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are you a switcher? - 2/26/2008 11:00:04 AM
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davelinde
Posts: 496
Joined: 5/5/2006
From: New Jersey
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Just saw this blog entry today Changing Landscape and the point on how many people are switching from the denomination of their youth struck me - it was noted as a leading focus of the report.
So... are you one of the switchers? Can you characterize the switching in any general or specific way? Do you think that your switching behavior is indicative of anything?
I'll go first. I've been Christian Reformed, Orthodox Presbyterian, Southern Baptist and now non-denominational (Evangelical). I would characterize all my affiliations as being very conservative though personally I have moved from holding a few conservative/moderate views to being very conservative. In parallel I have been looking for less legalism and more grace in the way the places I affiliate express their conservative views.
I had not really thought my switching was indicative of a lot. To a degree it is because I view myself as Christian with the denominational affiliation a secondary item. It has also been driven by what has been available where I live, eg when are no CRC churches or OP churches I found something else of necessity. But to a real degree the switching did indicate my desire to find a place I fit (was "called to" in the jargon) and I was less attached to traditions and looking more for places that were getting results with their evangelism.
That's me... how about you?
one more thought... my parents went from CRC to OP and back to CRC as soon as they moved to where they were, same with my youngest sister. My older sister in now Presbyterian. So as a family we are 50% singly affiliated and 50% switchers...
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/26/2008 11:36:00 AM
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Mrs.X
Posts: 2206
Joined: 7/7/2005
From: Newberg, OR
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Yep, I'm switcher. I was raised Catholic, and I now attend a non-denominational church. I've been to foursquare and Assembly of God churches. Mostly I just need a place to worship where I feel spirit filled, and everyone else is spirit filled. I don't really care about denomination too much. If the preacher is teaching something false as a fact, that's on him, not on me. I don't always agree with everything my pastor says, I have never been able to do that with any pastor. And, that's OK with me. Worshipping with good, well meaning people is most important when it comes to picking a church for me.
_____________________________
-Christina
MySpace
From Sweet Grass to the Packin' House (music player is at the bottom if you want to turn it off)
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/26/2008 11:44:55 AM
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1love1God1way
Posts: 1999
Joined: 5/16/2005
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My parents were raised Catholic. When I was born, they switched to Christian Reformed.
Years down the road, we all switched to Assemblies of God.
_____________________________
-Ben-
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/26/2008 11:53:23 AM
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dance4joy
Posts: 2124
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: Indiana
Status: online
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I grew up in Calvary Chapel (non-denom). My husband grew up Catholic.
He turned protestant around age 12 and began attending a non-denominational Bible church. When he moved away to college he found a small Church of Christ off-shoot that he liked and after we married we both attended there for a few years. Last year we both became members of The Salvation Army.
_____________________________
Isn't she a cutie?
<----------------
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/26/2008 11:55:44 AM
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Catholicandloveit
Posts: 295
Joined: 1/3/2008
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I was born and raised Catholic and still am so no I am not a switcher.
I read a little about this yesterday on ? yahoo maybe? don't remember. I think it is very interesting why we each decided what we do in regards to religious affiliations throughout our lives. At some point in our life we have to take our faith from childhood into our adult life, is this a true switch or a start? I chose to remain Catholic but I studied many others and even in staying Catholic, it became my Catholic faith and not the faith of the daughter of two Catholic parents. In this way I think we all leave the faith we are raised with even if we stay in the same denomination.
What I think is interesting is why people switch denominations after this 1st adult faith choice, and what that says about what we need from, and whats important to our faith.
BTW - Prayers for all those who are looking, one thing this study shows is many will face questions about their faith.
Peace,
Mary
_____________________________
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/26/2008 12:06:57 PM
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LBolt
Posts: 755
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Gosh, I've made a number of denominational switches in my life time. Growing up my family attended a Baptist church then a church of the Brethern. When I turned 20years old, I attended a Pentecostal/Charismatic church and recently, within a year or so, my wife and joined a Messianic congregation.
As my understanding of the Word of God expanded, I found that change was necessary. I don't agree with everything my current believes, it's actually over one point, however, I love where I am and I'm growing astronomically spiritually. So the benefits far away the differences.
_____________________________
Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding...she shall give to thine head an ornament of grace..---Proverbs 4:7,9
You mean there was grace in the Old Testament?!!!
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/26/2008 12:29:31 PM
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HisCovenant
Posts: 4689
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I switched from Southern Baptist to Presbyterian Church of America bout 4 years ago. Out of my immediate family, my parents, brother & sil, grandmother, Aunt & Uncle, and cousins all are still SB. I think they remain where they are out of fear of other denoms. They believe SB dogma and fear denominations that teach differently are "too liberal." I don't believe every dogma the PCA teach, but am excited to be with believers who actually use their spiritual gifts and who have strong leadership encouraging growth and maturity. the differences in the two bodies I am comparing are marked.
For myself and dh, fear of being in another unhealthy SB church made us look at other denoms. Because of the way the SB Convention allows congregations to rule themselves, I realize they are not all bad... but there was still the fear of joining with another unhealthy church as well as concerns about their sunday school literature.
I would say that our change was indicative of immaturity, lack of knowledge, and (therefore) lack of obedience to God in the church in general. It indicated a fear of being misled in me.
It's been a good change. I have learned a lot about why other Christians believe different interpretations of scripture and am better able to extend grace to those who believe dogmas that aren't black and white in the Word. The benefits outweigh the differences for me, too.
_____________________________
-HisCovenant/ Zipporah
My friends call me Zippy!
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/26/2008 1:04:23 PM
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sue244
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From: Colorado
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I guess you could say so because I have changed denominations many times as I hve grown up. I run the guantlet from Charasmatic to Conservitive, and Weaslyan to Reformed. I've been getting more conservitive with each swich so now I go to an independent fundementalist Baptist Church. I think that is where I will stay. It seems to fit me best out of any church I have been to.
_____________________________
"It is a remarkable fact that all the heresies which have arisen in the Christian Church have had a decided tendency to 'dishonor God and to flatter man.'"
Spurgen
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/26/2008 1:12:07 PM
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Lycea
Posts: 197
Joined: 6/18/2007
From: Kansas
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Yes and No.
I grew up Evangelical Quaker (Evangelical Friends Church). Got married, moved to another state where Dh and I worked with youth in an Evangelical Methodist church. Were dismissed from that position, attended an SBC. Moved again, went back to an Evangelical Quaker church and have been ministering in Evangelical Quaker churches since.
Switched, then switched back.
_____________________________
It all boils down to this: Love God, Love Each Other.
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/26/2008 1:18:32 PM
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mcleod
Posts: 657
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Well my story starts in a Baptist church that was indepent. Today is not, it is a GARBC affiliated. That was because my Dad who was the physical builder of the church. The day it was to be dedicated, on my birthday, my Dad had to make an appearance for that dedication of the building. So at the end when the alter call was made he went forward. Then all hell broke loose in that church. There were people who called church hoppers. Who go around causing trouble amongest the congregation.
After that my Dad believed that he was being called into the ministry and went to Azusa Pacific College. He went to school for awhile, but having a family had to quit. But in the mean time we went to a Four Square Church in that town.
Moved back Indiana, to a town south of the town where all of the kaos happen. There our family attend a GRABC church, which after awhile again we moved north to the cold country where my Dad and brother went to a school that was affiliated with the GRABC church's Baptist Bible College of Grand Rapids MI.. We went to a GRABC church in Grand Rapids, who's head teacher went to Dallas Theological Seminary. In fact two of them went there.
I mean while total left the church to to other things in my life. Until my wife meet me and told me that we were going to church together. She had been raised RCA, in fact that her family was one of the founding members of a local church
So my Dad ask us if we would go to the church that he was attending at that time. I was working with him in construction. That led us to an Assembly of God church which we were married in and attended until the economy went south. Where we found ourselves going to a independent church in Irving Texas that was affiliated with Dallas Theological Seminary. After while we were led back to Michigan where we hook up with a Grace believing bunch, stayed there for awhile then left and went to the same church that my wife grew up in. Then something happen there and know we go and have for the longest time to a church where the teacher gets thrown under the bus in these threads.
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/26/2008 1:30:08 PM
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Kat_D
Posts: 3222
Joined: 9/2/2005
From: Where We Shake, Rattle & Roll!
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Yes, I switched...from being not born again (Catholic) to being born again (Calvary Chapel).
_____________________________
~Kat
"...And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes...no more death, sorrow, nor crying."
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/26/2008 3:15:34 PM
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lexie
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From: Toronto
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I grew up Presbyterian. When I was in university I attended a Pentecostal church and now I belong to a non-denominational church.
My changes of church happened as my understanding and knowledge grew and I searched for a church that I felt most comfortable in.
My husband can't remember what church he grew up in (foreign country, and he's not sure what church his would have been affiliated with). When he came to Canada he began attending a non-denominational church.
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/26/2008 5:45:20 PM
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earthless
Posts: 5234
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From: where bbq pigeons roast....
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Nope, same faith as my parents. Though I didn't really come to the faith until I was an adult.
_____________________________
Probing Today's Religious Movements | Promoting Doctrinal Discernment & Critical Thinking | Providing Reasons for Christian Faith & Ethics
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/26/2008 5:56:47 PM
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SD456
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I grew up Catholic, actually got born-again and baptised in the Spirit in a Charismatic Catholic church at the tail end of the charismatic renewal that flowed through the church for about 20 years.
Then went to Assembly of God, then non-denominational, then Pentecostal, and now I'm back to non-denom.
Each move was God telling me to move cause it's time to learning something in a different area. The AG taught me more about the gifts of the spirit and the bible than the Catholics. The non-denom taught me about spiritual warfare and worship, which the other churches didn't teach me, and the Pentecostals brought me the deepest refreshing and the deepest growing of roots that I've ever known.
It's all good!
_____________________________
MY BLOG
http://reflectionsdeep.blogspot.com
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/26/2008 5:58:44 PM
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bluestone
Posts: 2254
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From: Saturn
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Sometimes you just outgrow a church. You see the same old thing preached over and over, and you need to leave in order to advance spiritually.
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/27/2008 9:12:13 AM
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kmangel
Posts: 550
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Started out Catholic, then Presbyterian, became saved, now nondenominational.
_____________________________
Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.
--Mark Twain
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/27/2008 12:26:37 PM
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kernsfamily
Posts: 1222
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"Grew up" Catholic (though, we were never really "involved" in church, except for spotty attendance)......
Was "Saved" at age 23 after getting involved in a Church of Christ congregation.
Currently attend a Southern Baptist church. (though, I don't consider going from Church of Christ to Baptist a "switch")....just mere denomenation....and, I don't pay attention to denomenations.
Primary reason for attending the Southern Baptist church is that is how my wife was "raised"....so, when looking for a church, we looked to those first...
_____________________________
Proud dad of 3 great girls....Erin, Emilie and Elise
Blessed to have all of them in a "totally awesome" public elementary school!
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/27/2008 1:38:21 PM
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Lurker
Posts: 753
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From: Silver Spring, MD
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Grew up non-denom, later joined a Presbyterian church, and am now Catholic. :)
_____________________________
Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ—and you will find true life.
-Pope Benedict XVI
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/27/2008 1:44:39 PM
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stellaluna
Posts: 3448
Joined: 4/11/2005
Status: online
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My parents were switchers. They left the Southern Baptist Church when I was a toddler and moved over into non-denom. (My dad is even an ordained Baptist minister!) I spent my life predominantly in non-denom and that continues today.
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/27/2008 2:43:03 PM
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everjoyful
Posts: 121
Joined: 1/4/2007
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i was raised new age (lol sorry) When i became a christian i was baptist but am now non denom attending a charismatic non wof church where i feel really connected to god in worship.
the church of my youth seems to have let its flame go out. i tried to return but just felt cold there.
_____________________________
john 14 v27...do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/27/2008 3:51:50 PM
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mariadreamer
Posts: 331
Joined: 5/17/2005
From: va
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If you live in the USA, it's the land of choices and switching, everything is about the features that please the individual competing for each other. I went through a switching phase when I got more seriously interested in Christianity and as I was learning about the different beliefs and where they came from. I tried various evangelical, charismatic, non-denominational, Lutheran, Catholic churches and since I rediscovered the Orthodox Church, there is no other place to go! God helping me, I pray I stay true to my Orthodox faith.
_____________________________
Christ is risen from the dead,
by death He has trampled down death,
and on those in the tombs bestowing life!
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/27/2008 6:30:46 PM
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MichiganCatholic
Posts: 68
Joined: 2/23/2008
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I could never leave my church, it is the faith of my fathers and the greatest source of strength in my life, but I do understand why people do. I think the downside of religious freedom in the U.S. is the tendency by some to treat a denomination like it is a brand on the shelf. I have always found it odd how denominations advertise like car dealers. So much is about marketing these days. I find that many people (although not all, of course) don't know much about what their particular church teaches but they go because: (a) it is the church of their family or ethnic group or (b) they like the music, worship style, or the pastor. These aren't necessarily bad reasons to stay with a church, but I wish more people (like the people who engage in these types of discussions) actually thought about what their church teaches, because the folks who don't are ripe for the picking by the new "mega church" in town (no offense to you mega churchers out there poaching all our parishioners!) that are filled with passionate, fun, welcoming people. I find that many, many people leave my church (I'm Catholic, believe it or not) because they: (a) never felt involved or actually understood what was going on or (b) had a bad experience with a particular member. It usually has nothing at all to do with any teachings of the Church. There is no excuse for this. What a sad failing of my Church (and many mainline Protestant churches in my opinion). We don't teach our young (or adults) nearly as much as we should about our faith. We don't show them the riches that it has to offer and they walk away without knowing the treasure they had. We don't surround them with our rich culture and community. I am confidant that more people would stay if they really understood what was going on and got involved (the old saying about you only get out what you put in), not to say there won't always be people who choose to leave or who are told they need to get "saved". It is heartbreaking to hear former Catholics say they they left the Catholic Church because they read the Bible. The Catholic Church, believe it or not, encourages reading the Bible (gasp!). I try to read it regularly and it confirms my faith. It is also sad when they leave because they just didn't feel involved in their local parish (one parish in a Church of more than a billion people). There were opportunities for them or at another parish to get involved, but no one made them feel welcome.
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RE: are you a switcher? - 2/27/2008 9:24:08 PM
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drfuss
Posts: 193
Joined: 3/9/2006
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drfuss: I was raised a Methodist; became a Christian at age 14 and attended a United Brothern church and a Foursquare church until age 23. After getting married and moving to another area, I attended Assemblies of God Churches for over 30 years and have attended a Southern Baptist church for the past 15 years.
I am a Christian and the denomination I happen to be attending means nothing to me as long as they preach the gospel and I can worship and serve there. Changing denominations (including some doctrinal changes) can be a health thing. It has forced me to search the scriptures to determine what the scripture actually says about certain doctrinal issues.
I think believing what your church believes because you were raised that way is dangerous. Having pride that you belong to a particular denomination can be even more dangerous. Many denominations get off on tangents doctrinally interpreting scriptures out of context. Others are so steeped in traditions resulting in the gospel being neglected.
I think that changing denominations has been benefical for me spiritually. BTW, I am not in complete doctrinal agreement with any denomination or minister (that I know of).
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