Is there such a thing as a non-evangelical Christian church?

[FreshTressa]

Anyone know of any types that are?

Does such a thing exist?

If not, can anyone help me. My DH was raised Jewish and has not been comfortable in the very evangelical churches we have gone to.

I am Christian (Southern Baptist), and he does not like my church, and I would love to find a church we could attend together. I'm willing to compromise a lot, as long as it is Christian. Is there some certain type of protestent sect (Lutheran, Methodist etc.,) that might work for us?

Any ideas??

 

[punkin]

Unitarian?

Truthfully though, as a Jew, I would feel uncomfortable in ANY church.

 

[RadioNate]

Catholic? (not Protestant but certainly not evangelical either)

Episcopalian?

Universal Unitarian? Might be too liberal for a Southern Baptist but more inline with Judaism.

Has your husband converted to Christianity?

 

[FreshTressa]

My husband is not Jewish...he was just raised that way. He never actually attended temple growing up, his single mom was just Jewish and they did Hannukah instead of Christmas. He says that is about the extent of it.

He has no particular beliefs of his own, but wants to support his family. It bugs him that we are off going to church without him, but he can't stand how on his first visit they are already trying to get him to bring his friends to church.

I know, that is the wrong reason to join a church....it should be out of some sort of calling, but that has never happened.

I know what my relationship with God is, and I don't demand that everyone else have the same one. I can listen to teachings that aren't exactly what I believe, and still see the wisdom in it.

 

[pixiepower1971]

I would suggest you try a Methodist or Presbyterian church. Both are a little more "low key" then a Southern Baptist church.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I usually equate the term of Evangelical as being a very literal and conservative interpretation of the Bible.

There are some denominations which are known to be more accepting of alternate interpretations of scripture- but pretty much any Christian Church is going to remain hard fast on the belief of Jesus Christ as the Savior.

I would say UU also, since they are more humanist and spiritual in nature as compared to strictly Christian.

 

[punkin]

My husband is not Jewish...he was just raised that way. He never actually attended temple growing up, his single mom was just Jewish and they did Hannukah instead of Christmas. He says that is about the extent of it.

Sounds Jewish to me.

 

[Galahad]

Most Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran and Episcopal churches are largely not evangelical. Unitarian is not "Christian" in the strict sense of the word, but of course it wouldn't be evangelical either - but it might be too much the "other direction" for you to be comfortable with.

 

[punkin]

I usually equate the term of Evangelical as being a very literal and conservative interpretation of the Bible.

There are some denominations which are known to be more accepting of alternate interpretations of scripture- but pretty much any Christian Church is going to remain hard fast on the belief of Jesus Christ as the Savior.

I would say UU also, since they are more humanist and spiritual in nature as compared to strictly Christian.

Evangelical means (as far as I understand it) trying to convert others to the "true" religion. All christianity is evangelical. Those are its roots. Some denominations ae more vocal about it than others.

 

[Galahad]

Evangelical means (as far as I understand it) trying to convert others to the "true" religion. All christianity is evangelical. Those are its roots. Some denominations ae more vocal about it than others.

I have never seen anybody I've been on mission trips with, or associated with any church I've ever been a member of try to convert anybody. I think you over state your case with respect to "all Christianity".

 

[ckay87]

Lutheran, in my lifetime of experience, is very very low-key. My cousin is openly gay and an active leader in his Lutheran church. That type of low-key is what I'm talking about.

 

[punkin]

I looked it up. Evangelical (only one of the definitions) means "of or according to the teaching of the gospel or the Christian religion." So pretty much every Christian denomination is evangelical by definition.

 

[ckay87]

Evangalism, as I understand it, is spreading the news of your church and I think all churches do it to some extent. It's been a while, but if I remember correctly, the Evangalism committee just does things like keeping up with publishing worship times in the local paper. It's like advertising...some do it more aggressively than others. Am I wrong?

 

[clarabelle]

Some Ideas:
Presbyterian USA (not Presbyterian in America -it is more conservative)
United Church of Christ (not just Church of Christ)
Episcopalian
Mennonite Church USA (not what you might think)
I would go to their websites and look at the "what we believe" and then check out Congregations.
I am Presbyterian- we do lots of Mission work-but the focus is on helping people not "saving souls". We don't do the "saved" thing. We call ourselves "reformed" not evangelical.
I think Unitarian would be interesting as well.
Good Luck!

 

[LoraJ]

I grew up Presbyterian (the more liberal one). Some of my relatives are methodist and it's pretty similar.
Maybe try taking your husband to a few and see which he likes.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

All christianity is evangelical.

As a Christian, I think you are correct. It is an integral part of the Christian identity to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Christianity is an invitational religion. The difference is in how some churches emphasize things. IMO, the word "evangelical" has been pirated away from its true meaning by some Christians -and the culture in general -that associates it with heavy-handed, boiler plate, be-a-member-or-else theology. I am proud to be evangelical, but I would not describe myself as Evangelical

OP, try a mainline denomination such as United Methodist, Episcopalian. or Lutheran. While congregations vary from place to place, within each of these denominations you will find places where it is OK to be on a spiritual journey and not have evrything figured out teh moment you walk in the door.

 

[claudia]

Evangelical means (as far as I understand it) trying to convert others to the "true" religion. All christianity is evangelical. Those are its roots. Some denominations ae more vocal about it than others.

Evangelical really has nothing to do with converting anyone to anything, but you are correct about all christianity being evangelical.

Contained in, or relating to, the four Gospels; as, the evangelical history.

Belonging to, agreeable or consonant to, or contained in, the gospel, or the truth taught in the New Testament; as, evangelical religion.

Earnest for the truth taught in the gospel; strict in interpreting Christian doctrine; preeminetly orthodox; -- technically applied to that party in the Church of England, and in the Protestant Episcopal Church, which holds the doctrine of "Justification by Faith alone"; the Low Church party. The term is also applied to other religion bodies not regarded as orthodox.

 

[binny]

I am Nazarene and while we are evangelical we are not "in your face", try to find a more modern church, though perhaps that would make him more comfortable?


You can try to find a church that has "blue jean" services these tend to be very casual ( heck my pastor wears jeans and polo shirts to preach in!) and even the most old fashioned churches here offer these services. It really helps!

Good luck and I think your husband is to be comended for wanting to support his family.

 

[punkin]

Evangelical really has nothing to do with converting anyone to anything, but you are correct about all christianity being evangelical.

Contained in, or relating to, the four Gospels; as, the evangelical history.

Belonging to, agreeable or consonant to, or contained in, the gospel, or the truth taught in the New Testament; as, evangelical religion.

Earnest for the truth taught in the gospel; strict in interpreting Christian doctrine; preeminetly orthodox; -- technically applied to that party in the Church of England, and in the Protestant Episcopal Church, which holds the doctrine of "Justification by Faith alone"; the Low Church party. The term is also applied to other religion bodies not regarded as orthodox.

Thatnk you. After I posted, I looked it up and posted the definition.

 

[Galahad]

Thatnk you. After I posted, I looked it up and posted the definition.

But it seemed that what the OP was concerned with was how aggressively different churches tried to convert people - the modern "common usage" of the term evangelical. As others have stated, there are a number of denomonations that don't make an effort to either convert of "damn to hellfire" or whatever. It isn't accurate to say that doing so is part and parcel of modern Christianity.