Which denomination of Christianity is most like the church Jesus intended to found?

Question

I would like to find out more about becoming a Christian but don't know where to start since all denominations of Christianity are all different. Which one most closely follows the teachings of Jesus and why?

Answer 1

The Westboro Baptist Church, no doubt.

Answer 2

That is something that you need to pray and ask God to reveal to you. Each church makes its own claim on truth and you need to examine those claims. I am a Catholic, partly because I was brought up as a Catholic but also because I have examined Church history and I find that the beliefs of the Catholic Church are compatible with the early Christian writings that we have record of and it holds onto those beliefs without compromise.



There are some very important things that you need to take into consideration. What is the Eucharist? What are Sacraments? What is baptism? Each church has their own claim on what these mean. But the Catholic Church claims that it has held onto the same beliefs as the original Church through Apostolic Succession. That means it has a line of bishops that goes all the way to the original Apostles, with the Pope as successor to St. Peter. Each bishop teaching their successor and so on as a way of safe guarding the truth handed down from the Apostles. In this way the Catholic Church makes less of a claim than any other. The Catholic Church is only the mail man, delivering the early teachings of the Apostles. Every other church claims to edit their mail.



Churches that claim to be bible alone churches are really saying we can't trust Apostolic Succession (Which is what the early Church believed in) so they want to ignore history and interpret the bible apart from knowledge and tradition that has been passed down from the Apostles through Christ's Church. And that is the reason there are so many of these denominations because they all have no authority with a different interpretation of scripture. So with bible alone you have no teaching authority, no passed on knowledge. It's just you and a bible. No wonder there are so many different interpretations. How can you safeguard truth that way? (1 Tim 3:15).



The Catholic Church is the big white elephant that no one can ignore. It claims to be the original Church that Christ started. (And, along with the Orthodox actually has historical records to back up that claim). And it claims to be the Church that Christ promised the keys of the kingdom and authority to bind heaven and earth and that hell would not prevail against (Mt 16:18-19).



The Catholic Church is one, holy, catholic and apostolic. See Christian Nicene Creed from the 4th century. I recommend reading Scott Hahns, "Reasons to Believe" and any writings from the early Church Fathers like St. Ignatius, St. Justin Martyr, and St. Irenaeus from the 2nd century.



God Bless

Answer 3

Let's just put it this way. LDS will say they are Christian all day long until one converts and goes to a Christian church. In that case, the poor soul is considered to have gone to outer darkness. Let's put it another way. If they were just another Christian denomination, why are they trying to convert me? I've gone to Methodist, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Baptist, Nazarene and other Christian churches. We all consider each other brothers and sisters in Christ. There is no mourning if one switches. There is no trying to convert between denomination. We all believe in the same core doctrines. There is a lot of differences between LDS and Christians. The only thing the same between Christians and LDS are the words. The definitions are all different. One simple example is the definition of heaven. The first two levels of LDS heaven fit the definition of a Christian hell, which is to be separated from God forever.

Answer 4

Jehovah's Witnesses are the only group of true Christians that follow very closely the teachings of Jesus and his Apostles.John 4:24 - John 8:32

Answer 5

Jesus didn't found a denomination so much. Jesus calls to Ministry to Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor & Teachers.



And these are the Ministers and have a number of different types of each.



Jesus asked who His Disciples thought He was. Peter received faith from the Father to believe & confess in faith, 'Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God!'. And Jesus said that he would now be called 'Petros' [piece of the Rock] and on this ROCK [Petra] He will build His Church. Jesus said that it was not man who gave Peter this faith to confess in faith. It was His Father... That On this ROCK [and this Rock is Christ] He will build His Church. And the gates of hell will not prevent its advances.



So the first division in the Church was the Gentile Christian Church & the Messianic Jews... From there, divisions in the Church resulted in denominations. But The denominations that are part of Christ Church would be the ones that teach the Foundational teachings to be born of Gods Spirit & cleansed by His Blood.

So believing Jesus was born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit [Yeshua, Emanuel], the Christ [Promised Messiah, Anointed One], The Lamb of God who takes away our sins, The Resurrection & the Eternal Life.



Jesus said that we must eat His Flesh & drink His Blood... So we need to receive His atonement for our sins. Otherwise we do not receive eternal life. When we receive Jesus shed blood to take away our sins, then sin no longer stands between us & God. But we are born of the Spirit & cleansed by His Blood. So we enter His Rest, and that is being born spiritual and so abiding in Christ love & Word.



Most Christian denominations follow Jesus teachings... but the ones that aren't on the ROCK foundation are not part of Christ Church. There are heresies in all the denominations also. And Christians of all maturities and non Christians. So Jesus Christ Church are really the people who have received His Atonement for their sins to be born again. Born from above and now Gods spiritual soul child.



I have gone to a non denominational Church for years. Because that is where God healed me from a breakdown and fed me Gods Word. So any Church that preaches according to the Holy Bible.

Answer 6

Christians are the church. its not a building or a place. its a group of fellow christians who have gathered to worship the one true God. the Bible says "for where two or more are gathered in My name, I shall be with them." you could be worshiping God in a park and it would still be church. but to answer your question, i have been to many different denominational churches in my life. but the only one that really holds true to gods teachings the closest is the Bible Churches. yea yea yea Catholicism was the first denomination. but heres the deal. (pre-apologies to any catholics) the ten commandments says do not bow down or pray to any idol or thing but God. catholics pray to mary, jesus' earthly mother. plus they still believe he is on the cross with is wrong because he was taken off the cross, buried, and three days later, he rose from the grave conquering Death so that we as his children would have eternal life in him.

Answer 7

Welcome to God's family! I suggest a non-denominational church because you don't have to worry about certain customs etc, and they are bible-based. Best thing to do is google "non denominational churches in _____(your city)", and you should have a few choices. If you don't like one, try another one, don't give up! Good luck.

Answer 8

I'd say, be careful about those groups which sound like conspiracy theories. Those which teach that 'true believers' existed either in secret or alongside Christianity which fell into corruption. OR that teaches that Christ's true teachings were lost for a time and that he had to send someone to re-reveal things AGAIN to Christianity to restore his teachings a 2nd or 3rd time.



I'd be equally suspicious of any person who tries to separate religion and a relationship with God.. making the 2 sound as if they are mutually exclusive.







I'd say this... start with the Earliest Christians and learn what they believed. The assumption there is that those which were within a few generations of Christ and his Apostles, probably had a more authentic faith because it was not based merely on reading a book.. but by being TAUGHT first hand. To them it was more FACT then faith.



Don't get me wrong.. the bible is a GREAT tool. But it has its limitations. For one thing.. it stops short, in the book of Acts and the Epistles of Paul. It doesn't continue on. We only see the formation of the Christian faith.. not how it was actually lived out.



So the bible is a GREAT tool..but not the only utensil in the ktichen. God didn't give us a book, as if he did.. he would have written it himself. He gave us something better.. living breathing MEN... to LEARN from.





It was like those of us who grew up learning about WWII from actual veterans. Verses later generations who will have to go off of documentaries and books.

Those of us alive NOW, have documentaries, books, war footage AND the Veterans to learn from. Later generations won't be able to talk with those who were there.



Which is better?



I'd say.. study the faith of the ORIGINAL Christians, not those who merely read the bible 2,000 years later and learned the faith from a book.







Since I work in the Computer industry.. I see 2 kinds of IT Techs. Those which learned from a book.. and those which learned first hand.

Those which learned about Windows XP after it came out.. and those which learned it as the tools were developed.

I'd take a hands-on real world experience guy over a guy who learned it from a book and has 3 certifications to his name any day of the week.







That's my advise, without trying to make you biased.

Answer 9

Mormonism or Catholicism.



My best guess is that Messianic Judaism is as close as one could get given our limited knowledge of ancient Judean practices.



EDIT*** OOOOOPPPPSSS. I really thought you wrote "which denomination of Christianity is least like the Church Jesus intended to found". My bad. But my answer to the question is still there.

Answer 10

You can try something like a Bible based church or a non denominational church. These are good because they follow the Bible and teach grace, usually. =)

Answer 11

The Roman Catholic or the Eastern Orthodox.

Answer 12

Read the first three chapters of Revelation and you will see clearly which churches Jesus likes. Pay attention to their doctrine and line it up with the churches you see in your neighborhood.



Some great ways to pick a church:



Go to one and ask for a free King James Version of the Bible. If they try to stick something else in your hands, leave and try another.



If you see a cash register or prices next to items in the building, leave that building. Jesus Christ knocked over trading tables because our Father's house is not a place for commerce. To bring commerce into your church is called Mammon worship.



I hope that helped! I'm praying for you!



God Bless.

Answer 13

Look for a church that does NOT have a 501(c)(3).



Any religious body that VOLUNTARILY suborns itself by this contract to the State is removing itself from both the protection of the first amendment to the Constitution as well as from the venue and jurisdiction of Jesus Christ, the head of the true Church.



If you can't find one, start one. After all, you're either a minister, or you need one!

Answer 14

I don't know which one is most like it now, but I do know the original Christian church was the Catholic Church.

Answer 15

Everyone's going to have a different answer to this. But in my opinion, if you took something like the theology of reformed baptist and made the church itself more liturgical, that would be about as close as you could get.

Answer 16

i would be careful about going to a church if you want to find more information on Christianity. too many churches don't even talk about Jesus during some of their services.



catholic-- you'd be bored out of your mind

mormon-- you'd be bored out of your mind



no offense



id open up a bible and turn to the new testament and read about what jesus tought. i have yet to go to a church where they got in depth about jesus teachings.

Answer 17

.

"Ed" is right, Jesus' mission was to save the 'chosen race' from their sins.



But they rejected Him and had Him crucified.



There has always been a very small group of true believers (The Remnant)



Most of these true Christians were hunted to the death by the RCC.



I believe that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is that Remnant Church today.



May God bless you as you study His Word



<:)))><



King James Bible

Answer 18

The closest thing to what Jesus was preaching would probably by a secular humanist organization.

Answer 19

For me it is Jehovah's Witnesses.



They/we teach the whole truth we have found in the Bible, we are preaching the good news of the Kingdom in 403 languages, do not tolerate will full sinners, but do deal with them in hopes of repentance,..have true love for the whole brotherhood and will not join army in any country and kill others, do not celebrate the pagan holidays that were not found in early Christianity.



All our meetings are like Bible classes with songs and prayers. We have the correct understanding of God as ONE, and use his name Jehovah,..and hell, Gehenna, eternal life on Paradise earth,.. and more. We have elders which serve the congregation, ..they are not like higher, they are lower because they serve more.



Meetings are free, Bible study is free.



http://www.watchtower.org/

Answer 20

I have found some good solid Bible truth in a few denominations- Baptist, Alliance, Evangelical Free, Assemblies of God, You have to go check each group out for yourself.



You want to fellowship with people who form good solid small groups- who are true friends to each other.



God doesn't care which denomination we are- all those who believe and have received Him are his Church.

Answer 21

None of them.



You are to follow Jesus Christ and none other.



Seventeen times He calls for us to follow Him but somehow this is ignored and denominations have arisen.



As Paul tells us we may encourage each other to follow Christ but nowhere and no way is that to be confused with a denomination.



... But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.



Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.







What did Paul think of denominations?



And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?









God's people are meant to be spiritual and to follow the Spirit of God.



Let God show you who is spiritual from His word.



Everybody will tell you what they think and what you must do but don't listen to them, rather have God tell you and show you and you live accordingly.



Don't let the church or any denomination stand in the way of you hearing God for yourself and following Christ. They will unless you are careful. That is why He has given you His word, the Bible. you live from that and don't let any tell you what it means because it is God Who will show you.



Did not Christ clearly declare? -



But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.



Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.



Is God not able to lead and teach you if you seek Him?



Of course He is.



Never let man stand in the way of that whichever church or denomination you may visit, or not.





If you want to find out more about becoming a Christian then read what Christ says in the Gospels, especially in the Gospel of John. You can do no better than that, obviously.



Above all have God show you and lead you and NOT man.







Edit :



Phew ! Did I not say? Look at them all touting their own opinions, except for two or three.



But God has given you His word, the Bible. Then seek Him through that.

Answer 22

Well, I go to this really spirit-filled church REALLY SPIRIT FILLED I MEAN YOU CAN LITERALLY FEEL GOD!!!! Anyway, I don't know what type it is but I think it's non-denominational

Answer 23

you are answering my calling,good,its about time!,come on over to your nearest catholic parish and lets celebrate a communion and a eucharist together,and then sit down with one of the priests and lets put together a faith formation class for you.,hears a blessing,a prayer and a our father said just for you,practice the holy rosary,practice makes perfect,we love you all,the holy family.,and WELCOME HOME.

Answer 24

Please read this article concerning denominations. Very informative.



http://mountainretreatorg.net/faq/denomin.html

Answer 25

Mormon church see www.lds.org

Answer 26

none of them - although Communism is pretty close.