To Be a Baptist, or Not To Be - That is the Question?

I'll second that Amen. I used to live in an area where the closest Reformed Baptist church was over an hour away, and it wasn't a very good church, so it wasn't worth the drive (they were in the middle of toning down their mission statement to avoid scaring away people). All the other Baptist churches I checked out that were closer were "feel-good" churches converting to Rick Warrenism, and where sound doctrine and Biblical teaching took a back seat to making the women cry when they sang the top 40 praise and worship songs. Small wonder there were no men at the Sunday evening services (except for 1-3 hen-pecked husbands). I still attended a Baptist church back then, but if I had to do it all over again, I'd look for a good reformed church of any denomination over the crappy Baptist selections I had. Praise God there's are some good Baptist churches nearby now.

 

I'll third that Amen! There are just to many compromises these days that ignor "Go and sin no more!" for the sake of keeping or gaining numbers.

 

yadda - yadda - yadda

- Deacon Ed [Calvinist: no way - once saved, always saved!!] :type:

 

What silly little theological issues? Care to be specific?

 

I can assure you, Pastor Paul ---- that "Rick Warren theology" is not just limited to the confines of any particular Southern Baptist church. Purpose driven has been driven into the hearts of non-denominational church members as well

To go "cold turkey" on the SBC in your area just because 2-3 SB churches have allowed the Purpose books leach on to their regular Bible Studies---is not much of an excuse to leave

I mean---dude---you're the pastor of the church---all you have to do is JUST NOT allow the books into your church's teaching arena---just tell the leadership underneath you

"We ain't doin' RW!!! Period!!!"

And then take it upon yourself to give your SBC church something worth coming back for---give them good Godly doctrine "From your mind to theirs" ---- give them good solid biblical preaching---Bible Book series---book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, word by word---those who are hungry for the word will fatten themselves up---those who aren't hungry will go somewhere else and leach on to the RW books and shrivle up on the bone like the famined bovine of Joseph's dream

Don't leave because of RW books----rather STAY and give them the "real book"

Your Southern Baptist preacher friend,
Bro. David
SBC pastor/preacher---20 years experience---If I weren't Southern Baptist---I'd be ashamed!!!!

 

I have no idea what it would be like for a pastor, but it's nearly impossible to disagree with Rick Warren and stay at a Warrenized church. They marginalize you and pretend you don't exist. From what I understand, this is actually a deliberate practice to get rid of those who don't want to jump on board the Purpose-Driven bandwagon. But deliberate or not, they do it.

Righeousdude2, there have been a few threads on Rick Warren already. I taught a Bible study based on the 40 days of purpose before I realized it was going to become a movement, and I spent more time correcting the book than teaching it. His Biblical practices are worse than loose. He uses several logical fallacies and cherry-picks translations for obscurity in order to make Scripture mean what he wants it to mean. I sent him a letter pointing out some of the dramatic flaws in his reasoning but never got a response.

 

Pray for me Paster...

Wasn't it our Apostle Paul who said that some could only have 'milk' because 'meat' was too much for them because they were still carnal? Perhaps in time these congregations will feast on meat...

If there condition is too weak for such things then milk would be the recommended diet until they were stronger in the Lord.

Is it possible Paster that you might be letting your Pride in feasting on 'meat' get in your way in serving 'these little ones'? I'm just asking for you to perhaps give that some thought before you discard them in their weakened state for healthier congregations. Remember, Christ came to heal sinners not the righteous.

Perhaps you are right but as a paster you are called to 'feed his sheep' and the proper diet is determined by their state in the Lord or out of the Lord. I'd ask that you give some thought to why you feel these congregations need 'Fear and Self-loathing' to turn to the Lord and not a diet which will strengthen them until they can walk in the Lord in Love (for in Love there is no Fear).

Takecare and God Bless.

 

You know... like speaking in tongues, private prayer languages, and being thrown in the Spirit.

 

From what I have seen, this is about as far from the truth as you can get. I'm not saying there aren't isolated incidences, but to lump all churches that use PDL material is crazy. We used PDL material for a few years (don't anymore), and our church never exhibited this behavior.

 

If you want ostracism, try saying that you like Rick Warren in an independent Baptist church:laugh:

 

I have heard this many times (What I bolded above). RW's first church plant, or one of the first, is here in our town. I also got this impression from reading his book "The Purpose Driven Church". Now that's an eye opener! Oh my!

I also lead a study on it while I was a new Christian. You are correct in your assessments. It's sad.

I brought many new people to church, still do. So they asked me to lead this PDL study, and invite my friends. I had 1/3 of the book marked up. Pastor listened to my concerns, he was beginning to have concerns also. They quit using that book.
The discouraging part was learning that Pastors all over the world were encouraging new Christians to read this book.

Yet imo, the RW chruch plant here in town produces some very solid Christians. The one's I have encountered appear to be Christlike.

 

When you say homosexuals coming in to the congregation, do you mean they are becoming baptized members ?

 

I'm not trying to draw you into an argument, I simply asked an honest question due to my limited English ability.

I do not approve of the so-called "gay" lifestyle. However, if they want to attend church as opposed to join the church I find nothing wrong with that, they can sit there and squirm if it so happens the Holy Spirit gave the preacher the topic of homosexuality to preach on.

Now that is not right, whether they are baptized members or not, because that identifies the church to the public as pro-gay, liberal, and all that, and how in heaven's name will they preach on sin, any sin, at all ?

Get them saved, yeah, I know what you're saying. Help God arrange circumstances so He can get a crack at them sinners. What's He gon' do without 'em soul winning former sinner dudes, eh ? He's gonna be absolutely powerless.