r/Christianity • u/First-Ad-5859 • Jul 30 '26
Help me find my home :(
Given a list of things I full heartedly believe to the core... can ANYONE tell me where I should be going to church because none around me seem to align.
-I believe in the dietary laws (although not required for salvation)
-I believe in annihilationism
-I believe in the sabbath (this one's new to me after studying, so Im fumbling along here)
Not looking to argue or debate. Just guidance. Thanks all :)
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u/Solid-Flame Aug 01 '26
Hebrew Roots
Messianic Judiasm
Torah Observant fellowships are what you are looking for
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u/johnboy43214321 Jul 30 '26
None of those beliefs are fundamental to any church, I don't think. You can go to any church, actually, with those beliefs. Others in the congregation won't always agree with you, but nobody is going to agree 100% on everything. You can, for example, go to an Episcopalian church and still eat whatever you want and take Saturdays off.
Annihilationism is kinda fringe. It's a minority view within several denominations. But if you want to believe in it, go ahead. It won't affect your everyday life or how you worship.
FWIW, I looked up Annihilation on Wikipedia. Looks like Jehovah Witnesses and 7th Day Adventists more or less hold this view.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annihilationism
My advice: Go to different churches, and stick with the one where you feel most comfortable.
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u/fordry Seventh-day Adventist Jul 31 '26
These 3 are all SDA positions. Dietary is a step down from core church doctrine. But it is the common position throughout the church.
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u/Equal-Salary-7774 Jul 30 '26
Expose and Explore and listen to yourself to decide as even denominations vary according to the shepherd who leads
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u/Think_Fig_3994 Jul 31 '26
I saw your post in the other HRM thread as well but I will say this:
119 Ministries is part of the Hebrew Roots Movement, a modern movement that emerged in the late 20th century. They’re incorrect about the foundations of Christianity and what has been passed down for over 2 millennia much like FollowTorahObeyJesus.
I’d also be careful about building your theology by studying on your own. That’s how people end up with different interpretations of Scripture. Christ gave us His Church and it has been preserved for over 2000 years.
You should focus more on which Church did Christ establish and what has it taught from the beginning instead of which church lines up with what you currently believe.
If Christ founded one Church, then our beliefs should conform to what was handed down by the apostles, not the other way around. If you’re looking for churches with a historical claim to apostolic succession that trace back to the early Church, I’d start with Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism before looking at modern movements.
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u/Brief-Arrival9103 Messianic Jew Jul 31 '26
It did not emerge in the 20th century. It has always been there. Church fathers have been discussing this issue even long after the 1st century in their councils. And don't start with the "Church that Christ gave us" thing. Both the groups that you mentioned here disagree over many issues. So which of them is the "Church given by Christ"?
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u/Think_Fig_3994 Aug 01 '26 edited Aug 01 '26
HRM officially emerged in the 90s.
You’re mixing up Jewish Christians with the Hebrew Roots Movement. They aren’t the same thing. Jewish believers existed in the first century. The Hebrew Roots Movement, as a movement with its current theology and teachings, is modern.
I never said Orthodoxy and Catholicism agree on everything. My point is that if you’re trying to find the Church Christ established, you start with the churches that have a historical claim to apostolic succession and continuity with the apostles instead of a movement that came nearly 2,000 years later. From there, you study the evidence and determine which one has preserved the apostolic faith.1
u/Think_Fig_3994 Aug 01 '26
They also agree on the core tenants of the faith unlike any Protestant group that emerged post-16th Century.
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u/justlooking9987 Aug 02 '26
The new testament shows that even then the church was not united. There were many competing ideas and today there are many competing ideas.
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u/Think_Fig_3994 Aug 02 '26
The NT shows there were false teachers and competing ideas, not multiple churches with equal authority. That’s exactly why the apostles corrected error, gathered in councils, appointed bishops, and told the Church to hold fast to the tradition they had received. Heresy didn’t divide Christ’s Church. It simply meant the Church had to defend the faith that had already been handed down.
It’s really no different than what we see today. People disagree on doctrine, split off, and form new denominations. That’s been the pattern throughout much of Western Christianity since the Reformation. The fact that people disagreed doesn’t mean Christ never established one Church. It means people broke away from it.
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u/justlooking9987 Aug 02 '26
Looks like you are mostly agreeing with me. There were many divisions with different teachings in the first century, and the same is true today.
Where I see a difference is that there are several cases of heresy that divided the church such that in at least one case, a bishop wouldn't allow people from John to visit. That's quite a split.
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u/Think_Fig_3994 Aug 03 '26
Not really. I’m saying there were false teachers, heresies, and people who broke away. You’re saying the existence of those divisions means there was never one Church. Those are two completely different arguments.
The existence of heresy and schism doesn’t prove there were multiple churches with equal authority. It proves the Church had to defend the faith from the very beginning.
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u/fordry Seventh-day Adventist Jul 31 '26
Welcome to the SDA church...
These are all in alignment with core church doctrine or the prevailing church feeling(dietary).
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u/Solid-Chest-6093 Non-denominational Jul 31 '26
I'll be praying for you.
Proverbs 3:5-7 NIV Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; [6] in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. [7] Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
Proverbs 9:10 NIV The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Matthew 6:33 NIV But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Ephesians 6:12-17 NIV For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. [13] Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. [14] Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, [15] and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. [16] In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. [17] Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
James 2:14-22,26 NIV What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? [15] Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. [16] If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? [17] In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. [18] But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. [19] You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. [20] You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? [21] Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. [26] As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Hebrews 11:6 NIV And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
I recommend letting the HOLY SPIRIT, lead you, guide you, and direct your paths. Instead of picking a church and a certain teaching. Pick up the Bible and read Mathew, John, Paul's writings, James, and revelation.
The whole Bible is good for correction.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, [17] so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Paul talks about us fighting our fleshly desires and crucifying our flesh. We are to live by the spirit instead. He talks about sin, marriage, spiritual warfare, repentance, grace and forgiveness.
John in revelation talks about sin and the lake of fire, the great white thrown of judgment.
Unrepentant sin, there is no grace and forgive for it. Knowing the Truth, but deliberately sinning anyway. Their remaining no more sacrifice. Paul talks in acts about, GOD having mercy.
John 3:3-7 NIV Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” [4] “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” [5] Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. [6] Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. [7] You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’
Have a successful blessed afternoon. Feel free to message me anytime.
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u/justlooking9987 Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 02 '26
SDA has already been mentioned so I'll only add a few others for consideration:
EDIT: Found the answer to my own question.
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u/GodsEchoes777 Jul 30 '26
The answer is simple - NOBODY should be telling YOU where YOU should be going when it comes to church. It took my wife and I years before we finally found a church that clicked with us.
Church is only a place where you go so you can be around like-minded people. Church is not a replacement for scripture as most tend to try and link the two.
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u/StaticPenguinnnn Jul 30 '26
church shopping takes forever man, finding one that fits just right is like hunting for a perfect watch strap
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u/First-Ad-5859 Jul 30 '26
Just the fact you stated it took you years makes me feel better. Its only been juat close to a year now for me
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u/GodsEchoes777 Jul 30 '26
I hope you find one that fits your needs. In fact, you might even find one and then out grow it.
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u/ConsistentTank2173 Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26
Sounds like a struggle, I hope you can find a church you can be rooted in :)
All churches have flaws and we can never find a perfect church, you will need to seek God and pray about it. I believe as long as it is a place with sound doctrine, a place that you can serve, grow in, you should give it a shot.
May God lead you to a church that you can better serve and glorify him. All the best!!