Salyan

Ha! So you’re accusing others of not addressing with meekness and fear, while you were absolutely not behaving that way yourself. Hypocrite, much? I rather think our members are behaving with much forbearance  

I’m going to share one bit of Baptist doctrine. Baptists believe in individual soul liberty. That means that we are each responsible to God directly for our response to Him and His word. We further believe that Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. This means that you do not stand between us and God, and you are not in a position to tell other believers whether or not God will accept them. (Seriously, shame on you.)

Furthermore, to claim to tell the future for anyone is to claim the position of prophet. You do know the biblical test for a prophet, right? 100% accuracy?

Which church of god do you attend? I was not aware that was part of the doctrine of the church of god to attempt to act as priests for other believers.

Bossy, bossy! That’s no way to behave as a guest! If you are serious about learning our doctrine, there are many threads you can search through and read. This thread is for introducing yourself, not arguing doctrine. 

As you join us, I’d encourage you to take a look at the site rules; particularly 8C.

That’s quite the introduction! If you are here to discuss with fellow believers, welcome! If you are here to promote a different doctrine…. Please don’t?  

When I was a kid, we used to listen to this set of audio books on cassette all the time. One was a the story of John Bunyan and his arrest and committal to Bedford Jail. As a child, I thought it the book said 'bed for jail', and pictured him chained horizontally to a bed for 12 years. I was much relieved when I grew older and found that wasn't the case. 

Did anyone else have that set? It was The Bible in Drama, by Christian Educational Service, and had the full text of both Testaments, plus a bunch of Christian stories (Character Building Dramas) with stories like The Gift of the Magi, and The Strange Case of Moody, Watch & Spy. Came in this big white case.

On 2/27/2023 at 12:23 PM, BrotherTony said:

I don't believe many church members applaud as a form of praise to man, but as an affirmation that they agree, and are praising God. Also, having drums in the church isn't wrong....they way some play them IS. The Bible tells us in Psalm 150 this....

Psalm 150:5-6 King James Version 5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. 6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord.

Psalm 150:4 King James Version 4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

Uh oh! We're not praising him in the dance. Something else to think about. 

We have a very energetic toddler in our church who fulfills this direction when her parents are distracted.  

I play the organ, and have been nonplussed recently by a couple of new members comparing it to a bass guitar. One guy told me he likes the organ because the foot pedal reminds him of the bass, and another one (who is apparently learning the bass guitar) has been watching & asking me how the pedals are played.  I don't terribly love the comparison... 

(P.S. TGL - in the title - its allowed, not aloud. Although drums are pretty loud.)

https://www.westernstandard.news/news/watch-ontario-town-councillor-apologizes-for-vaccine-mandate-for-municipal-workers/article_a7fa7968-b9f0-11ed-befa-4fb74c6a6275.html

Acknowledgement that governments knew the vaccine didn't work, and they still required it. The level of coercion and control was unbelievable.

On 3/4/2023 at 8:40 AM, PastorMatt said:

What's your belief of female music leaders? The article link below seems like it was written just to keep things with the times and not an article I necessarily agree with. So what's your beliefs on woman choir directors, woman leading congregationals and so forth?

 

https://baptistnews.com/article/now-theres-a-movement-to-bar-women-as-worship-leaders-in-churches/

Aren't they already barred, in conservative churches? I wouldn't be okay with a lady leading the mixed congregation in worship.  And I'm perfectly happy not to have extra people singing on stage (seriously - come down and sing in the congregation and you'll help the people around you feel comfortable singing more strongly).  Sounds like an article that's taking the normal divergence of opinions/doctrine (or lack thereof) between the fundamental and new evangelical churches and trying to make a big deal of it. 

14 hours ago, TheGloryLand said:

Now, the funds of tithing is being used to paid out all these services. Is it okay, or the tithing and offering should be used for evangelize and paid the building bills. Utilities only.

Where exactly does a church get money besides tithes, eh? 

Is the pastor is considered an employee and paid a salary, then the church should take on the burden of the employers payroll taxes. Because they are an employer.

We don’t pay our Pastor health benefits, because it’s not really cost-effective for a single employee. He kinda gets vacation, in that we pay him a monthly salary, and nobody questions if he take me some time off. But I wish we could. I expect health benefits, vacation benefits, and retirement payments at my job. Why should a pastor to be less? (I am in Canada, so my expectation of normal benefits may be slightly different than the US.)

Two missionaries visiting- one from Belize and one from northern Canada. Both preached. And one baptism!

If the subject and Spirit call for it. All things in moderation. 

Goodness gracious, TGL. Sin?!? I don't remember a commandment entitled 'thou shalt have altar calls.' Don't be extraneous.
Not all altar calls are for salvation, either.  And in Canada, anyone who wanted to be saved might be encouraged to talk to someone privately after, but would be extremely unlikely to actually walk down an aisle. 

1 hour ago, Jim_Alaska said:

Salyan, is that your cat? I ask because it is an exact image (well, maybe not quite exact) of  my wonderful friend of 18 years. Sadly she passed away two years ago.

Yes, that is my Llewelyn. He’s a polydactyl from North Dakota. 

Cat

Comes and goes. 

Do we want God to work in the midst of other believers, or not? Yes, there are serious doctrinal problems - but what better way for God to change their hearts and minds than through revival? Do we expect them to repent and come to true doctrine without the working of God in their spirit?

There's a story I remember reading of the Welsh revival. That revival changed the face of a nation. Bars closed down due to lack of customers, churches (often Baptist) were planted across the country (most are empty now, but when I visited my great-grandfather's Welsh valley a few years back, I saw 3 or 4 old Baptist churches within a very few miles of each other), and the nation of singers became the nation of hymn writers.   The revival did not respect denominational lines, and many believers went to wherever the Spirit was moving, regardless of creed. But there was one church on one island that refused to allow its people to join the revival. They refused because the meeting houses where it was occurring in their area were not of their creed. That church did not end up experiencing this amazing (and irrefutable) revival. 

As an IFB, that story bothers me. I'm fairly certain I'd be one of those that wouldn't go to a place because of their doctrinal problems (I probably wouldn't go to Asbury).  But I'd also have missed out. I don't know how to reconcile this. How can we as IFB respect the work of the Spirit where He moves without discounting genuine doctrinal concerns?  

I don't know if this is or isn't genuine revival. Honestly, if the kids present are getting right with God & each other, then they likely are being revived, regardless of how far this may go. I am alarmed by this mindset that presumes that God won't revive other Christians - other true believers - because they aren't us.  How many of the great revivals & awakenings of yesteryear were purely Baptist revivals?

The part I found most interesting was the story of a couple of alien abduction researchers who noted that so-called abductions occurred to all sorts of people - across cultural, racial and religious lines - except for the group that called themselves born-again Christians. So being slightly more scientific than idealistic, they decided to investigate why this group was exempt. During that research, they found that some people in this group had experiences that mirrored the beginning of described abductions (floating out of body, experiments). However, any of these believers that called on the Name of Jesus - even silently - during the experience found the event to instantly cease, sometimes with the feeling that their attacker was in pain. The researchers ended up getting saved.

The Bible says that Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy, and I believe that's just so evident in the experiences so-called abductees have had.  

It's also interesting that the history of observed UFO/alien technology (if you will) mimics the known developed technology d(or science fiction inventions) of the observers. Satan is not creative - he copies. 

You can get a used copy off Amazon for $6. Seriously such an interesting book!
https://www.amazon.com/Alien-Intrusion-Updated-Expanded-Bates/dp/0890514356/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1Q0L4WMDOL14R&keywords=alien+intrusion+bates&qid=1676671922&sprefix=alien+intrusion+bates%2Caps%2C182&sr=8-1

10 hours ago, BrotherTony said:

I'll definitely take that as a compliment. I'm probably OLD ENOUGH to be your dad! 

Maybe you should give Napsterdad the compliment.. he's who I was responding to. 

Trey, if you know this is something God wants you to do (and you do, since there is a scriptural command for it - and if that wasn't enough, He's also convicting you about it), you need to pray and trust God for the strength and just obey.  He will give you grace for the nervousness - but you're not going to get the grace in advance! It'll happen right when you need and not before. 

I'd encourage you to talk to your pastor and get a date set. Write out your testimony so you can read it - having things written down will probably help any pre-jitters. And you don't need to actually look at anyone except whoever's baptizing you.   Maybe you can ask them to turn the lights up really bright so you can't see anyone.

Let's not get personal, here.

I'm confused - what show and who is the 'he' who isn't saved? I thought this was talking about an ad campaign funded by a group of anonymous families.

I agree that people are awfully quick to say that this or that technology or event is a prophetic event when it's not. That being said, I do think that the preponderance on sci fi (aliens, abduction, offworld creatures), with eastern religious influence (think Stargate and ascending [i.e. moving to another level of existence]), mixed with New Age foretelling (spirit guides purporting to be aliens come to help humankind to a better stage of existence, who say that the conservative/religious/non-new-age folk are putting out bad vibes that keep everyone else from ascending) are fairly likely to be Satan trying to condition the world to be pleased rather than alarmed when the Christians disappear.  

Have any of y'all ever read Alien Intrusion, by Gary Bates? Excellent read.

On 2/15/2023 at 3:59 AM, Napsterdad said:

My wife and I stopped "celebrating" Valentine's Day many years ago. We realized that when you openly express your love for each other every day of the year, you don't need a special day set aside to openly express your love for each other. Besides, giving flowers or some other special gift on random days of the year seems a far more sincere and meaningful expression of your love for someone rather than on a day when it is "mandated".

You sound like my dad. He's convinced Father's Day is for people who don't treat their father right the rest of the year. Doesn't keep him from enjoying any goodies I bring.   

If it does turn into false fire, that doesn't prevent the first/current work from being genuine. Satan loves to corrupt works of God if he can.

Here's some thoughts on Asbury by someone who is respected by people I respect.
https://www.revivalfocus.org/the-spirit-of-revival-at-asbury/?mibextid=unz460&fbclid=IwAR0JLfaQdrkuHHN_YQnPZkV1HhDG-3yRHSCtE0p_Qkr1frVXpUPBYDhKx-k