Freewill Baptist here.
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Freewill Baptist here.
Non-demoninational. The church I attend would probably fall into the freewill side of things, but its also nice not being apart of the "community meetings" of freewill churches and such being on your own.
Jedi with a touch of freewill Sith.
I'm Baptist. The minor issues between some of them I don't really worry about.
Christian. Baptist to be specific.
Non-Denominational. First Christian Church of Appalachia.
I attend a Freewill Baptist but we preffer to not put alot into denominations and look at the heart and soul of the person as a sinner saved by grace through faith.
Southern Baptist here, and I agree with you Beast, the heart of the person is what is important.
When I'm in Big Stone Gap I go to Oak Grove Bapist. I used to go to West End Baptist but decided to change over to Oak Grove.
Over here in Berea I attend Bethel Baptist Church. A great church. First time I went there they made me feel like I'd been going there for years, meaning they made me feel welcome like a long lost friend. I haven't heard the Pastor even utter one single negative thing about other churches.
www.bereabethelbaptist.com
I consider all churches founded under the believe that Christ is the saviour and salvation to be Christian and should come together rather than be divided...Catholic included. There is no mention of denominations in the Bible and I personally don't believe they should exist. Christ made no mention of it either. I know how things are so I'm not condemning anyone but I do believe all differences should be put aside the way I'm sure God our creator intended.
Personally, I gave up on religion years ago. The church as we know it today is modeled after the pagan temples during Constantine's reign - altars, choirs, platforms, etc.
Though I'm a Christian, I don't feel obligated to attend or be a member of a church. And before someone reminds me to "not forsake the assembling", I think that has nothing to do with assembling in a building. I meet in my home, or with a few on the porch over a cup of coffee.
Non-demoninational here also . but if you had to put it with a type penticostal sp.
same here. Non-Denom. but very similar to Pentecostal.
Who cares what our church is modeled after, as long as real worship is taking place? [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
I'm a Christian first, a Southern Baptist second.
If all Christians follow your lead on not feeling "obligated to attend or be a member of a church", where would Christianity be? Why is the bulk of the last 23 books of the Bible concentrated on church direction and doctrine? If nothing else, the early apostles' (like Peter and Paul) great mission was to establish and guide new churches.
Can you be a Christian and worship in your home or on the front porch with a group of friends? Certainly! I think its great that you do that, but you are missing many blessings if you're not attending / are a member of a local church.
The church is described as being like the human body, each part performing a valuable function for the good of the whole. I wonder which church body is missing a part since you choose not to obligate yourself?
For me, I need my church family. I need to feel involved and supported in God's work. Having fellow Christians in my living room or front porch just becomes an added bonus to the sweet fellowship I already enjoy in my church setting.
Don't miss out on some of the best stuff this side of Heaven!!! [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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Jedi with a touch of freewill Sith.
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You and I need to have a looonnngggg talk! [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]
I'm happy for you...that you have a "church" that you really enjoy. However, I haven't found that. If the traditional church is the answer, why is the divorce rate higher in the traditional church than among nonbelievers? Why is alcoholism, pornography use, adultery, etc. no different in the church than among non-believers? Is it possible that we as believers have come to play games and accept merely a portion of truth rather than the whole truth? Have we learned to live behind a mask? I know from experience that once we become TRANSPARENT, then, and only then, can we begin to walk in fullness of what Christ has to offer. As long as the traditional church has a hireling (i.e., pastor) on staff, I don't expect things to change.
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I'm happy for you...that you have a "church" that you really enjoy. However, I haven't found that. If the traditional church is the answer, why is the divorce rate higher in the traditional church than among nonbelievers? Why is alcoholism, pornography use, adultery, etc. no different in the church than among non-believers? Is it possible that we as believers have come to play games and accept merely a portion of truth rather than the whole truth? Have we learned to live behind a mask? I know from experience that once we become TRANSPARENT, then, and only then, can we begin to walk in fullness of what Christ has to offer. As long as the traditional church has a hireling (i.e., pastor) on staff, I don't expect things to change.
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Just because someone goes to church doesn't mean they're even a Christian. When I was going to church on a regular basis, I knew of quite a few people in the church who were there every Sunday, but just as a show.
It seems a lot of people who like to condemn religions for 'judging' are all too quick to judge themselves.
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Jedi with a touch of freewill Sith.
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You and I need to have a looonnngggg talk! [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]
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About? [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
Oh, clueless one, thou knowest. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
I fully agree. My premise is that many who go to the traditional church merely worship the church and/or the pastor...it's misplaced faith, I think.
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Oh, clueless one, thou knowest. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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I can't help it if you're pure Jedi in the vein of Yoda. I've got a bit of Dark Side in me. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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I fully agree. My premise is that many who go to the traditional church merely worship the church and/or the pastor...it's misplaced faith, I think.
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I've seen that. I attended one church in Scott Co. for about 5 years. The pastor could have said 'jump' and 9/10's of the congregation would have said 'How High?'.
There is a fine line in that regard. One has to be careful how they regard a pastor or other leader (religion, politics, it is all the same). They must be respected because of their calling. But at the same time, great care must be taken so that one doesn't begin 'worshipping' (for lack of a better term) that person.
One thing a person needs to remember is that while a pastor should be respected, they also are still a fleshly man. Open to all of the trappings that befall all mortal men.
Sadly, many enter the ministry not as a matter of calling, but as a means to acrue wealth and community standing. You can see it every day by watching the various religious programming on television.
But one must also take care to not throw the baby out with the bath water and judge Christianity as a whole based on charlatans like Benny Hinn or any of the other health & wealth frauds out there.
Ah, my friend, but what do you find in a church? Human beings. If the Bible is clear on one thing, it is that we as human beings are sinful. Just as you expect that a dog will behave like a dog, so must human beings behave as human beings. God never tried to hide the fact that his children were misbehavers. Look at David, look at Samson, look at Moses. All failed God and fell short of the mark, but God is good. Why else would He allow us to know the sins of great heroes in the Bible??? They found love and restitution in God's eyes. Isn't that our whole aim in worshipping??
If I go to church thinking that I am perfect and am being joined by scores of other perfect people, Satan doesn't have to deceive me as I've already done that to myself.
Yes, there are a lot of hypocrites in church. In a way, we all are to some degree. But at least we're there. Just as Jesus pointed out that only the sick needed a physician, so too must I point out that the church is the closest thing you'll find to a spiritual hospital, and that is where the sin-sick (us human beings) need to be.
As a rule, I don't watch "religious" programs on TV just for the cause you've mentioned.
Both you and Boney are right about folks "worshipping" the pastor. If our church had done that, it would have died in 1992, and again in 2002 when our pastors left. The one we have now is a great pastor, but I haven't seen anyone come just because he's the pastor. He's too ugly. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
(I'm gonna have to print this off and show it to him Sunday!! [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img])
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Oh, clueless one, thou knowest. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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I can't help it if you're pure Jedi in the vein of Yoda. I've got a bit of Dark Side in me. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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All right, that did it! Light sabers at 10 paces!!!
It doesn't just happen in religious matters, it happens in all walks of life.
Look at those in the political spectrum who worship certain folks. There were a great many who would have done anything for Clinton. There are a great many today who would suck Bush's toes if he asked them to do so.
If one remembers that man is anything but infallible, then it becomes easier.
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Oh, clueless one, thou knowest. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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I can't help it if you're pure Jedi in the vein of Yoda. I've got a bit of Dark Side in me. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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All right, that did it! Light sabers at 10 paces!!!
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Prepare to die old man. Don't worry, I'll take good care of your family after you're gone. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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Oh, clueless one, thou knowest. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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I can't help it if you're pure Jedi in the vein of Yoda. I've got a bit of Dark Side in me. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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All right, that did it! Light sabers at 10 paces!!!
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Prepare to die old man. Don't worry, I'll take good care of your family after you're gone. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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Hey, it may be me taking care of your cat! But just in case,
remember to take care of the dogs too.
Fully agree. And you thought you'd never become a preacher!
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There is a fine line in that regard. One has to be careful how they regard a pastor or other leader (religion, politics, it is all the same). They must be respected because of their calling. But at the same time, great care must be taken so that one doesn't begin 'worshipping' (for lack of a better term) that person.
One thing a person needs to remember is that while a pastor should be respected, they also are still a fleshly man. Open to all of the trappings that befall all mortal men.
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I know I am gonna catch hell for this one. But this seems to be what the catholic church is today with the amount of importance they place on priests and especially the Pope.
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There is a fine line in that regard. One has to be careful how they regard a pastor or other leader (religion, politics, it is all the same). They must be respected because of their calling. But at the same time, great care must be taken so that one doesn't begin 'worshipping' (for lack of a better term) that person.
One thing a person needs to remember is that while a pastor should be respected, they also are still a fleshly man. Open to all of the trappings that befall all mortal men.
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I know I am gonna catch hell for this one. But this seems to be what the catholic church is today with the amount of importance they place on priests and especially the Pope.
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Yeah, I can agree with what you're saying to an extent, but then again, all of the metho-bapti-costals that "worship" the televangelists are doing the same thing. Even the traditional baptists that buy all the Gaither Homecomings are worshipping an idol in a way, even if it has something to do with God.
I look at church and other services as being sacred because they are houses of God and it is holy ground. However, I feel that the religions and their denominations are all guidelines by which to have a relationship with God, no matter if that God you believe in is Yahweh, Bhudda, Confucious, Allah, or good ole Gawd [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
I'm not saying I believe that there's more than 1 way to heaven, because I believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life...but others may not believe the same as I do, so their religious faith is their way of having a guideline to have a relationship with whatever they believe in. That's why I try my best not to begrudge other religions, because if someone has faith in a higher being, that's something I can identify with, even if we don't believe the same way.
I think if I understand that my faith is my faith, and someone else's is someone else's, then I can be a better witness as long as they understand that I'm not trying to overtake their faith and force it onto them.
Oak Grove Baptist...reason that sticks out in my mind is from their sponsorship of the game of the week on radio with the catch phrase: "Here at Oak Grove, Jesus loves you and so do we."
Oak Grove is a very active church in the community. A lot of people are shocked that they would sponsor a football game. This church is very active in the community.
That pleases me, because to witness you must infuse yourself into all aspects of life. The apostle Paul is our role model for that. Show me a church that is active in the community and community activities, and I'll show you a church that is vibrant, growing, alive, and making a difference in people's lives.
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Even the traditional baptists that buy all the Gaither Homecomings are worshipping an idol in a way, even if it has something to do with God.
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That's why I don't watch a lot of "religious" programs on TV. The event/program becomes the focus rather than God.
Watch the Easter Drama in downtown Big Stone Gap that Oak Grove does every year. It is like you're really there.
I marched band with the preacher's son. My best friend used to go to that church. He started inviting me to youth with him. The more I started liking it. I always felt at home at OGBC.
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Even the traditional baptists that buy all the Gaither Homecomings are worshipping an idol in a way, even if it has something to do with God.
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That's why I don't watch a lot of "religious" programs on TV. The event/program becomes the focus rather than God.
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Yeah, people tend to forget that the most important thing isn't how much you're in church or how many times you've read the Bible or how much money you give...it's whether or not you've got a good relationship with Jesus and through him one with God. Show me a Christian who wants to show me he's a Christian, and I'll show you somebody with their priorities out of whack.
Just because people give a lot of money for offering doesn't make them right with God. You can't buy your way into heaven.
I agree whole heartedly with you.
Careful at berea...they've become a bastion of liberal theology since I was there...and it was pandemic then.
Cumberland in KY and Liberty