-
Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!
Cowboy and Biker churches
- Thread starter SolaSaint
- Start date
Again, you display a stunning inability to realize that different people (or at least people different from you) lead different lives and enjoy a unique culture that probably isn't yours.
It isn't about a "theme" but it is how these individuals live. It is their lifestyle and how they express themselves.
It isn't about a "theme" but it is how these individuals live. It is their lifestyle and how they express themselves.
SolaSaint
Well-Known Member
God Bless you and thanks for the kind words. I'm referring to any who will not step into a church unless it is a theme like CC or a Biker church. I'm not attacking anyone for their culture.
As noted in the other thread, I've only been to one Cowboy church. There most of the people wear their everyday clothing. Some come wearing their work "uniforms". Others are simply casually dressed, just as they were to go to the grocery store. I've never seen the pastor in anything other than slacks or jeans and a shirt. No boots, cowboy hat, huge belt buckle, etc.
Most of the men, if they come in with a hat, it's a baseball cap. I've never seen a woman, in that church, dressed as if she were a cowgirl. A few of the men wear boots. The same boots that you see them wearing when they are away from the church.
Most of the men, if they come in with a hat, it's a baseball cap. I've never seen a woman, in that church, dressed as if she were a cowgirl. A few of the men wear boots. The same boots that you see them wearing when they are away from the church.
If you think it is just "dressed up like a theme" then you do not know anything about it.
Brother, a cowboy church - at least around here - is for those whose jobs, livelihood, and leisure time keeps them glued to the rodeo circuits which usually - again, at least around here - take place on the weekends.
These people are either engaged locally in the rodeos or traveling on weekends to other rodeos.
The cowboy church here meets on Tuesday nights at a local church which lets them use their facilities. They have similar services to the ones we know, the gospel is preached, and people are saved.
I have no clue what they wear - probably jeans and an informal shirt. The services are not cowboy themed.
And why are the cowboy churches a theme? Why is it your church is not a theme?
You're use of the word "theme" is mocking and belittling.
My teenage daughters' friend killed herself 18 months ago. Her mother and stepfather are bikers (all unsaved) and at her funeral, there were a LOT of leather jackets and bandanas. But then I saw the "Bikers for Christ" jackets and went over to speak to them. I met Pastor "Ski" and a few of his elders and what an amazing bunch of guys they are. We laughed about how different the look of our congregations are but just how much the same they are inside. However, my preppy husband is not necessarily going to be able to get into these guys lives like Ski will. They have church at 5 pm because most bikers are not awake at 9 am on a Sunday morning. But I could see that these guys had an "in" with the mom and stepdad unlike any of us could have. They have ministered to them in incredible ways for the last 18 months and I am so grateful for that biker church and I count those men and women as brothers and sisters in Christ. I may not fully "get" their lifestyle but I "get" their love for the Lord and the lost. 
I'm ever so grateful to Ski for starting that church and through his service, the family of God has grown.
I'm ever so grateful to Ski for starting that church and through his service, the family of God has grown.
plain_n_simple
Active Member
What an awesome story.
SolaSaint
Well-Known Member
Everyone, please calm down, I'm not trying to criticize Cowboy Churches. I'm just curious what they are. The only ones 've ever heard of are in Auction barns and the preacher wears a cowboy hat. That is all I know about them. My use of the word theme wasn't meant to provoke anyone in here. You all seem to be a bit edgy.
There are some areas in the country where the community is encompassed entirely by the cowboy culture. Contrary to popular belief in suburbia the cowboy is alive and well.
This culture includes the raising of cattle, sheep, goats, dogs, it includes rodeo, canning foods, raising a garden (way different than suburbia gardens), growing hay and far to many other things to list here.
This lifestyle has its own difficulties with regular church services. No matter what day of the week it is the ranch has to be cared for.
Cowboy churches also fellowship together based on their lifestyle. They have goat ropings for the kids instead of skating night. They have steer ropings in the church owned arena. The ladies may get together and sew quilts or can foods. And of course the have barrel racing and some rope steers as well.
But the primary things, as with so many other churches, the word of God. It is taught and preached just as diligently and passionately and in Spirit and Truth. How it is delivered can be very different. Analogies and anecdotes come from the lifestyle like they do in suburbia or an urban area. Things relate differently to folks who live and work on a ranch than it does in other sub-cultures.
But it is not just folks from the cowboy culture that attend these churches. While some Baptist churches are pulling Baptist out of their name because of some perceived notion that it is an offense, what is not realized is it is not the name of denominations that are offensive but it is the traditional church setting. Cowboy churches give a place with a relaxed atmosphere free of any traditional setting. And so many people who have had difficulties, been offended, or abused in traditional settings, as well as those who are tired of committees that try to run everything, will go to cowboy churches where people do not have such a strangle hold on their pet issue in the church.
It is not a theme it is a culture and a lifestyle.
This culture includes the raising of cattle, sheep, goats, dogs, it includes rodeo, canning foods, raising a garden (way different than suburbia gardens), growing hay and far to many other things to list here.
This lifestyle has its own difficulties with regular church services. No matter what day of the week it is the ranch has to be cared for.
Cowboy churches also fellowship together based on their lifestyle. They have goat ropings for the kids instead of skating night. They have steer ropings in the church owned arena. The ladies may get together and sew quilts or can foods. And of course the have barrel racing and some rope steers as well.
But the primary things, as with so many other churches, the word of God. It is taught and preached just as diligently and passionately and in Spirit and Truth. How it is delivered can be very different. Analogies and anecdotes come from the lifestyle like they do in suburbia or an urban area. Things relate differently to folks who live and work on a ranch than it does in other sub-cultures.
But it is not just folks from the cowboy culture that attend these churches. While some Baptist churches are pulling Baptist out of their name because of some perceived notion that it is an offense, what is not realized is it is not the name of denominations that are offensive but it is the traditional church setting. Cowboy churches give a place with a relaxed atmosphere free of any traditional setting. And so many people who have had difficulties, been offended, or abused in traditional settings, as well as those who are tired of committees that try to run everything, will go to cowboy churches where people do not have such a strangle hold on their pet issue in the church.
It is not a theme it is a culture and a lifestyle.
plain_n_simple
Active Member
I see Solo's point. Sometimes people do make it a point to dress up on purpose to ride motorcycles for Jesus. Thats the flesh though not all of it is intended that way. The Cowboy Church is for truckers, bikers, and cowboys and a lot of folks on the road. The same could be said for people who dress up for church thinking it makes them more presentable to God, or other church members. Both reasons are flesh.
For crying out loud, what in the world is wrong with people. I suggest that unless you have lived and been a part of it save your judgments so you do not look do foolish.
saturneptune
New Member
You have a warped method of distinguishing between flesh and spirit, or for that matter, reality and the Twilight Zone.
saturneptune
New Member
Rev Mitchell is exactly right on this thread. Why on earth would any Christian nit pick any service that reaches lost people for Jesus Christ. We have Cowboy Churches at in our area locally, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with them. Saved or lost, the people are a lot more genuine for the most part than the well dressed gossips and power cliques of mainstream churches.
That was the same philosophy of Chuck Smith: "With a genuine heart for the lost, Pastor Chuck made room in his ministry for a generation of hippies, surfers, and drug addicts. ...during the 60s and 70s in what was known as the Jesus People Movement."