Posted on 08/13/2023 10:07:22 AM PDT by CFW
You need to get back in church. That is where we are to assemble. Find a sold one and go if you are physically able.
I believe a naparc.org listed church would meet your concerns. Thousands available. Hopefully one near you.
I know of a church not far away that has:
* prayers to recognize someone's birthday
* "blessings of the animals" where you can bring your pet
* homosexual weddings
* this denomination officially supports homosexual weddings
* this denomination officially supports abortion
Despite all you listed some well-meaning Christians will “tsk, tsk” you for not attending church. Although your time could be used ten times more effective by searching the Scriptures on your own, they believe something magical happens when you attend such places.
“was he a young man? ( under 40) just curious.”
Probably about 35 to 38.
It appeared to be heading down the road of a let’s all “feel good” service with no substance from God’s word. We left after his remark about being a big Disney fan.
Baptist churches are independent from a governing body. They just have orgs to funnel money through.
Sounds like that pastor is lost from the Word. I wouldn’t return.
When someone fails to draw a strong line between Christian ethics and secular ethics, they are probably very liberal in theology as well. When I was on the mission field, I knew an ardent Calvinist. He recommended Harry Potter books. Progressivism is getting a foothold into the contemporary churches by Neo-Calvism as taught by Sprout and Piper.
“I am a very devout believer in Christ but have stopped attending church. Here’s why:
*Before the service starts there’s hilarity, a general lack of reverence.
(Years ago the opening moments were hushed and quiet; people were preparing their hearts).
Then the “worship team” struts their stuff . The music is not traditional hymns but the latest Hillsong “Christian tunes”.
(”This is so “we” can attract the young people and those in the pews can raise your hands and bob their heads to the beat.)”
That is about what we experienced this morning. There are no longer any hymnals in the pews. All music was “praise” songs from the video screen all song to the same exact tune. All seemed to be praising “self”. Slow and mournful beat though. Not a “When the Roll is Called up Yonder” or “I’ll Fly Away” was heard!
He was probably trying to be “relavent”. But odds are he’s stuck in a cultural vision from 30 or 40 years ago.
Not our church. Preaching is against it!!
I have no intention of patronizing you.
God always preserves and continues to preserve a faithful church.
Yes I read the word every day and all, I do understand we don’t just do some Christian exercise at church once a week. Love of Christ is an total commitment.
It’s not just about gleaning spiritual truths though.
The corporate worship is transcendent. It is not just a lecture or Bible Study. It is God’s ordained method for the approach, worship and communion of His people in a unique and particular way. We can’t replace it with Bible Study or etc.
We can’t replicate other obvious elements like church discipline, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, bearing with one another in love, or mutual service by ourselves either. We can’t ordain others or commission evangelists.
Church life while sometimes difficult is still for us. In the USA we are spoiled by profusion of churches. There are lots of faithful ones. You may have a longish drive in some parts of the country but they are accessible.
And where there is error (like irreverence before worship like you mentioned for example) you can be a means for sharpening the iron of your fellow believer, there. God uses us to encourage and sanctify each other.
The conservative resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention was accomplished by non-five point Calvinists like Paige Patterson, Paul Pressler, W.A. Criswell. Calvinists in the SBC have to some degree undermined that resurgence. Case in point is Russell Moore, a self-described Calvinist who moved the denomination's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission in a leftward direction until he was forced to resign.
That being said, I much admire John MacArthur, a five point Calvinist, who almost alone among non-charismatic evangelicals, stood strongly against the attempts by California authorities to shutter his church. Another very strong Calvinist is the Reformed Baptist Voddie Baucham, who is a fierce and articulate opponent of the gospel of "what's happening now".
Wow! Today we visited a church for the first time since moving to this town. Similar experience.
Song service was painful, trite and insipid “choruses” with lyrics (no musical score) flashed on screens. (How can you sing a song you don’t know if you can’t see the score?!)
The sermon was by a smarmy televangelist-type.
The women in the choir were wearing tights and bimbo-esque slacks.
When a church service is not working out, Hubby will write a time on the bulletin and show it to me, like “12:05”. That’s the time we leave. That’s the time we left.
So sad that today’s churches are so pathetic. This was SBC (which I don’t like, but it’s close). Next week we’ll try another.
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