Question for Non Catholic Christians

[mtblujeans]

I was raised in a Nazarene church, which I refer to as a 'cousin' to the Baptists (I think they are similar) and they did not teach history of the church. They were heavy into the Bible and the life of The Christ.

I have been in a Seventh-Day Adventist church and they are HEAVY into the history of their church. They believe they are referred to in Revelations so how they get to that point it important to them.

 

[Bichon Barb]

Madi100, just curious, what synod does your family belong to. Missouri? I've been told that it's a much stricter Lutheran than what I was brought up with. Our's is the ELCA.

 

[missypie]

I, too, was raised to think that Catholics weren't Christians...we were supposed to witness to them. When I was dating, the first thing my mother always asked was "Is he Catholic?" Bob Jones University had a rift with Billy Graham because when he traveled around the world, he would have local Christian leaders on the podium with him...even Church of England, even - gasp - Catholics!

I think that most protestant Christians don't have those views anymore ...there may be members of the 70+ crowd who do. I really think that it was the abortion issue that brought the Catholics and evangelical Protestants together.

 

[Galahad]

Just found this interesting chart, or "family tree" of religious denominations. It is rather protestant-centric. But it seems to be accurate at least in its representation of the relationship between the protestant denominations.

Tree

edited to add: it seems not only protestant-centric but Nazarene-centric. But still pretty interesting.

 

[luvsTink]

I think we need a little clarity here. There are a variety of posters looking at "church history" in a number of different ways. The OP will have to weigh in but....

Each church facility has a history...if you go there it would be logical to learn it

Each demonination has a history...if you choose I denomination I believe it is your RESPONSIBILITY to know its history and its doctrine (I see far too many people who are a particular denomination because that is where they grew up and they know NOTHING of the denominations core beliefs)

And the Church (Big C) has a history of which I believe the OP was speaking. I also believe that people engaging in organzied religion should study this!!!! It informs who we have become and should shed some light on many of the over emphasised legalistic religious arguments of today. Sitting in a pew and picking up a translation with no knowledge of history or background is like going to a Dr. that only studys techniques of today but never learn about handwashing.

Just another woman's opinion...
Anne

 

[Madi100]

Originally posted by Bichon Barb
Madi100, just curious, what synod does your family belong to. Missouri? I've been told that it's a much stricter Lutheran than what I was brought up with. Our's is the ELCA.

Missouri Synod. And, yes, it is very strict. Although I think that it depends on the pastor and people of the church. There are some that don't let the women have any say whatsoever in the church. I think ELCA let's women have a higher position in the church. Do they allow women pastors? When I was younger one of the churches we went to wouldn't allow the girls even to light the candles. My sister goes to an ELCA and I love it. It is more contemporary.

 

[mtblujeans]

Originally posted by Galahad
Just found this interesting chart, or "family tree" of religious denominations. It is rather protestant-centric. But it seems to be accurate at least in its representation of the relationship between the protestant denominations.

Tree

edited to add: it seems not only protestant-centric but Nazarene-centric. But still pretty interesting.

WOW! I like that! Thanks!!

 

[Crankyshank]

Just to clarify. I mean the history of the organization of Christianity itself, The Reformation, and the origins of the bible(s).

I've encountered many people (Southern Baptists mostly) that are of the impression their bible is the original and only acceptable version handed down directly from Jesus, and Baptists have been around since Jesus' time.

 

[Bichon Barb]

Originally posted by Madi100
Missouri Synod. And, yes, it is very strict. Although I think that it depends on the pastor and people of the church. There are some that don't let the women have any say whatsoever in the church. I think ELCA let's women have a higher position in the church. Do they allow women pastors? When I was younger one of the churches we went to wouldn't allow the girls even to light the candles. My sister goes to an ELCA and I love it. It is more contemporary.

Yes they do allow women to be pastors. Homosexuals are welcome into the congregation too. I'll have to read up on their website--I think it's www.elca.org, because I think they were doing studies on sexuality. Maybe to decide if they were going to let openly gay people become pastors.

It's hard for me to believe that these different synods can even say they are the same religion. Wow!

 

[Bichon Barb]

Yup, they have been doing a study. From the website:


Introduction
The 2001 Churchwide Assembly has mandated that this church engage in a study on homosexuality and a study on sexuality. The first is to deal with the blessing of same-gender unions and the rostering of persons in committed gay or lesbian relationships. The second is to lead to the development of a social statement on sexuality.

As we embark on these two closely intertwined studies, let us consider doing so under the banner, "Journey Together Faithfully." This is both a call and a goal. Some are eager to get on with this work. Others are not. Many are apprehensive. However, our church has called upon us to share in this journey and we pray that it will be a faithful expression of our unity in Christ.

By the grace of God in Christ and with the leading of the Spirit our journey together can be faithful in the following ways. These are the compass points for our journey.

Faithful to our calling to witness to the good news of God's boundless mercy for all people in Jesus Christ, which is the foundation of our community of faith and at the heart of everything we do. (John 3:16; 1Peter 2:9)

Faithful to the Word of God as we have come to know it in the Scripture and through the God-given wisdom of our Lutheran tradition.

Faithful to one another as members together of the Body of Christ, which means:

A commitment to love and pray for one another;

A readiness to engage in dialogue even when we believe our minds are made up;

A willingness to enter discussions even when it is hard for us;

A good faith effort to understand one another's views;

A respect for one another's conscience; and

In all these ways to maintain a peaceable unity as befits our calling. (Ephesians 4:1-6)

Faithful in the use of the rich resources God has provided for us in the work of the sciences and in the experience of people all across the church.

Faithful to our hope: we have the promises of God to go with us in our quest for truth and our eventual deliberations. (John 14: 16-17, 26-27)

The Rev. James M. Childs, Jr.
Director for ELCA Studies on Sexuality

 

[Madi100]

Originally posted by Bichon Barb
Yes they do allow women to be pastors. Homosexuals are welcome into the congregation too. I'll have to read up on their website--I think it's www.elca.org, because I think they were doing studies on sexuality. Maybe to decide if they were going to let openly gay people become pastors.

It's hard for me to believe that these different synods can even say they are the same religion. Wow!

To me it is like people saying that Lutheran is like Catholic. Yes, they are based on the same thing, but there are some pretty HUGE differences. That is why there are two different religions. You are right. I think the difference between Missouri and ELCA are so different. I actually prefer ELCA. Missouri Synod takes the Bible very literal, like that women are not supposed to hold any position of power. It's not her place. We discussed this in Sunday School one day. Well, if they don't want me to hold any position why is it okay for me to get a job and support my family. Our church has no problem with that. That is why I have chosen to focus more on the love of God than the doctrine of the church. I know I can't do with God, but I can do without all the garbage that has been brought into the church.

 

[DemonLlama]

Sorry, long post coming:

Church of Christ member weighing in here. (Not to be confused with the United Church of Christ.) To us, church history is the beginning of The Way, which is what first century Christians called their movement before the name "Christian" was first used at Antioch.

The study of the Acts and Epistles are the main foci of this history, to discern what types of issues the early Christians faced as they tried to follow Christ's teachings. There is no unified central authority in our Church, as each community of believers in the New Testament only shared their ideas with one another but did not have someone apart from Christ who was the "last word" on the way congregations conducted themselves. We do not use intrumental music because there is no evidence of it used in worship in the first centruy. Does this mean we think people who sing worship songs with a piano are going to hell? Of course not. How absurd. But we simply to choose to be as connected with our origins as possible. So, and hold onto your socks for this one, as a woman I do not lead songs, prayer, or sermons in our worship.

Traditions that came after the time of the New Testament are not usually studied in our church, since the basis for the Church of Christ was to return to the ways of the first century Christian worship and doctrine.

There is much study of the various extant manuscripts in the Greek, as well as the differing translations, the validity of each, and the need for careful study of etymology in our discernment. For example, the word church in the aramaic, (ecclesia) simply means "called out of." That is not the way most folks think of it, but it helps to know this when reading scripture.

We seem to delve a lot more into history in our study of the Old Testament, with the founding of the Jewish nation, the changing dynamics from judges to kings in the political realm, the struggle of the people to keep God's commandments, the prophesies of the coming Messiah, the Jewish codes of law, and the Jewish interpretation of that Messiah as one who would rule an earthly kingdom.

What is not studied is the solidification of the later church that became the captial "C" church of the RCC.

So, yes, we study church history, but not the kind I think the OP was referring to.

 

[Madi100]

Duplicate post.