OFIB Preacher

Well, Jesus is talking to the disciples at that time - the obvious conclusion is that they are the church he was talking to.
They were baptized believers, they were organized as displayed by the fact that they had a Pastor and a treasurer, and they were gathered to do the will of God - what else do they need to be a church?

Will do

I am the Pastor.

Nice testimony. Thank God for the Neighborhood Bible Clubs for kids. Statistics are high for young people getting saved, but when you get up in the middle years it becomes exceedingly difficult. Your story is also sad in a way. Your parents rededicated their lives to the Lord, which is great and quite a wonderful thing. But because they had drifted away from the Lord, you might not have been saved -- even though the knowledge of the Cross was right there within arm's length. I wish that discouraged people would only realize that if there was one good reason not to drift away from the Lord, it is their children.

I went to Laz-Y-Boy and bought a neat custom made recliner just for this website. It has a vibrating seat, a heat source, a built-in refrigerator (where I can keep my cold soft drinks, pretzels, and candy apples), and an attached keyboard. I am ready to rumble! er, ramble . . . 

Thanks for the welcome. Our little church Brookside Missionary Baptist Church is located in the small Western NC town of Old Fort, NC. It does not have a long written history, but has an oral history that has been shared through it's long time members. I began around early 1900's initially as a community school. Our congregation consists mostly of families of the initial members. We are Baptist but not affiliated with any association. We are self governed under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. We are not typical independent Baptists in that we believe the "Church" is all the truly saved, and also our local church as an assembly of like minded believers. We are not ecumenical nor universal. I look forward to getting to know our brothers and sisters on this forum. I pray that we all can be of one mind and one accord in our service to The Lord Jesus Christ. 

Hello, I am new to this forum and I look forward to my experiences here.

I always felt that the doctor and his nurse were not willing to tell us the whole picture because it meant continued treatment even know they knew by then that it was time to look at alternate treatments. Rather, we were constantly greeted with, "You are looking good! Everything is going well!" Until it wasn't. We were always asking them to be very up front with us and tell us an honest prognosis - but it was always an unreasonable assurance that everything was good, that they were merely treating her situation as a chronic disease--such as with my diabetes. It was hard not to be angry when the end came, but we had a great God and we knew that in the end it was all according to His perfect plan for our lives. He never makes a wrong decision, even though the doctors are prone to look at treatment as a source of income.

When our daughter who is in the medical field encouraged us to start looking at something else, my wife was wheelchair bound and it was simply too late.

I believe that people should investigate all their options as early as possible and if the doctor is hesitant to have that conversation--it may be necessary to find another doctor.
So sorry for your loss, but it was surely heaven's gain!

Edward Richard Santos Jr., 81.
Passed Away peacefully from this life and on to eternal life today January the eleventh at 11:45 p.m. A great Man. A great Father to us.
I am so honored to have had you for my father. Now is a time of tears for us, yet joy too, in knowing the unspeakable joy that is now his for all of eternity.
I look forward to the time when we will all be United again. 
 1 Corinthians 15:55 (KJV) 
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
Psalm 116:15 (KJV) 
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
We who are alive and remain will celebrate a race well run by my father. Well named was the Holy Spirit as the Great Comforter. Thank you Jesus for giving me the strength to be at his side when he entered into glory! All praise, honor and glory forever!
In His will. By His power. For His glory.

Yes, as Christians in the family of God we should not regard these divisions as reasons to be separated from each other.
1 Corinthians 8:5-6 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Galatians 3:27-29 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Philippians 1:27-28 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 and in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

Yes we are all of one blood (Acts 17:26) and descend from Noah but Noah had three sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Gentiles are the general term for Japheth's children (Genesis 10:1-5). At the time of Christ Japheth's children (Roman's rule and Greek's culture) had rule over Shem's and Cannon's (a son of ham) children, fulfilling the prophesy of Genesis 9:27. The Jewish people were the Old Testament Believers, who at the time of Christ, claimed the promises of of God given to Abraham and lived after the covenant of Israel. They called themselves Jews, after the tribe of Judea (one of the tribes of Israel) because after Israel was dispersed in the "Diaspora" (Assyrian and Babylonian dispersion of Israel's tribes), and 70 year after their dispersion (Jeremiah 25:11, 29:10-12), the leaders of Judea's tribe, with some of Levi and Benjamin, were given permission by the Persians to go back and set up the Temple of God in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1-5). Later, in rebellion against the Greeks/Syrians, they were able to gain independence again, and made the Judean (Jewish) state of Israel, for a short time before coming under the "protection" of Rome. This occupying protection, which they at first saw as an alliance became seen as an occupation. Slowly they saw their Jewish authority being influenced and taken over by the Romans and their Jewish culture influence and taken over by Greek culture (Hellenization). This is why the Jews refereed to all non-Jews as Gentiles because if you did not follow the God of the Jews and their Jewish traditions at the time of Christ then you would be considered a "follower of the Gentile's authority and culture", and therefor a "Gentile", regardless of which son of Noah you were from.

The Jews are the nation of people that sprang from Abraham because of God's promises to Abraham.
By the time Abraham was around to be the father of a great nation there were many people all over the world.
Even from Abraham there has sprung two separate and different peoples - the Jews and the Arabs (broadly speaking).
Only those who are descended from Abraham through Isaac and Jacob are of the nation of Israel, and therefore Jews. 
The Jews then later made the distinction between their own nation and all other nations of the world, calling them as a general term "Gentiles".
This has nothing in fact to do with Noah and that all people are descended from Him - you are correct that there is only one family of men, those who are descendants of Noah.
 

We are members of Pleasant View Baptist Church, McQuady, KY, Pastor Dale Massengale!  http://pleasantviewky.net

Just googled and found your church's Wordpress.com Blog and followed!  I have one of those myself, although don't know why I didn't put it in my signature LOL!  http://brojoshowens.wordpress.com  Also forgot to put our church's Youtube channel, so here it is!  http://youtube.com/jscalloway

I find this to be a place of fellowship for like-minded believers. Often in church, there isn't that much time for yapping. It is also a place where we can post our personal Bible studies and devotions, and get the opportunity to witness of online searchers for truth. I do view the internet as somewhat of a final mission field. Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of this is that our words can reach into countries where the Gospel has been banned. I honestly don't know if we have readers in North Korea or in Afghanistan, but what a thrill to think that someone might one day be in heaven because of something my fingers might have said.

But! And this is important. This website can not replace the position of your pastor. Other Christians may be able to answer questions in a general way, but when it comes to the specifics of a particular church, only the pastor can answer. He is God's undershepherd and the spiritual lives of the members of his church are his very special responsibility. Not a one of us would willingly or knowingly usurp his role in someone's life. If he cannot answer a question for a member then that member must choose on the merits of the issue whether he/she is satisfied in that church, and may need to seek out another. This decision should be considered most soberly, because it would be terrible to leave the place where God wants you to be based on some misunderstanding.

I do hope that you will enjoy your time here at OnlineBaptist. I also have only been a member for a very short time, but I've been blessed. I know that you also will be blessed as you continue to seek God's will for your life.

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That's all that is on our sign (scripture). We've been blasted for some of the verses we've put up, too. Seems the lost don't want to read verses that aren't all sweetness and light.

Yep - our sign deliberately has no room for sayings.
You end up scratching from something new and attention grabbing, always trying to better the last one.
Some might be able to do it well, but I have better things to spend my energy on.

I don't see why they can't just put Scripture up on the sign instead of trying to be cutesy or witty.

And once again you have been answered clearly and absolutely by me.
Any allegations should be investigated by the proper authorities as a criminal act.
However, because we are INDEPENDENT CHURCHES - whether you like it or nor - no single person can speak for all Independent Baptist churches.
You show a clear lack of understanding of what an independent Baptist church is, which makes your claim to be an independent Baptist nothing short of a lie. I am sorry to be so blunt, but you cannot claim to be a part of something that you so clearly have no knowledge of.
And if you really were an independent Baptist you would understand that you arguments against the term are wrong.
So once more, every independent Baptist church I personally know of would not hesitate to get the proper authorities involved with any allegation of sexual abuse.
HOWEVER, as independent churches NO SINGLE PERSON OR BODY can speak for the group.
Whatever you say, independent Baptist churches are not a denomination in any organised sense, and there is no spokesperson, ruling body, or organized council to speak in the fashion which you seek.
Your manner, you arguments, and you mistaken understanding of what an independent Baptist church is all combine to indicate that you have nefarious motives.
Speak to us plainly of your background, your affiliations, and your purpose, and we might be more keen on discussion.
Many of us are more than happy to discuss with even those who are of opposing views, just so long as those people are honest and reasonable.
 

Sorry, I just don't trust that you are who or what you claim to be. You have posted nothing to edify the forum. I'm finished.

Obviously using "appears to be" and "Protestant" shows me that you know very little if anything about Independent Fundamentalist Churches. What protestant body did we come out of?

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Both of you are all take an no give in this conversation. Despite the fact that the rest of us were forthcoming you insist on answers from us while giving none of your own. Conversations don't work that way. Tell us about yourself. Introduce yourselves and maybe we'll talk more about it and our individual church policies. As it stands the only reason you both joined was to interrogate those on the forum about this hack job of a "report" and you really have no interest in being productive members here.

And you both are ignoring the fact that no single person CAN answer your questions BECAUSE independent Baptist churches ARE INDEPENDENT.
I absolutely directly answered the initial post when I said that the proper authorities should be involved - although I didn't state it, that is the policy in the church where I am.
But because an independent Baptist church is independent I can not speak for any church but the one I am a member of.
I can tell you that was the same for each of the three churches that I have been a member of.
I have a question for the two of you.
Why are you both singling out independent Baptist churches?
There are many independent churches around - why exclude them?
There are many church groups around - why exclude them?
This singling out of only independent Baptist churches is what makes this seem fishy.
We KNOW that this kind of thing is not exclusive to independent Baptist churches, so why focus on them?
The Catholic church appears to have a systematic and organized way to hide and ignore the problem and not to even deal with it internally. The Anglican church has likewise had its issues with the problem. The Mormons have also has instances. The JW's have had instances. 
Schools have had many instances. The boy scouts have instances. 
And yet you both are focusing on independent Baptist churches only, even to the extent of attacking the other person who pointed out that others have the issue and to a far greater extent.
My answer was absolutely, 100% applicable to the original question, you just don't want to accept it because it does not allow you to continue with your story.