Doctrinal Differances

Oh my goodness! I just read all the venues in your link. Sounds like a travel brochure! And a dating service!

 

I haven't check their website lately. Do they still have a country and western boot-scootin' service, followed by line dancing lessons?

 

I dont see a country and western service, but as you know, country and western clubs are old school. Now they have a heavy metal service, it is more "today" than C&W:

"This service is filled with guitar driven, rock infused worship sure to amplify your experience. You’ll feel like your worshiping in a musical concert setting! The message will follow, video cast live from the Worship Center."

This service is called "Overdrive"....hmmmm I wonder if Randy Bachman is in the band?

check it out:
http://saddlebackfamily.com/servicetimesanddirections/index.html

AJ

 

I am pretty sure at one time they had a "Yoga" worship service, where you could stretch and meditate during the sermon.

AJ

 

ajg1959: // Is the purpose to go to church to find a wife or husband? //

That worked twice for me:

#1, Trinity Baptist Church, Ada Oklahoma (SBC)
married 1963, seperated by death 1999

#2, Alameda Baptist Church, Norman Oklahoma (SBC)
married 2002

 

Ed, I met my wife thru church too...but I didnt go there for that reason.

But I question the motives of folks that attend a "singles service". Is it to worship the Lord or meet someone to date?

I met mine in Broken Arrow, OK btw....:thumbs:

AJ

 

How does a Church that doesn't support any missionaries Quote: "Go into All the World"? They may be active in their Jerusalem or Judea but the ends of the earth are being neglected!!!:laugh: :jesus:

 

There are too many churches that send money all over the world, but dont reach out or evangelize in their own neighborhoods.

Is it the duty of the small baptist church in Smallville, USA to try to reach African nations when the kids right down the block have never heard the gospel?

I am not saying that we should not support missionaries, i am just saying that the church shouldnt put foreign missions above the work to be done in their own community.

I, as one person, am not able to "go into all the world", but I am responsible for sharing the gospel in my part of the world.

AJ

 

both

We're responsible for both!!!:thumbsup: :jesus:

 

By going into their community. The Great Commission is about making disciples, first in Jerusalem, then other places.

No it's not. There are missionaries all over the world. Just because our church doesn't support them doesn't mean that the ends of the earth are being neglected.

Even if a church supports foreign missionaries, it is likely that they don't support missionaries everywhere, which by your definition would lead to the ends of the world being neglected. I think we can see through that argument fairly easily.

 

Some churches do have limited resources, and we are also instructed to be good stewards.

Cheers,

Jim

 

No it means your Church is neglecting the ends of the earth command!!! As long as you leave it to others before long you'll probably do that at home also!!!:smilewinkgrin:

 

Hello Dr. Timo

Pastor Larry had a good point, when he said........

No Church on earth, can support absolutely every country.
--------------------------------------------------
Our little Church supports missionaries in, Brazil, Mexico, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea & Samoa:

But we don’t support missionaries in Russia or China etc, etc.

According to your logic, we are “neglecting the ends of the earth command!!!”

 

As a foreign IFB missionary I whole heartedly agree with you. Well said.

 

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IFBs are often accused of being unloving and judgmental. In light of that, I find this statement coming from a SBC ironic especially when it has been stated in this thread that the difference between the SBC and IFBs is attitude.

 

That's very judgmental, not to mention uninformed. You must be an IFB.

Your church doesn't support missionaries in every conceivable location I imagine. Are you neglecting the ends of the earth command? By your standard you are.

So in your mind, how many foreign missionaries would a church have to support to not be neglecting this command?

 

Pastor Larry, I have a couple of questions about the Great Commision.

When Jesus commanded the apostles to go into all the world, what did he mean by that?

Was that a command for those apostles to start the new testament church? And if so, Is He speaking to us also?

When Jesus this, did He give each individual the responsibility to evangelize the whole world?

Or could it have been a general ordination, or prophesy of sorts where He was simply saying that it is His command to spread the New testament church throuout the world, and that it would actually happen?

Finally, let me make one point about the outreach of most local churches. We have become accustomed to giving money to others to evangelize and to help others. I have had disagreements several times with some of my past pastors and elders because they would turn away folks in need and refer them to the local mission or food bank, because "we give x amount of dollars every month for them to handle that".

I feel that we miss great oppurtunities to share the gospel when we pay others to do it for us. I am not saying that we shouldnt support foreign missions, I am just saying that we should not neglect the mission here in our own towns.

I am IFB, and I frankly prefer my churches way of mission support. We fund several missionaries directly, and they get every penny we give. None of our offering is eaten up by a mission board for expenses. It also gives us a first hand account of just how our offering helps others because our money doesnt just disappear into a huge fund. We get to see the fruits of our giving.

If I could only support one field of mission work, it would be the kids, homeless and rejected folks in my own town that havent heard the gospel, or havent had someone take the time to teach them and disciple them.

AJ

Why are we more willing to feed and minister to children in foreign lands than we are in our own country?

 

Start churches in every people group that will make disciples and plant more churches among more people groups.

I would say to start NT churches.

Yes. The "I am with you to the end of the age" would have no meaning for the apostles who would be gone long before the end of the age.

It is really a church command, but since every believer should be a part of the church, it applies to individuals working through and for the local church.

It would be a strange way to say that.

We need to keep in mind that the church's mandate is to make disciples, not feed the hungry or clothe the naked. That would be an appropriate thing for an individual to do, but too many churches think they are doing mission because they have a soup kitchen, and too many people think they are serving Jesus because one night a month they show up for two hours at a mission to ladle soup and wash dishes. That wasn't what Jesus envisioned when he said, "Go make disciples."

 

I see your point. I guess I was looking at with the idea that helping needy people is a great oppurtunity to witness, and to show the love of God.

Recently i had a strange experience. I was praying about being faithful and being consistent in my faith, and it occured to me that I needed to learn to love God continuously, not just when I need Him or when I am greatful for a blessing, but always.

So I asked God to teach me to love Him, and immediately, as soon as I spoke it, an overwhelming thought came to my head saying "You learn to love God by loving others". I dont know if this was truely the Holy Spirit speaking to me or not, but I will never forget the overwhelming force of the thought.

Anyway, my point is this, arent we sharing God's love when we help others, and dont you think that its important for others to see the love of God in us?

The main reason I left the SBC church I grew up in and started going to IFB was because I saw more love in action. The IFB church I attend is very small (about 50 this past Sunday) but they are truely a loving family, and they make every effort to share that love with the community. They actually practice what they preach.

AJ