Posted on 06/21/2011 3:51:29 PM PDT by NoGrayZone
Okay...though I did write the sentence poorly.
God bless!
So true!
Or; do you believe what the BIBLE says?
1 Corinthians 12:27-31
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
Are all apostles?
Are all prophets?
Are all teachers?
Do all work miracles?
Do all have gifts of healing?
Do all speak in tongues?
Do all interpret?
Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
Oh?
Why not?
More to the point is the idea that men (in this case, the early church fathers) are responsible for scripture. Some gathering of men. Some group. Some particular set of, yes, let’s call them followers of Christ. So, the conclusion goes, let’s follow...THESE MEN...
I will follow the scriptures which GOD gave those early church fathers and by GOD’S SPIRIT be led into all truth. This will include finding those that worship God in Spirit and in truth (because such please the Father) and when I am with 2 or 3 others who are gathered in the name, which is above every name, (the name of Christ), there will HE (Christ) be in the midst). Ta Da. Church. His Church. His Spirit-led church. Ordained by God (as it follows His Scripture (and not men). Does the church have a name (a brand) in front of it? Possibly, but this is man’s attempt to identify itself. Is this pride? From this thread, it sounds like it can be—the God of the Bible hates pride, by the way. Does it have to be this gathering or that? It has to be Spirit-led. For such please the Father.
If you look back over this thread, (and now I’m talking to the author of this thread—I’ve forgotten who that is just now) you will see many bringing you to a place where THEY worship. And I know you’ve asked for the opinions of men, so I do not denigrate their willingness to respond. But, if you are looking for the place where you are to meet with GOD, to worship HIM and to serve HIM, then you need to ask HIM (The scriptures say, “...if you seek ME with all your heart, you will find ME.”) I have my own ideas about where He WON’T lead you, but I will choose to keep these to myself. I have gone on these threads to discuss scripture before and they are maddening...ultimately, the people who profess to know Christ can look awfully petty and mean-spirited before a world that is dying and needing to know Christ or confront the eternal separation that comes from not knowing the Savior—you know, preaching the gospel to all nations. We forget the mission (myself included) and, instead, prop up our own understanding. It is the spirit which is life, the flesh profits nothing. Do we need to confront false doctrine, heresies, error? Yes, but we are also commanded to avoid foolish, endless arguments, which is what threads like this can become.
Again, to the author of this thread, go back to your original query, prayerfully be still before God, be led by His Spirit. He will guide you into all truth.
I may be wrong and correct me if I am, but the baptists do not like creeds and also the creedal portion of “We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.” is not acceptable. I understood this from baptists — if I am wrong, please do tell me.
The Nicene Creed's a good first filter for stuff like that. -- unfortunately that would not hold water with our Baptist brothers or with Oneness Pentecostals or Adventists (I think).
Oneness is right out.
What part do the Baptists choke on?
And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.
We have different understandings of what it means to be "catholic and apostolic".
NoGreyZone evidently believes in the Real Presence in the Eucharist. You don't. As she believes in this, she should, in my humble opinion search for a church that believes the same as she would not be happy in a place that did not.
I may be wrong and correct me if I am, but the baptists do not like creeds and also the creedal portion of “We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.” is not acceptable. I understood this from baptists — if I am wrong, please do tell me.
Baptists tend to view baptism as "a way to show you love Jesus" or as a work of obedience. It's something John the Baptist made up, all on his ownsome self, you know. Your own work of obedience. They have an odd tendency to "redo" it multiple times, if necessary.
Sometimes, there's no insistence on it at all. Very oddly lax.
As far as not liking human creeds, that is one thing. If they choke on the content of the creed, that's quite another.
If we have a sin filled priest (and hey, they are human after all), that matters not. If they can't preach, that matters not.
Because we look beyond this human vessel and focus on Christ in the Eucharist
During our Holy Prayer to God, what do we have?
My friend in Christ, we are blessed to have experienced this, as you said in your post above -- and where does the minister figure in all of this? He is just a tool, a means. God uses splendid tools or weak ones, but they are just tools
What is at the centre of our Churches? Not the pulpit to glorify the speaker, but in Our Church the center-piece is the altar with the Bible, the Cross and the Eucharist, telling us of Jesus Christ, the Word of God, His preachings, His death and His resurrection respectively.
We get to experience (as you noted for Lutherans too) Our Risen Lord, His sacrifice and His Word
The Baptists don’t hold to creeds AFAIK and not to “We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.”
Some baptists here have told me that they acknowledge all of what is in the creed except the bit about "acknowledging one baptism for the forgiveness of sins" and others refuse to even look at the creed itself.
Baptists tend to view baptism as "a way to show you love Jesus" or as a work of obedience. It's something John the Baptist made up, all on his ownsome self, you know. Your own work of obedience. They have an odd tendency to "redo" it multiple times, if necessary. -- I did not know that, thank you for that information.
Hi, NGZ! I am sorry I am so late to the party! My inet has been acting wacky and so I come on late to catch the top stories and bookmark them to read the next day!!! Be glad when the provider gets the problem fixed!
I am so excited about your post! It takes such courage to say “enough is enough.” You have decided that being on God’s side is the place for you, not belonging to a building name. I am so impressed with your love for God!
That is why I feel complete with my worship. Where I gather with the saints—by that, I mean the body of Christ—we only use the Bible for guidance. We do not refer to councils, or synods, or “ordained” people for answers to those troubling questions, such as the issue of homosexuality. We turn to God’s word.
I can tell you have come to a similar conclusion that I reached. It’s really very simple. Either a person believes God is, or he/she believes God isn’t. But for you and I, we say He is! Therefore, we also must believe He is who He says He is and does what He says He does. God says the Bible is His inspired word, the truth, His absolute truth. Why would we need anything else (or anyone else)for guidance?
When we dig deeply into His word, we see the body of Christ, the church (in the Greek language, the word “church” means “called out”) and we see all throughout the book of Acts people who were choosing to be a part of the body of Christ. Acts 2:38 being the clearest answer to where to go to church as any there might be! Eph.1:13-14 tells us what the gift of the Holy Spirit is, and Rom.6:3-4 tells us what the obedience Acts 2:38 symbolizes. Isn’t it wonderful how perfectly complete God’s word is?! It’s its own best commentary!! Our God is truly awesome!
Anyway, I guess you can tell I get excited about this subject? :) I will be praying for your search of the scriptures as you seek the right church. I bet in reading, you’ll also figure out what building will work, too!
With thanksgiving and joy, Daisy
Baptists tend to view baptism as "a way to show you love Jesus" or as a work of obedience. It's something John the Baptist made up, all on his ownsome self, you know. Your own work of obedience. They have an odd tendency to "redo" it multiple times, if necessary. -- I did not know that, thank you for that information.
Its verbiage that I hear all the time. The whole "baptized into his death" thing, not much at all. Israel at the Red Sea, Noah and the flood, which the NT explicitly points to, not at all.
"I have a baptism to be baptized with."
Sorry to jump in again, but just now reading through the thread.
“I know what He states will be the end all of the system of things, but there HAS to be a way to lesson the burden.”
I Cor. 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
This verse gives me comfort when confronted by temptation to sin.
I do, I always have. Whenever the pastor would say "take and eat, this is my body, given to you, do this in remembrance of me" I ALWAYS took it literally! Same with the wine.
I will sound stupid here, but I really had no idea my church wasn't on the same page I was, until I grew up and went back. He was NOT there!
Funny you should mention that. When I went back to my church, I felt they were preaching "rainbows from a unicorns butt".
I was looking for guidance, waiting to hear what I should be doing to prepare myself for His return. But each week was the same old "feel good" crap. Sorry for the curse, but that's exactly what it was and there is no other word to describe it.
Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA).
BTW, going to a Bible class for a first visit is a VERY good idea, it never occurred to me to do that!
Thanks!!! =)
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