Keep searching. A true Christian Church, one that truly loves The Lord Jesus, will accept you just the way you are. The length of your hair isn't an issue in a Christian Church and bad habits like smoking will go away when you get to know Jesus as Lord of your life and you commit yourself to Him and want to please Him. So just keep searching for a Christian Church. Try a Non-Denominational Church. They seem to be less judgemental. God Bless!

I'm assuming you are Christian (apologies if I am wrong). As far as Christian churches go, The United Methodist Church is fairly open from what I hear. As a Christian, you can also go to a Unitarian Universalist church. This is not a Christian church is the typical sense but rather a place where people from many different religions come to worship and meet together. It's open to Christians, Buddhists (even though Buddhists don't necessarily worship gods), Wiccans, etc. The services I've been to were very intellectual, humanist, and drew upon many different sources. For instance, the Easter service combined Easter, Passover, and a telling of the Persephone myth from Greco-Roman mythology. Overall, the people there are very tolerant of diverse beliefs and you aren't even expected to worship a specific god.

After the selection of the new Pope, many comments I heard suggested they picked the wrong guy because he is just too... well... Catholic. You gave no indication of why you do not feel accepted, but many people want the church to accommodate them rather than conforming to the church. If the reason churches do not "accept you" has to do with your beliefs or behaviors, it may be because you need to change. If, for example, you visit a Catholic church and feel rejected because you do not conform to Catholic beliefs about truth and behavior, either you are wrong or the church is. The same point could be made about almost any other religion. To be fully "accepted" there you need to agree with what they believe and teach. I believe that historic, conservative Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and Evangelical Christian churches generally have most of their basic beliefs right. I am also convinced the Evangelicals have more things right. If I am right, you should change to "fit in" with one of these groups. If you refuse to conform to the morals and behaviors of the church, you should not expect to feel comfortable there. It is also entirely possible that the congregations you have "tried" (if Christian) are just failing to follow the teachings of Jesus -- which would be sad, but not hard to believe. There are far too many fallen churches around.

Wright them all off the find a book that teaches your about philosophy and sooner then latter they all disapear and you will have the last laugh. If you had a million dollars and you had only one choise which would choose, All the religion were right or they are all wrong. which would put you money on>

That easy , just go out into the world and make lots of money and you will be surprised as to how many churches will except you/

Look at the Disciples of Jesus: They were sinners. Jesus does not want you to change before you come to Him. He wants you to come just as you are and let Him change you into His image. We all know we are not perfect, but Jesus was. So, let Him take your life and give you eternity.

You should consider yourself very fortunate not to have been accepted. A true church rather than the fake variety would have accepted you. The non-acceptance is a revelation and perhaps a blessing in disguise. Churches like those you mention are false no matter what shingle they hang out for identification. God accepts everyone unconditionally. When the fake is uncovered the truth unfolds. HE works in mysterious ways.

If they won't accept you, they weren't a true christian church. Churches that preach about God and help the needy are true christian churches.

This is unfamilar to me, as my experience has been quite different. However, I will attempt to answer your question. Without knowing what faith you are, or what you believe, it's difficult to try and recommend a particular church. Also, I am unaware of any difficulties you've faced that would make a church refuse membership to you. Just off -hand, I'd say that any church that doesn't allow you to join, for whatever reason -- you're probably better off. Let's assume that perhaps you've served a prison sentence, for example. I'm not saying you have -- this is purely hypothetical since I know nothing at all about you. But if this or something similar has been your fate, a legitimate house of worship would welcome you with open arms. Most churches in my experience, absolutely love people who have fulfulled their debt to society. Redemption is the operative word here. Churches like to take in what they consider to be "lost souls" who have found themselves. My suggestion would be to continue to "shop around". If you are sincere and truly want to renew or redeem your spiritual life, you might find a home in an Assembly of God or Faith Fellowship congregation. One pastor of my acquaintance was formerly a drug dealer, believe it or not. He served a prison term, and while there, became a born-again Christian. After his release from prison, he started working with drug addicts, but in a diametrically opposite way -- helping them to get off the crack or meth, or whatever it was, and find a new life through Christ. He also enrolled in a seminary school and got his doctorate degree. He is now a pastor in a small-town Christian church. So if someone like that can change his life 360 degrees, anyone else can. I don't know your circumstances, but whatever it is that's keeping a church from accepting you, I would just keep on trying until you find one in which you feel accepted, comfortable, and loved. They are out there, believe me. I hope you find exactly what you're looking for, and God Bless you for trying. Goldiemae

I've seen a lot of so-called Christians, even other Baptists, who can get very legalistic and forget that being against sin doesn't mean condemning others and not loving them. I've been fortunate to have had to attend very few churches, and have regularly attended only 2, an independent fundamental baptist one, and now a conservative baptist one (the IFB one closed when the pastor became a chaplain and a church merge failed). Both of them accept smokers or whoever, and any form of clothing (although I've seriously wondered how they'd feel about someone wearing a swimsuit before, lol). I for one am rare in that I believe 1 Corinthians 6:18-19 shows fornication, or sexual sins are the ONLY physical sin against one's body. While I have never smoked, drank alcohol, had long hair, or gotten tattoos or piercings, I also don't think they are technically wrong. I choose not to because I think they might be a bad testimony, influence my judgement/walk with God, and because I don't see a purpose for getting them anyway. I might get a heart tattoo with Jesus on it someday though, lol. My old pastor at the IFB church once joked that even some of his own crowd, IFB's (Independent Fundamental Baptists) can be so legalistic they compare who has the closer shave for being most godly (he sure was a funny guy :D). I thought he was just joking until coming across a site where baptists were even against modern Christian music like Chris Tomlin's or that of Newsboys, especially when sung in church. I ended up leaving that group pretty abruptly. At any rate, as Jesus says in John 13:35, you will know His true disciples by their love for others. Anyone can claim to be a Christian or part of a denomination, it doesn't mean they actually have a relationship with Him. Again, you'll know them by their love for others. As Jesus says in Matthew 22:36-40, all the commandments of the Law and the prophets rest upon 2 commands, to love God and to love others. As a result I'm trying more and more not to even show disapproval of others habits (although being around cigarette smoke just naturally causes me to physically gag or cough). I want to not even focus on what I think of people's habits or activities, dress code or anything else about them I could disapprove of, because they might see it in my eyes. I want to see everyone, especially God, for who they are within, the person, and love that person. Since every commandment revolves around simply loving/caring about other people and God, I figure if I need to focus on anything, that should be it.

Consider yourself fortunate. Organized religion = CULT. Do yourself a favor, worship God at home in your own way and steer clear of the mindless drones that want you to conform to their religious ideals. THINK FOR YOURSELF!

You must know the Lord Jesus, and follow and believe in Him. I know that He would then divinely place people in your life, but He probably already has reached out to you.

Read your bible rejecting any man made rules. Do not leave anything out and do not reject any law from the bible. Now if Churches are rejecting you for first time impressins they are wrong. I will tell you how to not be rejected love God for if you love him you will obey his commandments and love your bretheren for you will respect and please them. If you follow those and a chrch still denies you leave and let god have his will.

One more thing, Religion is man made! But people very often mistake keeping God's commandments for Organized religion. And those people do two things they either dont read thier bible or they dont want to let go of the world. Do not listen to those experts that tell you it is fine to stay a punk rocker and go to heaven, that is a lie. God will accept you as a punk rocker, because he loves us and hears our cries and when you read the word and pray he will make you like his son, NOT A PUNK ROCKER. So read and avoid the congrigations of punkers, rappers, heavy metalersand tattooers. They might like god or even love him but the neglect to surrender to God thats why you cannot tell Christians from the world anymore. Remember in Genisis 19:26 where Lots wife looked back at the city and was turned into a pillar of salt? That happened because God sayed He would spare theyre lives if they left the sinful city and never looked back but she did, and she showed God that her love for this world was so great that she needed just one more look one more taste and neglected Gods command.When she was turned into a pilar of salt she went to hell not heaven. So if that happened then it can happen now. When you begin to follow Christ do not reach back for a touch or look back for a glimse of how it once felt but look forward toward a promise of greater things, a personal relationship with Jesus himself and a unconditional love.

Give me one thousand dollars ,cash only please, and you can join my church and I will with the grace of god made you chief honcho.

I am so glad to see your discernment in these local churches. You have Christ living inside you and it makes my heart scream "YESSSS!" Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Were not all perfect but continue to seek his face and he will reveal his heart to you even more. I encourage you to scan the area for other who have the same heart of Christ just like you. Maybe start a small group of some kind or just hang out regularly to keep eachother accountable. You cannot grow unless your envolved. Keeping accountability partners help to encourage one another in the faith and you can even get involved in the community with eachother. My prayers go out to you. See you in Heaven :)

first of all churces are over rated. its creed. and the sadest thing not one church that i,ve been to focuses on Gods Word. its all about man maid rules and man made phylosephy. Theres only one church my friend and that is your heart. Remember that we live in the devils domain and he is attaching churches and all Godly religion.

Why? never heard of a church not accepting anyone. Again, why?

The son of man had no place to rest his head and was rejected by his own people. You are in good company.

If the church won't accept you then GOOD... it's a crappy church! A church should accept everyone so try and find one that does.