If you were not Baptist, ...

[1689Dave]

yea, I forgot - Paul taught us that excessive sinners cant be saved

God changes hearts. But it begins with guilt for sin and a repentant heart only He can provide. Have you ever risked your life for the truth? If so, how?

 

[1689Dave]

It depends on the nature of the compromise.

When we are unwilling to join with people who have different understandings I suspect it is often because we elevate our own.

I would not join a church that supports immorality. But I would set aside my preferences of music and even some doctrinal issues (eschatology, interpretations of deacon qualifications concerning divorce, interpretations of the tithe, and even understandings of the Atonement to some degree). That is part of what it means to be "baptist" (it is a Baptist distinctive).

But we are all saved to be members of a body. If one cannot find a church I suspect the fault is theirs rather than God's.

It took years of study to recover from errors taught by these churches. Why would I return? Most if not all condone adultery. War and Bloodshed in the Middle East. The false teachings that disavow the Ecumenical Creeds. But I'm a dyed in the wool Baptist even though many claiming to be are already compromised.

 

[Salty]

I think we have gotten off the OP a bit.

Here is the original question

what do you think you would be? I thought this might be an interesting discussion, partly fun and partly serious. I asked myself this back when I was Orthodox but before I began an earnest quest for the NT church, assuming in my younger years that the EOC was the original church established by Jesus and the apostles, as I had been taught. My answer for myself at that time was conservative Anglican.

So, I'll be very interested in seeing your answers.

But before you answer - check out this BB page?
Comparing denominatons

 

[JonC]

It took years of study to recover from errors taught by these churches. Why would I return? Most if not all condone adultery. War and Bloodshed in the Middle East. The false teachings that disavow the Ecumenical Creeds. But I'm a dyed in the wool Baptist even though many claiming to be are already compromised.

I don't know why you would or would not return (truthfully, I do not know if those were errors you recovered from, but for the sake of argument I'll assume they were).

If it were me, I would have to consider exactly why it took me years to recover from incorrect teachings. I'd have to examine if those "errors" were under the scope of the freedoms Baptist doctrine allows and ask if I am judging Another's servant (this depends, of course, on the teachings in question).

So without knowing the churches in question, I'd say look for another. If you visit several churches in a given error and find them all false churches then consider exactly how those people are condemned (why are they not Christian).

 

[JonC]

I guess to sum it up - one can be saved and never join a church. But a Christian cannot be faithful and be alienated from the congregation.

 

[1689Dave]

I don't know why you would or would not return (truthfully, I do not know if those were errors you recovered from, but for the sake of argument I'll assume they were).

If it were me, I would have to consider exactly why it took me years to recover from incorrect teachings. I'd have to examine if those "errors" were under the scope of the freedoms Baptist doctrine allows and ask if I am judging Another's servant (this depends, of course, on the teachings in question).

So without knowing the churches in question, I'd say look for another. If you visit several churches in a given error and find them all false churches then consider exactly how those people are condemned (why are they not Christian).

I end up arguing with the teachers in most cases so it's better to let them go on with their errors. Just like in the forums.

 

[1689Dave]

It depends on the nature of the compromise.

When we are unwilling to join with people who have different understandings I suspect it is often because we elevate our own.

I would not join a church that supports immorality. But I would set aside my preferences of music and even some doctrinal issues (eschatology, interpretations of deacon qualifications concerning divorce, interpretations of the tithe, and even understandings of the Atonement to some degree). That is part of what it means to be "baptist" (it is a Baptist distinctive).

But we are all saved to be members of a body. If one cannot find a church I suspect the fault is theirs rather than God's.

Truth cannot be compromised.

 

[Yeshua1]

It took years of study to recover from errors taught by these churches. Why would I return? Most if not all condone adultery. War and Bloodshed in the Middle East. The false teachings that disavow the Ecumenical Creeds. But I'm a dyed in the wool Baptist even though many claiming to be are already compromised.

Creeds and Confessions are not inspired, and Israel still has a right to exist!

 

[Salty]

Lesson 92: Getting Along in Spite of Our Differences (Romans 14:1-4) | Bible.org

 

[JonC]

I end up arguing with the teachers in most cases so it's better to let them go on with their errors. Just like in the forums.

You don't have to argue with people at churches. I do not agree with several doctrines that our church affirms. They know what I believe and why. But I do not argue .

 

[AustinC]

yea, I forgot - Paul taught us that excessive sinners cant be saved

Laugh out loud...that is funny. Thanks Salty.

 

[1689Dave]

Lesson 92: Getting Along in Spite of Our Differences (Romans 14:1-4) | Bible.org

I.e. truth doesn't matter. fellowship with heretics does.

 

[1689Dave]

You don't have to argue with people at churches. I do not agree with several doctrines that our church affirms. They know what I believe and why. But I do not argue .

I normally have a private discussion with the erring pastor or teacher. Next week's sermon normally contains a candid rebuttal to our discussion. And then I move on.

 

[ntchristian]

Truth cannot be compromised.

But brother, who determines what "Truth" is? If it was easy, there wouldn't be so many denominations. Believe me, I sympathize with you. But what I have decided for myself is this: I will try to find a local church that has a loving spirit and that I can mostly agree with. If we decide not to fellowship with any church that doesn't have 100% of the "Truth", we'll end up being a church of one, and I don't believe that's what Jesus intended.

On a personal note, just in the past few months, I have had a change of mind on something that was very important to me and which I was absolutely convinced that the Bible upheld. This has almost caused me to rethink my church affiliation options, but realistically I don't have much choice where I live.

Blessings to you.

 

[Yeshua1]

I.e. truth doesn't matter. fellowship with heretics does.

What heresy were they espousing then?

 

[Yeshua1]

But brother, who determines what "Truth" is? If it was easy, there wouldn't be so many denominations. Believe me, I sympathize with you. But what I have decided for myself is this: I will try to find a local church that has a loving spirit and that I can mostly agree with. If we decide not to fellowship with any church that doesn't have 100% of the "Truth", we'll end up being a church of one, and I don't believe that's what Jesus intended.

On a personal note, just in the past few months, I have had a change of mind on something that was very important to me and which I was absolutely convinced that the Bible upheld. This has almost caused me to rethink my church affiliation options, but realistically I don't have much choice where I live.

Blessings to you.

I belong as a member in a local baptist church that affirms more of the "free will Gospel", but there are some of us who hold to Calvinism who have formed our own subgroup, and have so far managed to get along nice with those others!

 

[ntchristian]

I belong as a member in a local baptist church that affirms more of the "free will Gospel", but there are some of us who hold to Calvinism who have formed our own subgroup, and have so far managed to get along nice with those others!

That's good to know. I'm happy for you that you have found this way to co-exist.

 

[Yeshua1]

That's good to know. I'm happy for you that you have found this way to co-exist.

We have managed to do that due to being one in Christ, and agreeing to disagree!

 

[JonC]

I normally have a private discussion with the erring pastor or teacher. Next week's sermon normally contains a candid rebuttal to our discussion. And then I move on.

It is good to discuss these things with others you believe may be in error. They probably think you are in error (which could very well be the case).

Normally those who cannot find Christians that do not agree with them are most likely the ones making the error. Sometimes it is over minor issues (predestination vs free-will; tithes; music, eschatology, covenant theology vs dispensationalism, ect.) and folks get bent out of shape. But sometimes it is a primary doctrine.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

If I were not Baptist, I think I might be Plymouth Brethren, so long as the assembly I attended wasn't too Dispensational. I enjoy their celebration of the Lord's Supper.