BrotherTony

I can only go by what the KJV says...three gifts given by wise men. No number of Wise Men. It could have been two, it could have been twenty. No number is ever given.

There's no scriptural basis for three kings when it pertains to the story of the birth of Christ. Matthew 2 is the only one of the four gospels that make mention of the magi from the East. Tradition has it that because of the three gifts, gold, frankenscence, and myrrh, each king brought one gift.

One of the major reasons I have come across is the Bible stating that in the last days the Father would pour out his Spirit on all flesh and that the men AND women would prophesy, and that men would dream dreams. Acts 2:17 is their proof text. They're not comparing scripture with scripture and are cherry picking verses to support their flawed ideology.

Fashions? Tongues isn't just a "fashion." It's a movement that has been around a good long while now. And the false healing services and their leaders are being proven more and more to be fake. Don't get me wrong, the Lord still heals, but not using ilk like Hinn, Jakes, Prince, etc.

There are several in our area. The tongues movement hasn't died.

It seems his staying as pastor did help. Knowing him for many years, I believe he did the right thing. The church, which was running nearly 2000 people back in the early 80s is running between 90 and 200, or was last I checked. I know that many of the locals, both saved and unsaved alike, have varied opinions on his pastorate. All I can do is pray for the ministry there.

Let's just put it this way, there far too many scandals, sexual and otherwise in the clergy regardless of denomination, and far too few churches that make sure there is accountability for these incidents, both legal and ecclesiastical. There has been some improvement, but not anywhere near enough. There have been several pastors here in Middle Tennessee who have temporarily stepped away from their ministerial posts because of these challenges to try and recover mentally and spiritually and be restored Biblically to full fellowship and ministry. I can respect that type of person as long as it's sincere and an appropriate time between their removal and restoration. Some stepped aside and within three months were back in their positions after having adulterous affairs or some other serious infraction. I know that the son of the current pastor of the church that once housed the first Bible college was grooming and molesting young men from the youth where he was serving as the youth pastor. When it came to this being revealed the son was arrested, tried, and is currently serving a moderate prison sentence. There were some calls for the pastor (I went to the Bible college with him back in the early 80s before he took the pastorate there) to resign, but that didn't happen. I know several who left and went to other churches. Should he have resigned? It was his son, after all. Was HE accountable for the actions of his son? That's a tough call.

There is a lot of information in this book, but, I find it being misused by the "Landmarker" sect of Baptists trying to support their ideology that there's an unbroken line of Baptists all the way back to the time of Christs ministry. I personally don't recommend this book.

Please, don't equate yourself with John the Baptist. If you feel you need to block my posts, that's your prerogative. It won't hurt me in the least. Concerning the upcoming elections, both primary and general, Christians will vote for Trump, and he will be the best choice. At least he seems to be wanting to put the good of our country first and the health of our corrupt congressional leaders at the very bottom of the list. Should he win, I pray he will assist in placing term limits on the members of Congress.

Wow! Another post from TGL about Christians voting for Trump. I'm not a moderator or administrator, but I have to ask.. hasn't this subject been hashed and rehashed enough? We know where you stand, TGL, and you know where most of us here stand (who live in this country), and also know that Christians will indeed vote for Trump should he be the nominee. There's nothing unscriptural about doing so.

The functions I'm speaking of are things like helping set up for certain services, ie, putting hymnals out on chairs... helping gather them up... helping in the breakdown after certain functions, etc, not things like you're speaking of. There are functions within the church that can be done under supervision without a person being a member.

I just looked back over this thread and I have to disagree with you, TGL. Just because a church has drums doesn't mean that they are leaning charismatic. That's your opinion, but it's not a correct assumption. And no, people who aren't scripturally baptized cannot be a member in a Baptist church in good standing. They can participate in church functions and even serve in certain functions of the church, but they can't be members.

Any time. I've used mine for over 40 years...ever since I was a student at Maranatha Baptist Bible College, now MBU. I've got to get a new one!

I used to listen to a lot of Roloff...I like Adrian Rogers. Paul Chappell is a good speaker. I listen to him on occasion. For many years I listened to Dr. Tony Evans. I also like Dr. Robert Morris. I have to be careful with some of the things they preach, though.

I like the Scofield, but, I really like the Thompson Chain Reference.

TGL, even in the smaller chuches there are many hunters. If I'm not mistaken about 40 percent of the men are hunters and over 30 percent of the women.

Lifeway had a president who, against his conditions of employment hired a publisher for his book. He then violated several other conditions of his employment. He ended up being paid over $1 million in a settlement which shouldn't have been paid, and then went on to trash the churches of the SBC and then joined another denomination and continued on with his antics. Lifeway has been on a downward, leftist slide for years.

I had a blip in my brain and tried to post here when I didn't intend to! LOL

Welcome to OB.

Love it! Merry Christmas!

I hadn't heard that, but, it would seem to be a feasible assumption

For me, some days are going much faster than others. But, the years have really gone by rather quickly. Vivian and I were just talking last night about how we've lived in Tennessee for 28 years, and in our home for 19 of those years the 26th of this month. I've been disabled for almost 24 years, but it seems like was just yesterday that I was in court trying to get my disability. The Lord has been so good to me and Vivian during all these years and kept us fully occupied during that time.

Merry Christmas, TGL. Though it's one of the hardest seasons of the year for me personally, I still find a great deal of thankfulness and joy because of whom and what we are celebrating! Joy to the world, the Lord has come!

Church leaders should be preaching the Word of God, showing how the events of the present stand alongside the Bible. The world is not "one day" going to try and destroy Israel. They have been doing this since Israel once again became a sovereign nation, and even before. Though dispersed throughout the world for nearly 2000 years, many people have tried to destroy the Hebrews. Adolf Hitler is a prime example. It's easy for you to continually be telling people when they should be looking for a new church, and why they should be doing so. Why don't we let the Holy Spirit be the one leading the people. Opinions are like belly buttons... EVERYBODY has one, and many are misinformed.

In the past few weeks there's been a lot of discussion amongst many of my friends and acquaintances about church attendance and how often is required. There are several who attend church very often, but not every service, who have been confronted by several other of our friends and their fellow church members because they don't always attend church every time the doors are open. They live Godly, Christian lives, tithe, witness, and have won many souls to the Lord over the years, yet, because they don't live up to someone else's expectations and beliefs on church attendance, are being equated with backslidden Christians, and even have been compared to the unsaved. There are many who attend church every time the doors are open, and who look down on those who don't, having a rod of pride in their approach to their brothers and sisters in Christ, just as a Pharisee would have done, gauging their standing by the works they do. All that being said, I believe if one is physically able to be in church and can be, not being providentially hindered, they should be. In my own case, my wife and I are not always able to be in church because of our health challenges. We've been treated as I described above, by many, but we've also gotten a lot of emotional support concerning these challenges and the situations they bring. So, I know most go back to and throw out Hebrews 10:25 as a proof text. Then they also bring up the fact that it was the custom of Jesus to be in the synagogues. But, how often? With all of his travel and preaching open air, was he always in the synagogues? We already know that the answer is no. So scriptures providing evidence that one needs to be in service every time the doors are opened? Thank you in advance. BT