Wife was out doing something and so I got to sneak to a Reformed church. The music was traditional, but with some contemporary tunes being sung. They had no guitar, drums, nor band. The preaching was excellent! Verse by verse and the style was like that of MacArthur. The eschatology is dispensational, yet Reformed in other areas so definitely like MacArthur. Preacher hit on Total depravity, Election, suffering, sin, lordship salvation, false converts, perseverance of the saints, human responsibility, etc. He also admitted he did not know all the answers on the issues of election and human responsibility, but we are not to divide from Arminian whom disagree. MacArthur has stomped Arminianism in his books, so he would not agree. However not everyone knows as much as Mac, and even examining my earlier open air sermons Arminianism can be found on my tongue. WinMan himself (the most vocal Arminian here) has agreed to this, and he is the expert Arminian. I also liked the church as I met a friend of the Way of
the Master there which is good as WOTM friends are most likely hanging around in Reformed churches. I got into some debates at my last IFB church with some single women in the singles ministry over this issue whom were against Way of the Master evangelism.
Anyways it was good hearing Reformed Theology again.
I think you mean not everyone is as dogmatic as Mac over the issue.
There are probably many whom you would consider Arminian that are just as or or more knowledgeable than Mac regarding theology (whether or not their interpretations and conclusions are correct is an entirely different issue).
I am glad that you found a church where you feel you belong, theologically speaking.
As this seems to be a big issue with you, maybe your wife will try it out.
She was not too happy about it. I am not anti non Reformed nor do I think I cannot learn from non Reformed. David Jeremiah, Charles Stanley, and Erwin Lutzer are not Reformed and yet I read and listen to them. Lutzer is closer to Reformed, yet he himself said he is not a Calvinist. I do not think this should be a dividing issue among christians, so for the moment I am back at the IFB church. We agree on the essentials of the faith, and they are not a bad church such as a Free-Will Baptist, KJVO, or a Charismatic church. They do not think one can lose salvation, nor do they think the KJV is God's only true translation.
This is exactly the reason I cant stand organized churches. I'm right and your wrong attitudes vs what did Christ really teach. We really don't want to go there....then we would have to witness to it and indeed, radically change our lives and God forbid we do that.
:tonofbricks:
The problem is that is not an option, according to scripture, to just avoid it. And it is in error to think that somehow your flaws are less than the other people in "organized religion" therefore you should not have to put up with them.
In every church there is always room for one more hypocrite.
I feel honored to know what you feel about our church.
When we teach what Christ really taught this is inevitable. You can call it an attitude if you want, but from what I've read about your opinion of His bride I'd say you're the one with the attitude.
I have no "Splaining" to do to you .....you aint God, not even close.
More people have been hurt by church people who act like little tin gods while not following the true Gods commandments than I could possibly ever count......so who the heck made them Gods minions......indeed, it is more of a hypocritical circus event than a true communion .....and I am tired of it.
This is not God..... its righteous jerks acting out their holier than though attitudes & they will answer for it.
Aren't you being cute. I simply asked why you don't want to be around church people i.e. Christians. Believers in the Lord Jesus usually want to be around fellow Christians.
I thought it wasn't necessary to quote your immature rant. So you don't want to fellowship with believers. You are a Christian but Christians in your view are nasty so where does that leave you EW&F? You want to just be with heathens because they are more virtuous than the ecclesia?
You really have been on a downward spiral in the last year or so. It is not a pretty sight.
From your vantage point ...... please get serious. All Ive been observing out of you is behavior quite similar to that of a Pharisee.
But I have good fellowship with Christians in all walks of life ....just not your ilk. And basically I could give a fig what your opinion is nor frankly have I ever ever cared. But even in your own rantings you do have something noteworthy
to discuss...... that is, often times heathens are more virtuous than .....I wont call them ecclesia, rather I will call them by what they truly are; 'carnal false christians.' The non believer will at least admit that he or she is a non believer while the false christian will always play mind games, telling everyone they meet that they are good solid Christians when we all know better. They sit in the pews, sing songs then go on their merry way lying & cheating & sinning their butts off till next Sunday & then they are all God Fearing Christians again.
No, Im not happy with that activity, that in fact is the biggest sin against the Holy Spirit that can be perpetuated. Yet it is the standard operating condition in most false churches today. I refuse to participate! So stick that one in your "manipulation via guilt" agenda / action plan & smoke it.