Theo Verelst Guide to Christianity.
Michelin has it's restaurant guide, Berliz it's travel guide, and
since christianity could be both a bit of eating and visiting,
let's have a guide to christianity. Alternatively, it could be
seen as a consumers test of educational programs, whomever fits the
shoe...
There are two major observations to be made here. One is that
I have no intention of hurting someone's feelings, starting
competition where there shouldn't be any, or otherwise
be a bad or untruthful reporter, after all the Holy Spirit is called
the Spirit of Truth, and all things lie naked and open before
Him (God), including my motivations and behaviour.
Secondly, I an a serious person, and I think christianity above
all other aspects of life should be good, honorable, truthful, etc.,
and I seems fairly obvious that scripture clearly states the same.
I realize that not every group or institution may have achieved
it's desried level of holyness (not the statue and mirre kind), but
that is all the more motivation for me to motivate them to become
that. Even an apostle would see the point of such reporting I would
say, because, just as Jesus Himself does in Revelation, the
knownledge of what goes on makes it possible to give better
doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness.
I would say there is also an inspired side of this, beause a
word of knowldge may also add to knowing what is realy going
on somewhere (by that same Spirit), and a word of wisdom might
even add what to do about certain situations, and we are called not
to dispise prophesies (if there is place at all to have them and
let them be tested by christians of approved ability in that area),
and to stimulate people to find and stand in their ministries, if
there
are people available to teach them about ministries and discern
what someone's ministry is, acknowledge their ministries, and
of course gladly accept the gift of all ministries that God gives,
and be glad that the local churches are linked up by people
that have the capacity to provide global directions, and to take them
up as they travel to places whre God through HIs Holy Spirit has sent
them.
This guide is not written be Jesus, and it is certainly at this point
fairly limited, but let's find out what those seven Spirits of
God might have to observe in these times.
Some groups and places I revently visited
Please not that a lot more is present in my life than the
average christian tourist, so what I observe, and as honestly and
objectively as I can report, is not the kind of treatment that
others might get (see my other pages for some of the out of the
averageness I could be thinking about here)
Please note this is text in progress, probably lot's
of typos, and I need to check some data, this text is provided
simply on a as-is basis, and if there are real inaccuracies in it
(which I doubt) I apologize beforehand, and invite a quick
email or pulic guestbook corrective message. This is a consumer
guide, not a papperazi report. Sort of a free advertisement against
public evaluation deal ("Whom He loves He chastises", "But all
things that are repoved are made manifest by the light, for
whatsoever doth make manifest is light", so I don't
think there is anything unscriptural here, on the contrary,
things that may otherwise remain hidden untill the judgement
seat of Christ may now have a chance of correction before that
time.)
Christian Youth Hostel The Shelter
...
A daughter (sister ?) of this hostel, also in Amsterdam is a
bit of a different nature (but has the same people on top of them).
Church of Christ
Some personal findings, ...
Some of the appearent doctrinal points of view and their
implementation ...
The Church of England
The Begijnhof Scottish Reformed Church
Solid Rock (meeting at the Aknaton)
The Salvation Army