{"id":1153,"date":"2012-04-02T19:04:59","date_gmt":"2012-04-02T23:04:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/smalltownamerica\/?p=1153"},"modified":"2012-03-31T19:44:52","modified_gmt":"2012-03-31T23:44:52","slug":"does-it-really-matter-what-church-you-attend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/smalltownamerica\/2012\/04\/does-it-really-matter-what-church-you-attend.html","title":{"rendered":"Does It Really Matter What Church You Attend?"},"content":{"rendered":"

With Easter just around the corner, many people are questioning just what they do believe.\u00a0 Does it really matter, as long as we believe something and hold to that belief?\u00a0 There are millions of churches around the world.\u00a0 There are hundreds of different denominations.\u00a0 In America we have everything from little home groups of five or six people to mega churches with thousands of members.\u00a0 Just what is it that separates us all?\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I will speak only of the Christian faith, since I have limited knowledge of other religions.\u00a0In our community we can find a Christian based church on every corner.\u00a0 They are separated by how each one interrupts the Bible.\u00a0 First we must establish that the Bible is the inspired word of God.\u00a0 If it is, then we can learn what God expects of us and how we should live in a way that is pleasing to Him.<\/p>\n

I personally believe the Bible is the written Word of God and that it provides all we will ever need to pass through this life into the next.\u00a0 I believe that Heaven and Hell are real places and that someday each of us will go to one or the other.\u00a0 I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died for our sins, and was raised from the dead on the third day.\u00a0 I believe that accepting Jesus as our Savior is the only way to get to Heaven.<\/p>\n

With that said, individuals, churches and denominations each have their personal beliefs regarding the rest of what the Bible contains.\u00a0 There are many views of water baptism, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, prophecy, humility, honesty, and the Ten Commandments.\u00a0 Each person has their own convictions regarding drinking, dancing, movies, hair length, and style of clothing.\u00a0 Some think it’s fine for Christians to smoke and swear, to gossip and cause strife.<\/p>\n

Others are certain that you do any of these things you are going straight to Hell.\u00a0 There are as many opinions on some of these matters as there are people to have them.\u00a0 We must choose the path that is right for us.\u00a0 Let’s agree on what we can and agree to disagree on the rest.\u00a0 Some things we cannot challenge, like “Thou shall not kill” or “Thou shall not steal.”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>What church we attend becomes a personal choice.\u00a0 Some churches allow no music, some have no Sunday School.\u00a0 In many churches people raise their hands when they sing and they dance in the aisles in worship.\u00a0 Some have flags and banners, special music, missionary offerings.\u00a0 Some teach the tithe of your money and talents, others say give it all to Jesus.\u00a0 You choose a place of worship that meets your needs and supports your Theology.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With Easter just around the corner, many people are questioning just what they do believe.\u00a0 Does it really matter, as long as we believe something and hold to that belief?\u00a0 There are millions of churches around the world.\u00a0 There are hundreds of different denominations.\u00a0 In America we have everything from little home groups of five…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":420,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,14],"tags":[42,19,28],"class_list":["post-1153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-encouragement","category-inspiration","tag-choices","tag-faith","tag-truth"],"yoast_head":"\nDoes It Really Matter What Church You Attend? - Small Town America<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/smalltownamerica\/2012\/04\/does-it-really-matter-what-church-you-attend.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Does It Really Matter What Church You Attend? 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