Baptist views of church-state separation

I really do not know what this has to do with the thread, but they are good examples of Chrisitian work. As far as our local church goes, the biggest thing like that I can remember is a few years ago, we paid to start a local church in Uganda. Our congregation is mostly elderly, and most on limited income, so it was amazing to watch the money grow as the church was built.

We do help people that come by and ask, but sometimes it may be actual food, motel room, utility, or gas since sometimes giving money results in buying things not helpful to them. There are a group of people in our community that go from church to church (in this case they do not care which denomination) asking for help as a way of making a living.

As far as giving goes, I never paid much attention other than to take 10% off my check and put it in Sunday. God has always provided the money at our church. We have a full time pastor, custodian, part time secretary, and part time music and chior director. We have a newer building we bought in 1986 that is paid off. We give heavily to local, state, national and international missions. As an example, we have given to missionaries not sponsered by the SBC, and given as a local church directly to them.

What we cannot afford is elaborate recreation facilities for young people. We have a ministry on Wednesday night where young people (age 6-14 about) from a local trailor park are pick up and brought to church for Bible study and snacks. What makes this ministry so vital is their parents are non existent for the most part. They are either high on something, have rotating live-ins, or are in jail. It takes a special type person and we are blessed with several women who run this ministry on Wednesday night.

That is a quick background of our church, and no doubt left some things out. Each church has its own story.

I do agree with your point that a name on a church does not make the character of the church. In fact, some of the churches in our area, the ones you mention that grow very fast, have of late, hidden or deemphasized the name Baptist. However, you cannot take every or most churches affiliated with the SBC and make them of the same mold that for some reason you detest. By the way, although I do not agree with infant baptism, conservative Presbyterians do have a lot of solid theological points.

In the same manner, you cannot take one founder, find flaws with him, and dismiss the whole premise our nation was founded on.

 

If individuals want to live a much more fulfilling life and be able to deal with anything this world throws at them as well as spend eternity in bliss they should accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and follow him in discipleship. Governments run by good Christians will be better governments but the individual is the key to God's plan for His kingdom not a civil government proclaiming itself to be a Christian nation. No such thing ever existed. Trying to mix God's kingdom with any civil government is very harmful to Christ's church because it tends to make people think Christianity is bad if America makes a mistake. Contrary to what many here preach, America has made mistakes just like any other country. I still believe it is the greatest country on earth but it has several serious problems that need to be addressed.

 

Also not allowing women or blacks to vote, segregated schools, glass ceilings, etc. What about putting innocent prisoners to death?

 

Again much like the false teaching Paul addressed in Colossians "matter is evil therefore Christ was not God." It was as false as your argument.

Using your argument we don't want individual people to be aligned with the Kingdom of God because when they make a mistake it will make Christianity look bad. While both are true we do not make false and impossible attempts at neutrality which can never be. Either you are for God or against Him. No middle ground.

 

Do you believe that God wants women to vote, desegregated schools, and equal promotions?

 

Bump. . . . .

 

Accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior is false teaching? You've crossed over the line. You're expressing an anti-Christian point of view. Repent and accept Christ today.

 

I see you are not capable of intelligent debate. God Bless

 

You have lost your ever loving mind.

 

I bet he's been reading Ted Kennedy's memoirs and it's clouded his thinking.

 

Hello? Anyone there?

 

Did you read the previous post?

Originally Posted by alatide
If individuals want to live a much more fulfilling life and be able to deal with anything this world throws at them as well as spend eternity in bliss they should accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and follow him in discipleship. Governments run by good Christians will be better governments but the individual is the key to God's plan for His kingdom not a civil government proclaiming itself to be a Christian nation. No such thing ever existed. Trying to mix God's kingdom with any civil government is very harmful to Christ's church because it tends to make people think Christianity is bad if America makes a mistake. Contrary to what many here preach, America has made mistakes just like any other country. I still believe it is the greatest country on earth but it has several serious problems that need to be addressed.
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Again much like the false teaching Paul addressed in Colossians "matter is evil therefore Christ was not God." It was as false as your argument.

Using your argument we don't want individual people to be aligned with the Kingdom of God because when they make a mistake it will make Christianity look bad. While both are true we do not make false and impossible attempts at neutrality which can never be. Either you are for God or against Him. No middle ground.

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I don't feel that I have to take these sorts of slanderous attacks. What's the difference in saying "either you are for God or against Him" and my reply? No, I haven't lost my mind. I'd just like to not see these personal attacks any more.

 

Okay. Since he (or she) is ignoring the question, I'll answer for him.

alatide is thinking, "If I answer yes, it will destroy my whole case of seperation of Christ from government. If I answer no, then I'll have to explain why I presented these issues as examples of false Christian principles of the past.

"I'd better not answer."

 

Did you even read my post. There is absolutely no way a reasonable personal could take that as a personal attack. It wasn't. It is obvious it wasn't. And there is no reason it should have been understood as such.

Really....what is it with libbies, I have been told I should have my throat slit by a terrorist, cussed out, and now this all form liberal Baptist Board members. Talk about personal attacks. But there seems to be a large effort to portray everything possible as a personal attack by the board libbies.

 

Actually, I go to work every day and to church on Wed. night. In answer to your question, no I don't think God supports the right of women to vote, desegregated schools and equal chances for promotions. Those are part of the US form of government which I do support but have nothing to do with Christianity. On an individual level, we as Christians as commanded to love our neighbor including our enemies. That should guide how we react to questions like these as well as the question about engaging in a war to support our nation's world supremacy. To answer for you, but that war is just, right? Wrong. In reality there is no such thing as a just war. The ends never justify the means for a follower of Jesus Christ.