Posted on 02/08/2015 5:22:25 AM PST by fwdude
With the appalling apostasy, both overt and subtle, engulfing many evangelical churches in these last days, I have found myself in search of a truly Bible-believing church body that is serious about the Truth taught by God through Jesus Christ.
To be specific, these are the things I am trying to avoid:
- The cultish "mega-church" mentality (though size doesn't not necessarily disqualify an otherwise orthodox church culture)
- Any sympathy, working agreement, or tacit acknowledgement of any Christian legitimacy with Rome.
- The hyper "grace only" heresy of the need just to "believe on Jesus Christ," nothing else matters (i.e. repentance, therefore renouncing sin, optional.)
- An above-all social component to church life, using Christ as the pretext to party and have a good time.
- The "contemporary worship" scene, where the great traditional hymns of devout saints are jettisoned in favor of the shallow, repetitive pap of me-centered guitar and percussion powered emotionalism.
- Teaching that completely avoids, or gives apologetic ground to, the deadly evil in today's society, especially the stridently militant homosexuality that is engulfing even many churches behind the scenes (even the SBC).
- The unlimited "welcoming" banner that is put out by many heretical bodies, i.e., no questions asked and no requirements for participate in the life of the church.
With these in mind, here is what I am seeking:
- A praying church where prayer is not just and afterthought or a mandatory formality.
- A church that holds its fellowshipping members accountable and expects real spiritual growth in them.
- A church that believes in the spiritual gifts as the Scriptures lay them out, without the emotionally caricatured ones. (I wouldn't even object to the gift of tongues if it were genuine and conducted biblically (a real existing language not learned by the practicer), and not like most maniacally charismatic church's wantonly display in disarray.)
- A church that meets regularly, and doesn't dismiss services for Superbowl Sunday.
These are obviously not exhaustive lists, but my point is that I am through wasting time in congregations that ignore the spiritual reality of the world, and focus on the empty wood, hay and stubble of the world, neglecting the members of the Body, and subjecting them to eternal danger.
At the risk of attracting caustic criticism, I'll also throw in that I've valued the teachings of Gordon C. Olson as biblically sound, so any recommendations for church bodies that adhere closely to the theology that he taught would be much appreciated.
If you are willing to overcome your preoccupation with avoiding all things in Rome, you will find the Catholic Church offers everything else you have just asked for. If you look at the actual teachings of the Church, offered freely through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults(RCIA) program at anyone of the 66 parishes in the Ft Worth area (yahoo link below gives the list). You do not have to be committed to entering the Church to enroll or learn about the Church. — Bring your best arguments and objections to the instructors. If nothing else, you will come away with a clearer understanding of the teachings of the Church.
find a Calvary Chapel!!! You’ll learn more here than any church you could go to. They go through the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter and book by book
There has been subtle, but noticeable, softening on the stance against homosexuality in the highest levels of the SBC leadership of late. Consider the latest convention meeting, where open activist homosexuals’ presence was entertained and Southern Baptist Albert Mohler all but conceded that homosexuality was most like an inborn, not-chosen orientation. Several years ago, before the national convention, SBC leaders even met for an hour with the most vicious, militant homoNazis on the front lines of the war, at the venue of the convention, to “discuss” the issue of non-acceptance of homosexuality, never mind redefined marriage. This means that the SBC has given the Gaystapo a place at the debate table, something that would have been unconscionable only a decade ago. And the homo-activists crowed about this to no end as heralding a barely perceptible move (they coddle and value the smallest incremental move and capitalize on it) in the direction of at least questioning this theology. The homosexual lobby essentially came away winners just by gaining audience, when they should have been dismissed out of hand.
That church looks good. They have Reformers Unanimous and Master’s Club. Those are great ministries.
I have no “preoccupation” with avoiding Rome, I reject heresy and error.
I’m sure, with your absolute devotion to Rome, you have the same “preoccupation” with aversion to most protestant theology.
That makes me sick. It affirms my decision to move my family from the SBC. I remember the day at Bellevue Baptist in Memphis when we were warned about a possible attack by a group of gays. Adrian Rogers had said something that ticked them off and they tried to organize a disruption of our services. After someone tried to stab him in the pulpit, back in the 70’s, we always had a fair amount of security, so I don’t think they would have gotten very far without a rainbow army.
Gordon C. Olson or C. Gordon Olson? I don’t know either but got both names when I googled Gordon C. Olson.
and G.C. has his own facebook fan page?
Looking through this yahoo list, I noticed that most of the churches were named for a “saint” or after Mary. No thanks, I am looking for a CHRISTIAN church.
I’m pleased with the Mosaic (nondenominational) church - it started in Texas and may have some branches near you.
thank you
The last straw for me was when, during their last convention meeting, the SBC failed to even vote to reject a homosexual-affirming affiliated church in California. To their credit, the disfellowship was accomplished later in a committee many months later, but this should have been a no-brainer.
The delay is a deadly sign.
Hopefully this is the right cornerstone. We go to the brothers church in Granbury.
http://cornerstonefortworth.org/
Try the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, NO affiliation to the ELCA. Check out their “What We Believe”, I think you might find this to fit your qualifications.
I was a member in 2 in the Fort Worth areas for a short period, completely bible based no frills and usually considered small (especially for Texas sized mega church).
I am currently a member in the WELS in Montana and consider it to be my family.
Is it required by Baptists that you have to attend a church?
Wow, I didn’t know Adrian Rogers experienced an attempted stabbing. Satan hates God’s most dedicated servants with the vilest, most violent hatred indeed.
Actually, I have faced the protestant theologies head on since an early age. When I was in 4th & 5th grade (1971-73), I attended a Southern Baptist missionary school in Taiwan (it was the only English speaking school in the area) where I, and my older sisters, were told we weren’t “saved”, weren’t Christians, and were cannibals if we believed in the transfiguration of the Eucharist. Needless to say, it made us much more aware what we believe and why we believe it.
If you so reject heresy and error, then bring your best descriptions of those heresies and errors and see how they match up against the real teachings of the Church founded by Jesus through Peter, who brought it to Rome — as opposed to what Dr Olson may said about those teachings.
Brown Trail church of Christ. Very good congregation. Every place has hypocrites, but the vast majority of people there are really trying to follow scripture.
As appealing as this sounds, I don't believe in the "lone ranger" Christian any longer. No, it is not possible to be a Christian, which includes Baptists, and not be in fellowship with fellow believers.
I don’t have the time to devote to attending RC churches and arguing with them, as the days are short and getting shorter. I have the testimony of numerous former Catholics that I rely on, and will take the shorter path around that dangerous bog courtesy of their valuable experience.
Again, in my original appeal, I disclaimed any desire for Romanism. Do you have a reading problem, or are you just rude?
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