Posted on 06/14/2012 8:42:52 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Love God, and
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Given that our neighbors are made in His image, I wouldn’t put the “love your neighbor” very far into the distance. Besides, the relationship with your fellow man is where the rubber hits the road. The hard part of maintaining your relationship with the Creator is playing nicely with His other children.
Ann Barnhardt refers to this as "Superfun Rockband Church".
I think that's a big part of the problem. If the leadership of the church is willing to temper the message of the church in the interest of being noncontroversial and seeker sensitive the leadership needs to read more of the New Testament particularly a certain bit about being lukewarm.
As for the SBC I wonder if the loss of Adrian Rogers could have been the start of the slide.
I actually believe the bible is about only two things: Man’s relationship with God and man’s relationship with his fellow man, who is made in God’s image.
The Southern Baptist churches are segregated by race. Is this falling away from the white churches, the black churches or both/
Where do you live, Sara? I’m here in Tennessee, and I don’t see that “Southern Baptists” are segregated by race, at least not by design - I hope you didn’t mean that as an insult...
Our church has several black members, and some hispanic ones. There is no ethnic entrance requirement. But, you are correct, most Southern Baptist churches I know of are predominantly white.
And, I will agree that Sunday is probably the most segregated day of the week. But it’s not because I’m not welcome at their church, or they at mine. There are some doctrinal and traditional differences in how we worship, and we all choose to go where we believe like the other congregants. Most of the black churches in this area are not Southern Baptist, but many are other types of Baptists. Missionary Baptist (M.B.) churches in this area are common and are quite often predominantly black.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God is welcome to attend our Southern Baptist church. And we would LOVE to have those who don’t believe that to attend as well, so they can learn... :^)
I think you are correct. There’s been a general movement that Sunday is family day, not God’s day. That and five plus generations of government schooling training kids that God is wrong.
I live in Texas, but have lived all around the US. I did not mean it as an insult.
At the time of integration/desegregation, Black ministers did not want to change their church communities and maintained ‘black’ churches. That does not mean they don’t let people of other races in, but it means they have kept exclusive black Christian traditions of worship, music and racial causes going.
Maybe that is different now in some places. Not in Texas. We still have black churches and people will travel a ways to get to them rather than go to a white/hispanic church nearby. I’m shocked you don’t have black churches there!
“Despite a little uptick in a few areas, looking at the math, Stetzer says the trend is clear and the SBC needs to “stare reality in the face and fight for our future” rather than merely manage decline like many of the other Protestant denominations.”
What does he mean by that?
BTW, I know I still have a story to tell you, and I will...just as soon as I get over this last trip.
Did you ever stop to think that blacks churches exist because they want them?
After all, whites weren’t the only ones forced to integrate.
I remember desegregation. Blacks didn’t like to be forced, at all.
That doesn’t mean that I don’t believe it should happen.
I mean that it can’t be forced.
Upon further reflection...;o)
All this means is that fewer Baptist churches are joining the SBC. The SBC is not a denomination, its merely an organization independant Baptist churches can join. The number of Baptist churches is actually increasing. The SBC’s liberal drift and hostililty to reformed Baptists has clearly had an impact.
“The largest Protestant denomination in the country”
First, Baptists are not “protestants”. Anabaptists (Baptists) existed prior to the Reformation when the “protestant” movement began.
Second... if the SBC wants to stay strong, they need to get back to their fundamental roots. Most of us don’t appreciate the contemporary path they’re taking. For example, last summer, their VBS program was hip-hop/rap. Maybe this year it’ll be “Disco VBS” or “Lambada VBS”. It’s a far cry from when the programs were respectful, Biblical and pithy.
That is exactly what i said in reply to my first post. Blacks did not want to lose their churchs and traditional way of worship after desegregation.
My church instituted 'Active' and 'Inactive' church rolls. That way, no one is dropped, but they also aren't counted on for participation in anything. I don't know which is the 'official' membership. I was on the 'Inactive' roll until we began attending regularly again last year, at which time my Presbyterian-raised wife joined and was dunked. Our Church is quite conservative in its doctrine, but not in things other than doctrine (we realize that instruments are not limited to piano and organ). The church also has a growing private school. However, even our attendance, which has grown for years, has leveled off, if not declined in the last year. Receipts are definitely down. Now, that may be a matter of economy rather than attendance, but times, they are a-changing.
I agree Christianity is not about numbers, but it IS about your relationship with your fellow man, (1 John 4:20).
The modern world thinks this means being a patsy to those who are evil, not judging them, or maybe giving money to your favorite charity. But we are saved by grace: But if God has given us so much, we who are filled with his love spontaneously give it to others.
“Could be because of their actions!
One example...a mother/member volunteered for nursery duty; no children showed except her 3 year old. So she took her child to the sanctuary to be with her husband and older children. When the 3 yo made a noise (not a very loud noise!), they were asked to leave. Keep in mind this was a Christian family of 5 and members of the church!
Just saying...”
Hey, send them over to the Catholic Church. We love hearing the children!
Even our very oldest priest (he’s been a priest for over 60 years) loves the sound of the babies and children at Mass and so do I. Makes me smile every time. 8-0)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.