Association of Reformed Baptist Churches

[Dr. Bob]

Few (not "MANY") ARBCA churches are also SBC.

I'll take your word for it. The ARBCA national convention last year was at one of the largest SBC church in the Omaha area (Papillion, Nebraska) and many of the men I sat with and ate with were SBC'ers. Big in the SBC Founders.Org.

We talked about "dual" affiliation and they had no issue with it. Assumed since the group I was with were all SBC, that this was typical of all the ARBCA. That was my framework of saying "many". If "many" is not accurate, I apologize.

 

[gb93433]

Oh my....wouldn't it be tragic if either one or both of you dropped dead & left all that studying in the dirt (literally). Then who would pay off all the student loans....hmmmm

I have none.

 

[gb93433]

I do not know what point you are trying to make.

A response to your statement about that you have read all of the authors I have read. I seriously doubt it.

If you feel insecure because I attacked the idea that you have read little of my side and know little about us, then this does not combat me at one point.

I do not care at all about your side or any other side as when you read the Bible you will see how much Jesus did too. You can spend your entire life reading any side and never know God. It is about Jesus the author and perfecter of faith. Some keep learning and never come to a knowledge of the truth. It is not about the side of a political party that you may have read, it is about serving Jesus and making disciples.

There is only one side that is the truth and politicians are not aware that knowing God is not about intellectual knowledge but a battle within. The person who knows God has struggled with God and not trying to get intellectual knowledge.

Also, if we want to compare academically vigorous material we have read to try to see who is studying more, a debate I think is fruitless, then just remember that on August 20 I completed my third Masters degree. With about 140 post-graduate hours, you are barking up the wrong tree.

You have awhile to catch up.

However, that is not the point I am making nor wish to get into. If you want to compare how many non-reformed books I have read and how many reformed books you have read (I am not sure how many you have there) that is not the point either. Note, my 3rd Masters is from a non-reformed school, I do not think we read very many reformed authors.

Seat time has nothing to do with relationship and maturity. My God is not revealed by intellectual ascent but rather by relationship.

Could I list all the books I have read? Probably as I have 3 months of vigorous academic work I could call upon.

Why so little? It should be a lifetime of study and application.

 

[gb93433]

There was a laddie at college named Breeze,
Weighed down with BA's and BD's,
Said the doctor, "It's plain."
"You are killing yourself by degrees."

The problem is that they had little temperature.

 

[gb93433]

The problem with 'reformed' churches, is that they each brought a little of mother out with them, which to this day continues to fester in them, and is inexorably drawing them back in.

Isn't that kind of like putting new wine in old wineskins?

True Christianity never died, and never needed reforming-people just needed to get out of the false practices, completely, and begin to follow it again.

Yes! Those who will not listen want an easier way other than what Jesus commanded.

 

[ReformedBaptist]

When the 'reformation' movement broke out, what they were trying to do was to reform the Catholic church. The problem with this, was that the old RCC could not be reformed, as it was rotten from its inception-her foundation was sand-you can't rebuild a structure built on a bad foundation. Luther never meant to even leave the RCC, but to fix it-which he found couldn't be done.

The problem with 'reformed' churches, is that they each brought a little of mother out with them, which to this day continues to fester in them, and is inexorably drawing them back in.

True Christianity never died, and never needed reforming-people just needed to get out of the false practices, completely, and begin to follow it again.

Sorry, but even Calvin acted like a pope in his personal kingdom, using civil powers to keep the followers in line, punishing severely those who didn't conform to his way of thinking. I have no use for a man's narrow view and neat, tidy doctrines that try to encapsulate the eternal things of God. Calvinism and Arminianism are just man's ways to try and make sense of that which they cannot completely comprehend, and I have little use for either. I'll follow the One that died for me and can take me to heaven.

Jesus Christ is superior to all men, including you.

 

[ReformedBaptist]

Then you know little about us. I do read my own books, but I read others as well. When I used to do book reviews for publishers, I read a myriad of books from a variety of sources. Even this year, I have read more Christian books by non-reformed authors than by reformed.

Your ad-hominem attack shows you do not know much about us. If I may remind you, I went to a non-reformed seminary taught mostly by non-reformed professors. I respect them and they respect me. Thus, your little attacks show your ignorance of not just me but of the entire reformed community. I actually read your books by your authors and studied in their seminaries. Do you read mine and have you studied in my seminaries?

Bravo. What a manly and wonderful reply. I thoroughly enjoyed this brother! haha!

 

[Dale-c]

I think using the term "many" in reference to those churches with dual membership would depend on the direction you are looking.

If you said "many ARBCA churches are also in the SBC" that would probably be true.
If you said "many SBC churches are also in ARBCA" that would probably NOT be true.

 

[gb93433]

I can name two prominent churches where reformed pastors came in and forcefully tried to move the church in a reformed direction to the determent of the church.

I have seen the same exact thing in the church I attend now. I expect the pastor to be gone when the people catch on more.

 

[gb93433]

I want to get a Doctorate in Leadership and another in Theology.

Doctorate in leadership? The best leaders learn by leading and learning from leaders which is not done indoors in the classroom.

 

[ReformedBaptist]

Hey Ruiz, I applaud your love for learning. I am about to start work on my M.A.R. and if the Lord is willing work on a Ph.D with a Christian History emphasis.

 

[UkuleleMike]

Jesus Christ is superior to all men, including you.

I hope I'm not being rude, when I say, "Duh". How would you gather anything else from my post? That's why I neither completely agree with Calvin or Arminius-I believe God's word clearly teaches both, and more-these eternal doctrines can't be neatly arranged into packages, while ignoring the rest. Even Spurgeon noted that, while we can't make man's responsibility and God's sovereignty agree this side of heaven, yet both are present. If we are responsible for our actions, and found guilty to Hell, then we MUST have some say in the matter of salvation. yet, clearly, God is sovereign, so the choices are His. They would seem to disagree, but it is not God that disagrees, just our inability to grasp it fully.
So, I'll let the Lord work out the details of my salvation, and I'll trust Him with my soul.

 

[Ruiz]

Doctorate in leadership? The best leaders learn by leading and learning from leaders which is not done indoors in the classroom.

I agree, but leadership theory mixed with doing it is a great combination. I am in leadership in several organizations including Toastmasters International as President and Area Governor. Yet, you also learn how to refine leadership when you study and do.

 

[Jerome]

If you said "many ARBCA churches are also in the SBC" that would probably be true.

It would be true if your idea of MANY is about ten.:thumbs:

 

[ReformedBaptist]

I hope I'm not being rude, when I say, "Duh". How would you gather anything else from my post? That's why I neither completely agree with Calvin or Arminius-I believe God's word clearly teaches both, and more-these eternal doctrines can't be neatly arranged into packages, while ignoring the rest. Even Spurgeon noted that, while we can't make man's responsibility and God's sovereignty agree this side of heaven, yet both are present. If we are responsible for our actions, and found guilty to Hell, then we MUST have some say in the matter of salvation. yet, clearly, God is sovereign, so the choices are His. They would seem to disagree, but it is not God that disagrees, just our inability to grasp it fully.
So, I'll let the Lord work out the details of my salvation, and I'll trust Him with my soul.

I didn't mean to imply that you didn't. Those who hold the Arminian position are not following Jacobus Armininus, nor those who hold the Calvinist position are following John Calvin.

We are seeking to follow Jesus Christ by the Scriptures. Yet, I have found benefit and help in my walk with Jesus from godly preachers and teachers, some of which have long since gone to be with the Lord.