If there was no baptist church...

[-~Truth_N_Trust~-]

If there was no baptist denomination, what other denomination(s) would you consider? Why? What other denomination(s) would you be not likely to consider? Why?
Are there any particular doctinal differences that just make them off limits to you?

Just curious. This isn't meant to be a debate about other denominations, I'm just wondering. I have close friends of different denominations, some that I would not consider attending at this time, but have found many local baptist churches lacking a lot...

thanks! :)

[HappyChicken]

I'd probably go to a Presbyterian church. It would be one with reformed theology. :-)

[rainbowpromises]

In my town I would have no other choices. Two towns west there is a Presbyterian I would attend because I know the teaching there is very close to what is taught at my church. One town east there is a Mennonite Brethren that I would attend even though I have not heard the preaching there I am sure I can agree with the teaching.

[-~Truth_N_Trust~-]

I have also heard good things about Presbyterian's, the only thing that holds me back is the infant baptism doctrine... Same with Lutheran.

[BereanTodd]

Non denominational bible churches would really be my only truly comfortable home. DTS style teaching/preaching/setup.

If I had to choose a denomination it would be hard. I won't go to any liberal ones - so there goes Methodist/Episcopalean. RCC and EO are right out the window. I do like a lot that the Presbyterians have put out, but although I'm a calvinist I am NOT reformed so they are right out. I don't care for infant baptism, so Lutherans and conservative Anglicans are out.

What am I left with? Not much. Maybe conservative/not-over-the-top AoG churches, I actually have some good friends who are AoG pastors and I have visited and loved their churches. Never seen anyone speak in tongues in public, never seen a service disrupted by the use of the gifts. I am not a cessasionist (though I'm also not charismatic, and do have some real issues with parts of the charismatic church).

[trinityisunity]

We have a Church of Christ in town, so we would possibly go there. Know the pastor there and he is a godly, wonderful man.

We have 5 pentacostal churches in town( doesn't show much unity) but I don't think I would venture into those. Rcc and Lutheran, Anglican and Uniting are not really an option for me.

[HumbleMan]

I would go to an AoG or CoG. Since I disagree with reformed theology and paedobaptism, Presbyterian and Lutheran would be ruled out. I might go to an EO church, if only because I like the focus they have on worship. Other than that, I'd be looking for a good house group/meeting.

[MsScarlett]

I'd probably try Methodist, though I've never been to one.

[mlqurgw]

If there were no Baptist Church I would start one. :)

[MatthewDiscipleofGod]

If there were no Baptist Church I would start one. :)

You took the words right out of my fingers.

[janny108]

I would go to an AoG or CoG. Since I disagree with reformed theology and paedobaptism, Presbyterian and Lutheran would be ruled out. I might go to an EO church, if only because I like the focus they have on worship. Other than that, I'd be looking for a good house group/meeting.

Same here!
Jan

[Abbadon]

I'd probably still be a Methodist, or maybe an Episcopalian. Lutheranism and Catholicism are about equal possibilities for my third choice (boy am I an odd duck).

[doughboy1234563]

TO be completely honest I dont stick with the "name" that a church has accepted, because there are so many branches, because there are even "baptist" churches I wouldn't Go to. But I guess I would Pray about 2 things, 1)Where do you want me so I can Glorify you? 2)is this a chance/Call for me to Step Up and start a Church

[edb19]

I'd probably go to a Presbyterian church. It would be one with reformed theology. :-)

me too

I have also heard good things about Presbyterian's, the only thing that holds me back is the infant baptism doctrine... Same with Lutheran.

I grew up Presbyterian - discussed infant baptism on multiple occasions with my pastor (because I had a hard time reconciling it with Scripture) - maybe he was the exception, but it wasn't an issue he dug his heels in about - I know that in my church I had several friends who were baptized at the time they joined the church. I've told my pastor that I'm really a credobaptist Presbyterian:P ;) :P

[Abbadon]

From what I've seen, the Presbyterian church's official stance on infant baptism is that it simply marks the child as a member of the community, it isn't the same as believer's baptism (one is a ceremony showing the community's acceptance of the child, the other shows the believer's acceptance of the community). However,

Although I agree with credobaptism, infant baptism can't hurt (unless the pastor goes crazy or something, but that's just an inane argument against baptism in general), although I wouldn't make it mandatory.

[MrJim]

Anderson or Winebrenner Church of God, Evangelical Free or Brethren in Christ...

[-~Truth_N_Trust~-]

From what I've seen, the Presbyterian church's official stance on infant baptism is that it simply marks the child as a member of the community, it isn't the same as believer's baptism (one is a ceremony showing the community's acceptance of the child, the other shows the believer's acceptance of the community). However,

Although I agree with credobaptism, infant baptism can't hurt (unless the pastor goes crazy or something, but that's just an inane argument against baptism in general), although I wouldn't make it mandatory.

That's how I've had it explained to me also, from a presbyterian point of view. They said that it meant that for the child the choice when they are older is to opt OUT of christianity.

Thanks everyone for your responses, it's very interesting! :cool: Keep em coming!

[trentlogain]

Perhaps I would go to a Pentecostal congregation. I'm still going to visit one some day.

[WarEagle]

If there were no Baptist Church I would start one. :)

That's essentially what we did. The nearest Baptist church to us is Chestertown, which is a pretty long haul.

One of the reasons our church grew so fast when we started it was that people who, under better conditions, would be Baptists, were forced to go to other churches because of the distance to the next closest Baptist church.

Once they found us, they started pouring in.

[WarEagle]

Although I disagree with infant baptism, if I had to choose another denom, I guess I'd take the Methodists of my childhood.

Back then, they were still a denomination that had a lot of sound, Biblical preaching, held to sound doctrine, and boldly proclaimed the Gospel.

No, they're just a trainwreck.

[ImmersionX]

I would pick one of the many independent Bible Churches in our area to join. Any charismatic/Pentacostal church is totally off limits for me considering I am cessationist in belief.

[MrJim]

Although I disagree with infant baptism, if I had to choose another denom, I guess I'd take the Methodists of my childhood.

Back then, they were still a denomination that had a lot of sound, Biblical preaching, held to sound doctrine, and boldly proclaimed the Gospel.

No, they're just a trainwreck.

There's always Nazarenes, Primitive Methodists, Independent Methodists, and an assortment of Weslyans ;)

[holyrokker]

I'd attend any church that has a similar view of worship, minisrty, purpose and theology as I have.

That would automatically rule out a few denominations. But being "Baptist" isn't at all important to me.

I've been a Christian for 30 years, and have been part of 7 different churches in those 30 years. I'm currently with a Baptist church. I've been here for 4 years. It's only the second Baptist church I've been with. The first one was 25 years ago. I was there just one year.

The other churches were:
Lutheran
Assembly of God
Vineyard
and independent

[HappyChicken]

me too



I grew up Presbyterian - discussed infant baptism on multiple occasions with my pastor (because I had a hard time reconciling it with Scripture) - maybe he was the exception, but it wasn't an issue he dug his heels in about - I know that in my church I had several friends who were baptized at the time they joined the church. I've told my pastor that I'm really a credobaptist Presbyterian:P ;) :P


I did not know they did infant baptism lol. Shows what I know! lolol

[HappyChicken]

I'd attend any church that has a similar view of worship, minisrty, purpose and theology as I have.

That would automatically rule out a few denominations. But being "Baptist" isn't at all important to me.

I've been a Christian for 30 years, and have been part of 7 different churches in those 30 years. I'm currently with a Baptist church. I've been here for 4 years. It's only the second Baptist church I've been with. The first one was 25 years ago. I was there just one year.

The other churches were:
Lutheran
Assembly of God
Vineyard
and independent


I, too, have been to many denominations my whole life, and it has really screwed me up. I'm glad you have had a better experience :D

[mesue]

If there was no baptist denomination, what other denomination(s) would you consider? Why? What other denomination(s) would you be not likely to consider? Why?
Are there any particular doctinal differences that just make them off limits to you?

Just curious. This isn't meant to be a debate about other denominations, I'm just wondering. I have close friends of different denominations, some that I would not consider attending at this time, but have found many local baptist churches lacking a lot...

thanks! :)
It's not the denomination so much as what they teach/preach etc. I'd have to do a lot of visiting.

[Izdaari]

I'm not too concerned with denomination, just that they teach the Gospel in a way I consider adequately sound, and that they show good fruit.

I'm not currently Baptist, but I have been and could be again.

My church history:



Regular Baptist (GARBC) - I accepted Christ in this one in Sunday School at age 12. Pretty conservative, but not fundamentalist.

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - I went to this one in my early teens. Fairly liberal.

A house church, loosely affiliated with Open Bible Standard Churches - This is the church I went to age 21, when I rededicated my life to Christ and was baptized. Conservative evangelical, charismatic ("Bapti-costal").

American Baptist (ABC) - The first church I found after moving back home to Seattle. Pretty liberal, but mostly blue hairs. I never bonded with the culture.

Lutheran (ELCA) - Tried this one briefly, didn't learn too much about it, but I liked their style. Liberal.

Assemblies of God - My current church, the first church I've ever actually joined. Conservative evangelical, Pentecostal, but this particular congregation is tolerant, loving and grace-centered, and the pastor is a gifted teacher. Though technically AG, it has more of a Calvary Chapel feel to it... and actually the pastor is former Calvary Chapel IIRC. I'm so lucky! (But it isn't actually luck - I'm sure God guided me to this one.)


If I had to change denominations? I'd look at all the mainstream churches, certainly including Baptist and non-denominational. I'd also consider the more reasonable conservative and charismatic churches. Grace-centered rather than legalistic teaching is a high priority for me.

[Antari2012]

I only go to a Baptist church because my parents do, and I can't drive. I don't believe in denominations, myself. I simply follow the Bible, and leave it at that.

I guess my answer would be, "Whatever church my parents go to."

I rarely go to church anymore, though, because I learn more by myself, and people are rather depressing anyway.