etc, etc etc…..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominations

Of course we know many of thousands of denominations exist. What makes you think we don’t know this? But the divisions are overstated when the same denomination appears in in its national forms, such as "of Bulgaria" or "of Canada". They are not different denominations.

For instance, the Greek Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church are in fact part of one church. One faith, one Lord, one church.

Blessings.
/Orthodox

When i was younger i went to church but now i very rarely go anymore and it’s fellowship i go to not sunday school and TBH i only go because its fun.
However I believe that there is a god but i don’t pray, read the bible or go to church what am I classified as? a non-religious Christian?

I also got a few more questions. Most of them are yes/no questions.

Many family members from my father’s side of the family are non-religious, does this mean they will all burn in hell after death?
If that is the case, I feel that it is clearly unfair because everyone has the right to believe in anything they want.

If God knows everything, he should the future. By knowing the future he should know everytime you will sin therefore he should already know if you are going to heaven or not. So shouldn’t he already know the answer to if you accept him or not?

Will the believers of other religions burn in hell because they don’t believe in God?

The only way you can go to heaven is to accept Jesus and God right?
If that is the case I feel like God’s antfarm because he will send anyone to hell who does not follow him.

I would talk to a pastor about these questions but i feel they will result in arguements since they are questioning the power god.

Salvation is only a prayer away for every person – but most are walking away from God rather than towards HIm, and the longer they walk the harder it will be to turn around.

Listen what happened to these men…….

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=4136610474021109864&hl=en#

The word for "church" in Scripture is ekklesia. It means:

1) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly (that’s like the basic meaning people use, but there is more to this word)
a) an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating (except for the council part, that is what we are doing in discussion groups, deliberating)
c) any gathering or throng of men asembled by chance (that is not a formal gathering, it is by chance that one comes up on). I even preach on the street and by chance I happen to meet up and preach with other street preachers.
d) in a Christian sense (now here are the better definitions)
1) an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting (yeah, I still do that sometimes, but going to a church building is only good for the young Christians to keep people out of trouble if they are devoted and go there as often as they can. But for Christians who have been saved for 20 years we get tired of hearing false doctrine and watered-down gospel and it is time to evangelize instead of being pew warmers, or meet in our homes)
4) the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth
5) the assembly of faithful Christians already dead…

The church is the people, the body of Christ, and not a building. Most people will tell you to go to church, thinking of the building or maybe even just a gathering of people, because of Hebrews 10:25. The reason for that Scripture is the verse right after it:

Hebrews 10:26 – For if we sin willfully (as opposed to sins committed inconsiderately, and from ignorance or from weakness) after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins. ~ Note: The phrase there no longer remains means that they did once have the sacrifice for sins. So this is about former Christians. This next Scripture also proves it, because it shows the person was sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ. But it implies a worse punishment because of falling back into sin.

Hebrews 10:29 – Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified (note: this person was saved, see, he had been sanctified) a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? ~ Note: It’s a much worse punishment for the backslider who does not repent. You will see that in 2 Peter 2:20,21. The word for thought worthy also means deserving. The word for trample… underfoot also means to treat with rudeness and insult, to spurn, treat with insulting neglect. So don’t insult and neglect Christ, who set you free from the bondage of sin, by willfully sinning again; or else you will deserve to have a worse punishment.

So weak Christians need to be in church so that they don’t start sinning willfully, but strong in the Lord Christians need to be out preaching in public to get people saved.

Some say that it’’s not enough to be True to the Word, that you also have to (it’s demanded) that you also go to the building that’s set to worship in.

Where is it written in Koran, Holy Scripture, Bible, etc. that people are to gather together in a BUILDING that’s set up as place of worship and listen to person (leader) at podium speak the Word?

This topic came up with my sister recently. My sister and I (both 45 +), live in different states and are aware of teachings about Love, Divine Word, Jesus, kindness to one another, etc.

Difference is she goes to church and I’m of no organized faith (Spiritual).

Her and I are both of dear heart, kindness, "walk the walk" and live what is natural of soul and heart. Same traits that’s written and taught in scriptures.

She said that it’s "demanded" in the Bible that people go to church and listen to the leader. My sis sited Hebrews 15 – 17 that expresses such. I saw no mention of church so asked her for reference to scripture to support her statement that Bible says it’s "demanded" by God that people to go a building to listen to a leader. Worship in a house of God.

Is not the "house" the world. The "house" being where ever you are at any given moment be it your car, a field, grocery store, etc. and the "leader" is person who "leads the way" (models, encourages) Love, the Word?

Some say…"Do as you choose, don’t listen to others", etc. Yes, and I’m at peace with that.

Still, wondering… where in Holy Scripture does it SPECIFICALLY say to gather with others in a BUILDING that’s specifically set up for worship (church, temple, etc.) to listen to a leader?

Is not our soul, heart the "alter"? The "church, temple" is our lives and how we live it in the world? The "gathering in fellowship with others" those we relate with throughout our days? The Word, is living what we’ve learned, clarity of remembrance from soul, Spirit and to live, walk, Be that Word?

I very open minded and simply seeking where in Scriptures it SPECIFICALLY refers to a LITERAL building that people are to gather on regular basis.

I say SPECIFICALLY as some scriptures use words that convey what a person thinks the scriptures referred to is vague, not words that are specifying the leader being a documented, licensed Rabbi, Reverend, etc. and the place being a building specifically set up for worship.
Biblically, what constitutes a "leader"?

References that support the SPECIFICS of your answer greatly appreciated. So, before replying please look at specific words of your references. Are the writings in referance ague or literal words that provide answer to my seeking and question.

Thanks much.
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Typo…last paragraph. Word was "vague" not "ague". "words in reference vague or specific"?
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Three answers so far…that’s appreciated.

Yet, in addition to answer am seeking reference to support your answer.

In conversation with my sis, she recites specific text, asks for reference to support statements. So resources needed here. Thanks much.
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"John". Sorry, forgot the chapter ref.. My sisters reference was Hebrews 13: 15 – 17.
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"Claptic". I did research, Bible and elsewhere, and no passages found that says it’s rule and/or commandment that people go to church / temple / synagogue each week.
I researched, did’nt find any such passage so using this forum as added research.
In replies thus far, I see the passage refererences stating that "as was the custom" Jesus did attend weekly services, yet he did not continue that past boyhood age.
Jesus visited temples / synagogues yet He,, nor anyone else said it was a commandment to do so.
Two or more gather, fellowship, share the Holy Word, no matter if in home, building, field.
People go to church today? That’s fine, yet to scoff at others who know the Word yet don’t go to a building or organized faith each week baffles me.

Looked up in Bible, not found (because it’s not there?) yet open minded so researching it. This forum is one aspect of that research.

Don’t care to share an answer? Than why share "answer" that says you won’t be sharing answer?
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Um….Hebrews consists of chapters 1 thru 13….WHERE is Hebrews 15-17 that your sis spoke of? (Thanks for the clarification).

Nevertheless, Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

On the one hand, my mother was a missionary, and I was taught from a very early age that "Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

Consider also, Jesus himself not only attended the synagogue on the Sabbath, he took part in and led the worship; also consider that the word BUILDING, or church, is NOT generally used in the New Testament, you’ll have to accept the synonym "synagogue."

Mat 13:54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
Mar 1:21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
Mar 1:22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
Mar 6:2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?
Luk 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
Luk 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
Luk 6:6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.

It is recorded 44 times in the New Testament where Jesus entered a synagogue and began to teach, furthermore, Luke 4:16, above, even states that that was "as his custom was," I believe it is abundantly clear in the New Testament that to fully function as part of the body of Christ, we are to participate in the activities of a local body of believers.

Are not Christians supposed to be followers of Christ? Why would we not follow his example?

I don’t know that there IS a scripture more clear than Hebrews 10:25, but it is certainly evident if we follow the example of how Christ behaved and what he did.

Finally, the Apostle Paul gave us the qualifications for deacons and bishops in 1 Timothy 3…If the local church does not have local leadership, why else would the Holy Spirit give these words to Paul to record?

Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

I do believe that as mature Christians, we are to grow spiritually enough to feed ourselves:

Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

This does not mean that we are not to participate with a local church, all one has to do to become spiritually drained is spend five minutes on Yahoo!

In Christ,
John the Baptist

www.adventist.org

Keep the Law under Grace.

The Moral Law(Ten Commandments) was given to Israel in trust for all mankind. It has never been abrogated but ia as unchangeable as its author, being based on our essential relationships to Him and our fellow men, and it is of perpetual and universal obligation(Matthew 5:17-20).

Exodus 20:8

"REMEMBER THE SABBATH(Saturday) DAY, TO KEEP IT HOLY."

Jesus observed the Sabbath day of his own people. It was his custom to keep the Sabbath day Holy(Luke 4:16).

The Great Teacher never intimated that the Sabbath was a ceremonial ordinance or exclusive to the Jewish people. The Sabbath was given to all mankind.

It is evident that Christ did not change the Sabbath in the New Testament. Nor did he set the seventh-day of the week aside. Nowhere in the Bible is it stated that worship should be changed from Saturday to Sunday. The Bible declares that we should keep Holy the Sabbath Day.

Duration : 0:3:22

[youtube JxBPAQApqyk]

From the Heart Church‎
715 Fleming Road, Cincinnati, OH 45231-3905
(513) 531-5433‎

Here’s another one (not sure if it’s close):

Full Gospel
2117 Eaton Road
Hamilton, OH 45013-9737
(513) 737-2401

Duration : 0:1:51

[youtube Pu7jBvMNF88]