Featured Differences between church and individual beliefs

I simply won't attend a church with major doctrinal differences from my own beliefs. For instance, I won't set foot in a KJVO church, as I know it holds at least one false doctrine.

But we must remember that God gives each believer a slightly-different perspective on things, and if one's looking for a church with EXACTLY the same beliefs as one's own, one will never find a church home. The problem may arise when one decides what MAJOR differences are & aren't. To me, MAJOR ones include modalism, preterism, KJVO, baptismal regeneration, or ANY MAN-MADE DOCTRINE OF FAITH/WORSHIP, etc. Minor ones include charitable works, amount of offerings, music(long as music isn't the center of its services), number of deacons, etc.

 

Why would I want to go to a church that doesn’t support my beliefs?

 

If I believed that way, I would still be in the RCC.

 

May I ask, if you have that many disagreements, why did you pick that church to attend and have membership?

 

Hi, Reformed!
I’m thankful you’ve started this thread, as this is something I’ve been struggling with too.
I’m convinced I’m one of the few monergists at the church I attend (the pastor is amyraldian) but my husband is coming along nicely lol.
Also, the pastor attended the Mothership for Pre-Trib, Pre-Mill eschatology—DTS—so we don’t exactly agree there, although we would have a year or so ago. He is a fantastic expository preacher though and he is just about the only one we could find in town.
I’d prefer to attend a reformed Baptist church, but it would be over an hour each way and my husband and I had to agree that that would not work for us.
Our church often sings songs such as “Reckless Love” (which I will not participate in) and the drums are so loud that it makes my bad ear hurt, so I opt to sit out in the lobby until the concert is over. Yes, I know I sound like I fell off the set of Footloose.
Anyway, I have no advice...but it sure felt good to say all that just now.

 

Yes, the fellowship is exactly what would suffer if we chose to travel so far for services. We are part of a community group with this church and it has been extremely edifying. We never miss it and I know that would not be the case if we had to travel.

I just wanted to clarify that I sit outside the sanctuary because the music physically hurts my ear, which has some dysfunction. I didn’t want to sound like a donkey.
Although it surprised me to find out several others also skip the music. I do not know all of their reasons, but noted most are forty and younger. My friend that sits with me outside skips because she has bad headaches and cannot take the drums. I know they say that if it’s too loud, you’re too old....but it really is too loud! Ha ha.

Reformed Baptist churches have been popping up more and more in that hour to two hour radius of us. I’m hoping one will head our way too.

 

Well the family church I grew up in shut it doors 15 years ago... I was the youngest at 57 and there were two elderly sister left... At the same time, the church closed, my first wife died and I asked God for direction... So he sent me where he wanted me to be... I met another Christian lady not of my church and got married.

Some of you may be asking, so what's the big deal?... The church I grew up in was an Old Line Sovereign Grace Primitive Baptist Church... Primitive, because we don't have all the additions of other churches... Praying, singing (acapella) and preaching and communion with feet washing was my church. We are also noted for being very small congregations... So...

Imagine going from my small family church to a church with with a membership of 2,000... Pipe organ, at times an orchestra and a full blown choir... Also a full rock band for the young folk... Three two four services to fit all ages, Sunday Schools for all ages... Youth groups, the whole nine yards... Talk about culture shock!!!... Some are probably asking well why didn't you go to a church of your choosing?... I could have, there was one similar to mine but it was 2 hours away but in all honesty, I think God wanted to show me the other side of the fence... So for ten years we stayed there, until my wife and I retired.

So we moved to Northern California and now belong to a church of 200, and as you can imagine, since it is small you get to fellowship and get to know more people... You don't have to take a number... There is no pipe organ, orchestra, full blown choir ( we don't have a choir)... And certainly no rock band... And we have one service and may be a special one on different occasions... I like small churches I grew up in one and so did she... The one benefit in a smaller church is... You have time to think!... Brother Glen

 

When I joined with my assembly 45 years ago, I had not yet been discipled. My baptist beliefs were pretty much consistent with what I heard from the pulpit. But, years later, after going through a discipleship class, I learned how to study and discern what the bible teaches. Now when the Pastor presents a view I agree with, I nod and smile. When he presents a view that differs, I get busy writing in my sermon notes.

Unity within the local assembly is important and any member who sows disunity should find a more agreeable assembly. But, to be candid, I did help craft our "what be believe" track, so I get to nod and smile a great deal.

 

There are earplugs you could get that muffle the sound. My wife has lost her hearing in one ear due to chemo so she is careful with the other ear to preserve what she has left.

 

I’m assuming you still have unbiblical Sunday School? Do they segregate by age?

 

Thanks! That’s actually not a bad idea. I’ll check my range bag and see if I have some ‘discrete’ ones. I never thought of it before and I appreciate the suggestion.