The Christian church has numerous denominations and evaluation of each can prove to be confusing. Christian denominations share beliefs such as God creating the universe and humankind, Jesus Christ’s human and divine nature, and God’s grace for humankind. With these similarities it becomes difficult to fully understand how denominations differ. While the overarching Christian beliefs are similar, the differences are found in church practices. Church practices vary among denominations. Some are more common such as communal prayer and Bible study. Others are more unique not specifically by denomination but rather by ethnicity. Since both denomination and ethnicity add to the complexity of understanding variances it becomes the aim of this …show more content…
That is when my young mind began developing questions about God, the Apostles, heaven and hell. At this time my only exposure to church was minimal at best. Raised in a non-practicing Catholic household I found the need for answers to my questions were met with resistance and set me on my path for knowledge. In my quest I sought God in the Catholic, Lutheran, Charismatic, and lastly Baptist denominations. It wasn’t until my adult years that I realized how the different church practices varied among denominations. As a teen I recall attending a Baptist church that was so boisterous I don’t recall anything about the practices that occurred during that service. I never imagined that I would attend another Baptist church as an adult. Currently, I attend Crosswind Community Church which is classified as a Filipino Baptist church. While we are more reserved than other Baptists churches we still are considered Baptist. The fluctuation of behaviors exhibited by the members and the staff I believe are attributed, in part, to cultural aspects of the …show more content…
The first difference was that they started promptly at 7:00 pm. Second, they were offering their communion in an open manner during praise and worship. This meant anyone who “felt” the desire to partake of the elements during praise and worship, they simply went up to one of the two communion stations. They would take the elements back to their seats and partake of them during praise and worship. There was a point in the middle of the praise and worship set that was all instrumental and the congregation was encouraged to sing their own unique songs that God had placed on their hearts, to which most did. After praise and worship concluded and before the sermon began, the congregation was encouraged to walk around the sanctuary and introduce themselves to others. In review of announcement slides another difference in practice came to light. Calvary Chapel supported worldwide missions whereas Crosswind Community Church supports only missions in the
Parishioners often ask me if there is really any difference between United Methodist and the Baptists down the road. The answer, “quite a lot,” generally surprises them. When they ask me to explain, I often point them in the direction of our polity and the theology it reflects.
Attending a non-denominational church we start out with worship and being free to sing and dance and let our spirits take over. This may come out as someone running around the pews, or on their knees, but while in the Catholic Church the environment was much different. It was a lot more structured and formal in a sense than that of the non-denominational church where I practice my faith. Another difference was the offering, or as the Catholic Church calls it, the Gift. I am use to this concept, but rather than taking Gifts at the beginning of the service they take it at the end; then came communion. This is where you take part in eating the bread and drinking the wine in symbolism of Jesus’ body and blood. This I was also familiar with, but was informed by the couple that I went with that they partake in com...
Christianity has grounded our lives in the living God as revealed through Jesus. This belief must be a choice people make as well as a gift we all receive within the Christian community. Christians must trust in and rely upon God as the source of everything in their lives. Faith is about believing in the trinity; God, Jesus the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit as three in one. Christians follow Jesus’ teachings and answer the call to be his disciples in the world. Christian faith is looking forward to joining God in the future and entering into the coming kingdom that God has promised His followers through Jesus. Christians join together in reflecting with each other in the Christian community about the good news of God’s love through Jesus Christ. Christians believe in the “new life in Christ,” which is the gift of God’s grace; such rebirth and personal assurance gives all new eyes to see the living truth in Scripture. The Christian worldview may differ in different denominations of Christianity but only exist because of their belief of God and Jesus.
Lacking the ready opportunity to visit a unique congregation while stuck, carless, on campus over break, I instead focus on a "field trip" that my churchs' Sunday School class took one Sunday morning last summer. Picture if you will a group of white Presbyterian teenagers hopping into a shiny church van and cruising 15 minutes south, into the poorer, blacker reaches of inner-city Memphis (where neighborhood segregation is still very much the rule). Our destination was relatively near our own church, and yet worlds apart, too. Ours was the area of stately old homes with well-kept lawns along oak- and elm-lined streets, homes filled with the genteel, white urbanites of the city. A mere handful of blocks to the south, however, lay a land of equally old but far more poorly maintained homes, streets long since denuded of any trees they may once have sported. We had left our comfortable zone of neighborhood watches and block clubs, choosing instead to spend our worship hours in a part of the city instead known for its special police precinct and its multitudinous economic redevelopment zones. Thus did we find ourselves at the Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church.
In the mass prayers are said, we pray for the sick in our community and for those sickly in the world. We ask Jesus to heal them, just like he healed people in the gospel. Hymns are sung, readings from the bible are read and communion is taken. Some Christians don’t have Holy Communion services, an example of this are the Salvation Army, they believe that it is possible to live a holy life and receive the grace of God without the use of physical sacraments. To them the inward experience is the most important thing.
Originally, the Baptist had the same beliefs as the Protestant church had, with the exception of baptism. For Baptists, only true believers could be baptized. Furthermore, when baptized, Baptists are completely immersed in water, rather than following the Protestant method of having a few drops of water sprinkled on the forehead. Baptists do not acknowledge man-made authority within the church and therefore do not select humans as leaders of the church. The Presbyterian Church was developed with the influence of John Calvin. He believed that the church was led only by Jesus, and all of its members we equal under the authority of Christ. Anglicans have a devout admiration for Mary, the virgin mother of Jesus Christ. The communities of the Anglican include a spiritual life of prayer and worship. They also emphasize a life of giving of oneself. For example, Anglicans traveled with Florence Nightengale on her trip to Crimea and worked as nurses (www.encyclopedia.com). The Methodist church developed with the help of John Wesley was was an evangelist. The message of the church is to create the life of God within men. The Lutheran church originated from the philosophical views of Martin Luther. The Lutherans are considered one of the three major branches ...
Benchmark Assignment: Gospel Essentials There are several aspects to consider when exploring the Christian worldview. There are many facets and denominations and they each have their own distinct beliefs and practices, but they all share the same fundamental beliefs. In this paper we will explore the character of God, His creation, humanity and its nature, Jesus’ significance to the world, and the restoration of humanity, as well as my beliefs and the way that I interact with Christianity and my personal worldview. God In the Christian worldview, God is the one and only God. He is the sovereign creator of everything.
...rate denominations within the religion of Christianity itself. Because Christianity is such a diverse religion it allows for different sects within the religion to form creating their own primary and secondary beliefs within Christianity. This allows for the different factions to give their own take on how the primary belief of the Holy Trinity has on any other secondary beliefs within that faction of Christianity.
The format of a Baptist Sunday service consists of the choir, devotion (psalms, scripture, message, prayer, song), responsive readings, congregational prayer, choir, sermon, and invitation to join the church, offering, and then special announcements. Each month a different part of the church is in charge of the prayer service.
My home church is United Methodist. I have gone there ever since I was a child because that is where my mother went to church. Through researching this paper I found many interesting things about my church. There are many points and issues I agree with and many I disagree with. Writing this really made me think about my denomination closely and if it’s the right one for me.
Hence, today there are five main Christian Variants, which include Anglican, closely linked to the Church of England, emphasises on scripture, reason and tradition in relation to beliefs and practices. The Catholic Church which follows several important Doctrines, including the Doctrine of Apostolic Succession, Doctrine of Immaculate Conception, and the Doctrine of Purgatory.... ... middle of paper ... ... Gathering is essential within a service as it is significant for Christians to pray and worship as a community.
In the Christian faith there are many beliefs and acts for the baptized Catholic to follow,
Ecumenical spirits influence various religions to lay aside theological differences, and accept and tolerate diverse beliefs coming together and forming ecclesiastical bonds. Historically, Catholics and Protestants fought each other, and not only through verbal exchange, but through physical means as well. World and religious leaders today advocate accepting all faiths and tolerance of differing viewpoints. For the most part they reflect the ideals of the general consensus. Popular opinion suggests that there are various paths to God, and it is narrow minded to believe there is only on...
Growing up, I was raised in a southern Baptist church setting. Every Sunday you were required to attend church which included going to Sunday school, first service, and second service. You were also required to be active in the church whether it be ushering or singing in the choir. For my foreign experience of worship I decided to attend a Catholic church. At first I was a bit skeptical about stepping outside of my background history of worship because I thought that attending a Catholic church may change some of my beliefs or practices. I will admit before my attendance to this Catholic Church I had negative thoughts and was determined that my paper would be only about negative experience that I had. Once I entered the church all of my negative thoughts were out of my mind. Prior to researching background information I really didn’t think that Catholics and Baptist had a lot in common, besides their belief in the faith of Jesus Christ. In my essay about my Catholic Church experience I will describe the physical setting of the church, tell you about the church service, and lastly tell
Lutzer, Erwin. The Doctrines That Divide: a Fresh Look at the Historic Doctrines That Separate Christians. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1998.