LaurenP said:
I am new to the faith, positive I am not yet saved, struggling greatly with calvinism and reformed theology, and struggling greatly with the pride that won't let me accept it. And other grave sins. But I'm pursuing this nonetheless. I'm living in Los Angeles, and I need to find a fundamental reformed church, so I can learn the TRUTH, and so I can meet people in real life that can answer all my questions and help me with the things that are paining me. But I can't find any. Even the presbyterian church, thirty seconds away from me that I was excited about, I just found out has a lesbian pastor. I don't think there are any serious reformed churches in L.A., due to the culture here. So I guess, my question is....what would be the next best type of church? Are all baptist churches good? Are all baptist churches reformed? I'd try and learn alone with my bible at home...but that might be the death of me. I'm having a really hard time with all this painful theology, but I hope to God this is not in vain...that it's just the beginning of my journey and that one day I will be able to accept it all, Him and His ways, with love and sheer humility. Anyways, point of the post is....what would be the least liberal denomination to go to, in a very liberal area? Perhaps someone reading this is from Los Angeles and could recommend anything to me?
Thank you.
Welcome to the Baptist Board.
Although I am not from Los Angeles, nor have I ever even been in CA and know virtually nothing about the specifics of LA,
per se, I would still be assured that there are some fairly good churches in the area. How close to you any of these may be, I cannot say, for it is certainly a huge area, and the population of Los Angeles County alone would make it larger than 43 of the 50 states of the United States, with two and a half times that of the entire population of my own KY, for example.
Personally, although not "Reformed" (but hopefully I am still a bit 'reformed'), I would recommend checking out these three churches, one of which I know is in the Greater Los Angeles area. I assure you that all are strong fundamental, doctrinally sound as well as historic churches, and I would suggest they might well be able to recommend a good solid church quite a bit closer than you may be to any of them, and certainly Open Door is likely much closer than is Shadow Mountain or Lindley. But I do happen to have a little bit of personal knowledge of the Senior Pastors of the latter two churches, FTR, as well as some historic knowledge of some of the former pastors of Open Door.
The Church of the Open Door of Glendora, CA. The Senior Pastor is Ed Underwood.
http://www.churchoftheopendoor.com/
The second is in the Greater San Diego area, and although this would likely be impractical, could still probably be able to recommend a good church much closer, as well.
Shadow Mountain Community Church of El Cajon, CA. The Senior Pastor is David Jeremiah, a good Biblical name. :thumbs:
http://shadowmountain.org/
The third is in the Oxnard Area, likely with the same drawbacks as that of El Cajon, geographically, yet again, can likely recommend a church much closer.
The Lindley Church of Tarzana, CA. The Senior Pastor is Mike Cocoris.
http://www.lindleychurch.com/default.htm
But I can fully assure you, none of these will be "liberal" or have any lesbian pastor, or recommend any church which is or does, either.
BTW, when you do find someone that can give you a quick answer to
all your questions, please give me their name(s), 'cause I, even after 45+ years, still have a couple or three of my own that are left.
If you might wish to speak to me by PM, we can certainly talk about salvation and assurance, and I would certainly take that opportunity. Happy church hunting, regardless.
Ed
