Leaving a Church

Only problem i've got with the so-called "worshiP' music is that to relate it to Acts that doesn't mention music is not very substancial to determine anything more than the book of Acts fails in that regards to be able to determine anything about music.

The Book of Acts is prevelant in the first years for the church, but that does not leave out the rest of the Bible in determining doctrine especially in the area of music in the worship service.

I don't want this thread to turn into a debate over music preferences, especially by some one who is defintiely leaning tiowards the charismatic movement. As far as i know baptists don't have "healings" in their services, but that won't go to say that healings are not in the baptist church, that would be utter denial of truth, but we're not talking about charismatic, we're talking about TRUTH.

I wonder how long a Baptist would remain in a church that started having healing services and people started "speaking in tongues"?

What we experienced around here is some Baptist churches have had these and eventually "Baptist" came off the sign. They're not Baptists, they're charismatic.

We walked out of a church when the visiting evangelist sang "How Great Thou Art" and then asked how many liked the song, to a good response, then he stated that old songs are for old people, then they went to "boogieing".

 

Why? I know it's not an ordinance, but from what I have heard from those who do practice footwashing as an ordinance say they have had the best services during them.

 

So are you saying that footwashing is an illicit sexual relationship?

The church we left used to practice footwashing, not as an ordinance now but simply a "special" service. Those who were some of the founding members of the church declared it to be the most humbling experience they ever participated. They related it to those you may wash their feet and had a little ill towards or vice versa would soon be done away. Each one had to wash each other's feet, not to clean them, but to humble themselves as a servant, just like Jesus did the disciples.

The church quit practicing footwashing when the first pastor left, then the next pastor taught more about loving one another and the church went slightly downward, long story, but then the pastor that is there now came and they have been taught judgement, that is how to make proper judgement supposedly and to abstain from certain practices. Why I believe if they announced a foot washing service there I would make sure I was there just to wash some folks feet that think I have ought against them and do that publicly as a means fo showing everyone present I don't have any oughts!

I wouldn't dare consider it so offensive to have a footwashing servicve as reason to leave! I rather believe if it were practiced at least spiritually more often there would be a lot of churches maintaining their congregations and put a stop to alot of church hopping!

God honours and expects our humility, he resists the proud.

Think I'll get out my old messages and see what else the Lord will add to that, I've preached it before, but it has been awhile.

Footwashing would be reason to stay, not leave, unless you like harbouring ill feelings towards your brethren, I don't!

I think that's the problem, "Christians" love hating their brethren!

 

We have reached common ground, rsr, amazing!

I agree wholeheartedly with your post. We just don't practice footwashing, but we do seem to have it down spiritually in our congregation amongst the members. Our pastor has learned not to let the disgruntled stay that way with another member w/o confronting it head on. That is what has helped us to know it is God's will for us to be there, not only to be in the right place, but to get right ourselves.

Just not too long ago at all, the pastor's son got real bent out of shape with me, I had no other choice but to confront him with his bitterness, not just towards me but many others also, this all right in front of his daddy. I had tears in my eues as I pleaded with the young man to understand. I also found out that he was probably better than I would have been about some of the things that had happened to him through other "Christians" that had made him so bitter.

I'm not taking any of the glory or even hinting any belongs to me, but the fellow got saved about two weeks after that and he wrote a song about just how bitter he'd become and then he met Jesus! he's even wrote three other songs since then.

I could shout all over the place even now!

 

O.K., but let's get back on the topic of "leaving a church".

I know it can be an emotional discussion fotr many, but we need to learn as Christians why people leave and how to do our part lovingly and that w/o accusation or suspicion or using the occasion to backlash those who do leave.

When I left the other church, it was related to the congregation that I was acting irresponsibly by my leaving the way I did. I am not trying to defend my leaving, but I led my family out for the simple reason the Lord had shown me if I wanted my children and my wife and I to grow in the Lord and the direction He has for us we had to leave. I knew they wouldn't understand and the things thast led up to our final departure all tell the story too well.

Just this Sunday a family I know through other family members of the previous church visited with us. They are members of another church that is known for having that "revolving door" of people going in and out.

Their son is suffering from severe headaches, and it seems they are not getting the congregation's suport they need in helping deal with the situation and gaining the spiritual help they need. I know many of the members of that church and I am not too surprised. A fellow joined with them years ago and had been there for about three years. He got hospitalized for nearly 3 weeks, the pastor didn't even visit him the whole time of his stay. He went just a couple of services again and then left. Bro. Jack came back to our old church and in less than 4 months went home to be with the Lord. The pastor he had for nearly 3 years didn't even come to his funeral.

A deacon in our old church, (not where we are now), promptly two days after his funeral approached the widow and offered to buy Bro Jack's truck, offering about 1/3 of what the truck is worth. This really offended the family. After 3 years now none of that family goes there anymore. Since then that deacon has left the walks of this life, but what is really sad is our old pastor has railed upon those as being immature, etc. It seems as if anyone leaves that church is not right with God by his standards.

I know these people personally and do not blame them. Why stay in an abusive situation? Why do pastors think they can abuse their congregations like that? I know why, they need to get right with God!

WE often in our own little family refer back to our old church as the "Lips of Contention Babelist Church"

 

I'd say by your complaint that man is full of zeal and it has eaten him up. There is a time when the congregation needs to be "wowed" and awoken out of sleep on the issues we face.

I wouldn't say God has left America due to the symptoms of the religious crowd or the "bad" apples, he just met with me this very morning and i live in Georgia, you know, down here in Good ol' Dixie, though we do still think we ought to concede, we're still part of these United States of America, God's still here!

 

Vaspers, please tread carefully, this is a man of God you're talking about. Be his help, not his adversary and God will not have to protect this pastor from false accusation or misdirected anger in the heat of passion.

Brother Ricky