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?
Friendliness
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Earth Wind and Fire, Oct 4, 2012.
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Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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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: -
Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Then, would you attend a church that teaches NCT & does not not stress the full 10 commandments. Would that be a deal killer? -
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: ) -
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. -
Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
NCT = NEW COVENANT THEOLOGY
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Covenant_Theology -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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What do you mean on the 10 commandments, as My baptist church does not 'stress" them? -
Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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. -
Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
SEE BELOW ATTACHMENT:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Covenant_Theology -
Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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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. :)
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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. -
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. -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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.
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Yes, it does. It means the leadership is unwilling to go beyond the talking stage and engage in real accountability.
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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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! -
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