2 Corinthians 6:1

Obviously Seth,
You have had some bad experiences with churches. Not all churches are the way that you described them. You need to find a Biblical church, a Bible believing church--one that is based on the Bible, that has Christ as its head. I don't believe in denominations, large organizations as such, either. That is why I belong to an IFB church. It is completely and totally independent from all other churches, as was the churches in the Book of Acts.

We preach the Bible, and only the Bible. Christ is lifted up and glorified.
Consider:
Timothy was the pastor at Ephesus.
Titus was the pastor at Crete.
Apollos became the pastor at Corinth.
James was the pastor of the church in Jerusalem.
The church in Rome was at the house of Aquilla and Priscilla.

Pastors were the heads of the churches. They taught the people. I don't speak of buildings, never have. The building is totally irrelevant. Our church started in a home as well. The word church means assembly. A church is an assembly of baptized believers who have voluntarily organized themselves together for the purpose of obeying the Great Commission and carrying out the ordinances of Christ (baptism and the Lord's Supper).
It is organized. It does have a pastor, a shepherd, one to guide, direct, and teach. You cannot deny this from the Bible. There are entire epistles (such as the pastoral epistles) that teach on these truths. God ordained that the local church be his instrument of blessing in this day and age.
DHK

 

I'm glad you find Joy in yours God bless you in it.


Seth3

 

I think you guys scared Ron (T2U) away as he hasn't been back since the original topic went far far away!!

-Brian