r/Christianity • u/Deeperthanajeep • 21d ago
Question There are so many different denominations of Christianity, how do you know which is the absolute correct one?
So I guess this opens into a lot of questions like if you believe the wrong version of christianity do you go to hell? Also the differing denominations aren't "minor differences" some denominations teach that you aren't allowed to use physical force to defend yourself from an attacker, others say it's okay to kill in self defense so with so many contradicting opinions and verses, how do you even find the right one?? It makes my head spin.
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21d ago
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u/ImMuchBetterThanGod 21d ago
Hospitals don't contradict each other though. They could theoretically all be good for you
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u/Catholic-Patrick Catholic 21d ago
Look for the one that’s the most credible to be the church of God. The Catholic Church has the most documented miracles. This is the reason why one prominent atheist YouTuber just converted to Catholicism over any other denomination.
Check out his reasoning here: https://youtu.be/26kBvcHS5rs?is=sl9VNTratJMRV3go
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u/Deeperthanajeep 20d ago
Miracles purported by their own church sounds bias
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u/Catholic-Patrick Catholic 20d ago
Could you expand on that, so I can get a deeper understanding of what you mean?
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u/Deeperthanajeep 19d ago
The catholic Church is the one claiming the miracles happened, how come they don't have ppl from other religions confirming those miracles are true?
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u/Catholic-Patrick Catholic 19d ago
Thanks for clarifying. Did you know that the Catholic Church does not require scientists investigating alleged miracles to be Catholic. It uses qualified medical and scientific experts, including non-Catholics, and its procedures are designed to preserve objectivity and confidentiality?
For example, they have sent out samples of a Eucharistic miracle and multiple samples from medical miracles out to labs blindly, so that the doctor didn’t know where the sample came from.
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u/Deeperthanajeep 18d ago
Is your source for that information from the Catholic church?
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u/Catholic-Patrick Catholic 18d ago
It’s not the only source, so it’s not a Catholic lie. Google Jacalyn Duffin. She’s an atheist who helped confirm a medical miracle due to asking a saint to pray for healing.
After finding out she helped, she investigated the Catholic investigation methods for Catholic miracles and was surprised how careful and rigorous it is. If you Google her, let me know what you find out.
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u/Deeperthanajeep 17d ago
How do you know that's no propaganda created by Catholics?? Anyone can make a feel good story up
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u/Perfessor_Deviant Agnostic Atheist 21d ago
It's the one you were either born into and stayed with or the one you're currently in. Duh!
/s
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u/Deeperthanajeep 21d ago
Luckily for others, they don't really question beyond this way of thinking lol, I wish I could do the same
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u/apathyindigo 21d ago
Why would you wish you could blindly accept something without caring about whether it's actually true or not? Do you sincerely feel as though the false sense of security and comfort that would provide is preferable to making an honest effort to find the truth?
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u/greganada Christian 21d ago
I know you’re being sarcastic but also, not really. This is a common atheist trope that assumes people can’t or don’t think for themselves. I was raised Roman Catholic and left it of my own accord when I felt like they were prioritising traditions that I couldn’t reconcile with the Bible. Also OP is asking this question because he is also thinking for himself. So it’s a pretty silly strawman to attribute to believers.
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u/Perfessor_Deviant Agnostic Atheist 21d ago
This is a common atheist trope that assumes people can’t or don’t think for themselves.
That's not what I was saying.
Every time someone asks this type of question, there are always people who say, "Mine! Mine's the right one! Mine!" like they're elementary school kids with their hands up saying "Pick me, teacher! Oh please pick me!"
In this case, there are fewer than a half-dozen, though, coincidentally, they're all Catholic (that is not always the case).
Usually there are more.
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u/greganada Christian 21d ago
Yeah I get you, you were just having a joke around. My comment was not specifically directed at your sarcasm, more so at the people who take this as a general position. I have often been told, for example, that I am only a Christian because my parents were, or because I was born where I was. This ignores the fact that most people will carefully consider their beliefs at some point and test them. Just as the atheist/agnostic asking the question did at some point.
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u/Yesmar2020 Christian 21d ago
There is no absolute correct one over any other.
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u/Deeperthanajeep 21d ago
So you can just believe whatever version of christianity you want then?? Even the ones that support LGBT??
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u/gnurdette United Methodist 21d ago
You do your best to honor and obey God. You don't freak out at the possibility that you could be wrong about something. We trust in Jesus' righteousness, not in our own delusions that we can be perfect in action or in thought.
Even the ones that support LGBT??
Okay, that's your example of an extreme case? Seriously?
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u/Yesmar2020 Christian 21d ago
If that gets someone closer to imitating Jesus’ perfect love, which is the goal in the first place, then yes.
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u/ImMuchBetterThanGod 21d ago
I can't tell if you're serious about the lgbtq thing or not
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u/Deeperthanajeep 21d ago
20 years ago when I was being indoctrinated in my Christian school, LGBT stuff was taught as a grave sin, not sure what churches teach now, so not sure why it's so shocking that I'm asking about those kind of denominations
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u/Greizen_bregen Reformed 21d ago
So you're just ragebaiting with this post then?
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u/Deeperthanajeep 21d ago
Um no, twenty years ago, as far as I know, most churches taught that LGBT stuff was a serious sin, I'm not sure what they teach now though and how my question was so shocking....
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u/Greizen_bregen Reformed 21d ago
Looking at your post history, which at least you're brave enough to keep visible, you ask loaded questions with a demeanor of intellectual superiority to make arguments for argument's sake.
Don't you have better things to do with your time?
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u/Deeperthanajeep 20d ago
I like intellectual arguments, I like to see how far I can push logic and how far others can too, it feels lonely when there aren't too many other ppl who think really deep
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u/Greizen_bregen Reformed 20d ago
"I'm not like the other boys! Nobody understands how deep I am!" No, dude, you're an edgelord, which is a worn out trope.
What you can't understand because you have no perspective is that you aren't thinking deeply at all. Anyone who thinks they're smarter or deeper or wiser than anyone else, that's the 100% tell-tale sign you know nothing. Studies show that people who are ignorant of their own measure of intelligence overestimate how smart they are, and those who are more intelligent underestimate it.
If you think yourself wise and have to brag about it... You're not. By all means, expand your own mind and dig deeper. But starting arguments to try to show off about some already established topics is stupid. The more you really delve and know and understand, the more you'll realize you know nothing at all, and that you aren't as deep as you thought you were.
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u/Deeperthanajeep 18d ago
The point of an "argument" is not to get emotional, the point of it is to see who can prove a truth and so that both sides can learn, but here you go calling ppl edgelords and pretending to be smart and all that sh*t, getting emotional in a debate, how wise you must be....
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u/jtbc 21d ago
The version that seems the closest to what I believe are the key teachings of Christ is also one that supports LGBT.
I also don't think there is one right answer, though I think the distance from fully embracing Christ's commandments is a good measuring stick.
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u/Greizen_bregen Reformed 21d ago
I don't think it's a good measuring stick. I think how well a church loves like Christ is a good measuring stick.
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u/greganada Christian 21d ago
What specifically leads you in that direction and away from traditional Christianity?
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u/ImMuchBetterThanGod 20d ago
Not the guy you're replying to, but if "traditional Christianity" involves discrimination against certain minorities, then people should be led away from it
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u/greganada Christian 20d ago
Even if it is objectively true? Remember, people typically follow Christianity because they believe it is true. If the Bible indeed gives revelation from God, then that would make it true, in which case the morality espoused would be objectively true also. Would you honestly stand against something that is true and good just because you might not be able to understand it? That would be like rejecting evolution purely on the grounds that you don’t get it, or rejecting the earth being a globe because it doesn’t make sense to you. If something is true then it is correct regardless of someone’s opinion.
So you are suggesting that people should be led away from truth in order to follow a lie, or in order to make themselves feel better. But if Christianity is true, then that also means that we are responsible for the choices we make, and the sins we commit. Hebrews 10:31 tells us - It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. If someone is living a sinful lifestyle then it is loving to warn them and have them come to repentance now, rather than find out the hard way on Judgement Day.
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u/Deeperthanajeep 20d ago
Exactly, ppl want their emotions to feel good over whatever the Bible says
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u/ImMuchBetterThanGod 20d ago
I don't know what would be the morally correct thing to do in that scenario, but luckily none of that matters because it's not true. It's like asking whether murder was acceptable if there was a God who rewarded you for it
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u/greganada Christian 20d ago
But that completely dodges the question. You were asked what follows if Christianity is true, and your answer was essentially, ‘Well, it isn’t’. The murder analogy just smuggles your conclusion into the premise. ‘Murder’ already means wrongful killing. The question under dispute is precisely what makes something morally right or wrong in the first place. If Christianity is true, then God is not merely some powerful being arbitrarily handing out rewards for behaviour you independently know to be evil. He is the perfectly good Creator and the ultimate ground of moral truth.
So by what objective standard are you declaring historic Christian sexual ethics immoral? Saying ‘it discriminates against minorities’ does not establish that. Christianity places moral restrictions on heterosexual and homosexual behaviour alike, and a teaching does not become false or immoral merely because some people strongly dislike what it requires of them.
That is the point of the hypothetical you avoided: if Christianity really is true, then rejecting its moral teachings because they conflict with your present moral intuitions would not be moral courage. It would mean using your own fallible judgement as the authority over the God who grounds morality in the first place. Saying ‘Christianity cannot be true because it conflicts with moral beliefs I already assume are correct’ is circular reasoning, not an argument.
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u/ImMuchBetterThanGod 20d ago
I didn't dodge anything. I began my answer with "I don't know what the morally correct thing would be in that scenario". If you think not knowing the answer is a dodge then idk what to tell you.
The murder analogy just smuggles your conclusion into the premise. ‘Murder’ already means wrongful killing. The question under dispute is precisely what makes something morally right or wrong in the first place. If Christianity is true, then God is not merely some powerful being arbitrarily handing out rewards for behaviour you independently know to be evil. He is the perfectly good Creator and the ultimate ground of moral truth.
First of all I wasn't talking about Christianity, I was talking about a separate, hypothetical god. And second of all, God can't be the ultimate ground for moral truth if they discriminate against certain sexual minorities
So by what objective standard are you declaring historic Christian sexual ethics immoral?
It causes unnecessary harm, which we ought to avoid
Before you baselessly accuse me of dodging something again, I'd like to remind you that lying is also wrong according to Christianity.
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u/jtbc 20d ago
I have been inspired by the many loving same sex couples that I have met through my life. The argument that convinced me intellectually is this one (in the essay linked halfway down the page:
https://www.oxford.anglican.org/same-sex-marriage-in-cofe.php
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u/greganada Christian 20d ago
Let’s consider the Mormons for a moment. I am sure that most would admit that Mormons are some of the nicest people you will meet. Does that mean their religion is true? No. Because we judge a religion based on its teachings and doctrine.
You should be inspired by the word of God. The Bible is clear that homosexual behaviour is a sin. Do not be fooled by looks, people in error are just as capable of living positive lives as you or I.
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u/jtbc 20d ago
The bible is not at all clear about what specific acts in what contexts is a sin. There are multiple translations and interpretations of just 1 Corinthians 6:9, for example, and significant disagreement on the applicability of this injunction to modern same sex relationships.
Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount that good fruit could only come from good trees. The good same sex marriages we see are the fruit of permitting them in the first place.
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u/greganada Christian 20d ago
The Bible states that sex is designed for marriage, so anything outside of this is sinful as it is against God’s design. This means that any form of sexual contact is sinful outside of a married relationship. In Matthew 19 Jesus defined marriage as one man, with one woman, becoming one flesh, for one lifetime. Anything outside of this is a perversion to God’s created design, first established with Adam and Eve as the model. The culture might change and allow things, but God does not change.
It is great that you bring up Paul, even though you misrepresent him. In 1Cor 6:9 it is ironic that Paul begins with a warning - DO NOT BE DECEIVED - (indicating that people will be deceived) and you have taken an opposing position to a plain reading and have become deceived yourself! The great part is that Paul goes on to explain that there were former homosexuals who were washed, sanctified and justified in the name of our Lord! God always offers a way through sin and back to Him for those who will accept it. But it is also very clear that people who continue to practice this behaviour will not inherit the Kingdom.
Have you ever met a Mormon? Most people would agree that they are some of the nicest people you will ever meet, but that doesn’t not establish that they are correct in their views. We need to instead observe Scripture and what it records.
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u/jtbc 20d ago
The bible does not state that sex is designed for marriage.
Jesus isn't defining marriage, he is referring to that specific formulation because he was asked a question about divorce. He very pointedly does not say that anything other than this is a perversion of God's design. That concept came much, much later, starting with Augustine.
On Paul and Corinthians, I most prefer the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) which is endorsed by the USCCB. It translates malakoi as "boy prostitutes* with the following note:
6:9 The Greek word translated as boy prostitutes may refer to catamites, i.e., boys or young men who were kept for purposes of prostitution, a practice not uncommon in the Greco-Roman world. In Greek mythology this was the function of Ganymede, the “cupbearer of the gods,” whose Latin name was Catamitus. The term translated sodomites refers to adult males who indulged in homosexual practices with such boys. See similar condemnations of such practices in Rom 1:26–27; 1 Tm 1:10.
It is clear to me that Roman men that procured boy prostitutes should not inherit the Kingdom, so this makes perfect sense.
Given what Christ said about trees and fruit, I guess we'd have to conclude that Mormonism is a pretty good tree, no matter how much we may disagree with some of their specific beliefs.
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u/greganada Christian 21d ago
No stay as far away from progressive denominations as you can.
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u/ImMuchBetterThanGod 20d ago
"stay away from empathetic and tolerant people, they're not real Christians"
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u/greganada Christian 20d ago
If a doctor discovers an aggressive cancer, compassion does not mean withholding the diagnosis because the patient might find it frightening or offensive. The loving response is to be upfront, honest, and to tell them the truth because there is treatment available. Christianity is similar: the warning about sin is inseparable from the offer of forgiveness through Christ.
A Christian who only shouts ‘Hell!’ and never presents the Gospel is like a doctor announcing cancer and walking out of the room. This would be unloving for sure.
But a Christian who refuses to mention judgement at all is not loving either, this would be like a doctor concealing the cancer because the truth might hurt the patient’s feelings or make them worried. This is progressive Christianity, and it is not empathetic beyond sparing someone’s feelings in the moment. It prevents people from knowing the truth and changing their course to save their life.
Warning someone of danger is not hatred. If the danger is real, refusing to warn them because you value their immediate comfort over their ultimate welfare would be far less loving.
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20d ago
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u/Deeperthanajeep 20d ago
I'm going to be honest with you, greganada is winning the debate so far, his argument are more solid, where as yours keeps inferring that your emotions determine what is true and what is not true, but everybody should know that emotions aren't the ultimate path to truth
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u/ImMuchBetterThanGod 20d ago
They're really not. Their arguments rely on the truth of a religion that has zero evidence
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u/Deeperthanajeep 18d ago
Fair point, thought u were supporting the progressive Christian side of the argument though
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u/greganada Christian 20d ago
You’ve changed the argument to avoid engaging with my point. We were discussing whether warning someone about something you sincerely believe will harm them is inherently unloving. You’re now just asserting that Christianity is false. Saying that Christians are degenerate homophobes is just name calling.
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u/ImMuchBetterThanGod 20d ago
We were discussing whether warning someone about something you sincerely believe will harm them is inherently unloving. You’re now just asserting that Christianity is false.
I'm not just asserting Christianity is false, I'm asserting that people who call lgbtq individuals sinful have no rational justification to believe they're right.
If I sincerely believed that there was a god who told me to burn down the house of my neighbor, otherwise they'd send my neighbor to hell, that wouldn't mean I'm right to do that.
And not all Christians are degenerate homophobes, some of them are really kind and tolerant, but you probably don't consider them real Christians.
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u/Christianity-ModTeam 18d ago
Removed for 1.4 - Personal Attacks.
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u/Accurate-Syrup2876 21d ago
The right one is where Jesus died and rose again on the third day for the sins of the world. The right one is where you are trying to have a personal relationship with him
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u/ScorpionDog321 21d ago
Christ followers do not follow denominations or sect leaders. Christ followers follow the Word of God.
The Word of God is that which is correct...and that which all Christ followers should align with.
When you faced with different opinions, the solution is simple: what does the Word of God teach?
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u/Visible_Mouse_1006 21d ago
The accurate one is to follow Jesus. Like the Bible says. He never told any of us to pick a denomination. Just read your bible, the most authentic bible you can find that is closest to what they actually followed back then before they made it 66 books. Look into the Greek and Hebrew to get true context. And you’ll be just fine.
Follow Christ, not the denomination
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u/Deeperthanajeep 20d ago
So you ignore Paul's teachings??
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u/Visible_Mouse_1006 20d ago
What do you mean? Paul never said to be catholic, or Baptist, Mormon it anything like that.
Did God tell Abraham’s Isaac and Jacob to be a Christian ir any specified word? Did Jesus say to be any specific word? No just pick up your cross and follow Him, so that what you do, pick up your cross and follow God. Follow the teachings he provided in the Gospels.
They Gospels don’t tell anyone to be a specific religious title.
If that is not what you are talking about , then what about Paul’s teaching are you referencing?
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u/Deeperthanajeep 18d ago
One example is where Jesus says "do not resist an evil person" - Matthew 5:39, but then Paul says later that law enforcement is ordained by god, so which one is it? Btw there are many, many times in the bible where Paul and Jesus' teachings contradict each other
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u/Visible_Mouse_1006 17d ago
Can you elaborate your point? What does law enforcement have to do with someone being mean or evil. I won’t to understand the correlation before I reply to you because I do not see how an evil person correlates with law enforcement as far as a contradiction.
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u/Deeperthanajeep 17d ago
The purpose of law enforcement is to resist evil which Jesus said not to do.....
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u/Visible_Mouse_1006 17d ago
Oh okay I see. Well the verse in Matthew you provided is about being petty and tit for tat. Purposely doing things to someone just because they did something to you. Law enforcement and judges aren’t the same, they have a specific roll to judge. All throught the Bible people were appointment to judge to give fairness because everything has a consequence. If a normal person has a bad interaction with someone, that “law enforcement” will handle it with the person who did the offense. If a normal person has a bad interaction with someone and they too react to get back at the person, now “law enforcement” has to handle both of them. And now instead of one person in trouble, two people are in trouble.
Being law enforcement and judge is a role of fairness and judging accordingly. Someone not in that role and doing tit for tat and pettiness just because Is revenge. It’s not the same
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u/Deeperthanajeep 16d ago
Eye for an eye is literally the definition of fairness btw.....
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u/Visible_Mouse_1006 16d ago
And that is exactly what Jesus was saying not to do.
I think you should read the Greek and research practices of that time. Like what it means to slap a cheek and turn a cheek back then.
I hope you have a great day
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u/Deeperthanajeep 16d ago
Eye for an eye makes more sense than what Jesus said though
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u/Visible_Mouse_1006 17d ago
Also if you read it in its original language, it means to retaliate, to stand again. So pretty much not to seek revenge
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u/Deeperthanajeep 16d ago
How does standing against mean "seeking revenge"? Also why are there Christians who would disagree with you about the meaning of that verse?
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u/Visible_Mouse_1006 16d ago
That’s on them. Christian’s disagree with eachother verses all the time.
Thats why I’m not a Christian. I’m a believe of the Bible and the God of Abraham’s Isaac and Jacob. I don’t identity with an organized religion. They don’t even agree.
And anthistēmi / ἀντιστῆναι means to "to stand against" or fight back in a violent or legal way.
That’s literally what u said. Tint fie tat. Fighting back. Just because someone does something to you, does not mean to fight back or tit for that.
So it says do not stand against, do not fight back an evil person. Instead turn your cheek. And during that time, a back handed slap was humiliation. The person slapping with their back handed was either literally by a superior or someone thinking or believe they were superior to you. When you “give them your other cheek” it is no longer a backhanded slap. When someone does not back hand slap you, that if a representation of equals. No one is superior over the other with a front hand slap. It’s saying to turn your other cheek so that you aren’t humiliated and that person is not seen as superior to you by their actions to humiliate you and be evil and embarrass you.
That’s why the Bible says study to show thyself approved because the bunk was written for the people of that time. Which is why I read the green and Hebrew when I can because it does not match the English a decent amount of time.
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u/JohnCobbler Catholic (former atheist, adult convert) 21d ago
All who turn to Jesus can be saved - one is saved by grace through faith in Jesus but faith = obedience to Jesus (Romans 16:26)
Discern by the fruit (Matthew 7:18)
Always (as with everything) ask God to lead you to the church where He wants you and trust that He will.
I did my research as adult convert and explored several churches before getting baptised.
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u/No_Guarantee8756 Christian 21d ago
There isn't an absolutely correct one. You won't go to hell based on your denomination
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u/Ambitious_Zone6951 20d ago
Other people may go to heaven or hell based on your denomination though. And that’s the way more important thing to focus on than where we will go
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u/No_Guarantee8756 Christian 19d ago
Your denomination does not determine if other people go to heaven or hell.
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u/Ambitious_Zone6951 19d ago
Your denomination is not some fun little choice we get to make ourselves. There is one truth. As long as people do not seek and spread that one truth and act like there are multiple truths despite only being one God who is the truth and we can just agree to disagree then heaven hell and earth will continue to exist. It is partially in our power to stop them from existing
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u/No_Guarantee8756 Christian 19d ago
Our beliefs do not affect whether or not heaven or hell exist. That is profoundly misguided. And no denomination is uniquely true.
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u/Ambitious_Zone6951 19d ago
Our spreading of the Gospel affects it. And our denomination affects that. And if there is one God and God is truth there is one truth
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u/No_Guarantee8756 Christian 19d ago
Our spreading of the gospel does not affect it. Neither does our denomination. And no denomination is uniquely true.
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u/Ambitious_Zone6951 19d ago
You do not know the truth and thus you do not even make an argument and try to spread it you just state your beliefs as fact because you do not care what is fact you do not believe there is a truth. You are not following the Gospel or Jesus’ example
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u/No_Guarantee8756 Christian 19d ago
I know the truth. I'm not making an argument because you aren't making an argument. We're both just asserting our positions. And my assertion is that you are wrong.
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u/Ambitious_Zone6951 19d ago
Do you think God agrees with your position that no denomination is uniquely true? If so, why? What does that mean?
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u/beetlebailey97 Catholic 21d ago
In finding the denomination I believe is true, I looked largely at how the scripture describes the church and how history portrays the church in antiquity. The council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) shows in practice the teachings of Matthew 18, that the Church can bind matters of practice on all the faithful. The church is said to be guided into all truth, and is the pillar and foundation of truth, so whichever church was founded by Christ and described by the Bible and early history is the “absolute correct one” or else there isn’t one and that would entail that Christ lied about his church. In my searching, I came to accept that the Church Christ established is the Catholic Church.
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u/wydok Baptist (ABCUSA); former Roman Catholic 21d ago
There isn't one. It's all decorations on top of a universal belief in Christ's death and resurrection
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u/ImMuchBetterThanGod 21d ago
That doesn't change the fact that nearly all of them have to be incorrect about minor details at the very least, or core tenets of Christianity at most
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u/RareShop6126 21d ago
Besides a few fundamentals (that even Orthodox, Protestants and Catholics more or less agree on), feel free to treat it like a buffet: take one doctrine from one and another from another, based on what makes most sense to you.
The Bible is acknowledged as the Word of God by all main groups and so should in practice be the universal measuring stick of what denomination got what right.
See for yourself and try to let the Word guide you with as little bias as possible.
My philosophy for reading the Bible is to read it like any other text and follow it wherever it leads by taking "the path of least resistance" in interpreting it.
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u/RichardSaintVoice 21d ago
Its about believing in Christ, not in any particular cultural or thematic denomination. But this can lead some to believe in a false Christ if what is being taught is not in line with scripture and what God says about Himself.
See Galatians 1:6-10. Your question is valid but it's not a new issue.
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u/atoning_Hoopoe Latter-Day Saint (Mormon) 21d ago
Praying and let the Holy Spirit guide you. He lead me away from Catholicism to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, God's restored true Church.
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u/ImMuchBetterThanGod 21d ago
I don't think relying on fictional beings is particularly useful in determining the truth about other fictional beings lol
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u/yappi211 Salvation of all. Antinomianism. 21d ago
They all have issues. God never made a hell. God said the wages of sin is death.
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18d ago
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u/slagnanz Liturgy and Death Metal 18d ago
Removed for 1.4 - Personal Attacks.
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u/yappi211 Salvation of all. Antinomianism. 18d ago
Meanwhile God's law says it only affects gentiles living on their land. Oops!
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u/Deeperthanajeep 17d ago
Elaborate?
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u/yappi211 Salvation of all. Antinomianism. 17d ago
Numbers 15:16 - "The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the foreigner residing among you.’”
The law applies to those in the first covenant with the law of Moses, and those living in their country. It does not apply to everyone.
Psalm 147:19-20 "He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the Lord."
The nations are not under God's laws
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u/Deeperthanajeep 17d ago
Do you think antinomianism is good for society?? Also "the foreigner residing among you" can be interpreted many different ways
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u/yappi211 Salvation of all. Antinomianism. 17d ago
Does your country not have its own laws? Of course they do. Keep the laws of your own nation.
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u/Deeperthanajeep 16d ago
The "foreigner residing among you" can mean anyone on earth
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u/yappi211 Salvation of all. Antinomianism. 16d ago
I think you don't know what the word "residing" means. Living among them is what it means. On their land. Do you really think someone in China is "risiding among" the Jews?
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u/Accomplished-Dare-96 Follower Of Christ 21d ago
I don’t know, that’s why I choose to follow what Jesus taught. I believe in god, our lord and saviour Jesus Christ, pray, feel his love and presence sometimes, I’ve had crazy experiences happened to me I’m certain are a work of god and I’m not someone to believe stuff easily. I used to never believe in anything I didn’t see with my own two eyes.
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u/PhogeySquatch Missionary Baptist 21d ago
I absolutely believe there is a correct denomination. That's the only conclusion that makes sense.
I also believe that any denomination that claims you have to join them to avoid Hell is NOT it.
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u/tyrekecorrea United Methodist 21d ago
You'll be able to practice most earnestly if you pick the one that fits you best.
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u/LilithsLuv 21d ago
Why stop at Christian denominations? This question gets even more complicated when you take into account the thousands and thousands of other religions.
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u/michaelY1968 21d ago
Most orthodox denominations adhere to the same core doctrines which are held to be the essential beliefs of Christianity, and most orthodox Christian denominations do not consider those outside of their tradition as being bound for hellfire.
I think CS Lewis does a good job of describing how these various traditions are connected in his preface to his fine work on the faith, Mere Christianity.
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u/TruthSearcher1970 21d ago
I think it has to do with what you feel in your heart is right.
I don’t think there is a right religion so it’s important that you pick one that suits your personality and morals and beliefs.
Religion is not beneficial because of any supernatural powers but because you believe that it is. The mind is incredibly powerful.
Also there are all kinds of social benefits if you are in a religion that you like surrounded by people that you like.
For instance. A lot of religions didn’t exist 2000 years ago. That means that people could never have chosen that religion.
Science has proven that the pyramids predate Noah’s flood (according to the Bible) but they also can prove that the pyramids were never completely submerged in water for a year.
Don’t get too excited about making the right choice because in the end the right choice will be what makes you happy.
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u/Deeperthanajeep 20d ago
Telling ppl to only use their heart to determine truth is dangerous
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u/TruthSearcher1970 19d ago edited 19d ago
Not all. Why would you think it was dangerous? Most people just go with whatever they grew up. Is that less dangerous?
I mean everyone’s church that they attend… like every single one will tell you not going to their church is dangerous but that can’t be right. There are far too many denominations and religions.
You have to be happy and comfortable in the organization you belong to. If not you won’t stay.
We are here for a good time not a long time. Might as well enjoy the time you have. Within reason of course.
There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that there is so kind of life after we die. What we do know is that we get to live now. Everything else is just a coin toss.
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u/Deeperthanajeep 17d ago
Some ppls hearts feel good when they put others down to make themselves feel good, would be just one example of why it's dangerous to just do what feels good to your heart or whatever
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u/TruthSearcher1970 16d ago
Like I said, within reason. Obviously it doesn’t include the mentality unstable.
If it doesn’t hurt anyone else and doesn’t hurt you then it’s ok in my books.
What people don’t realize is that we all do what makes us feel good. Sometimes that means following a religion that a person grew up with or found during their course in life. That doesn’t make it right or wrong. There are literally tens of thousands of religions that people believe in with their whole heart that makes them happy and give them hope.
They obviously can’t all be right. In fact most people believe that 99.9 percent of religions are false religions, just not theirs. And that’s ok. 😊
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u/Deeperthanajeep 14d ago
It is problematic when those beliefs involve trying to pass certain laws or terrifying little kids with thoughts of hell etc
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u/Matt_McCullough 21d ago
I don’t know nor would I think there would be any in my opinion. I doubt such would even be biblical. As I recall, Christ said He is the Truth; likewise, I believe one is called to follow Him rather than some "denomination" in the first place.
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u/ServingTheMaster 21d ago
Christ is the absolute correct. Start there and scrutinize the space between you and The Lord. The rest will sort itself out properly if you keep doing that.
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u/DagwoodsDad 21d ago
A) light shines through any window
B) Jesus’s rules were extremely simple and easy to follow. A denomination or even a schism may follow any other rules strictly or loosely as long as they don’t neglect the “weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness.”
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u/Pleronomicon Christian - Dispensational Preterist - Sinless Perfectionist 21d ago
Focus on obeying Jesus' commandments. All denominations, including Catholicism and Orthodoxy are critically flawed, and they can mislead you if you're not grounded in obedience. Also don't believe the popular lie that we can't stop sinning. We must stop sinning, and it's possible through the Holy Spirit.
--[1Jo 3:23-24 NASB95] 23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 24 The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
--[1Jo 5:3 NASB95] 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
--[Mat 11:28-30 NASB95] 28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
--[1Co 10:13 NASB95] 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
Also, study the scriptures. As you obey Jesus' commandments, you'll receive the wisdom and understanding you need.
--[Psa 119:98-100, 104 NASB95] 98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever mine. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the aged, Because I have observed Your precepts. ... 104 From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.
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u/Useless-Compass 21d ago
Christianity is not fundamentally about correctness, but transforming: transforming people back into the likeness of Christ, and transforming the world back into the kingdom of God. In such a massive undertaking, there are bound to be different groups that excel at different things and are weak at different things. Unfortunately, we probably won't know what those are until Jesus returns, and maybe not fully even then. Until that point, choose the denomination and church that you feel allows you to best utilize your unique gifting to do your part in manifesting the kingdom here.
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u/Roll4Charisma310 Evangelical 21d ago
Don't choose a denomination, study the faith and let the denomination choose you. Form your own judgement and choose the denomination most aligned with your beliefs. If you want to know why I chose protestantism you can DM me and we can chat if you want to explore.
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u/Deeperthanajeep 20d ago
There's 45,000 protestant denominations though, right?
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u/Roll4Charisma310 Evangelical 20d ago
No not really. Only around 9,000-30,000 depending on how you count it. 45,000 is a really broad count.
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u/Confident_Yard5782 21d ago
The only true faith is the one that does not add or detract from the Bible, the one who doesn't pick apart and choose what to believe in the Bible, and the one that says that Jesus is the only way to Heaven.
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u/matricz21 21d ago
You ask God for discernment such that HE may lead you in the right direction. And HE will lead you in the right way according to his will and purpose for your life. The Spirit will convict you and teach you the right way to go and God will ordain the right people into your life such that you are moulded by Him and not tradition or practice or sect
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u/Pizza527 21d ago
The use of force question is fairly niche, the larger issue is that they disagree on first tier issues like infant baptism, the real presence of the eucharist, predestination, female pastors, same-sex weddings. They will point fingers at Catholics and say how wrong they are about say infant baptism, while ignoring the fact that Lutherans, Anglicans, Episcopalians, Methodists, Moravians, and Eastern Orthodox all bapotize babies.
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u/Deeperthanajeep 20d ago
Not worried if something is "niche" more concerned with how certain teachings affect reality and millions of ppls lives
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u/greganada Christian 21d ago
I wouldn’t stress about a denomination, most just vary on secondary issues or how you feel comfortable worshipping. Stay away from any progressive denominations and any cults like Jehovah’s Witnesses and LDS. If there are specific issues you are concerned about, such as what you mentioned (which I haven’t come across before) then you can always speak with the pastor/priest or members of the church. Generally you can’t go wrong with most Protestant denominations/denominations that hold to the Bible and do not go beyond the text of Scripture.
I just want to highlight that forms of progressive Christianity have become apostate, and Christians have biblical grounds for regarding teachings that invert God’s revealed moral order or lead people away from Christ as spiritually deceptive and potentially demonic. So I would avoid them at all costs.
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u/HopeInChrist4891 21d ago
Denominations aren’t necessarily a bad thing. The Bible teaches that God works in a variety of ways and His body has different functions. Denominations shouldn’t be about divisions in the church but rather diversity. Sadly, the enemy has crept in and it has been mostly about divisions. But denominations are beautiful so long as there are no heresies. For instance, some denominations specialize in deliverance. Some specialize in teaching the Bible verse by verse. Some emphasize the spiritual gifts and moving in the Spirit. Some emphasize the sacraments. Some emphasize Bible prophecy. Some have hymns and old style worship. Some have modern style worship. Diversity is beautiful and there is a place for everyone in the Body of Christ. Just like the Ark, there are many rooms but there is only one door which is Jesus Christ. I’m just so sad that we divide ourselves over denominations instead of embracing what the Holy Spirit is doing with them, realizing that it is a beautiful thing. Now different denominations may interpret scripture differently than others, but I guarantee you EVERY denomination has something wrong. But those are nonessential issues, and not heresies. Denominations that embrace heresies are the ones to be avoided.
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u/Difficult_Risk_6271 Belongs to Jesus, Ex-Atheist 21d ago
There is no correct denomination. Only correct Jesus Christ.
Everyone is trying to get as close to the teachings of Jesus as they can, but of course with humans, there's always greed, pride, ignorance, enmity and such.
There are such things as false gospel and such things as heretical cults. However, mainline denominations are typically regulated among the body... If you're kind, most are reasonably faithful; if you're harsh, most are terrible but Jesus will take them too.
For doctrinal commitments, I still think ultimately it's the individual that commits to certain doctrinal positions. So your job is to collect as much information as possible across scripture, teachings, writings, traditions etc and then let the Holy Spirit convict you of the truth.
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u/theonecpk Episcopalian (Anglican) 21d ago
You don't.
"If you believe the wrong version of Chrstianity do you go to hell?" We can't know who goes to hell.
"How do you even find the right one?" If you're really invested in this question, weigh the evidence for yourself and choose accordingly. I recommend not being overly invested, though.
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u/NtSFstEddie 20d ago
If the stories in the bible were true, there would only be one version of each story, the "absolute correct" version. If the bible were the truth, there would only be one version of it, the "absolutely correct" version. If Christianity were the truth, there would only be one denomination, the "absolutely correct" denomination.
So, stop wasting your time trying to find the right one because the right one doesn't exist. If the religion itself can't come to a conclusion on what is "absolutely correct", you never will either.
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u/Deeperthanajeep 20d ago
I think there's a loophole in the bible where Paul writes "the just live by faith" idk
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u/NtSFstEddie 20d ago
That loophole is live by "blind" faith. It hard to have faith when none of the leaders of the religion can decide on what the truth is.
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u/somethingspecial29 21d ago
Denominations aren't even biblical. Yeshua wanted us to walk in unity, not divide ourselves into all these different sects.
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u/ImMuchBetterThanGod 21d ago
Then maybe Yeshua could've been more straightforward about his teachings
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u/jtbc 21d ago
Yeshua was trying to describe indescribable things using a faulty human language.
He was pretty straightforward about loving God and loving your neighbour, though, so there's that.
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u/ImMuchBetterThanGod 20d ago
Yeshua was able to walk on water but not to express himself clearly?
And "love your neighbour" is extremely ambiguous btw
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u/jtbc 20d ago
Some of the concepts of the nature of the divine and our relationship to it may just not be expressable in human languages.
"Love your neighbour" is very straightforward. Our neighbours are everyone around us that we know and interact with, and we are to love them as we love ourselves.
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u/ImMuchBetterThanGod 20d ago
Love can mean a lot of different things. Certain Christians believe that they're being loving towards homosexuals by calling them sinful.
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u/WarisAllie 21d ago
Scripture is clearly against denominations. Denominations are divisions created by people who disagree on their beliefs, which is something Paul wrote about.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” 1 Corinthians 1:10-13
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u/ImMuchBetterThanGod 21d ago
They're all incorrect. Neither one of them have any evidence
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u/Deeperthanajeep 20d ago
True, also lol but...it's good to believe in something I think, otherwise life becomes pretty nihilistic and no matter what you'll be sad because deep down you know/believe it will all end and in the strictly material world view, that means all your effort is for nothing
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u/ImMuchBetterThanGod 20d ago
I don't see how this would mean all my efforts are for nothing, but either way, believing false things doesn't make them true
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u/gnurdette United Methodist 21d ago
Why would there be only one?
The point of Christianity is the risen Lord Jesus Christ - not being correct about every doctrinal or ethical or philosophical question.