BrotherTony

It wouldn't be God that "let us down." It would be the daughters poor choice in a marriage partner as far as religious beliefs go. The husband may be a very honest reliable, loving and gentle man. God can always turn that situation around. But the likelyhood of that happening is less than 10 % because it is the husband who is a JW. He is the head of the home. Parents, friends and the church can pray for the husbands eyes to be opened to the truth.

Yes, I get the same. I don't ever reveal positions on subjects like this anymore. I'm usually pretty mainstream and I reject "Reformed" theology as I never did think that the Bible needed to be reformed by man's ideology.

In the church we're members of presently there are several people who CC and a couple who OC their firearms. This is in addition to the people who work church security. Most feel feel safe in our services. There are a few people who don't like the guns, but they don't say much about it.

Not really being "critical" of you personally... you're correct in saying it's duality... let's be clear... it's a book of many comparisons, not absolutes... only these two types. There are many preachers I'm aware of who present it as such. As I stated, I grew up under such a pastor. I don't believe that is what you are trying to do here. I just want to make sure there's a clarification for anyone else who sees this on this site. ?

Yes, most of my friends who are reformed in theology deny a pre or mid trib rapture. Personally, I have to question this. I know there were some people in Bible college back in the early 80s who were researching these 3 positions and they got in trouble. I was amongst those 30-40 students. ALL of my research was confiscated and I was told that only the pretribulation, premillennial rapture was to be studied and accepted.

The Levitical law was for the Hebrews. We aren't Hebrews. It doesn't apply here. Besides that, if it did apply, who decides on what is long?

Tonight we had packaged enchiladas and burritos. We get them 12 in a bag each, and they come in handy for nights when it's just too hot to cook, and believe me, it's been much too hot and humid to do much cooking.

The church I am a member of has monthly business meetings, or at least tries to. Membership is the only way one should be able to vote in any church. But, then it should be limited to active members. Now as to the transfer of membership, my wife and I have had to transfer by profession of faith. Several churches we have been members of have refused people letters because they were petty, backbiting churches that couldn't keep members because of the politics of the church. That's one thing we don't abide in a church, especially when wrong doctrinal practices are brought to light, and those members who have brought it to light are being osticized by the controlling faction and pastor. Many of these churches have dwindled to nothing while others have embraced the world and grown to megachurch status.

There are definitely more than two types of women. This is the kind of limited pastoral print I was raised under and one reason so many people no longer trust preachers. These pigeon holed type casts don't serve Christians well in my opinion.

I started my pulmonary rehab this past Tuesday. I've got at least 18 weeks, and more could be tacked on if needed. The first two sessions have come and gone, and I was told on Thursday my breathing is erratic. They are wanting me to have the echocardiogram sooner than July 14, but we haven't been able to get it moved up. They have made me start using something called a "peak flow meter." This measures how much air I can blow out. I need to be at a minimum of 365 and a max of 435. I have to inhale and blow air out of my mouth into this meter and mark down the results of the three times I do it. I also have to do this several times a day. The last four attempts. Yesterday I couldn't make the meter land in anything over 185. The PFM readings yesterday were 135, 145, and 85. I'm not sure, but, I don't believe I'll ever reach 365. My lung capacity is nowhere near that, and I don't foresee reaching that kind of output. I would appreciate your prayers. I'm still not able to lie down and sleep because the airflow into my lungs isn't good enough for me to work any longer than an hour or so. I really don't want any more sessions added to my rehab. Prayers appreciated.

If you've already been scripturally baptized, I would have a hard time telling you to be baptized again. I can say this, and it's something you've stated already, you are never going to find a perfect church. You'll have to decide whether becoming a member of this church is worth violating your beliefs and principles of baptism. This is just my opinion...you need to make sure you have prayed about this challenge. God will lead you to the right decision.

I'm hoping I can sneak this one by! LOL

I never thought of you as a particularly "mousy" type of a preacher. Lol

Again, not all IFB churches have a dictator for a pastor, nor was that implied....but, I have been in churches where such was the case. I gave one example of a very high profile church that was. FBC of Hammond is a very good case in point. I grew up in an IFB church where the pastor was not a dictator.

I agree on all counts. I chose that picture specifically because of the interactions that I have had with Mr. Furtick. He was flippant, foul, and quite unscriptural in his approach to questions asked of him. Then many of his sermons over several years were Steven Furtick centered, not Christ centered in any way, shape, or form. He IS a wolf in sheep's clothing. The sad part of all of this is that a few weeks ago, our pastor put a quote by Furtick in the church bulletin. I was shocked.

Uh, do you mean "fought" for our freedom? Lol ? Is a good day for reflection about the cost of our freedom, for sure.

Yet, churches can become so Independent" they end up with little or no accountability to their people, as the pastor becomes a dictator and usually ends up in some kind of trouble. Not all are like this, but, many do. Case in point is First Baptist in Hammond. And, as I have stated many times here, all SBC churches are Independent, autonomous, Baptist churches no matter how much some here will disagree. They decide whom they wish to fellowship with...and believe it or not, there are many IFB churches that fellowship with SBC churches. Jim, you're always welcome to your opinion on the subject. Yet, many in the IFB churches hate to admit they associate with other IFB churches through things like listings of IFB churches for travelers, or for people moving. And just as all IFB churches are not the same, neither are churches who fellowship with other SBC churches are not all the same.

I agree. Many of the other churches have questioned why they were allowed to be in good standing with the SBC. The only thing that I can see that would keep them being eligible to be in good standing is the amount of money they contribute to the cooperative programs each year. There's a push to overhaul or dispatch some of these entities such as the North American Missions Board and the Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission. Many have already stopped using Lifeway materials. They're so watered down doctrinally and ethically that many churches are using other, more doctrinally sound materials from elsewhere. There have been many churches in the last few years that have suspending supporting any of these entities until changes are made and guaranteed.

It's a sin to let them think that doing good will help them along to salvation. I would continue to witness to them, but if you're saying to let them be active in the ministry of the church, ie, helping with the youth, singing in the choir, or acting as an usher, etc, I would be against it. It sends the wrong message, not only to the person doing the "works", but to church members as well. I'm not saying to austricize them or mistreat them in any way, but, be open and honest with them.

Context and content, John. To whom was he speaking, and about whom? I don't agree with your exegesis. Sorry, I still have to place this in the Calvinist category, even though you say you're not a Calvinist. This type of representation of the gospel is exactly how they present it.

Sadly, a lot of churches here started going that way in the 90s and early 2000s. They've only gotten worse with time. Even some of the churches here that used to be quite conservative have started with the leftward drift. Sad, indeed.

Sadly I would have to agree.

I would say our current church has challenges in all of those areas. They are striving to improve, though.

Some were okay, but seem so generic and superficial. I wouldn't ask AI for anything that had to do with church or true Christianity.