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Featured Friendliness

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Earth Wind and Fire, Oct 4, 2012.

  1. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    Is the "FRIENDLINESS" factor important when searching for a home church?

    How high would you place it on a scale 1-10 when looking for a church to worship in?
     
  2. ktn4eg

    ktn4eg New Member

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    IMHO, FWIW, I'd say that "friendliness" ought to be one of the factors one ought to use to determine which church to join; HOWEVER, I do not believe it ought to be THE deciding factor!!!!!

    There are other much more important factors to take into consideration, such as:
    1) Is this where GOD would have me join?
    2) Do both the pastor(s)/elder(s)/members/whatever not only preach/teach "the 'whole counsel of GOD,' but also do they PRACTICE it in absolutely every aspect (public AND private) of their lives?
    3) Am "I" in agreement on at least the MAJOR points of doctrine and/or practice(s) of this church?
    IOW, is/are whatever "you" believe and/or practice fairly well in accord w/ what that particular local church (both the leadership AND the corporate membership) consider to be at least the MAJOR points of doctrine and/or practice(s)

    I seriously doubt that GOD would lead a person to join a local church that, "MAJORS on the MINORS and MINORS on the MAJORS" in absolutely every point of doctrine, belief, AND practice.

    "That's 'my story,' and I'm-a stickin' to it, y'all!!!!!" :thumbsup:
     
  3. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    So where would y'all rate from 1-10?

    Then, would you attend a church that teaches NCT & does not not stress the full 10 commandments. Would that be a deal killer?
     
  4. ktn4eg

    ktn4eg New Member

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    Remind me, a simple lay person, one who's NEVER been "called to preach" (much less "called" to be a pastor/elder/whatever) what NCT is, please.

    As to the 10 C's, tell me PRECISELY what you mean by, "does not STRESS (emp. ktn4eg's) the FULL (emp. ktn4eg's) 10 commandments, and then I will tell you, IMHO, what I (ktn4eg) believe about what your precise interpretation(s) of the above.

    (Hate to bring up the nasty concept of semantics, but sometimes one has to do what one considers to be nasty IOF clarification's sake!!!!!! :thumbsup: )
     
  5. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    I'm sure some of you have been to churches that didn't seem to be friendly. But I've never been to one that wasn't. So I have to look for other things.

    Of course, I want to listen to the teacher teach and the preacher preach, and I want to look at the doctrinal statement.

    But I'm going to also pay attention to how the folks treat each other. I'm going to look for indications that the people have a real love and regard for each other.

    If there's conflict in the church, if you look closely enough, you'll eventually be able to detect it. If there's love in the church, they won't be able to conceal it--they must express it.

    So, while I'm interested in how they treat me, I'm more interested in how they treat each other.
     
  6. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    I apologize

    NCT = NEW COVENANT THEOLOGY

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Covenant_Theology
     
    #6 Earth Wind and Fire, Oct 4, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 4, 2012
  7. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    10 if during the first visit there is a problem with friendliness I would not return. And as a Pastor I understand why. If there is a problem with friendliness then I never get to the point of considering joining a church. As a pastor I would lead the church to improve this area.
     
  8. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Do you mean new Covenant theology by NCT?

    What do you mean on the 10 commandments, as My baptist church does not 'stress" them?
     
  9. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    Listen, there are always saints in the church.....who will treat all with kindness, consideration & warmpth because thats just who they are & because thats what Christ commands....to love one another.

    If so, I was hard pressed to find them in a non denominational church Ive visited up here in "The Garden State" New Jersey recently. Tom, I stood there conspicuiously a few times after service & nobody comes over to you to greet you. I shouldnt say that, I complained to the pastor who must of briefed the Elders to be on the look out for a middle aged white bald guy, because for evening services an elder at the door said.... Ahhh, Steve right? That church is as close as you get to a Calvinistic Church....they do believe in DOG but are NCT oriented.

    Conversely that morning I went to a Lutheran church & practically everyone in the church came up to welcome me, have conversation & even sit with me for two hours to have a theological discussion. These folks were 2 miles up the road....same community.

    Soooo....you get the picture.

    My two major reasons to evaluate is I have no home church.....rather I have a Baptist pastor in far away Kty serving as both Pastor & Spiritual Mentor (and I love the guy & he is very solid Baptist)... so I really could use a group for fellowship....nothing more....oh well, communion occasionally. I will not join the Lutherans as they do not hold to Baptist distinctive s....but its sure nice to go to some place where I can have press the flesh fellowship. & before you ask, there are no SBC churches around, or Fundi independents.
     
    #9 Earth Wind and Fire, Oct 4, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 4, 2012
  10. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    What do you mean by they dont stress them? Those are your moral laws given to us by God. How could you NOT stress them?

    SEE BELOW ATTACHMENT:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Covenant_Theology
     
    #10 Earth Wind and Fire, Oct 4, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 4, 2012
  11. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    Thank you!
     
  12. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    I'm with RevMitchell on this one. While it may not be the indicator of orthodoxy, I do think if a church isn't friendly to newcomers, there is a big problem there. I have always tried to be friendly and say "Hi" to people I don't recognize just to make them feel welcome. :)
     
  13. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Lack of friendliness is an indicator of one or more bigger problems.


    1. The church is family run and a social club

    2. The church is spiritually dead and has no concern for people outside of their own circle of life.

    3.The church looks at visitors as intruders on their world and would rather not have to deal with them.

    4. It could be that the church loves people and is just apathetic and or discouraged over all.
     
  14. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

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    Friendliness is definitely an indication of overall church health. Jesus said we would be known by our love for our fellow Christians. We are also told that if we claim to love God but hate our brother we are a liar and the Light is not in us.

    I would rate it a 7 as an indication of church leadership and the state if its discipleship. Doctrinal issues are at play in this.
     
  15. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    There are a great many pastors that work very hard to lead their churches in many areas and in an appropriate manner who struggle to convince the church of the need and commands of God. It does not have to be an indicator of leadership.
     
  16. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

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    Yes, it does. It means the leadership is unwilling to go beyond the talking stage and engage in real accountability.
     
  17. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    No it doesn't. Be careful not to speak on things you know nothing of. It is quite obvious you have no knowledge of the difficulties in leading a church.
     
  18. TCassidy

    TCassidy Late-Administator Emeritus
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    Brother Tom, once again you have made what I consider the definitive statement on the subject!

    I was going to type out my beliefs on the subject but you have done such a great job all I can say is:

    What he said!
     
  19. Arbo

    Arbo Active Member
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    For Mrs. A and I it has been in the past, and I would rate its importance on the higher end of the scale. It's hard to have fellowship with a group of people unless one feels a welcome part of it.
     
  20. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

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    Every church has some people that are just grumpy. What we are talking about in this thread is a church with an attitude problem. IN this case it is a church that, as a whole, is unfriendly. That is a leadership issue whether you like it or not.
     
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