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Featured How Come the N/E is so post Christian

Discussion in 'Other Christian Denominations' started by Earth Wind and Fire, Nov 9, 2014.

  1. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    I live in Northern NJ. If I were a Catholic I would have local churches coming out my ears.....they are everywhere. There are also plenty of United Methodist, Episcopalian, and Presbyterian Church USA churches ---within walking distance..... Baptists, not so much. Yea you can drive 40-50 or more miles.....Primitive Baptists are non existence in Jersey. My work life is full of Aethiests or Roman Catholics. What is going on up here? Do I need to move? To tell you the truth, I feel the area really needs a serious church in the area before it just slips away.

    FROM BARNA ARTICLE:


    Post-Christian = meet at least 60% of the following 15 factors (9 or more factors) Highly Post-Christian = meet at least 80% of the following 15 factors (12 or more factors)

    1. do not believe in God 2. identify as atheist or agnostic 3. disagree that faith is important in their lives 4. have not prayed to God (in the last year) 5. have never made a commitment to Jesus 6. disagree the Bible is accurate 7. have not donated money to a church (in the last year) 8. have not attended a Christian church (in the last year) 9. agree that Jesus committed sins 10. do not feel a responsibility to “share their faith” 11. have not read the Bible (in the last week) 12. have not volunteered at church (in the last week) 13. have not attended Sunday school (in the last week) 14. have not attended religious small group (in the last week) 15. do not participate in a house church (in the last year)
     
    #1 Earth Wind and Fire, Nov 9, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 9, 2014
  2. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    You had said the following on 6/14/2010 : "I will stick with my corner neighborhood local independent Baptist Church where the Bible is taught."
     
  3. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    It looks like you meet at least six of the criteria of Post-Christian.
     
  4. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    3rd time ....prehaps you don't comprehend......so here goes...." This message is hidden because Rippon is on your ignore list."

    LOL!
     
  5. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    At on time the NE was highly Christian more so than other places. It is after all where this country got started. The push to spread Christianity went out from there and it never dawned on anyone to look to maintain what they had. Liberalism has infected that area of the country as well and has destroyed the significant presence of Christianity.
     
  6. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    Could it be that we have a ton of. CATHOLICS and allot of Europeans settle here?
     
  7. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
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    I wouldn't blame the RCC directly. I'd look at the fruits of Unitarian\Unversialism first seeded in the Congregationalists (Harvard\Yale) in the late 1700s. That's way before RCCs started arriving in New England in any numbers.
     
  8. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    It's funny; that's for sure. I'm on your ignore list, so you won't pay attention to what I say. But you are paying attention to me anyway.

    I will comment on any thread including those authored by ones who pretend that I am on their ignore list. Chuckle, chuckle.
     
  9. DHK

    DHK <b>Moderator</b>

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    There are a lot of apostate churches where I live:
    The "United Church of Canada," is completely apostate.
    The Dutch Reformed Church that is here is clueless about salvation. Everything is by works.
    All the mainline Protestant Churches have gone liberal to some degree or another, at least to the point where they don't preach salvation. Let me clarify that. There are churches within their denominations that do preach the gospel. But all the denominations have many churches which don't.

    We live in such an age.
     
  10. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Your track record is rather poor in being truthful about the Dutch Reformed Church. You make baseless claims and don't bother documenting your charges.

    And you have made some unfounded remarks about Reformed Baptists :

    "Hyper-Calvinism is attached to Reformed Baptist churches." (10/4/2013)

    You have made false accusations about Presbyterians also :

    "The great majority of Presbyterians are swallowed up in their hyper-Calvinistic beliefs and have no interest in evangelizing anyone." (10/4/2013)

    "All denominations" DHK? You have no basis for making that broadbrushed claim. You have not done any extensive research. You are into hearsay.
     
  11. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    Yes......there is a PCA church in a town in Morris County that completely ignores doctrine....I don't understand how they could get away with that....all in all though becoming liberal generally kills churches. Their people become lax and fall away. Youth don't stick with it and the elderly die out. So you get what I have now, void areas. And the thing is, most of the people I am fortunate to speak with (who are willing to talk about how God is working in their lives) admit to having been church goers at one time, but they become disgusted with them. Are they non believers, I don't think so....they are just not being fed. Now, why aren't they?
     
    #11 Earth Wind and Fire, Nov 10, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 10, 2014
  12. DHK

    DHK <b>Moderator</b>

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    I am not answerable to you.
    Let me state it again.
    There is a Dutch Reformed Church IN OUR AREA that bases its salvation entirely on works.
    --Now if you want to come here to the great white north to prove me wrong then so be it. Otherwise keep quiet about it.
    This is not about past threads.
    This is not about, for example, the murderer Calvin. Or did you want to go there. No. So why are you derailing this thread?
    Here is the one quote on this thread that you responded to.
    It is a general statement that is generally true.
    I was speaking of ALL MAJOR DENOMINATIONS, if it has to be spelled out for you. Yes, all the major denominations have some liberal churches in it, Baptists included. Do you know of any that don't? Please enlighten me?
    Yes I have evidence for making that statement. I have lived in my province (except for the time I am on the mission field) since 1963. I should know a little bit about the churches in this area. I don't need your baseless attacks.
     
  13. DHK

    DHK <b>Moderator</b>

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    I wish I knew the answer to that question. I have seen churches "die."
    Sometimes it comes with a change of leadership. The new pastor doesn't have the evangelistic zeal or vision that the retiring one had. Nor does he have the same "standards." So, as you say, they "admit to have been church goers at one time, but they become disgusted..."
     
  14. Bro. James

    Bro. James Well-Known Member
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    There are churches of the world, many. New Testament Churches are faithful remnants of the First Church of Jerusalem, scattered about the world--witnesses of John 14:6.

    There was a NT church on the Mayflower, 1620. That seed is still scattered about the country. Some have fallen away. Some have not.

    The Light is still shining. The gates of hell have not prevailed, as promised. Jesus is faithful, even when we are not.

    Try preaching John 14:6 in downtown Rivercity. You may get arrested. Jesus did.

    Church is not entertainment.

    Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

    Bro. James
     
    #14 Bro. James, Nov 10, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 10, 2014
  15. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    I am grateful for the numerous churches on Long Island that are working in a very tough area. Yes, it is a post Christian area but there are definitely Bible teaching churches that, while they might not be large, are working to grow the kingdom and mature it's believers. :) If someone lived on Long Island, I could easily direct them to a church within 15-20 miles of their home - and in most cases significantly closer to them. These men of God who lead these churches are truly servants of Christ!
     
  16. DHK

    DHK <b>Moderator</b>

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    I appreciate you looking on the positive side and would never disagree otherwise. The Lord knows them that are his. Even in the darkest of times He has preserved "churches" unto himself. And there still are many, especially in North America.
    One will never find a perfect church, and if he does, well...
     
  17. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    Yes but one can work to start one....providing there is enough people to lend a hand & are serious.
     
  18. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    You are fortunate.....there is nothing 15-20 minutes from my home...unless I want to become a Lutheran. No thanks!

    Ahhh but there is a "Pearl of Great Price" in your statement & its, " These men of God who lead these churches are truly servants of Christ!"

    Im not sure that many in my part of NJ that many are committed to that purpose. I perceive most of these guys focusing on salary & benefits packages, Higher Educations, Vacations....ya know worldy stuff. Have they become like many in the congregations...IE victims of afflueenza?
     
    #18 Earth Wind and Fire, Nov 10, 2014
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  19. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    Im wondering....whats your opinion of churches that preach the "Great Commission" but never do it? Would you join that? Or how bout a church who has been in the community for over 40 years but never does community outreach (probably adverse to it). would you join them?
     
  20. DHK

    DHK <b>Moderator</b>

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    I would assess the situation.
    If it is as truly bad as you say then starting a church would be an option, but one would have to be serious about it. And truly, it is hard work.
    OTOH, choosing the best of what is there might be a viable option. I was a member of a small church once where the Pastor put me in charge of the "visitation department." Every Saturday we were to meet and to go and visit people whether by knocking on doors or perhaps by following up other contacts. The trouble there was I was the only one that showed up. Not even the pastor showed up. Who or what was I in charge of?
    But I like evangelism. I was faithful in doing it anyway.
     
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