I'm not sure how many people in this sub are from the UK but last week Professor Dawkins commented on being a "cultural Christian". He said that he thought it was a good thing that the number of Christian believers was declining but he still hopes that parish churches can be preserved. Weirdly enough this got me thinking about George Orwell and what post-Christian politics might look like particularly in the UK. Even though Orwell is well known for being an atheist of some description, like with most topics, he was somewhat contradictory and multifaceted. He had a very clear sense that the decline in Protestant Christianity in England might enable totalitarianism. I've written more on this here (https://pmgeddeswrites.substack.com/p/richard-dawkins-george-orwell-and) but I was wondering if anybody else saw his comments and had any thoughts

So, we all know churches can differ on ecclesiastical polity, and I am wondering what your opinions are on it?

While I attend a Baptist church, I don't put as much emphasis on congregationalism as most of them do. I'd be fine with attending a church that is led by a presbytery or a hierarchy of bishops if I am in agreement with the rest of their teaching.

It does make me contemplate the pros and cons of the various options out there.

I'm most interested in connexionalism and the Presbyterian style used by the PCA and the United Church of Christ. The former is presbyetian (duh), but seems less centralized than other Presbyterian denominations, from what I can tell, and the UCC seems to rely on a mix of congregational and Presbyterian polity, which, despite their faults, is probably the one thing I actually like about that denomination.

hello guys, am Christian**(protestant**) and I want to ask somethin. can I listen to secular music ? according to bible. please answer this question , cause I listen to secular music but I also listen to worship songs. is listening to music a sin ? or it will affect my relationship with Jesus ?? thank you!

Paul taught in Romans 6 & 7:1-6 that in Christ believers are no longer slaves to sin. This means that YOU CAN COMPLETELY STOP SINNING. Romans 7:6 sums up his teaching in a statement. This is non-negotiable; sin must not remain a pattern in your life if you expect to be saved.

See below for the scriptural explanation before rejecting this information.

[Rom 7:5-24 NASB95] 5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were [aroused] by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. 6 But NOW we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

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In Romans 7:7-13, Paul proceeds to explain how the Law of Moses provoked sin from the flesh. It was the Law of Moses that kept us in bondage to the flesh, and therefore to sin.

7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET." 8 But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin [is] dead.

9 I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; 10 and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. 13 Therefore did that which is good become [a cause of] death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.

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Romans 7:14 makes it clear. The man Paul was talking about in verses 15-24 was a man sold under sin, not a born-again believer in Christ Jesus. Paul was speaking in the present tense for dramatic effect. We do this all the time. It's called the historic present tense, and it is a rhetorical device for communicating a narrative.

14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.

15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I [would] like to [do,] but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want [to do,] I agree with the Law, [confessing] that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good [is] not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

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Do not believe anyone who tells you that it is too difficult to stop sinning. They are either mis-informed or lying to you. And do not let these wolves heap their legalistic and traditional burdens upon you. Like the Pharisees, many Christians are experts at setting aside the commandments of God for the traditions of men.

Jesus' commandments to believe in him and to love one another are not burdensome to the children of God. You may know that you are saved if you keep his commandments.

[1Jo 5:2-3 NASB95] 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

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Our mindset should be to cease from sin, not to assume that sin is inevitable.

[1Pe 4:1-3 NASB95] 1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For the time already past is sufficient [for you] to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.

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God provides an escape from all sin.

[1Co 10:13 NASB95] 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

just curious and this question is off topic so idk if it's against the rules

I am a 23 year old german living in Heidelberg because of the university. In the last years I slowly became interested in Christianity. I was baptized in the Lutheran church because I am from protestant northern Germany. For some years I went to service in my small Lutheran church in my village where I lived. Now I live in Heidelberg (a city with traditional Protestant and Catholic people and churches due to historical reasons) and I usually went to bigger protestant churches. A few months back I decided to visit the Jesuit church in Heidelberg, which (just like the Jesuit church in neighboring Mannheim) is one of the most beautiful churches that I have ever visited.

I have to say that I really enjoyed the different religious services there so far. Despite being a protestant I like the tradition with the holy water at the entrance. The last services that I visited were all in the Jesuit church and I liked them way better than in either the protestant holy spirit church or the protestant Christ church.

I have the feeling that people actually believe in it. the services or more "vital" more "active" if you know what I mean, everyone sings, prays, gets on their knees, I like the church decorations, the interior, doing the cross symbol with the fingers, the more colorful clothes of the bishop and I like that it is the oldest institution in the world. It is just ONE group of christians instead of the dozens of different protestant denominations yet I usually had problems with catholicism because having a pope is alright for me but I dont like how he sometimes is treated like another jesus. . like he is soooo important and "works" in a giant palace and the RC church did a lot of bad stuff in the last centuries. So I like being a part of the Catholic community in my city and visiting the services. and I have never confessed my sins to someone in a confessional box. I agree with protestants that ONLY god can judge over me in the end but on the other side I also think it makes sense to tell to a priest which sins i have comitted to have a "free mind"

I also have some problems with Lutheranism/Protestantism e.g. they have so many interpretations, no holy water, and I have the feeling that Protestants/Lutherans at least in Germany are way more secular whereas catholics have a strong institution and a "leadership" and believe more in everything.

I dont know if I should actually convert to RC or if I should stay Lutheran but then its also weird or even hypocritical visiting RC services while i still am a Lutheran.

As you can see i am not a 100% satisfied with either denomination but at least Catholicism is the denomination founded by jesus himself right? and it has way more history.

Tbh i dont want to be a denominational christian althought that could be a solution.

Should I convert or have an appointment with someone from my RC community or should I stay protestant?

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PS: I also posted this first on r/Catholicism but i would also like to hear what you guys think

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I believe in:

-The real physical presence in the Eucharist

-The fact that Baptism saves, it cleanses sins, should be done to babies of christian families and it's more than just a symbol

-Purgatory as a place of both sanctification after death and a way for ppl who were never preached or who weren't preached correctly can hear the gospel

-Asking Pray Mary and the Apostles to pray for us

-The Assumption of Mary

Hate when sometimes Orthodox and Catholics think all protestants are baptist or non-denom.......

Protestantism has defined characteristics and a shared history. I think these other groups are Christian, but I don't think it is fair to call them Protestants. I think the widest definition of Protestantism that is still in line with Reformation thought would only really include Lutheranism, Anglicanism, the Reformed churches (Presbyterian, Dutch Reformed, etc.), and Confessional Baptists. I think there is an argument to be made about Methodists also being in this category, but I frankly don't know enough about Methodism to make that call.

Greetings Protestants.

I've been around Christianity in General for several years, researching the Faith and it's various sister faiths which split from the Church.

My personal Faith in Catholcism has slightly waned over the past Year, as I decided to practice it, though I've become split, as usual, when I research things and try them out.

Any Specific Churches any of you folks would recommend that would be similar in structure and mannerism, "Maturity" as well as willingness to engage in Political matters and matters or Charity?

I've seen things on the Angelicans for a Protestant Side of things, and even Orthodoxy. I myself am more of a Sede. Catholic, though even my reliance and trust in that is, meh, at best.

Basically, I'm asking for some where I can go for a Mass every Sunday that is similar on it's mission and steadfastness as Rome, but is not Orthodoxy.

I always saw Mary as not someone to pray to because of the 1st commandment and how to only worship God and no other Idols. Mary isn’t God herself so I didn’t pray to her. I want to hear other people perspectives because I want to learn more about other peoples thinking :)

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I guess first off, is it normal to never have anything mentioned about sinning in the church? I’m 18 and haven’t ever heard anything about masturbation, so sorry if this is the wrong place or anything but I’m really confused and want to know. Is it a sin? And if so, why? Are there any other things I should be aware of? I get the ten commandments and stuff but have never had anything more than stuff like that mentioned to me. Thanks for the help.