Not going to Church???

[Earth Wind and Fire]

If the individual is infirmed, the church of which they are a member should minister to them. That might include watching from home if the church has an internet broadcast. It should never be a substitute for anyone able bodied. Being a functional member of a body of Christ should be viewed as an honor. Being able to vote on church issues, participating in observing the Lord's Supper and baptism service are examples. Many don't see the power of just showing up and its influence on that body. We provided tapes of the sermons to one of our members who was no longer able to drive. Two of our members drove and hour both ways twice each Sunday so one on our members and his wife could attend until they passed. Christ said I will never leave you nor forsake you. That is a command sometime achieved by the members of that body by the spirit of Christ within them.

One of our associated churches has two member who drive 3 hours both ways each Sunday. Depends on what you consider within your area.

If people are driving those distances then the church should consider planting a church closer to the people traveling those distances. What if those people get into an accident or just get tired of that commute… anyway, your asking allot of them who have to make that commute.. especially in the winter.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Thanks for the information. Being in the south, I was not aware that there was such desolate areas. We would offer to send you tapes of our services but you are already watching Bro Crouse (sp?). Have you contacted them and see what resources they may have to offer? Tape offer still stands.

Yes and Pastor Crouse has graciously offered to travel from Florida to New Jersey if I could find a church willing to allow him to mentor them. Unfortunately, nothing has reared it head and the liberal churches aren’t willing to allow a biblical church entry because they all affirm LGBT and want to continue down that path. Some even have homosexuals as ministers.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Thanks for the information. Being in the south, I was not aware that there was such desolate areas. We would offer to send you tapes of our services but you are already watching Bro Crouse (sp?). Have you contacted them and see what resources they may have to offer? Tape offer still stands.

The Primitive Baptist churches in the northeast we’re at one time ubiquitous however with the modern churches establishing themselves in to the area they pushed the Primitive Baptist out, mostly down south… creating a void for all Baptist churches ( not only the PB churches). Now you’ve got very liberal churches like United Methodist and PC USA, churches, and even they are being pushed out in favor of secularism. It appears that I am a dinosaur for wanting a biblical church in my community. Sad very sad.

 

[unprofitable]

If people are driving those distances then the church should consider planting a church closer to the people traveling those distances. What if those people get into an accident or just get tired of that commute… anyway, your asking allot of them who have to make that commute.. especially in the winter.

These people were singular families who drove those distances for decades. Also you can have an accident driving 5 miles to church. Faith has to come into the equation somewhere. When one of our members, who was the only member of her family left that drove and hour and a half to service, became home bound, we sent her tapes and visited her regularly. If someone really believes they are hearing the truth then why would they get tired of driving to hear it. The individual also bears responsibility and accountability to the church. Concerning the winter issue, they did it of their own accord and desire to be with the brethren. God bless such a witness.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Thanks for the information. Being in the south, I was not aware that there was such desolate areas. We would offer to send you tapes of our services but you are already watching Bro Crouse (sp?). Have you contacted them and see what resources they may have to offer? Tape offer still stands.

So what church are you referring to?

 

[unprofitable]

Monarch Independent Baptist Church in Woodway, Virginia

 

[unprofitable]

at Woodway

 

[Martin Marprelate]

David speaking by the life of Christ in him and the Holy Spirit in him said in Psalms 122:1, "I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord."

1 How pleased and blest was I,
To hear the people cry,
"Come, let us seek our God to-day!"
Yes, with a cheerful zeal,
We haste to Zion's hill,
And there our vows and honors pay.

2 Zion--thrice happy place--
Adorned with wondrous grace,
While walls of strength embrace thee round:
In thee our tribes appear,
To pray, and praise, and hear
The sacred gospel's joyful sound.

3 May peace attend thy gate,
And joy within thee wait,
To bless the soul of every guest:
The man who seeks thy peace,
And wishes thine increase,
A thousand blessings on him rest!

4 My tongue repeats her vows,
"Peace to this sacred house!"
For here my friends and kindred dwell;
And since my glorious God
Makes thee his blest abode,
My soul shall ever love thee well. [Isaac Watts' paraphrase of Psalm 122]

To not go to church is not an option.

In general, I agree, apart from the split infinitive (forgive my pedantry). I live in a large village where there are two churches (one Anglican, one Free Church) but I prefer to drive about four miles to a church which I believe is more Bible-based and God-honouring. If (when) I become unable to drive, if I can't get a bus or a lift, I would attend one of the two churches in the village. Christian fellowship is vital to me.
There are two ladies in their 90s who are unable to get to our church. We have taught them to use Zoom, but even more importantly, they are visited in their homes (one has a home group that meets in her house. There is no substitute for personal contact.

 

[unprofitable]

To what extent do you believe you can have fellowship with the two assuming you are a Baptist?

 

[Ben1445]

To what extent do you believe you can have fellowship with the two assuming you are a Baptist?

Answering for myself, Paul walked back into the church in Corinth. They had plenty of room for improvement in righteousness and doctrine. I’ll grant you with a bit of a different amount of authority.
There is an awful lot of this world in which we live that is unavoidable.
Whether or not someone believes exactly as we do is not a reason to become a hermit.
It may be that opportunity to explain to people in the church why the right way is the right way, whether it is a Baptist way or not.

 

[unprofitable]

I visited a missionary Baptist Church while away from home. Song leader rightly said that tongues in Acts were recognizable languages and spoke of 1 Corinthians 14:16 which says, "Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?" Then when prayer was given, all the men began to pray at one time and I could not understand a word they said. To me in was no different that Pentecostal tongues and was not profitable to my understaning. I am a Baptist and I choose to want to be with my brethren of one mind and one accord. I will gladly talk to anyone at anytime about the God I serve but I have no interest to meet with Anglicans who were formed so that a king could satisify his desires even though Catholicism was corrupt. I am not interested in attending any organization that practices sprinkling.

Christ in one of his teachings on the kingdom said that the kingdom was liken to a woman that hid one measure of leaven into three measures of meal til the whole was leaven. Churches can become very corrupt in the process of time. When it comes to worship and fellowship, I choose to do it with people of like faith and practice. Would I discuss scripture with a Lutheran or any other who who want to talk about the scriptures? Absolutely.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

To what extent do you believe you can have fellowship with the two assuming you are a Baptist?

I believe that one can find born-again believers in most churches, even if their teaching leaves much to be desired. The Free Church is in fact baptistic (ex-Brethren), but somewhat doctrine-lite. I know little about the Anglican one. It has a new young Vicar, but reading his mothly newsletters have not filled me with hope.
Nevertheless, I would throw in my lot with the one that seemed better and hope that I could fellowship with the congregation and maybe gently encourage the leader(s) to follow the Bible more accurately, if they were not doing so.

 

[Ben1445]

I believe that one can find born-again believers in most churches, even if their teaching leaves much to be desired. The Free Church is in fact baptistic (ex-Brethren), but somewhat doctrine-lite. I know little about the Anglican one. It has a new young Vicar, but reading his mothly newsletters have not filled me with hope.
Nevertheless, I would throw in my lot with the one that seemed better and hope that I could fellowship with the congregation and maybe gently encourage the leader(s) to follow the Bible more accurately, if they were not doing so.

At the very worst, you are looking at a field white unto harvest. People who are lacking the exercise and use of the meat of the Word.