The HS has put it on me to erect a true orthodox Salvation by Grace Baptist church in my community but your right, I get discouraged by the "LACK" ....lack of interest, lack of Love for the Lord, Lack of godly people. I am in a desert & I believe the devil is winning. I was set to join a non denominational church that I thought had roots in Baptist distinctive's till I talked to two of the foundational elders. They were not very excited about being Baptistic, they indicated that the board of foundational elders took a vote to either be Credo Baptist or Paedo Baptist....and the Credos won, 4 to 3. So well here we are, immersion Baptistic folks. When I heard that I saw that they were not happy about being baptist. Prior to that I stood in the lobby after the service & a midsts all the congregating people, nobody came up to me to welcome me to the church. I told the pastor that & he indicated I would have to come more often so that people could warm up to me.
I have also had enough people on this board criticize me for being too difficult in finding a church to fellowship in. Thats correct, I was a Roman Catholic for 32 years & I hated it.....it was so ritualistic & devoid of scripture as well as so many things I can discuss that I disagree with but I staid there because I was raised up there & my mothers family were all RC. My wife insisted on marrying in a Presbyterian Church so we did & we took my son there because we thought it was the right thing to do. But it became extremely liberal & apostate so we decided not to attend. I drifted to a Congregational Church that was a mess & finally l felt the need for fellowship so I found a Orthodox Presby Church where the head Elder told me my dead infant son was in hell & my wife & I put him there.....nice! That killed my wife....that hurt her to the core of her very being & I had long discussions with the Pastor of the Church, another OPC Pastor & a Reformed Pastor in another town....they all tried to convince me that the Elder spoke out of turn however not one of these guys could give me or my wife assurance our son was with God.
I did not go to church for a long time after that....they were my enemies & they also caused my wife to take to drinking, she was soooo hurt. My brother, who became a Fundi Baptist Youth Pastor sat me down & blamed my experience with these Reformed types on Covenant Theology & told (assured) me that Baptists dont think that way. OK so I spoke to a few Baptist pastors (Arminian & Reformed ) & they all confirmed my brothers story.....so I went to an arminian church down the road. I got no spirituality out of them....nothing....like an empty shell & though I went to weekly services I was wasting my time. Even went to a Saturday morning mens study bible. NOTHING.
So I quit there. My wife will not step in any church & it took her years to get over the pain of those friggin Hyper-Calvinists.
My brother gave me series of CD's called Classics of Christian Faith because Id gone back to college for advanced courses & was driving an hour each way....he thought the windshield time could best be used & in November 3 yrs ago I listened to George Whitefield's sermon "The Method Of Grace" This I believe the Holy Spirit used to convict me of my "Sin of Unbelief" & from that day forward I thanked the Lord for showing me my errors. He made me ashamed to have called myself a Christian when I sinned & insulted Jesus Christ.
Ive told the Lord many times that a church needs to be located in my void community but I keep hitting brick walls. I have a wonderful friend in Kentucky who is my mentor & pastor but I am not meeting with other Christians & sharing my Love for God.....and thats what is missing. This Sunday I wil go to a Lutheran Church several miles away because Ive checked them out & they are orthodox but do not believe in a systematic Doctrines of Grace theology. Im doing that as an attempt for fellowship but I know they will also not satisfy my hunger for a true orthodox Baptist Church that is DoG. Thats whats needed in this community.
What are churches for?
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Gina B, Sep 25, 2012.
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Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
I do agree with this Texas pastor on Fakebook about Christianity being a full time commitment & life changing but Gina has made so very good comments. I would ask these pastors what word of hope do they have to offer the millions who no longer see meaning in their life? What word of hope have they for all the women who bear children and day after day, say in their drudgery, What is the meaning of life? What word of hope do these pastors have for the millions thrown out of work & cant pay their bills, loose their homes & their self worth. Or those who have no medical insurance because of the high cost...you get my drift.
For all the pastors who make church a weekend event, God is not calling you in your heads, yet you have lived in your heads for so long, that the world no longer listens to you. Truly dont need your words without your example... if you sermonize without getting out there nobody is going to pay attention to you.
So I wouldn't put the onus completely on the weekend Christians....there are enough bad pastors that treat church as their own orchestrated business so quit making it all about a gathering place on Wednesday & Sunday, with your lazy church service & go out there & touch the flesh of God thru his people ... be an example & be visible....let them know you do indeed love them by both word & deed. They will believe love, they will believe life given & received. They will want to cooperate because you showed them something nobody does today. You showed evidence by your words, actions & faith that Christ is there in the streets caring about them. -
The last few posts, by Oldtimer, Gina, TCassidy, and EWF have been excellent! Very moving, very true.
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EWF, I really feel for you. I pray God will help you get what you need and where you belong. -
Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJCxt2DjZK0 -
There is nothing wrong with churches working together. Denominations with a hierarchy have taken authority away from the local church and have transferred it to high level church leaders that have very little to do with carrying out the Great Commission. I think the denomination that comes closest to Baptist, and it is different, is conservative Presbyterians. -
Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
But thats the point Michael....it should be in the community.
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And since it is not, in your case, do you think it would be worth it to drive that far?
I must say I have faced a similar situation. -
Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Thanks, OT
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Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite SupporterMichael Wrenn said: ↑Earth said: ↑You've got my prayers. I believe you will succeed.
About what you said regarding community: I agree wholeheartedly. But I also have mixed feelings about a situation where the community has no church that one can identify with. In that case it might be justifiable to drive an hour or more. I had to go outside my community to find my wife; maybe it's the same with a church. :)
But I also believe that if you've got two Christians (husband and wife, or two others), you've got a church.Click to expand...
No my broher, I can no longer get into a car.....drive an hour to a place that doesnt know us ....essentually a gathering place & not address Christ in my own community.
Perhaps we are afraid to touch the flesh of God, even to touch the flesh of one another and understand what God is calling us into. The apostle Thomas symbolizes our temptation towards Faith that only resides in our heads & so Jesus recognizing this asks him to touch the wounds (John 20:27). See God is NOT calling us into our heads, but yet we have lived that way for so long that the world will no longer listen to us. Thats why my banner is & must be CHRIST IN COMMUNITY.
You have to unite under Christ & as I was taught as a young boy & I still believe it, anyone who unites under "Christ has died; Christ has risen & Christ will come again" is indeed Christian & better get busy. Blessings Michael & I covet your prayers!
SteveClick to expand... -
Michael Wrenn said: ↑Earth said: ↑You've got my prayers. I believe you will succeed.
About what you said regarding community: I agree wholeheartedly. But I also have mixed feelings about a situation where the community has no church that one can identify with. In that case it might be justifiable to drive an hour or more. I had to go outside my community to find my wife; maybe it's the same with a church. :)
But I also believe that if you've got two Christians (husband and wife, or two others), you've got a church.Click to expand...
A group of people standing in a circle, with shoulders touching, looking inward at each other. Satisifed, complacent, bickering, self-centered, secure in routine. Heard a story this week about a Sunday school room chair. A woman told a visitor to sit somewhere else as that had been HER chair for 14 years.
I spent my youth in a church much like that. Your post brought back a memory that I try to keep supressed because of the damage that was done that day. My mother was sick and wasn't able to come to services, so I went with a neighbor. That was the day I committed myself to Christ. It wasn't because of the preacher's sermon that morning. It was because I finally yielded to my Saviour's call. One that I'd been hearing for a while.
After church, I saw my mother's disappointment that I'd joined the church when she wasn't there. She told me she'd been waiting so long to see that happen. Years later, I realized it was no coincidence that my mother wasn't at church that day. God had a hand in it, as her disappointment would have been much greater, had she been there.
After I was voted into membership of the church, the pastor turned to the congregation and told them he was surprised at my lack of emotion that morning. Thankfully, I don't remember his exact words. In effect, he told the congregation that he had doubts about my salvation because I didn't meet his expectations (whatever they were) in my demeanor. Those words would have broken my mother's heart.
What's far worse, were the doubts that he instilled in this young skinny kid's head that morning. Why did he say that? Is he right? A preacher ought to know, shouldn't he? Couple that with my comments earlier will give more insight into why I drifted away from the church community for so many years.
A church community can mean people standing in a loose circle with outward reaching arms of welcome. Standing with their backs towards the center to provide a shelter to those who need it. A sense of -- stand behind us and we'll help you and Christ carry your load.
I found such a church. No, our Lord led me to such a church. It wasn't my doings. He sent a messenger to let me know it was time to come home. Too many years had passed and I didn't have many more left to be used in His service. Within in this assembly of God's people, this community, those lingering doubts from long ago disappeared. Replaced with the CONVICTION about what happened that morning when I was a skinny young teenager standing in front of the alter.
This community helped tear down the brick wall that I'd allowed satan to build in my heart around the Holy Spirit. Can't explain it, but somehow I was aware of that wall being torn down, brick by brick.
EWF, this has been a difficult testimony to share with you. While the wounds have healed, the scars, though faded, still remain. Sometimes it's hard to look at them. But, I believe we must, if it will help another brother deal with his. I hope that in some small measure, this is of some help.
Now, to what started this post. Is there any reason why you can't move closer to the church that's an hour's drive away? In these times, I'm sure there's probably a sacrifice or two that you may have to make. I don't have a clue as to how large or small they would be in your life. Perhaps the key to moving forward in God's plan for you life is tucked away in that church.
Something within my being is telling me that God may be waiting for you to take the next step. No, I'm not trying to tell you what that next step may be, as that's between you and our Lord. Only His guidance can do that.
Use the basis of Brother Michael's last sentence in bold above to take that next step, whatever it may be. May our Saviour bless each step you take in His name.
Father, as it be thy will, please help EWF take that step. I only know him as Earth, Wind, & Fire, but You know him personally. You know what's in his heart, far more than some stranger many miles away. You know what he needs to do. Help him kick aside any stumbling blocks that may be in his path, as You've helped removed them from mine. Lord, help him in his struggles, as you help each of us when we ask for Your will, not ours, be done in our lives. In the name of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen
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Father, I now know his name is Steve. His yearning is to help those around him now. As it by Thy will, again I petition that you open the door for him to serve others in Your name and the name of your Son. AmenClick to expand...
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