Structured in other Christian demoninations?
 

A few questions if anyone could give me some insight on them that would be great-

1. How do other Churches pay for themselves? We have tithing, what do they implement? Just wondering how they run their churches and pay for them.

2. Are mormons the only ones who crack down on standards? I feel like we have rules that are very black and white- ei. word of wisdom- where as other churches seem to have 'ideals' of what you should live up to?

3. How come other churches can congregate together? It seems like my christian friends all can swap between each church however not the lds.

I am not trying to disrespect any other churches these are genuine questions I am really interested in and that I feel I haven't been able to get solid answers on.

All Christian churches that I know of take up "tithes and offerings." The percentage of giving is highest amongst LDS, but we all run this way.

Churches vary in their social standards. Some of the Holiness churches would be shocked at the social dances that take place in LDS churches, and the amount of makeup your women are allowed to wear. Many churches observe abstinence from alcohol and tobacco, and most continue to prohibit premarital sex, as well as adultery. Y'all stand alone in prohibiting tea and coffee, though.

Most Christian churches share a belief in who God is (Holy Trinity), what the scriptures are (Holy Bible), and who the Believers are (all who believe in Jesus and confess their sins). LDS do not believe in the Trinity, have added scriptures, and believe some of the restored doctrines are necessary for full gospel worship of the Christ. Thus, there is indeed a divide that keeps us from full fellowship.

I hope these help. :)

Thanks very much for your response! I have gone to other churches before to visit and volunteered at a United Church recently and had some thoughts reeling through my head since then.

I guess just one more question with my point 2- do any churches crack down on rules as much as mormons though? Because we have to be worthy to go to the temple and repent and confess before we go to the temple I really feel like this separates us from other denominations. Are some churches really cut and dry like we are? And if they are- must they confess just like we do? It seems without the temple standard you could do alot of things pretty undetected thus not really obeying what is commanded of you??

Im asking this because it seems to me as people have spoken to me the 'rules' are a bit fuzzy and from what I gather most religions preach it is between you and God to decern what is right and wrong and to repent. Is there even a repentance process in other churches? (Besides Catholic confessions)

You are correct that LDS standards are more heavily monitored. There is built in accountability. In most Protestant churches, the standards are taught, but it is indeed up to the individual to comply. Hypocrisy is very possible. However, I would hazzard to guess that even in LDS circles, people can learn to do and say what they need to, if they want to enjoy the temple and their pet sins too. People cannot possibly catch everything. Ultimately, we will not sincerely obey God unless we truly believe that God sees what is done in secret.

Also, I would guess that churches in many parts of the world are more community-oriented than those in the West--especially in the U.S. We have "rugged individualism" built strongly into our culture. Thus, we do not easily accept our spiritual leaders "prying" into our personal lives. This is not right, but it is our natural inclination.

I think the difference in accountability comes in part from our view of salvation. In a "grace only" church, the members are assumed to be saved in many cases regardless of future failings. They may have high standards or ideals, but if you fall short it matters little if they believe in an easy grace that assigns no earthly consequences to sin after accepting the Lord.

LDS doctrine is that we are saved by grace after all we can do - meaning effort in living up to the standards is expected. When we enter the Lord's house (the temple) we are expected to do so only if we are truly trying to follow the Lord (keeping the commandments being a big part of that). When men perform priesthood ordinances they do so in the name of the Lord, so we hope that they are making sincere efforts to follow him throughout the week when they invoke His name to bless someone with healing. My other thought is that "cracking down" is to be done in a spirit of love and compassion for the one who is falling short. We want them to have the blessings found from keeping the commandments.

Are the tithing and offerings heavily emphasized? I would feel it is human nature to just not pay anything if it was seen as more optional...

I just feel like the LDS church is so black and white mainly because of the 'rules' to get into the temple, and I find it really interesting and great that people from other faiths can live up to what is expected of them without a temple goal.

I won't deny that some self-delude, by embracing "cheap grace" or "easy grace." However, even churches that teach "once saved always saved" would say that we demonstrate our salvation by righteous living. If you are living for the Devil, then I have to wonder if you were ever really saved? Also, many of our churches (including mine) do teach that salvation can be lost--either by willful rebellion, by on-going neglect, or by falling into unrepentant sin.

It is true that sin can be forgiven. However, true repentance includes a "turning away from." So, the idea that God can be gamed, by continually repenteing and then repeating the sin, is foolishness. It's not the true teaching of any "grace alone" church.

Tithing and offerings are highest in Pentecostal and Baptist churches. We do emphasize it more. However, there are no interviews, or other accountablity measures. We just teach on it more.

Part of what mitigates my own experience is that typically only about 40% of those who attend Assemblies of God churches are members. The rest are "adherents." We do not "push" membership, though we welcome new ones happily. Often, when people actually join our churches they are taught that members are expected to tithe and support the work. So, while about 50% of our adherents tithe, I would guess most members do.

Hello,

Tithing is Biblical and as far as I know, all Christians have a method of offerings that go towards the functioning of a church.

All Christians are taught to adhere to the Ten Commandments. Most Christian churches teach people to examine their own lives. A Priest advised me once to spend some time each evening in an examination of the day. Look for where I saw God present in my life, the times and places where I lived my Christian faith, and the other times that could use some improvement. He would never ask specific questions as LDS are asked. That is between myself and God, and the time spent in examination of conscience is towards that relationship.

I'm not sure what you mean by congregate together. My own faith, being Catholic, I can attend any parish I like within my diocese. Most people land in one parish and become a part of that Christian community. Volunteering for various ministries, social activities, faith based groups, Bible study, etc. Our diocese has various times where Catholics from all over come together. And there are times and places where Catholics gather from all over the world. One such day is coming up very soon, World Youth Day, which is in Madrid this time. Our teachings are such that, whenever a group of Catholics are together to celebrate Mass, the whole church is with them. Along with this, we adhere to a liturgical calendar, which means, all Catholics throughout the world are doing the same things on the same days. So in this sense, our communion with each other is world wide.

Hope that helps.

Peace.

This isn't what she was talking about though. She was asking about why it seems that some traditional Christians (certain Protestants in this case) seem to be able to just go to any church of any denomination. At least, that's the only interpretation of "It seems like my christian friends all can swap between each church however not the lds." that makes sense.