Denominations…

I’m back where I was about this time last year.  I’m looking for a church.  I’ve been going to Belle Aire recently.  While I like the sermons there, I don’t feel like I fit there.  The leadership there is absolutely amazing.  But I just don’t feel like I fit for some reason.  I certainly love some of the people there and they know who they are.  One of the things on my Bucket list for the summer was to find a church and I think I’d be selling myself short if I didn’t shop around a little.  So that’s what I did tonight.

http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/denominations/comparison_charts.htm

I’ve read through the comparison charts.  It’s nice to see a side by side comparison of the different denominations.  I’ve always had roots in the Methodist Church but I’m not sure I like some of what I read about them.  For instance to become a member of United Methodist Church you have to swear loyalty to the Methodist Church.  What the $%#@?  I don’t think so.  I can’t justify swearing my loyalties to an institution other than the scriptures and my own personal convictions.  Hmph… I’m not saying I couldn’t go to a Methodist church and be happy.  I just have issues with that train of thought.

I’m just going to say that I think the Catholics are retarded.  I’m not much of one for denouncing entire religions, but come on guys.  Everything I read from their doctrine is an attempt to put God into a box of some sort.  It seems so much is lost in the traditions, symbols, and rituals that they have forgotten what it’s all about.  I’m sorry but the bread that I eat at communion isn’t actually the physical body of Christ, and I can touch it.  Hell, I can partake of it at any other church, why not yours Mr. Pope?

The Baptist seems to be on the opposite end of the spectrum though.  While I don’t think the ministers at Belle Aire are constrained to the doctrine that I read tonight, I was troubled with some of what I read.  If the catholic doctrine was too caught up in overanalyzing the bible and relying on ritual, the Baptists seem to oversimplify things.  There has to be a happy medium.  For example, the Baptists believe in Satan, “though they certainly do not perceive him as the caricatured red figure with horns, a long tail, and a pitchfork” (Baptistpillar.com).

Presbyterian seemed to be the most congruent with my beliefs.  I’ve never been to a Presbyterian church before.  I’m having trouble just typing the word “Presbyterian.”  So I guess it’s next on the list to visit. I like that of all the denominations listed it has the smallest number of members.  Something about that is welcoming to me.

So if any of you want to come with me on my quest to find a church you are most certainly welcome.  I like to have backup when I go into a new church.  They tend to gang up on new people when they don’t role in packs.