Think about these questions:
These are loaded questions. This is my web site, and I'll do what I please, so I just won't answer them! :-)
Here are some questions I can answer - and I did!
Now let me say that in the "old days" my tithes supported our church's media effort that blatantly labeled these and other churches as "Christians falsely so called" (at best) or "Satan's church's" (at worst). This, I am ashamed of. I cringed a bit when Mr. Herbert Armstrong would arrogantly hold up the Worldwide Church of God as the only true church. But I had built my house strong enough to withstand any doubtful thoughts. (Check out My House Then if you haven't already.)
Christ confronted those who could look at the work of the Holy Spirit and attribute it to Satan. (Matt. 12:24-32) He talked about them as having committed a "sin that could not be forgiven". I can't evaluate others, but I must have come close to committing that sin in allowing my church to label others as "Satan's churches." I have only one conclusion - God is a lot more merciful than any of us can imagine. Thank God for that.
On the other hand I am very happy with where the Worldwide Church of God has been led and where I have been led. I would not have chosen my Christian walk, but I'm thrilled with what has happened. To have tens of thousands of people tear down their unsound houses and rebuild them on a firmer foundation is a wonderful thing. (See My House Now). I've stayed with the Worldwide Church of God because I will not let these people down and will do what I can to help them build their houses. And perhaps our unique experience will provide a unique evangelism dimension that will bring others to Christ. And perhaps not - but I will personally work to that end.
If I could not fellowship with my present church, where would I go? While there are Christians in almost all churches, I would look for churches whose worship upholds Christ as the center of our salvation (compare My House Now with My House Then). I would look for churches whose leaders are keyed into core Christian doctrines - who may have distinctive practices, but who do not define their Christianity by these. I would look for churches whose members are excited enough about the Gospel to want to share it.
Let me share my feeling toward other churches with a personal accounting. My wintertime physical exercise consists of walking some of the neighborhood snowmobile trails. The "alone-time" under the crisp winter sky often inspires some prayer time.
I have picked certain places for prayer on my most frequently traveled trail - for no particular reason - it's just my "thing". One of the places is along the trail by a fairly new Seventh Day Adventist school.
On my walks I often recall my only contact with the folks there. It was during the last years that I lived in "my old house". Shortly after the school was built, they had an open house, which I missed for some reason. So after work one day, I stopped by for a visit. They had two teachers, a fairly young fellow and a "grandmotherly-type" lady. Both appeared to be kindly, sincere people. I explained that we had the common bond of observing the Seventh Day Sabbath, and we all agreed that the Sabbath was a weekly gift. We compared our eschatologies (understanding of events surrounding the return of Christ) and I don't remember what theirs was, but it was different from ours. We kept the seven annual biblical Holy Days, they do not. But they were friendly and so it was a warm visit. My prayer for them then, might have been that they accept all of the "true" doctrines - e.g. the "right" eschatology, the "right" set of worship times.
I don't know that I have ever talked with another Seventh Day Adventist - at least I have not talked religion with any. So these two people are my total picture of the millions of Seventh Day Adventists. Now when I walk by their school I often say a prayer for them. My prayer for them now is that they will find God in Christ, not in their distinctive practices. That is my prayer for all Christian churches.
By they way, yes I do believe I was a Christian before. Not because of all the distinctive features of "my house then" but because I had some understanding and acceptance of the forgiveness of sins through Christ and some understanding of the fact that Christ lives in those he is working with. I was a Christian because of the grace of God.