Elaborate churches

rlvaughn,

If you wish to argue that Christians are "sold into bondage to sin" (Rom. 7:14) rather than redeemed from sin, that is your right on this message board.

 

The fact that I actually read this on a Baptist message board turns my stomach. Is it any wonder that Christians are despised by so many when thoughts like this are expressed on a Christian message board?



</font>[/QUOTE]By The Sea

Perhaps you ate too much and need to visit the gym.

Given the vitriol spewed forth in 95% of your posts your above remarks are sheer hypocrisy!

Perhaps a little Scripture will sooth your nerves and put things in perspective: If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. [John 15:18]

 

I thought that the world was supposed to hate us for the righteousness that we have through faith in Christ rather than for our hatred and contempt for each other.

 

Now---speaking of mega churches---here's where the "rubber meets the road"----take a look at their preaching services offered----now, I'm not knocking anybody's preaching---not Graham's over at Prestonwood---not Rogers over at Bellevue--nor Vines over at FBCJacksonville, FL---nor my own---

But big buildings do not prove genuine spirituality or that God is necessarily "blessing" one church and not the other one down the road a mile or more!!

Now---here's the point I want to make about the preaching/praising opportunities-----and see if it doesn't fit "Everywhere, USA!!"

THREE services on Sunday mornings---but only ONE on Sunday nite and only ONE on Wednesday!!

I've heard Dr. Rogers with my own ears call his Sunday morning listeners who don't come back on Sunday nite--- "A bunch of Sunday Morning Bench Warmers!!!"

 

You make my point By the Sea. The contempt you have shown on this forum for those with which you disagree is anything but Christlike.

My remarks regarding Prestonwood showed neither hatred nor contempt, they showed disagreement.

 

Craig, I'll leave it to you to reconcile your view of whether or not children of God commit sin - that's really quite a side light from the thread - but want to go back and ask you about the original comment that brought on your first comment about it.

"I don't see any reason that we can't stay in the right spirit while disagreeing [which in context should be the bolded] statement] (except, perhaps, that we are all sinners) [which, in context, belongs in smaller print]."

Assuming you agree with Bill's contention that we should stay in the "right spirit" posting on this board [his idea seems to be that the "right spirit" is criticism within a loving context, sans hatred, malice, et al.; that's the way I took it, but he can interpret for himself just what he meant if I'm wrong], what would you say would be the cause of not being in the "right spirit"?

 

I have not read all the posts in this thread, but it appears that I am in the minority in my viewpoints of this church. I agree with ComputerJunkie! (Great to see you posting)

I do not see this as a waste of money. I see it as the people honoring God by building a church in a highly populated area. These people need the gospel just like anyone else in the world.
The people in this area are for the most part very prosperous and want to share their wealth in a place to worship God and reach out to the world. I see this church as very tastefully decorated and not ostentatious.

Thank you for sharing this web site. I have enjoyed looking at the ministries of this church.

Just my opinion.

 

There is a diference in building to support selfishness versus for the kingdom? If you are building for the people who are already there it is selfishness. But if you are preparing for those who will be won to Christ that is building for the kingdom.

You cannot grow a large church with selfish people.

So the next time measure your own church by its size according to its selflessness.

Spurgeon always got a lot of criticism for preparing for those who would come to Christ too.

I will never forget the time the church I was pastoring was exploding with growth. More came to Christ in a few months than they had seen in years. We went from one to two services and looking at three. But then in one of those deacons meetings there were a few selfish deacons who complained that they didn't know the new people as if to say they are not very welcome. They were losing their little happy family. They even complained that they could not find a place to sit.

The giving had more than doubled in a short time but the deacons decided they needed the extra money for a rainy. So they decided ot invest it and they of course lost almost all of the money except about three thousand dollars. This was done against my advice.

But today they are doing so well that they have their little church again because many have left. They have gone down in size and hardly ever is someone baptized. Their size is truly a reflection of their love for God.

 

Not being in the right spirit can be caused by any one or more of many factors.

 

Anything particular in mind?

 

Exactly what part of this church do you have a problem with Craigbythesea?Is it the everyday evangalism?We wouldnt want christians using more effective evangalism.Was it the link to Pathfinder,classes to strengthen your faith?We wouldnt want that.People should be left to strengthen there faith on there own!Was it the praying for are military?Who are you to sit back in judgement and tell another part of the body of Christ how to spend their time,treasure,or talent?The Parable of the Ten Minas is a perfect example of what this church is doing right.Luke19:13"take this money and put it to work""Then he said to those standing by,Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas."To everyone who has more will be given,but as for the one who has nothing,even what he has will be taken away.

 

Tell ya what I'm gonna do---I'm gonna shut this thread down for a little "cooling off" period---we're getting nowhere fast with personal feelings getting hurt---some like large(as in Texas size) churches and some like small churches---one cannot say either is "out" of God's will---neither can one say that God is going to "take away" a church's blessing as a punishment for being small----they may be small because of some rural area as in the remote parts of Idaho --- and cannot have the priviledge of Yuppy, Texas outside of forevermore sprawlin' Fort Worth!!

The Jewish religious system was "mega"---yet---the Apostle Paul said that he was leaving them---and going on to the church in its infancy----God can subtract just as easily from "mega" as He can from minor!

So lets give this tread a rest!!

Brother David