This is an interesting thread. I am looking for a church to attend for my family.
I grew up Baptist but I saw alot of dividing in the church, people arguing or being gossipy, there were things I never agreed with even as a child, I felt like certain passages were taken and used for beleifs but others were denied. Alot of picking and chosing. Only certain sections of the BIble were used to live by. Finger pointing at other religions about how wrong they beleived. Im not saying all Baptist churches are like this, by any means but I attended 4 and it seemed the same in all. I just felt something was missing. It never felt right for me although I do beleive Jesus dying for our sins. My mother and father are very baptist. Please dont think IM bashing, it just never has fit for me.
Im looking for a church that beleives its okay to take your kids halloweening and it isnt evil.......for me its just a fun day for children to trick or treat and have a good time dressing in fun costumes such as fairies or superman, and its a time to spend together.
Same with Christmas, about Santa Claus, its a fun magical story that makes being a child fun. ANd its ok to participate and its not a sin in the churches beleives. But also the child knowing really why the day is celebrated, that is Jesuses birthday. Because I do beleive that.
Id like to attend a church where what you wear doesnt matter, its that you are there that counts.
I really dont agree with gay relationships, but then again I dont want to judge people. Im certainly not perfect. I have had gay friends and although I didnt beleive in it, I liked the person for many other reasons.
I would really like to find a church where my kids learn about God, Jesus, being good to others and helping. Giving them a good background and having like people to fill close too and congregate with. A place for support and meeting, and extended family.
ANyone have any idea of a church, religion to start? SOmewhere that they teach from the whole bible, a teaching, not just living by certain picked passages? I dont know where to start?

My family is Methodist.

I understand what you are saying... but if you want a church that teaches the WHOLE Bible, straightforward, the real truth, no twists, they are not going to celebrate Halloween. You may find a lot that do, but that doesn't mean the Bible agrees with that.

I was raised Methodist but am closer to Agnostic. While I do pray, simply because I think we need something to believe in to explain why there is so much pain in the world and a hope for a better place in the end, i do question what that place is. Maybe it's because I can understand the theory of evolution better than an all powerful being that would allow all the suffering that we are forced to deal with. I would like to think we will be reunited with all the loved ones we have lost in our lives but, again, I question how that will occur. I will say, tho, that I read the "Left Behind" series of books and was so engrossed in them that I hated for them to end. They did make me reconsider my thinking a bit and boost my hope for a better ending to our lives. I do recomend the series to anyone who likes to read. It is an incredible adventure that explains the "Second Coming" in a way that is believable. Please read them.

Oh me too! My home forum has alot of stupid arguments over religion, I try to stay out of them.


I have been saved since age 10...I am now 26. I was brought up Assembly of God, but when I was 10 my parents had joined a Pentecostal church. I went there until I married my hubby...he wasn't comfortable there, and to tell you the truth...alot of backbiting and such was starting to go on. Since then, I atttend the Assembly of God again...I was Baptized "Jesus Name", and they are "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit", but you know...the have never once said my baptisim was wrong...they are just glad I am there. We don't go all the time, but I believe it takes more than sitting on the pew every time the door is open to be a Christian. Like I said before, the people at my old church were there EVERY service...but that still didn't stop all the things that went on. I believe in God, I pray every day, read my Bible and teach my kids about him...I believe it is what is in your heart that counts, and your actions to the world. I am a Christian...I am not perfect, but I know I am forgiven!!!

I am Jewish as well, and I agree with you .... we are all G-d's children. Does that make my Yorkie Jewish also????

Try a non-denominational or inter-denominational church and see how you like it. Sometimes in church the praise and worship is so good, the preacher does not even have to preach! The Holy Spirit comes down and we have church! I know that in a lot of the non-denominational churches I have been in, they do a special Halloween service for the kids...it still involves costumes and candy but non of the other stuff that is associated with the peagan tradition of halloween...it is a time of fellowship and fun and you know that your kids will be safe. If I were you, I would pray and seek God to find a church...He will answer your prayer and send you where you need to go! I hope you find a place where you will be happy!!!

:) I really didnt mean I wanted to go to a church that celebrated Halloween or Santa Claus. A poor example of what I meant. What I meant was I wanted to attend a congregation that is less judgemental and accepting of individual beliefs. As a child, these celebrations were remembered as good clean fun and magical. But later, in the churches I attended on my own or with my mother and step father, they said it was evil or worshipping pagan idols. I always wondered how a family gathering that made you feel happy, uplifted or special could be evil. SOmething that was special and wholesome to me was made to feel dirty. That is why I used Santa and halloween for an example. I now have my own children and I want them to have a positive experience with going to church and not to feel bad. Im just looking for a positive GOD and bible learning experience with more acceptance of the individual. To learn the goodness of God without the fire and brimstone for believing out of the square. I just wondered if such a congregation exists?
Im certain it does but I just dont know what denomination to start with.

Thank you! I will start there. :thumbup: :)

church
 

If you are looking for a church that believes in teaching the entire Bible that is called.."Full Gospel"...many are even listed in the paper or phone book as such..many Non-demoninational churches are full gospel, as they have broken away from the mainstream to be able to preach the full and complete message. Ask God for guidance, He will not fail to answer you in your search for Him in all His fullness.

Amen!

I just wanted to thank you too Yorkierose. I wasnt sure where to start and the input has been so helpful.

Although not all my prayers have always been answered as I would like them to, or sometimes feeling as if they werent answered at all, I know its not true. All things happen for a reason or in good time. Its a difficult thing to give your power or faith over to something you can not see. But I have had some very good experiences with GOd in my lifetime. I just need a place to worship where I feel the common bond, and my family feels it too. I personally need and want a full Bible teaching and understanding.

I respect others beliefs or faith whether they are like mine or different.

This thread is going a whole lot better than the one on the election results.

Everyone is playing nicely. but I'm sure if we were forced to vote on one religion, it would not go as well.

I haven't looked at that thread...think I'll stay away from it.

One thing I did learn I agree with........IS NEVER MIX RELIGION & POLITICS:D

BUt I will say this.......may the best men and women have won. Bless their journey for all concerned. I think it concerns all of us. Little, big and those in between. Bless every soul, may be all be a family with the best solution in mind.

I agree that it's very ahrd to find a church
at this moment I don't go to church
and I really don't know when I will
I think that I'm studying the bible fine now
and I think that everyone should really take some time to study the bible on their own, even if they DO go to church.
I don't like people telling me what the bible means, as I really do think everyone needs to read the bible in a sort of selfish way, by that i mean that they should find out how each and every line affects their lives and how it should influence their lives.

oh and a note about Halloween
Halloween is derived from All Hallows Eve as I'm sure you all know, so All Saints Eve, november 1st is All Saints Day. I think a lot a lot of people forget this. I think it depends on HOW you celebrate this holiday. I mean trick or treating with the kids?! what's bad about that, what is dark and sadistic? but say performing a pagan ritual, obviously no. ha ha ha
The church made All Saints Day to sort of cancel out the popular pagan holiday, and they celebrated All Saints (hallow) Day Eve, and they made it a religious Holiday. You can research this.

I see Santa Claus as a great way to help kids understand Jesus, he gives presents to ALL the girls and boys because he loves them so much. At a young age I think it's very hard for children to understand love, and who Jesus was and what his birth has done for us.

I do know that when I have kids I will have found a church, as I think they should learn about the bible with other kids, and then my soul reason for going to that church will be based on how they teach them, and making sure they make it fun.

Have any of you Christians attended the Walk to Emmaus or Cursillo?? It was such a fantastic experience and it really teaches you how much God truly loves us, not matter what. :) :) :)

Prayer
 

Kelly....I think I can answer this from life's experince..being 61 and a Christian for over 50 yrs...God always answers prayer..but the problem is, we can not tell Him how to answer the prayer. He is the Father and like a father, sometimes HE says yes, no, wait, later, soon, not today, in MY time I will answer your prayer with YOUR best interest at heart..just the way good "earthly" parents have our best interest at heart and tell us ..No, you can not eat cake for breakfast, yes, you can get a new dress, but must wait for your birthday, you will have to wait until the time is right..and as a parent they decide when it is right...

Please believe me, God ALWAYS has our best interest at heart..and that is where faith is so important..because there are times I am so sure my way is best..and then thank God over and over for not doing it my way..what a mess I would have been in if He had..LOL

No I have never heard of Hallows Eve? Ever as I remember. I can research it but could you tell me what you were taught or know as you know it?

i dont believe in god or the bible but i do believe in an after life and spirits. i would never put anyones beliefs down though.:)

I am a Christian

Soooooooo, did you make it to the history making Pensecola Revival that lasted a few years or have you at least heard of it. i was fortunate enough to go. WOWWWWWWW, a life changing experience for sure.

Brownsville...YES, wonderful!!!!
I won't mind going to a good old fashion tent revival...are those days gone..haven't seen any advertized in a long time...

Thank you very much for the information On Halloween. I never knew there was an All Saints and Souls day, I didnt find anything when I looked up Halloween but I did find articles about Saints day and its long history. I never even knew the correlation or the existence of Saint day. Now I know why I always felt it wasnt evil to me. I always celebrated it as a good day even in my ignorance. What a long interesting history.
I attached one article I found I could understand!.......lol......some were to indepth and I got lost.:)
http://allsaintsday.info/

I go to a Bible Alliance church. It is very close to baptist. I think the difference might be that my church is very big into missions... ?

I took my kids out trick or treating... They believed in Santa, and as far as sexual preference is concerned... We are not to judge each other.
In my church it is all personal preference and your relationship with the Lord. Some people may not agree but the church doesn't rule over you on these things... I don't know if you will ever find a church where every one agrees on every thing but I don't think it is the churches place to dictate what holidays you enjoy. I haven't had any one say anything and my kids are grown now!!!

I did Walk 242 in Kerriville TX years ago. It is great!

I found this information by researching myself
before I was even a Christian...
(I am constantly researching things like relgion and science and such)
yes all souls day is November 2nd I believe,
to honour the dead!
I kind of thought these were known but I guess not.

I also have an article on a list of 6 things that prove there is a God
it is SCIENTIFIC which is what drew me to it, and I definitly believe God brought that article to me because I prayed and prayed for him to help me, because I was having trouble being MYSELF (factual) and believing.

http://www.everystudent.com/features/isthere.html

I really encourage you to read this
I enjoy discussing things (my boyfriend says I like to argue, but I point out that there's a difference)
so I researched religion because I knew my family would fight me on this
and ask me why I wanted to believe

(of course my reply is "i don't WANT to believe, I DO believe" my entire family is agnostic or athiest, except for my aunt and her husband)

eek!
apparently that article is wron gabout one thing
my boyfriend just told me that Mars actually had an atmosphere AND water...

This makes me laugh. I have found the perfect match for Kissie, my female yorkie. And the male belongs also to a jewish family. I was thinking if I need a Rabbi for their wedding... I'm joking... :D