It's not a required symbol, but if you find yourself in a supposedly Christian church and they don't have a cross, doesn't that make you wonder if you might be in the wrong church? :smilewinkgrin:
You Might Be in the Wrong Church If...
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by InTheLight, Sep 16, 2014.
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InTheLight Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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InTheLight Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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InTheLight Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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The view is not based on Scripture but is reactionary. -
asterisktom Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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The first communion was closed, wasn't it? -
Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>Site Supporter
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Oh boy, what a fun thread, my turn, my turn, here goes, these are from personal experiences:
You might be in the wrong church if:the chair of the pastor search committee (also a deacon) shares in detail with other members of the psc about how he was praying/meditating one afternoon and had a "vision" regarding who the next pastor should be, and the recently recieved resume in his hand has a picture of the man who was in his "vision". (And as Gomer Pyle would say "surprise, surprise" his vision is spot on, oh and no one should dare question it, that's for sure :saint:)
You might be in the wrong church if: the pastor when preaching on the necessity of meeting the budget says "I may not know what you give but I know if you give"
You might be in the wrong church if: the pastor, with a big grin on his face welcomes an unmarried couple who he knows is living together in open immorality to join the church and says: "These are the type of young families we want here at so and so church"
You might be in the wrong church if: the couple that have been members of the church the longest are the most grouchy, hateful, conniving, power hungry, controlling, people you've ever met
You might be in the wrong church if: the pastor preaches from Romans Chapter 8, nickpicking verses the whole way, completely leaving out verses 28-30, and finishes by saying, see there "God is for you"
You might be in the wrong church if: the answer to declining attendance and attrition is to "have more meals"
You might be in the wrong church if: the church has a special catered meal with entertainment and fine china/silverware for only those members who participated in a church work day (building and grounds).
You might be in the wrong church if: the church doesn't think twice about spending a large sum of money on steeple repairs or giving the already overpaid secretary a 15% salary increase, but can't seem to find money in the budget to maintain and insure a small bus/van which is used to pick up a few neighborhood children (whose parents don't attend church and could care less), it is especially not necessary since the church can't seem to afford to hire anyone to work part time with children/youth and none of the 75% of the congregation that is retired is willing to volunteer a few hours a week.
You might be in the wrong church if: your membership rolls are bloated (3.5 times typical attendance levels), the FBI couldn't find most of the folks, and leadership could care less
You might be in the wrong church if: the pastor uses commonly known illustrations in his sermons, and with a straight face tells it as if he is the main character in the illustration. -
righteousdude2 Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
When
members judge you instead of love you! :thumbs: -
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righteousdude2 Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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righteousdude2 Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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What should it be if not an "altar call?" -
Just for the sake of discussion:
(1) Why have they not aligned with a like minded church where they are now, wherever that may be? (If they are true believers would the vast majority of them not do this?, I could understand if they were in the military or off to college and planned to come back to town sometime, but I'd imagine that's only a small percentage of the AWOL members)
(2) How in the world would you ever know if they are "doing something that is against what our church stands for", when you don't even know where they are? Assuming they just moved away, shouldn't someone on the ministry staff still be keeping in touch with them, if they are still considered a member, as a part of the church, shouldn't their spiritual care be a matter of importance?
(3) You probably don't know where the vast majority are, and probably don't know if they are in a biblically sound church or not, and probably won't take any action regardless, are your afraid that you might "hurt their feelings"? -
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InTheLight Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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OnlyaSinner Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
At our church, communion is offered to any believer who is in right fellowship with God, and prior to distribution of the symbols there is a time of prayer, with our pastor encouraging folks to restore that fellowship, if necessary: "But let a man examine himself..." After that, participation is left up to one's conscience. -
asterisktom Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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