it about your specific denomination that makes you feel that it is the truest form of Christian expression in regard to the body of believers that are the church? Because we are so much more seprate from the world than other denominations. Our church does not lower Gods standards in order to appease people or attact people into the church. The Word of God is preached in our church by a man of God who was called to preach, not a man that is a crowd modivator.

~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism? I have studied alot of history which is why I left the catholic church.

~ And, lastly, what keeps you a Protestant? Its not what "keeps" me protestant, Jesus "keeps" me saved. I am saved forever because he did it all on the cross. Praise the LORD!


I think this is some good questions. I like reading all the answers.
GEL

[Col]

Yes, but not in this forum ;)

:rolleyes:

[Flynmonkie]

FOR PROTESTANTS:

~ Have you ever had doubts about Protestantism as the truest form of Christian faith? If you have, why? (specifically, please)

Yes, but very slight. I am constantly learning, asking questions, studying other forms of faith and trying it against the bible. The basic meaning of being a Protestant, seperating myself from the Roman Catholic Church. Still stands. Unfortunatly, there is a stigma attached to Protestant, without true understanding of the word. Many attribute Protestant on both sides of the fence as "anti-Catholic". I am not anti-catholic, I am anti Roman Catholic Church and their teachings. However I do not use this icon as that I have many Catholic friends that I do believe are Christians and are saved. I have chosen Christian, because right now this is the best catagory if you will, for me.

~ If you have never had doubts, why not? (again, please be specific)As mentioned here before, even with Protestants, interpertations of the Bible widely vary. I do not think it was the "Protestant" view I doubted, however the perceptions and trying to fit God into a certain mold that disturbed me. Each Reformed church, or denomination seemed to have at least one point they stuck to which I did not agree. Or I should say that I felt they were/are not balanced with. Calvin, with predestined election, Armainus with Free will, I believe the truth lies somewhere in between - but with the full glory (thanks, source, complete credit or whatever you wish to call it) Goes to God. With my studies it seems that there is a Balance here. Some denominations are overboard on one area ...that caused doubts for me. Within each of these denominations there are warring liberal and conservative or evangelical factions that sometimes merge and at other times split.
Your not alone in feeling like a "Cat in a room full of rocking chairs" there!:rolleyes:


~ Did you convert to Protestantism, and why did you convert?

No actually I was born in a Southern Baptist Chruch, moved to Independant Fundemental, but Had Catholic Influence. I never felt very comfortable nor did I feel edified from the Catholic way. So I stayed in the Baptist camp. However, during this time I had been given some very bad information on God and walked away from faith basing it on the Bibles teachings. I thought it had been translated wrong or something. I never stopped believeing in God. Based on experience I had when I was saved at age 8. But after traveling many years with no sense of contentment, no answers in every concept I explored. I hit rock bottom. A gaping hole that never seemd to be filled. At that pivitol point in my life - I firmly believe God led me to the information he wanted me to see. His displeasure in me was unmistakable, and I suffered immeasurable losses in my life from this. Since that time, I have given everything I have to him, each time information is lacking I spend time in prayer and study. He leads me each time.


~ What is it about your specific denomination that makes you feel that it is the truest form of Christian expression in regard to the body of believers that are the church?

I am not sure I "claim" a denomination. I do not attend church at this time. I have not felt called to one specific one. However I plan to attend a Baptist one to start. One thing I think in your journey that has helped me, is to remember that God alone builds His church. When men start to take that responsibility away from him is when you should question. But this is an whole nother thread entirely!

What I do feel comfortable in saying is that No denomination is going to be 100% right. Only God is. Continually study his word, and try everything against it and pray for guidance. You cannot go wrong.

Ps. 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it
Acts 2:47 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Mark 16:15 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Ephesians 5:23 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.



~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism?
Fully engrossed as we speak. I still do not have enough information to really change my mind at this point other than I do believe NO one man has this right. What keeps me in my faith is prayer, study, and faith. Fully relying on God to guide me in this area. The Holy Spirit has not let me down yet! I try to stay away from opinions. I think Bottom line, it is all about perception, no matter what we do....everyone is going to see things differently. Does it make them wrong? I cannot always be the judge of that. There are some basic principals I try very hard to stick to - anything outside of that is up for question. Semantics is key. I do not believe that I need different reminders "statues, mommentos" etc to stay in my faith. However some do. I have no idea how the Good Lord is working through them, as that we all are so very different characters, with distinctly different paths that he takes us on to arrive where he needs us.

~ And, lastly, what keeps you a Protestant?
Because I believe in Grace. Justification by faith. I believe we all have the ability to communicate with God directly with no medium other than prayer itself. We ALL have this ability and it should never be discouraged in any way.
Hebrews 10:26-27 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

The sufferings of Christ were fully sufficient to atone for our sins. Our own sufferings can add nothing to the merit of Christ.[/url] First, Scripture presents justification as instantaneous, not gradual (http://www.christianforums.com/newreply.php#_ftn1). Second, justification means the sinner is declared righteous, not actually made righteous.Third, the Bible teaches that justification means righteousness is imputed, not infused.Fourth and finally, Scripture clearly teaches that we are justified by faith alone, not by faith plus works.

By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast” (Eph. 2:8–9)

Let no man dream that a sudden crotchet has entered our head, and that we have written in hot haste: we have waited long, perhaps too long, and have been slow to speak. Neither let any one suppose that we build up our statements upon a few isolated facts.… We have had no motive but the general progress of the cause of truth, and the glory of God.


Charles Haddon Spurgeon

[url="http://www.christianforums.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=2002429#_ftn2"]

[Celeste]

Have any of you heard or read about the Walderness people? I think they came out of rome for fear of their lives. they hid in the mountians. they went down from the mountians with parts of the scripture hid in their garments (they wore robes in those days.) Do any of you know any thing else about them?

[countrymousenc]

Celeste, do you mean the Waldenses?

[Bulldog]

Celeste, do you mean the Waldenses?

What she described sounds like them.

[Carlos Vigil]

*****
FOR NON-PROTESTANTS:

~ Why do feel that your church is the fullest expression of Christian faith?
The NEW COVENANT CONFIRMS IT +Rev.11:1/Mt.23:19/ Mt. 26:26-28 +

~ What brought you to your church (birth, conversion, etc.?)?
Baptizes as a baby, left at age 17, Converted back at age 29

~ What do you love most about your church?
The Worship at the Altar, the fellowship, The teaching of the Apostles,
(with authority)
The Mission & Witness.

Again, thanks for your replies, and I'd appreciate your prayers, too, if you
wouldn't mind. :)[/QUOTE]

[MParedon]

FOR NON-PROTESTANTS:

~ Why do feel that your church is the fullest expression of Christian faith?
I agree with the Church in its belief that it has the Full Deposit of Faith, but that doesn't mean it knows everything, just what was deposited with them. I read some of the Early Church Fathers and that made me look at the Bible in a new light. I had not known that (or cared to think about) the fact that people where Christian before even the last part of the New Testament was written. I had to ask myself, 'What did those early Christians believe? Why? If they didn't have a full Bible to go to, where did they go? Also, if these people were wrong, why didn't the Apostles correct them in their epistles?' Tons of questions and I'm still reading.

~ What brought you to your church (birth, conversion, etc.?)?
Baptized as a baby, became non-practicing after confirmation, then this year I remembered I had been name godparent to my neice and I wanted to have answers to her questions before first communion. Boy, did I get an eye-opener. I was fully prepared to hand over the responcibilities to the other godparent and convert to another religion if I realized what I was researching was balogne.

~ What do you love most about your church?
The continueing conversion to Our Lord.
The Eucharist
The fact that even if I don't agree with something, that doesn't mean I'm right and the Church isn't.
Prayer
Submission to the Lord
The idea that one should never abondon ones parish---we should always work to make it better.
The universal teaching uniting us.
The fact that everything the Pope says isn't infallable, only statements made ex cathedra.
The fact that our Church recognizes Protestants as Christian brothers and sisters. (love you guys!)
The things our Church are doing in China (chinese are willing to risk all they have to become Christians and worship)


Aaackkk, I get all excited about my Church and I can't seem to stop listing. There is more much more, but those were the first things that popped up.



Peace be with you guys!

*To the OP: prayers going your way, I hope you find what your looking to find out :)

[Celeste]

Celeste, do you mean the Waldenses?
yes I mean waldenses . thanks for the correction Celeste

[racer]

Hello LP,

I'll try to answer your questions.

FOR PROTESTANTS:

~ Have you ever had doubts about Protestantism as the truest form of Christian faith? If you have, why? (specifically, please)

That's really not an answerable question for me as you have specifically worded it. If you mean Protestantism in comparison to Catholicism, then, my answer is "no." However, I don't consider "Protestantism" as a whole to be the truest form of the Christian faith because you have too many differing faiths within. Now as a Protestant (I prefer non-Catholic, but I gave up that argument long ago), I include Catholicism as another group of differing faiths . . . not a separate organisation above or outside of Christianity.

Have I had doubts about my particular faith? Yes. Do I still have some doubts about my particular faith? Yes. Have I ever waivered on believing that maybe the Catholics do have it all right? No. I don't mean that as an insult. But, once again, too many of their teachings--IMO--aren't proven biblically or even historically as many claim.

Why? Not because of concern over the claim that Catholicism is the One True Church. My doubts about my faith have nothing to do with Catholicism, but to do with what I feel is not proven biblically IMO. For instance, my faith teaches that the Rapture is Pre-trib. It's not that I disagree, it's just that I think this is purely interpretative, and don't feel that the church can state this as a belief based on "objectionable" fact. (That last statement is much of my beef with the Catholic Church)

So, what I have to ask myself is: Does whether or not I believe in Pre/post-trib have any bearing on my salvation and does my church teach that it does? The answer to both is "no."

If you have never had doubts, why not? (again, please be specific)

I may be sticking my foot in it, but I believe that people who say they've never had doubts have either never been faced with questions or are not being honest with themselves.

~ Did you convert to Protestantism, and why did you convert?

No.

~ What is it about your specific denomination that makes you feel that it is the truest form of Christian expression in regard to the body of believers that are the church?

That's tough question. I don't know if it's "what my faith is" or "what it isn't" that makes me feel drawn. Let me take a look at how others are answering this question, and I'll take another stab at this question.

~ Have you ever studied early Christian history, and has this changed your mind at all in regard to Protestantism?

Not as much as many people on these boards, but enough to find the Catholic argument that early church fathers and history support their claims. No, my studies of early Christian history has not changed my mind regarding Christianity.

~ And, lastly, what keeps you a Protestant?

Faith and the fact that Scripture clearly states that "the wise shall be confounded" and that to gain wisdom we only need faith and prayer. Scripture tells us that "faith" can move mountains, that with faith we can accomplish anything. And--I believe that anything includes personal discernment and understanding of the Word of God. So, I have no reason to doubt my understanding of Scripture. I can not vouch for anybody else's faith or understanding--only my own. Does that mean I give my understanding free reign and do not listen to, learn from or follow church leaders? No.

I hope I have answered some of your questions adequately. If not, let me know how else I can answer. :pink: