Denominations...how many are there?

I've been thinking a lot lately about all the different denominations within the Christian church. Why do we have so many? I've learned that it really depends on the actual church itself and not so much the denomination that makes a church Godly and Biblical. I grew up being "prejudice" against Presbyterians. Ha! I know, sounds funny. But really, my dad's mom went to a Presbyterian church for 40 years or more (my dad grew up in that church). Now, I will say my grandma loved the Lord. She talked to me all the time about Jesus. She also had an addiction to the social aspect of church. She taught a ladies Sunday School class for almost the whole time and had "circle" meetings at her house every Monday night. Nothing's wrong with that at all. It's just that it became the most important part of church to her. That's the way it was with a lot of people at that church. Well, I soon found out it's not just the Presbyterians. It was just those particular Presbyterians as well as certain Methodists, and yes - God forgive me - Baptists! (I am in a Baptist church - that's why I said that). I've been in some dead Baptist churches before. They reminded me of my grandma' s church. Anyway, I'm not knocking the churches (not really). When the focus leaves God and centers on social events, something wrong. Something's even more wrong when the church starts compromising to accomodate the lifestyles of church members. Or even more bizarre - my grandma's church started allowing the Buddhists to meet in one of the rooms of the church one day during the week to worship. What?! Well, I'm a little off track here. I was talking about denominations. Actually, within the Baptists, there are so many divisions I never realized until we started looking for a new church last year. We currently attend a PFWB. If you're not living in the south (or even if you are!), you may have no idea what that means. It's the Pentocostal Free Will Baptist church. We visited it because my daughter is going to go to preschool there. We wanted to check it out. We loved it! I did some research online to find out exactly what they are about. There is one thing that stuck out that I did not like. On the official PFWB website, it says that they believe one can lose their salvation. I've always believed in once saved, always saved - STILL DO. So my husband and I called the pastor of the church. It turns out he believes in Once Saved, Always Saved as well. He said that there are churches within the PFWB church that believe you can lose you salvation. The main reason we like the church is that it incorporates Pentecostal and Baptist doctrine. I grew up in a Southern Baptist church and then later, an Assembly of God church. I've been to Southern Baptist churches that don't allow women to teach men in Sunday School. Then I've been to ones that do allow it. I've been to Assembly of God or Pentecostal churches where people speak in tongues, and I've been to ones where no one speaks in tongues. My girls are going to Vacation Bible school this week at an OFWB church. That means Original Free Will Baptist. There is also just a Free Will Baptist! They're all a little different. The interesting thing abou the OFWB is that they vow to abstain from alcohol and drugs as part of their doctrine. Interesting... Well, anyway, it's amazing all the differences churches have. I guess my point is no one doctrine is going to get us to heaven. The church must believe Jesus is the only way to heaven, and must follow the Word of God. It takes a lot of prayer and really getting into God's Word to make sure your church is Biblical. For instance, the UU church that I talked about before - they are listed as a "Christian" church. God help those seeking Truth in that church.

"To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever." Ephesians 3:21 (Amplified Bible)

By the way, I'm going to do some research on why certain Christians believe one can lose his salvation. I heard a sermon from Charles Stanley that explained how it is Biblical to believe that once saved, always saved. It was a great sermon. You go to his website and download the podcast titled, "Eternal Life: You can Be Sure." If you have any doubts, this is a very good sermon. I guess the good thing is, whether you believe it or not, IF you are saved, we'll all be in heaven together anyway. Charles Stanley said something about that. He said something like at least when we get to heaven, we can say, "Told you so."

Yesterday

Well, all I can say about yesterday's singing is God is awesome. He gave me what I needed to worship and praise Him in front of everyone without getting emotional. I prayed that He would take any thoughts out of my mind that pulls me away from Him and the worship song. Also, it's no coincidence that the pastor played a short video right before praise and worship that said worship is not a concert, it's a response. It's not about me, it's about Him. I needed that so bad. It took the pressure off of me. I worry so much how my voice will sound and what people will think. I just sang for Him and for the people in the congregation. Someone (or more than just someone) out there needed the message God sings through us. I realized that I need a certain amount of confidence, not in myself, but in God. I need confidence knowing He will use me as He wants. The more I doubt myself, the worse I feel. That confidence should carry in every area of my life. There are many times I say the Lord is working and He knows best, and then I still worry and doubt. That is NOT what a strong Christian should do. I think it's human nature to worry, but God doesn't want us to worry. That's something I learned from my mom when I was a little girl. I remember she'd say that worrying doesn't do one bit of good and that God told us not to worry. Here are some of my favorite verses from Matthew 6 (actually vs. 25 -34 is all about not worrying):



Therefore do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?


Matthew 6:25



Then in verse 27, Jesus says, Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (vs. 34)

Sunday Morning

Well, it's Sunday morning and I'm getting ready for church. I'm nervous and excited at the same time. Our praise team will start for the first time. I'm so excited because I've been waiting a long time for this. I decided I may never be completely unemotional and there will never be a time in my life when NOTHING is bothering me. I've had some events happen in the last few days that I think the devil would love to use against me this morning, but I've made up my mind, this morning is for God and for those in our service that need Him just as I do. I love being in the presence of the Lord. I pray that we will glorify Him today and lift Him up as only He deserves.

Sorry for the typos!

I just realized I've made a lot of typos on my posts! Sorry! The last one I think I said I'm not glad that I don't have to depend on myself alone. Huh? Anyway, I'm going to try to proofread better from now on for the two people that actually read my blog! Ha! The truth is I haven't given it out to many people yet. It's really more of diary as you can see. I'm not even sure if you'd call it that. Oh well...see the post below this for something I learned today about the UU church. Oh boy...

UU worship?

I've started listening to the Way of the Master radio program. I subscribe to their podcast. I am hooked. Of course, there are some things they say that I don't necessary agree with - but nothing that has to do with their core beliefs. The one thing that I didn't quite get was why it's so bad to tell children that Jesus lives in their hearts. Sure, it's not literal. The argument was that it confuses children. Well, frankly a lot of things confuse children - like how are God and Jesus the same person. Explaining the trinity to me is a lot harder than explaining Jesus is in your heart! Anyway, I'm not complaining. I do love that show. Today (or I listened to it today) was especially good. They interviewed a lady from the Unitarian Universalist church. It was great. First of all I have no idea why UU's even have a church. They teach a whole bunch of religions. Talk about being confusing! I looked up their website. They have"worship" service. What do they worship? It's really sad to me. She kept saying there is no real truth. That doesn't even make sense. Even if it's not what we believe, there has to be a truth. Even if that truth is when we die, we all just rot in the ground and that's it. Anyway, the good thing is they planted the seed of the gospel and witnessed to the woman. It amazes me that people still doubt there is a God. I love the way the interview ended. The guy on the radio (can't think of his name now) asked her if she had a cross in her church. She said sure, there were lots of crosses. Earlier in the interview she explained that she believed that people can believe whatever they want as long as it doesn't offend anyone. Well, the interviewer told her that it offended him that she has a cross in her church when she doesn't believe in what it represents. He asked her to take it down - she said she'd consider it. Why have a cross if you don't even believe Jesus is the Son of God and that He is only way to heaven? It would be like my church having a big Buddha at the entrance! What? I don't know, maybe it's just me, but why would anyone want to go to a church that teaches several different religions and makes it our responsibility to pick the right one for us?! The Truth is the Truth is the Truth. I don't want to go worship somewhere where the leaders don't even know what to believe.

No Excuse

Ok - well maybe I have an excuse. I've been at the beach but still I could have found time to post something! I've had the words "His Grace is Sufficient" on my brain lately. I heard a sermon from Charles Stanley on it last week. What a concept! We think we have to know the answers, when something will happen, when it will change, when all along God is saying, "My grace is sufficient." I don't think anyone can really understand that unless they go through something that depends on this statement being true. It's easy for me to say it all day long, but until I have to depend on it, I don't think I know what it means! I have a lot of studying to do on that. I have experienced it a time or two in my life. It's hard to explain in words, but when you feel like all hope is gone and you'd rather just die and go to heaven, His presence is there - and there it is, his wonderful GRACE. If He says it's sufficient, then it is. That's the awesome thing about God, if He says it, it is true. We may not understand it or even make sense of it, but if He says it, it's true. I actually like not trying to figure everything out. I like putting all my trust in Him. What a burden it takes off of me! I've realized that when I do put all my trust in Him, I am never disappointed.

Update on Becoming a Stronger Christian: I can honestly say I haven't done much other than read more scripture than I used to, stay away from things that pull me away from Him, and starting to sacrifice more time for other people. Okay, well, that's not so bad now that I wrote it down. I heard someone say today, we are on the Christian walk. How true that is. It is a daily walk. We don't just stop and say okay, I'm done. I'm saved, I'm going to heaven, and the journey is over! True, I am saved and I am going to heaven, but the journey isn't over until I get there. Being a Christian isn't easy, if anything, it takes dedication and commitment. Thank God, he forgives us when we don't stay dedicated, but the goal is there. I look in front of me and I don't see this long path full of palm trees and birds singing that goes on and on until I reach paradise. I see one step in front of me. I trust God to help me with the next step. It still leads me to paradise, but I just don't see it all yet laid out right in front of me. Sure, I have ideas, hopes and dreams. The Lord knows the desires of our hearts. I trust Him to lead me where He wants me to be. I'm not thankful I don't have to depend on me - I'd really be in trouble!!!!

Until next time...