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Problems with Protestantism and Non-denominational Christianity

Parker_Chess

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There are so many issues with non-denominational Christianity. I often respect their admiration and love for Christ but their theology is error.

Issues:
-Rejection of all Church Tradition and Councils
-Rejection of traditional Church Episcopacy and Authority
-Rejection of the Saints and Iconography
-Disregard for the sacraments
-Worship services fixated around a charismatic pastor
-Non-historical Christian beliefs and teachings
-Private Interpretation of Scripture (this leads to more heresy and divisions)
-Belief that the bread and wine during the Eucharist are only "symbolic" and not the true body and blood of Christ
-Blasphemy against the holy Mother of God. I've even heard some argue that "Mary was only a vessel"
-They don't pray for the dead
-Believe in other unusual teachings such as "once saved always saved", "Saved by grace through faith alone", a pre-tribulation rapture, and many other strange end time beliefs
-Zionist/Judaistic beliefs such as being strong supporters of the state of Israel
-They don't celebrate Christian Holidays other than Christmas and Easter. For example, Monday was Pentacost and chances are your Non-Denom Church was not celebrating it.

There are many other issues. It's hard for me to see Protestants and Evangelicals any different than Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. I believe we're all better off joining one of the Apostolic Churches that go all the way back to the time of Christ and the Apostles.
 
There are so many issues with non-denominational Christianity. I often respect their admiration and love for Christ but their theology is error.

Issues:
-Rejection of all Church Tradition and Councils
-Rejection of traditional Church Episcopacy and Authority
-Rejection of the Saints and Iconography
-Disregard for the sacraments
-Worship services fixated around a charismatic pastor
-Non-historical Christian beliefs and teachings
-Personal Interpretation of Scripture (this leads to more heresy and divisions)
-Belief that the bread and wine during the Eucharist are only "symbolic" and not the true body and blood of Christ
-Blasphemy against the holy Mother of God. I've even heard some argue that "Mary was only a vessel"
-They don't pray for the dead
-Believe in other unusual teachings such as "once saved always saved", "Saved by grace through faith alone", a pre-tribulation rapture, and many other strange end time beliefs
-Zionist/Judaistic beliefs such as being strong supporters of the state of Israel
-They don't celebrate Christian Holidays other than Christmas and Easter. For example, Monday was Pentacost and chances are your Non-Denom Church was not celebrating it.

There are many other issues. It's hard for me to see Protestants and Evangelicals any different than Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. I believe we're all better off joining one of the Apostolic Churches that go all the way back to the time of Christ and the Apostles.
"Belief that the bread and wine during the Eucharist are only 'symbolic' and not the true body and blood of Christ"


Which Christian religions/denominations besides Catholicism believe the Eucharist is the Body and the Blood of Christ?
 
"Belief that the bread and wine during the Eucharist are only 'symbolic' and not the true body and blood of Christ"


Which Christian religions/denominations besides Catholicism believe the Eucharist is Body and the Blood of Christ?
All Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christians. This is an essential and uncompromising belief for Christianity.
 
God doesn't care what your religion is
But people sure as hell do
 
In the United States, the Catholic Church is facing challenges:
  • Church membership and attendance have been declining for nearly 25 years.
  • In 2020, for the first time, less than half of Americans surveyed (47%) said they belonged to a church, synagogue, or mosque, down from 70% in 1999.
  • Only 17% of U.S. Catholics attend Mass weekly, and an additional 18% attend at least once a month.
  • About 300,000 to 350,000 Catholics leave the Church annually, while only 30,000 to 60,000 join through conversions or adult baptisms.
  • Approximately 50% of young adults raised Catholic no longer identify with the faith by adulthood.
In summary, while the Catholic Church is experiencing significant growth in regions like Africa and Asia, it is facing declines in areas like Europe and North America. The challenges facing the Church include declining attendance, particularly among younger generations, a decrease in vocations, and increasing secularization in some areas. However, there are also signs of revitalization and growth in certain areas, particularly in Africa and Asia.
 
Once a person is dead, it's all in God's hands...no amount of prayers for that dead person is going to change a thing...
 
Catholics have an altar. Protestants have a stage. That should tell you all you need to know.
 
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Jesus said that. He didn't say For where two or three who support the Catholic/Greek/Russian Church, there am I in the midst of them
OR
For where two or three who support a Protestant Denomination, there I am in the midst of them.
OR
For where two or three who are non-denominational, there I am in the midst of them.


For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

You guys can't even support the words of your own Savior. If it isn't dogmatic, it ain't so. THIS is the reason people stop believing in Religions. Not God, religions.
 
Christians don't pray for the dead's souls?

i pray for all kinds of things, but this is just personal opinion and not Bible Doctrine.

God is timeless and exists in all time, even better than time travel.

so i figure to pray for people and situations regardless of whenever they lived or the event occurred.

case in point, yesterday i viewed pictures of WW 2 and the brutality of war, so i prayed for those people even though i am in their future and they are in the past.

if you believe in God's omnipotence, and i do, then NOTHING is impossible with God.

Nothing.

think about That and come back.


blessings.


Edit, and you can even pray for people in the old threads you are reading here on DP. in a sense it is time travel while praying.


.
 
"May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."
Catholics believe in Purgatory.

Southern Baptists, however, believe that after death a soul is "sent" to Heaven or to Hell. Thus, no need for prayers of intercession (petitioning God to release souls from Purgatory, after which the souls enter Heaven.)
 
There are so many issues with non-denominational Christianity. I often respect their admiration and love for Christ but their theology is error.

Issues:
-Rejection of all Church Tradition and Councils
-Rejection of traditional Church Episcopacy and Authority
-Rejection of the Saints and Iconography
-Disregard for the sacraments
-Worship services fixated around a charismatic pastor
-Non-historical Christian beliefs and teachings
-Private Interpretation of Scripture (this leads to more heresy and divisions)
-Belief that the bread and wine during the Eucharist are only "symbolic" and not the true body and blood of Christ
-Blasphemy against the holy Mother of God. I've even heard some argue that "Mary was only a vessel"
-They don't pray for the dead
-Believe in other unusual teachings such as "once saved always saved", "Saved by grace through faith alone", a pre-tribulation rapture, and many other strange end time beliefs
-Zionist/Judaistic beliefs such as being strong supporters of the state of Israel
-They don't celebrate Christian Holidays other than Christmas and Easter. For example, Monday was Pentacost and chances are your Non-Denom Church was not celebrating it.

There are many other issues. It's hard for me to see Protestants and Evangelicals any different than Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. I believe we're all better off joining one of the Apostolic Churches that go all the way back to the time of Christ and the Apostles.

Do you believe the Bible?
 
Once a person is dead, it's all in God's hands...no amount of prayers for that dead person is going to change a thing...
In theory, God is the Alpha and Omega, so it's ALL in His hands.... therefore prayer is technically a pointless exercise unless it is to exalt God.
 
Interestingly enough, these differences between the denominations and Catholics are what prompted the First Amendment and the passages in the Constitution that basically forbid religion from government and insists on the freedom to worship as one pleases. Also, would influence Jefferson's policy regarding the Maurbury Baptists which resulted in his description of the First Amendment and the Constitution as a separation of church and state.

Forgot to mention that when someone claims America is a Christian nation, they don't really know what they are saying as they cannot tell you which type of Christianity makes it a Christian nation as this thread makes the point that there can be some pretty wide and deep gulfs between the various versions.
 
-Disregard for the sacraments
These are rituals. They are an outward manifestation of an inward relationship. If that relationship does not exist, there is no power in the ritual whatsoever. Rituals serve to enhance and nurture relationships, nothing more.
-Non-historical Christian beliefs and teachings
Many teachings have been shown to be false. For example, the Catholic Church would put people to death (following torture) for expressing ideas contrary to the church teaching that the earth was at the center, and the sun, planets and stars revolved around the earth.

If the Church was wrong about that (and they were), what else were they wrong about?

Tell me, do you believe the Catholic Church was wrong when they began allowing mass to be held in languages other than traditional latin?

Do you believe that one ought not pray to Jesus? But rather figure out which of the patron saints should be beseeched and ask them to intercede with Jesus on your behalf? Jesus just too busy?
Or perhaps it is better to go talk with someone wearing robes and ask them to talk to Jesus for you?
-Private Interpretation of Scripture (this leads to more heresy and divisions)
This is only true if someone chooses to tell others their interpretations are wrong. God can and does reveal his will for each of his children individually, and scripture is just one way.
-Belief that the bread and wine during the Eucharist are only "symbolic" and not the true body and blood of Christ
Again, this is a ritual, which in and of itself has no power without the underlying relationship that the ritual represents. Be as literalist as you like. It will not invalidate the relationship between another believer and God.

-Blasphemy against the holy Mother of God. I've even heard some argue that "Mary was only a vessel"
There is scripture that supports avoiding revering others excessively, including Mother Mary.

-They don't pray for the dead
Says who?
-Believe in other unusual teachings such as "once saved always saved", "Saved by grace through faith alone", a pre-tribulation rapture, and many other strange end time beliefs
All supported by scripture, differing interpretations notwithstanding.
-They don't celebrate Christian Holidays other than Christmas and Easter. For example, Monday was Pentacost and chances are your Non-Denom Church was not celebrating it.
Again, rituals only have the power those who participate give them.
There are many other issues.
Happy to discuss them with you. Just be aware, "My Way or the Highway" won't get you too far with me. Everybody's path is different.
 
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