I am Lutheran.

Wow look at the length of that post. /endsarcasm. I am technically Catholic, but my beliefs differ from the Catholic beliefs quite a bit. I believe what I believe, even if the Catholic church says I am wrong.

tgags123 :

If you think I left out something that was essential, you are free to ask.

Brigand : Well you could have explained what a denomination is for those that Don know.

tgags123 :

You seemed to understand it just fine. But for those more stupid than you, they should read here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_denomination

Brigand : Yes I understood it, but that is not my point. Alright whatever, let's just stop. Its not even a big deal.

I'm Christian and Missionary Alliance.

I am simply Christian with some mixed  Presbyterian beliefs. I do however believe some things that Catholics do. I am a mix of it all (Minus the indulgences and other "get out of jail free card"-like things).

"Non-denominational" or whatever you want to call it.  There is no "membership" required.  If you have truly given your heart and life to Christ then you and I are all part of the body of Christ.  His church. If you want to get technical, this is what our church believe / stand for:

We have a common vision of growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. An emphasis is given to challenging lives to change through studying the Word of God, worshiping God in spirit and truth, and sharing the love of Jesus Christ with one another and others. Our supreme desire is to know Christ and be conformed to His image by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We belong to an "EV-Free" church (Evangelical-Free), and so far I don't disagree with what they're teaching. I really agree with SoL@R though, the denomination isn't as important as the salvation. A focus on Christ is what's needed, not a focus on a title or denomination.

play4fun : Missionary Alliance? Neat! My Grandma is Missionary Alliance, and my Dad grew up in one. That's really cool!

Brigand : What flavor of Lutheran? LCMS? ELCA? LCWS?

play4fun : What does Christian and Missionary Alliance believe (doctrine)?

SoL@R : What denomination are you closest to? Some non-denom church preach salvation for everyone and sins really don't matter. Others are more conservative and baptize infants. What are your specific beliefs on baptism, Lord's Supper, the Trinity, the creeds, original sin, saints, salvation, free will, pre-determination, resurrection and post-resurrection, mission of Christians, marriage, when does life begin, separation of church and state, etc. etc.

mrfe : What does your EV-Free church teach?


In case no one can tell, I hate this topic. The categories are meaningless now because regardless of what "denomination" one claims, it is so general it actually gives nearly no clue of what they believe. People who say "Catholic" might mean that they grew up catholic and disagree with a large majority of the catholic church's teachings. Same with baptist, pentecostal, lutheran, methodist, etc.

Instead, we need to actually list what we believe about things. The current category system does nothing.

baptism: Entering of the Holy Spirit into the individual. Requires nothing from the individual. Anyone can perform the action. Submersion is not necessary. Infants can be baptized because the parents control the household (as for me AND MY HOUSE, we will serve the Lord).

Lord's Supper: Actually Body and Blood of Christ. Not physically, but metaphysically. Consubstantiation: bread and wine do not transform, but remain. Consubstanciates at the end of the ritual. Only for those that understand what the ritual is (God literally entering our person by corporeal means). To defile the consecrated bread and wine is to defile God.

Trinity: As stated in the Athanasian Creed. One being, three persons. "Persons" defined as actors.

Creeds: Apostles, Nicene, and Athanasian.

Original Sin: At conception, our disposition is against God and we are poised toward sin. This itself is a corruption that needs a Physician.

Saints: The saved, alive or dead. Intercession not permissible after death.

Salvation: By grace, given to every individual, rejected by some of the individuals. "The Elect" are those who are consumed by the Grace of God. By marriage, which is unity, to the Son, who is Life.

Free will: Present in God, humanity, and angels (good or bad). Necessary in order to Love.

Predestination: Single predestination. I do not "accept" the faith and thereby grant myself salvation. God knew who would be saved before creation began and chose us before we chose him. God get the credit for every part of our salvation. It is by God within us that we can accept the faith in the first place. However, God does not choose hell for those he knew would not be saved. Instead, God offers them the same grace for salvation, but it is by their own rejection that the merit hell.

Resurrection: Restoration of physical bodies, glorified.

Post-resurrection: Eternal physical paradise in complete harmony with the self, God, others, and nature.

Mission of Christians: To Love.

Marriage: Unity. Can only happen with complementary beings (such as male and female or Creator and creation).

Start of life: Life begins at conception. The child exists; it is just tiny and simple.

Separation of church and state: Against. The church should not function as a state (armies, taxes, whatever) but interaction between the two is necessary. I advocate harmony between church and state.

Txgangsta : This article should answer your questions, I hope. Link.

I'm not going to dispute everything I don't agree with on your list, though there's not too many. I would like to address one though.

"Mission of Christians: To Love."

I won't say I completely disagree with this, as we are to act in love to everyone we meet. However, I think it's worth mentioning that it doesn't stop there. We're called to not only love, but to serve others. The most important goal we have, in addition, is to ultimately glorify God in all we do. That is our mission, it's not limited to just loving in my point of view. You could say that we're serving others, as well as glorifying God, in love; therefore your point stands. However, I think this could be misunderstood my some. If all we say is "I'm charged with the mission of loving", then people could take advantage of that saying we need to love each person, and the things they do; we're called to love, right? Specification is key, in my opinion.

Txgangsta :

Ah ok.  I'll make a list, because I like lists  If you want more detail than this, let me know then I'll elaborate.

-No infant baptism.  Baptism of adults (and/or kids if you fully understand what salvation is) by full water immersion
-Communion (Lord's Supper):  Bread (wafer) and wine (grape juice) are symbols of Christ's body and blood.  We do not teach transubstantiation.
-Holy Trinity:  One God in 3 persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit
-Born in sin.  You're not a Christian by default if your parents are Christians.
-Saints:  If you have given your life and heart to Christ, you're considered a saint.
-Salvation:  If you believe with your whole heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and that He has died for your sins on the cross, rose from death on the 3rd day, you will be saved.  This is by God's grace alone and not through works, lest anyone should boast (Eph. 2:8-9)
-Free will:  Given to every person.  Angels have been given this chance once only (if I remember correctly).  Some chose to follow Lucifer who became Satan (not going into that right now).
-Predestination:  A difficult thing to accept for some, but it is like you said.  How do I know that I am saved or "chosen"?  Accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you'll know
-Death (Resurrection & Post-Resurrection):  As a Christian you will be immediately in the presence of God when you die.  There's much more to this, but I won't go into this now.
-Mission of Christians:  Yes, love comes first, but it's because of our love for others that we have to fulfill the Great Commission.  "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations..."  (Matthew 28:19)  Also, to glorify God in everything we think, do or say.
-Marriage:  Not a Hollywood spectacle.  Instituted by GOD.  Holy.  Unity between Man (MALE) and Woman (FEMALE). Period.
-Start of Life:  Agree
-Separation of church and state:  Agree

I am a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints

We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

theres somthing to start on if you have questions on specifics or any other things we believe just ask

RetroSteve : Questions...

In LDS theology, there is a cycle. God began the true church on earth and brings salvation to his people. Then, a special few of these get to become Gods of their own universes, have their own children, and bring salvation to them. Of these children, a special few get to become God of their own universes, have their own children, and bring salvation to them. Of these children...

This cycle is how divinity is obtained. What is lacking is an unmoved mover. We have this cycle here, but who started the cycle? God could not have, because God was once a man, saved by his own God in another universe. And it couldn't have been that God, because that God was once a man, saved by his own God in another universe.

Also, why should I worship the God of this universe? Sure, it's from him that I can receive salvation, but that is a selfish reason for worship. Why don't I just worship "righteousness" instead? God is good, but God really is just like me. However, "righteousness" is what makes a God Godly. "Righteousness" seems to have more power than a God.

Txgangsta : ?

"In LDS theology, there is a cycle. God began the true church on earth and brings salvation to his people. Then, a special few of these get to become Gods of their own universes, have their own children, and bring salvation to them. Of these children, a special few get to become God of their own universes, have their own children, and bring salvation to them. Of these children... "

well in fact all the bible talks about is this Earth and as such we only can know about what's going on here and we don't know whether or not we can have our own planet but the bible dose say we are made in the image of GOD so maybe we can...

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth,and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Psalm 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

I wouldn't say a special few we all could if we follow GOD's commands and receive his ordinances.

I personally choose to worship the one true GOD (of this world) and believe that he indeed did create the entire multiverse and follow his Commands so that I can go back to his presence and ask him about all this we don't know yet

RetroSteve :

If all we can know is in the bible, what is the book of Mormon, the word of wisdom, and the pearl of great price?

"I personally choose to worship the one true GOD (of this world) and believe that he indeed did create the entire multiverse and follow his Commands so that I can go back to his presence and ask him about all this we don't know yet"

Why? Why worship "the one true GOD (of this world)"?

Txgangsta :
If all we can know is in the bible, what is the book of Mormon, the word of wisdom, and the pearl of great price?
I didn't say all we can know is in the bible I said the bible only talks about this world but thankyou for being interested in what the other scriptures are :

1 - The Book of Mormon is a connection of writings written by the descendants of the Nephites,Laymanites and Jarodites translated from some plates buy the Prophet Joseph smith which confirms and in some ways extend the bible... I think the church line is that it all happened in America tho I'm not convinced nor do I think it matters where it was I have faith it was.

2 Pearl of Great Price is a few books received by devine revalation by Joseph Smith as I recall

3 Words of wisdom ... that is actually a chapter in the Doctrine and Covenants which is what it says some wise words to live by.... to be exact

Doctrine and Covenants 89

1 A Word of Wisdom, for the benefit of the council of high priests, assembled in Kirtland, and the church, and also the saints in Zion—
2 To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order andbwill of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days—
3 Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints.
4 Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—
5 That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.
6 And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.
7 And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.
8 And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.
9 And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.
10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—
11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
12 Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;
13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
14 All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;
15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.
16 All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—
17 Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.
18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, ashall receive bhealthin their navel and marrow to their bones;
19 And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.

4 Doctrine and Covenants (I know you didn't ask but I'll tell you anyway) is a bunch of revalations relating to various things including the early formation of the church and the various challenges that appeared  it also contains direction on the rules of the church and stuff like that.

as far as I know none of these state we will be given planets although they do say we will become as GOD is  hope that helps 

as for the Question Why worship the ONE TRUE GOD well because to worship a False god would be dumb as I'm sure any christian can tell you, Because if we don't there is no way we aill be living with him, Because he tells me to, Because he created everything... need I go on

RetroSteve :

"I have faith it was [in america]"

Why? What is the reason for your faith?

"as for the Question Why worship the ONE TRUE GOD well because to worship a False god would be dumb as I'm sure any christian can tell you, Because if we don't there is no way we aill be living with him, Because he tells me to, Because he created everything... need I go on"

Why worship anything at all? Why not say "he exists" and then do what you want?