Is this a church

[qwerty guy]

Do you think we treat this as church because we hang to the same values, what is right & or wrong, here as we do in church?

I try my best to keep the same values on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday as I do when attending church on Sunday.

I know some who check their earthly values in as they enter church, when they leave church they pick them right back up and hold to them until the enter church once again.

I think you've hit a target right there. If you go to a restaurant though with a bunch of friends and start talking religion, and other people in the restaurant enter the conversation, you wouldn't of course change your values to suit them, but you would not look at their views as being an assault... If they came into your church though doing it, I would expect things to be different.

I like the fact the board is IFB, and I'm with like minded people for the most part here. But I would bet there are more eyes watching that are not IFB then that are. One thing that drew me here was the fact the board mods trust we know our bible, so when an atheist shows up, a catholic shows up... they get a chance to post their errors, and have a chance to get corrected. It gives a valuable lesson as to their "views" and also gives them the chance to learn what the bible really says.

Are we mindful of this enough though? I know I'm not. Way to many times I've gotten complacent.

[DaveW]

I think you've hit a target right there. If you go to a restaurant though with a bunch of friends and start talking religion, and other people in the restaurant enter the conversation, you wouldn't of course change your values to suit them, but you would not look at their views as being an assault... If they came into your church though doing it, I would expect things to be different.

I like the fact the board is IFB, and I'm with like minded people for the most part here. But I would bet there are more eyes watching that are not IFB then that are. One thing that drew me here was the fact the board mods trust we know our bible, so when an atheist shows up, a catholic shows up... they get a chance to post their errors, and have a chance to get corrected. It gives a valuable lesson as to their "views" and also gives them the chance to learn what the bible really says.

Are we mindful of this enough though? I know I'm not. Way to many times I've gotten complacent.

There is one problem with your illustration - you would know beforehand where your friends stood on many things, and so it wouldn't be the same sort of conversation. You may not agree with them but you would be far less likely to react strongly.
If however you and your friends were at the restaurant and started talking religion and then someone who was sitting nearby and figured out that you were "Baptists" stuck their head into yoru conversation and began to attack you, you would be likely to ask them to mind their own business.

This is actually a closer illustration as to SOME of what happens.

However, some people get up from their chair, yell "Get Lost!" and push the intruder away. :ooops :roll

By the way I also voted "No, this is not a church".

As to the second premise - at my old church we ahd some mormons come in - badges and all - and sit in the back and listen.
They were watched to make sure they didn't cause any trouble, which they didn't, and they left very soon after the service, speaking to very few.
I know they were collecting information, but as my Pastor said later, "while they are here and not causing trouble, they are hearing the Gospel."

This kind of person is always welcome here, and also to ask questions, but you have to admit that some have come here to cause trouble - unfortunately that means that people get a little touchy.

[JerryNumbers]

There is one problem with your illustration - you would know beforehand where your friends stood on many things, and so it wouldn't be the same sort of conversation. You may not agree with them but you would be far less likely to react strongly.
If however you and your friends were at the restaurant and started talking religion and then someone who was sitting nearby and figured out that you were "Baptists" stuck their head into yoru conversation and began to attack you, you would be likely to ask them to mind their own business.

This is actually a closer illustration as to SOME of what happens.

However, some people get up from their chair, yell "Get Lost!" and push the intruder away. :ooops :roll

By the way I also voted "No, this is not a church".

As to the second premise - at my old church we ahd some mormons come in - badges and all - and sit in the back and listen.
They were watched to make sure they didn't cause any trouble, which they didn't, and they left very soon after the service, speaking to very few.
I know they were collecting information, but as my Pastor said later, "while they are here and not causing trouble, they are hearing the Gospel."

This kind of person is always welcome here, and also to ask questions, but you have to admit that some have come here to cause trouble - unfortunately that means that people get a little touchy.

The bold part is so true, some do not come to learn, but to find and audience to proclaim their false teachings to. And they will keep on brining up their teachings no matter how many times you show them the truth, for that is what they're pushing. This takes away unity. If allowed to go on in a church it will soon split it wide open. It can do the same thing to a message board.

[Ron]

i like baked ham...not really. :lol: