Where I Belong...?

[TrystinxDeSoll]

Hm.

I'm in a bit of an interesting situation as I spend more time here (CF, I mean).

I don't know where I belong.

I started out in the Liberal section...because as far as I knew, I was a liberal Christian. As I read through the threads and turned things over in my own head, however, I began to feel less and less at home.

And yet, I'm not at home in any particular denomination....because to me, Christian means Christian and that's it.

I welcome every Christian as a brother or sister in Christ, regardless of whether they're lutheran, calvinist, methodist, baptist, whatever.

As far as I'm concerned, if someone is Christian, they're Christian.

I also believe that the best way to someone's heart is through kindness. I believe in evangelism through actions and words...and that the best possible way to guide a nonchristian to Christ is through kindness, love, and patience.

I believe that too often, people (myself included) get angry about things they shouldn't...I believe that condemning someone for a conservative is just as foolish as condemning someone for a liberal. If we're all brothers and sisters in Christ, shouldn't we be leading, guiding, and helping one another, not tearing them down? If we believe another is in error, doesn't the Bible say to rebuke them gently?

I believe that we should have patience with another...because if I met a christian who acted as I did and still do occasionally, and was in the habit of responding with anger and judgement, I would yell and reject them out of hand....not love them and patiently help them get back on their feet in their walk with Christ. I don't know about anyone else....but I sincerely hope that if I happen to err and mistakenly stumble and fall on my walk with Christ, another Christian would have the kindness and blessed patience to help me back to my feet instead of kicking me when I'm down.

Is there no place for Christ in christianity? What happened to patience, love, and kindness? What happened to love for your fellow man? What happened to brotherhood and peace?

Has Christianity really degenerated into Camp A vs. Camp B, brother against sister, friend against friend?

...

I don't know where I belong on this forum....can anyone take the time to help me out with a word or two of advice?

Thanks in advance. :)

~Jman

[brotherChristian]

Greetings, TrystinxDeSoll. This is a good place for you to hang out based upon your post, but it really depends upon what you are looking for. If you are seeking edification and fellowship, may I suggest Deeper Fellowship which is peopled with the dearest of caring nurturers. The rec room great because it's open to christians and non-christians alike and it's just a friendly way of interacting with others (sans all the 'who believes what' stuff). What's great is to hop around all the boards and talk about different things.
There's something for everyone. God bless.

[dalej42]

This is why finding the right church is important, regardless of denomination. Many churches believe what you do.

Even though my own church disagrees strongly with some of the positions of some religious right churches, my pastor mentioned that we won't condemn them. It might be easier to "fight" them, but that isn't the way of Christ.

[dignitized]

Has Christianity really degenerated into Camp A vs. Camp B, brother against sister, friend against friend? I hate to say this - but it's pretty much been that way from the beginning. Even amongst the Apostles there were differences. Question is - do differences make divisions?

[Stan53]

I like the original statement: I dont know where I belong. It's easy really. If you are like me you belong to Christ.
I don't fit into any of the denominations but I fit in all of them. If you were to visit a Baptist Church here in Oz you would find people from all denominations there. Similarly Anglican and Catholic and Pentecostal.
So far as the forums go it is the same. I don't fit in any of them excusively but I do fit in all of them to a degree.

[WAB]

The crucial thing is not "where"... but... "to Whom?"

[Antoinette.Marie]

The crucial thing is not "where"... but... "to Whom?"

I agree. You do belong, TrystinxDeSoll. You belong to our heavenly Father.

[Mrs. Enigma]

Tristin,
I don't really know what to say. People judge other Christians way too much in some areas, but at the same time, some jyust condone and accept deadly sin.
I think satan wants the Christians to hate eachother and to not even recognize that we are actualy siblings in Christ.
But I also think he wants us to be so busy argueing over tiny issues that we drive eachother away, and ignore the really enormous sins.

[TrystinxDeSoll]

Thanks Enigma, that was a cool response.

As for the question....I found the answer to it.

"'Cause I don't care where I belong no more
What we share or not I will ignore
And I won't waste my time fitting in
'Cause I don't think contrast is a sin"

~No Cigar, Millencolin, 2001

There ya go. Short, simple, and to the point. *grin*

[twistedsketch]

Sounds like you belong here, as we don't affiliate ourselves with any denomination. There's also a lot of points of view in this forum.

[Lynn73]

The crucial thing is not "where"... but... "to Whom?"

So true. And people claiming to be Christian don't mean they are. What a Christian is is what the Bible says a Christian is.

[Stinker]

"And yet, I'm not at home in any particular denomination....because to me, Christian means Christian and that's it."

"I welcome every Christian as a brother or sister in Christ, regardless of whether they're lutheran, calvinist, methodist, baptist, whatever."

"As far as I'm concerned, if someone is Christian, they're Christian."
----------------------------------------------------


Most people in mainline Denominations (and nondenominations)are in them because they feel that their church lines up with how that person feels the scriptures teach on important (but not essentail to salvation) doctrines.

Some people are of course, members of their churches because of one or more things that their church teaches that most other churches do not, on how to be saved.

I do think that when people are studying the New Testament that they will come to belong to a church that teaches what things are important to them and not be judged (or judge others) for doing the same.

[FeralXtian]

I went to a christian convention recently. The look of shock on folk faces when i told them i didn't belong to any church or fellowship was amazing. Knocked me for a bit. I wondered if i was wrong in some way.
Yet this is what i have become, a feral christian. I belong to Christ and no particular thought group of chrisitanity.
We are trail blazers!

[Prophet01]

Has anyone stopped to think, that we need to be where Christ wants us to be. Its not about what denomination is right or wrong... its about learning if we as individuals are right or wrong and then changing ourselves not changing others.

Our whole faith is based on rebirth and rising to a new life in Christ, I say accept where you are now at this moment, enjoy your relationship with the lord and trust in him to guide you in life... do not think that where you are now is where you will be in ten years, we are a pilgrim people, in choosing to follow the son of man, we must understand we too have no place to rest our heads.

He will lead you to where he wants you to be and with the people who can help you turn your own individual stumbling blocks into stepping stones, look the lord has guided you to this very site, you came as liberal and he has guided you to a deeper traditional conservitive view, is that to say liberal christians are wrong...maybe, maybe not... but that dosnt matter, it is his plan for your life that counts and prahaps, liberalism may have been a stumbling block to your lifes plan.


Trust in the lord keep and open mind and especially an open heart to what other christians will say to you, the lord will use others to guide you ever deeper in your own mission, however be aware that satan is out to decieve and he too will give deceptive and destructive teachings through those who you trust.

But your own worst enemy is yourself, pride.. dont think that you know there is all you need to know about christ, we are all on a massive learning curve through life, in order to learn we must be humble.

The most important peice of advice I can give you amdist all this is pray about, meditate and do research on what others may tell you, make sure what they say is in true unity with the spirit of truth.

Sometimes things are easy to discern and you know straight away what some people say is destructive, its is when the wolves come to us in sheeps clothing and are cleverly disguised as fellow followers of Christ, sometimes they too are decieved, I am sure there will be some on this very part of the forum.

Test all things against the spirit of truth.

Choose a saint who you feel a conection too at any given time in your life, it maybe paul, it maybe thomas it maybe a more recent saint..read about them and consider how they devoted themselves to God the problems they had and how christ helpped them to overcome their personal stumbling blocks, learn from them what they said and wrote will help you discern.

Above all let the love of Christ guide you, he will not fail you, if your heart is true and you desire to do his will, even if at times you get off track loose your sense of purpose, loose your sense of belonging he will bring you back to the fold.

You must listen to the voice of Christ when you are far from the fold even more so when you are close to the fold for it is on the perimiter of the fold that the wolves lie in wait ...where are you?

[HephzibahBenJudah]

If you find you are confused or lost your way...pray. God will lead you in straight paths when you acknowledge Him. Good luck.

[ProfessorJ]

It does seem to have come down to Camp A vs B. I find myself feeling the way you do, as far as you have described. My church is mostly nondenominational, and I like it. We have our differences of opinion, but nothing very great. The important thing is that we all share the belief in God, ad that Christ died for us. All too often people get hung up on the little things, and that's what causes divisions in the Church. God bless.
J