Featured The Sharp Divide: How to deal with it

How does my question validate it?

 

Herald... could you please provide a link to that verse? I really don't want to have to open my Bible or google it.



;-)

 

I really don't think they (we) will. It would have little impact on my particular church, so I don't really have strong feelings about what SHOULD happen...though I lean toward not splitting. I predict either a continued slow decline (for decades...) or a rejuvination centered around missions and the Gospel.

I still think if you asked the vast majority of SBCers on both sides, they would say they don't want a split.

 

It should be a question the search committee asks. My wife's church asked a Calvie pastor to leave, so it was a big enough issue for them.

For others, like myself, I can't imagine not being around Calvies because I get too much enjoyment from teasing them, but it's all in good jest.

I do think it's interesting that Herald's group basically performed a takeover and makes non-Calvies feel unwelcome before joining. Wow! I never imagined it would be brought up as something never to discuss as a prerequisite to joining a church. Good grief, guess you couldn't even joke about it before being "disciplined". Maybe they'll start asking people if they're traducianists before joining next. Incredible!

 

Listening to Piper's account of how he introduced DoG/TULIP into his church it could be interpreted as a 'take-over'. I don't know if that would be correct but I was surprised to hear his personal testimony of how Piper did it... It's a slow process...

Wow, now that's an interesting subject! JB, it's not as if there is a lack of navels to be preoccupied with! and now you have to intraduce this one on the board!

 

Are you quite serious?!? You have just nauseated me! You would deny the doctrine of total inability,downplay the doctrine of original sin & insist on a universal atonement!!! WOW, after that statement of yours, I would really question your seriousness as a Reformed believer.

 

Now why would a non reformed want to join a Reformed Church?

 

So your saying that they knowingly relinquish their existing belief system for reformed beliefs.....at least they know that going in.

 

And that is why I dont consider myself a Calvinist. Now Presbyterians & The Reformed (like Dutch Reformed) churches walk lock step with John Calvin & his teaching.....I do not!

 

It would be a blessing....one that I am anxious to see happen....the sooner the better!:smilewinkgrin:

 

I have not read this thread but the premise of separating from our brothers and sisters in Christ is sinful, factious and flys in the face of the spirit of unity in the body.

The problem is not that the Bible is not clear, the problem is that our pride blinds us to the truth. That is why scripture is ignored or rewritten.

 

DoGs is not much of an issue in our church. Those of us who believe that way are a minority. Tom and I are a couple that do. We really do not argue over doctrine much. There are some differences over open and closed communion.

 

You're right, I am not as committed to being a reformed believer as I am being a BELIEVER.

I would rather be in a real church that preaches the Gospel that I disagree with on those issues (not denying them, btw), than be in a staunchly reformed church that lifted calvin higher than Jesus (I'm not saying I've encountered such churches...quite the opposite)...but if that were the situation, I believe the need for Chrsitian ommunity outweighs the need for doctrinal purity on this issue. And unlike some reformed folks, I don't believe arminianism is a different Gospel.

If the choice is Gospel-preaching church vs non-gospel-preaching church vs. no church, I believe my choice is clear.

 

Because they may be a serious minded Bible-centric Christian who is comming out of a church that doesn't preach the bible, and they like the gospel & bible focus of the church...perhaps. Perhaps it's not the most important issue to some people.

 

So if you have a church of 200 people, 100 of which believe that the church should be congregationally led and only baptize believers after conversion...and 100 who believe the church should be elder led and baptize infants...should they stay in the same church or form 2 different churches?