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Where in the hell are the churches?

Posted on 04/24/2012 9:04:06 PM PDT by ShadowPatriot

I don't write about this topic lightly, and as you'll see by the dates---I've allowed several months and multiple opportunities to pass.  I have no desire to 'broad-brush' an entire church based on the behavior of one or two representatives and NO WAY will I lie about a church, but as it turns out, my 'now former church' is a poster child for 'religious political correctness' crossing paths with 'uncompromising reality.'  So as a result, I am now forced to use a much 'looser definition' of the word 'church'... but this in no way diminishes my love for God.  ~JDG

------

I began attending Kansas City's Heartland Community Church in 2008, while it was still a small neighborhood church that often required parking in the street, but that of course, was before they moved into their new mega-complex (pictured below).  The people were cool.  The music was cool...and Pastor Deeble gave some very inspiring and thought-provoking sermons. For the first time in my life,  I actually felt I connected with a church --- and I was diggin' it.  Not to mention, they serve assorted flavors of premium-blend coffees for your sipping enjoyment during the sermon.

Last August, I was all set to be baptized when everything changed.  I had a 'Spiritual Advisor/Sponsor' and we talked about a ton of stuff.  I was asked to share things that were the most personal...and I did.  A few 'man tears' were even shed.  Everything was rockin along until my questions turned to 'why the church never mentions anything about our children being robbed of the religious freedoms that you and I took for granted... just 25 years ago?

Little did I know I had just entered the Forbidden Zone--- I was now in the AREA 51 of Religious Political Correctness.


Fast forward eight months to now, and I am still uncertain if it was just 'the mere mention of Caesar' OR the fact that I suggested that 'Caesar may not have our best interest at heart' --- but regardless, I've been ridiculed, insulted and/or ignored by multiple Heartland reps since I brought it up.  My request to be baptized was NEVER again even acknowledged by Heartland... although I was encouraged to 'try another church'.

"Heather can have two mommies---but Johnny can't have a bible?" 

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TOPICS: General Discusssion; Ministry/Outreach; Religion & Culture; Theology
KEYWORDS: blogpimp; vanity
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To: steve86

Does the RC Church allow concealed carry inside the Church? Just curious....we attended a PCA (Presbyterian - very conservative), however, they opposed CC in Church...always bothered me.


21 posted on 04/24/2012 10:00:59 PM PDT by goodnesswins (2012..."We mutually pledge our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor")
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To: rwilson99

Which would that be, the Eastern Orthodox Churches...or one in Rome? The foundation of the Eastern Orthodox Churches are, according to the Bible, older, you know...

(or maybe it has to do with believing what the Apostles—the eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Jesus themselves taught—in what a literate person can read for himself, in the Bible, rather than very compromised human organizations?)


22 posted on 04/24/2012 10:02:07 PM PDT by AnalogReigns (because REALITY is never digital...)
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To: ShadowPatriot
I think this is a good time to state that I will not tolerate attacks against Christians.

Consider this a warning, and a reminder of the need to tolerate and respect peaceful religions.

Leave them alone, because while they may turn the other cheek, I won't.

23 posted on 04/24/2012 10:06:20 PM PDT by sarasmom ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xZsFe6dM3EY)
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To: GeronL

he did found a Church (”on this rock...”). The Popes are not infallible humans, nowhere do we believe that — please do read a bit before spouting incorrect statements.


24 posted on 04/24/2012 10:53:00 PM PDT by Cronos (**Marriage is about commitment, cohabitation is about convenience.**)
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To: goodnesswins

We’ve got a former CIA and former FBI in our parish. Does that tell you anything? LOL!


25 posted on 04/24/2012 10:57:43 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: GeronL

St. Paul thought differently.

Rom 15:30 - join me by your

prayers to God on my behalf

Col 4:3, 1Thess 5:25 - pray for us

2Thess 1:11 - we always pray for you

2Thess 3:1 - finally, brothers, pray for us

Eph 6:18-19 - making

supplication for all the saints & for me


26 posted on 04/24/2012 11:03:58 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation

pray FOR them, not TO them


27 posted on 04/24/2012 11:20:53 PM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Pursue Happiness)
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To: GeronL

well, firstly your statement was wrong about “infallible humans” — we don’t believe that. Where do you get these incorrect statements from? And why do you repeat them?


28 posted on 04/24/2012 11:45:13 PM PDT by Cronos (**Marriage is about commitment, cohabitation is about convenience.**)
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To: goodnesswins

I see cops in my RC church fully holstered and reciving the Eucharist. The priest knows them well. The Centurion is why we say during Mass - “I am not worthy for You to enter under my roof, but only say the word and I shall be healed”.


29 posted on 04/24/2012 11:53:31 PM PDT by If You Want It Fixed - Fix It
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To: Norm Lenhart

Come on back. You know, priests and bishops are sinners like the rest of us, sadly, and we know God chooses the weakest for His work - soundls like many of the priests and bishops right? But some of those weakes have insights and Traditions that will blow you away.

You may be smart, incredibly smart - but what did the earliest Christians and their earliest detracttors say about the Eucharist....about Mary,....You can’t get that from the bible, you get that from the teachings of the Church. Check it out.

The bible is recorded oral history - without eror. But what of the other recorded history of the time? Not divinely inspried certainly, but could have a lot of additional value just like other great men’s thinking (greeks, etec). The male and female “Doctors of the Church” are of course not in the bible, but great men saw the obvious brilliance in what these bible readers pulled and lived from the bible and Tradition and hold them in high esteem - check THEM out.

Come one home - let the jerks in the family not get you so down - Dad is still Dad!


30 posted on 04/25/2012 12:01:03 AM PDT by If You Want It Fixed - Fix It
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To: If You Want It Fixed - Fix It

I’d love to. But here’s my problem. Dad’s kids are running roughshod over the family and basically told him to pound salt.

Kidding aside, When I look at the positions the RCC has taken publicly, or most importantly, the positions they have not taken, I just don’t want to be associated with them until they put their doctrine before their political/financial expedience.

Sure, we are all sinners. From Pope to pauper. But the church hierarchy has a biblical obligation to stand up and be counted. Instead, they pay lip service to politicians. Only recently and in a most minimal way, have they stood up to the assault on Christianity by Obama and other anti christian tyrants, be they presidents or the media types.

There is no excuse for their actions regarding abortion, nor the wholesale attack on the faithful by Islam, the media, Hollywood et all. Where are the warrior Popes? Where are the clergy who used to stand up for their faith? Instead, for decades we have a bunch of men waiting for someone’s permission before speaking the mildest of truths in fear that they will cause grave offense to anyone.
IMO, it’s BS. The Pope, Cardinals, Bishops and Priests all have a duty to either follow their calling or step down. They are leading nothing.

When a president can pull Obama’s crap and not get an immediate reply from the Vatican telling him “No Barack, we are not going to bend over and abandon everything we belive because you said so”...when there are churches offering space to muslims to hold their ‘services’...when there is no direction full scale response at the voting booth, nor excommunication of politicians, hell even a denunciation thereof, that back abortion, homosexuality et all, then there is one serious problem.

The lapsed among us might just come back, should they ever do that. But until then, I have no desire to ‘learn’ from men that apparently do not have enough faith in God to even try following his word.

All that said, don’t take this as a slam to you personally. Nor should any Catholic. Faithful Catholics aren’t the problem. They never were. But until they hold their clergy to account, well, I think the results are obvious.


31 posted on 04/25/2012 1:13:49 AM PDT by Norm Lenhart
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To: Norm Lenhart

The problem is that if you are ex RC and “do your own thing” you aren’t meeting the Lord in the sacraments. And I find that sad...have you tried going to Eucharistic adoration to pray?


32 posted on 04/25/2012 2:47:15 AM PDT by LadyDoc
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To: Norm Lenhart

Truly we are all sinners, I among them.

It is important to meet the Lord in BOTH the word and in the sacrements.


33 posted on 04/25/2012 3:00:23 AM PDT by Biggirl ("Jesus talked to us as individuals"-Jim Vicevich/Thanks JimV!)
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To: GeronL
Jesus didn’t found a church

He says flatly in Matthew 16 that that's what he's doing. Didn't he follow through?

34 posted on 04/25/2012 4:57:23 AM PDT by Campion ("Social justice" begins in the womb)
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To: ShadowPatriot; All
I'd like to encourage everyone to read the USCCB's Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty's recent statement

This was read from the pulpit, in lieu of a homily, at my parish this past Sunday morning.

I'd like to direct everyone's attention to something made clear in the document: this is not just a Catholic fight. The government -- federal, state, and local -- is out to co-opt and repress Christianity of all flavors. And, contrary to what a couple of Protestant FReepers have said, the Catholic bishops are clearly cognizant of that fact and ready to join the battle for religious liberty for all.

It is also not just a fight on behalf of religious institutions; individuals (e.g., private Christian employers) have the same rights, and are under the same attack ... and the bishops know that as well.

35 posted on 04/25/2012 5:07:58 AM PDT by Campion ("Social justice" begins in the womb)
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To: Campion

http://thehayride.com/2012/02/louisiana-college-vs-the-obama-administration-and-the-bible-thumpin-republican-narrative/

Were you aware that Louisiana Bible College is suing the Obama Administration?


36 posted on 04/25/2012 5:14:21 AM PDT by Pan_Yans Wife ("For the sake of our party we must stand united, whoever our nominee is."-Sarah Palin)
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To: GeronL

Here’s a question you can’t answer..

Where in the Bible is the concept of Sola Scriptura discussed or referenced?

And I’ll take Popes & Saints over folks that would reject a man for not being politically correct any day.


37 posted on 04/25/2012 6:21:35 AM PDT by rwilson99 (Please tell me how the words "shall not perish and have everlasting life" would NOT apply to Mary.)
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To: AnalogReigns

I believe you can trace both the Eastern Orthodox and the Catholic Church back to Jesus & the Apostles.

Neither of these churches would have turned this man away for his failure to adhere to the ways of the PC world.


38 posted on 04/25/2012 6:24:25 AM PDT by rwilson99 (Please tell me how the words "shall not perish and have everlasting life" would NOT apply to Mary.)
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To: ShadowPatriot

Good post. I’ve had somewhat similar experiences in my religious quest.


39 posted on 04/25/2012 6:27:00 AM PDT by Tainan (Cogito, ergo conservatus sum)
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To: ShadowPatriot

Your “church” was right about one thing. Try another church. Seriously. Thank God all churches are not PC.


40 posted on 04/25/2012 6:38:34 AM PDT by alnick
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