What denominations have you visited? How similar were they to your own church?
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What churches have you visited?
- Thread starter FriendofSpurgeon
- Start date
I have visited quite a number, and often the churches can vary within the denomination!
Still, here is a selection of where I have been and what I have thought.
1. AOG - Good when they are evangelical, not when they get into the Prosperity Gospel.
2. Open Brethren - I liked their focus on the Eldership running the church.
3. Baptist Union - Similar to the SBC in the U.S. Enjoyable Conservative worship.
4. Salvation Army - Absolutley love their evangelical meetings and their Wesleyian theology.
5. Anglican - Interesting liturgical worship, not my style of worship.
6. Revival Fellowship - A group that teaches that speaking in tounges is the evidence of Salvation, did not last one full meeting there!
7. Lutheran, - A little to traditional for my taste, but certainley good solid preaching of the word.
8, Uniting - Amalgamation of the Methodist, Congregational and Presbyterian churches in Australia. I found it heavilly left wing politically, and not something I could identify with.
9. Church of Christ, - Good Evangelical church that seems to be growing in Australia.
10. Church of God Seventh Day, - I belonged to this church for two years until an argument came up where I refused to give up my belief in the Trinity. It was from there that I discovered the Seventh Day Baptist Church of which I currently am still a member.
Still, here is a selection of where I have been and what I have thought.
1. AOG - Good when they are evangelical, not when they get into the Prosperity Gospel.
2. Open Brethren - I liked their focus on the Eldership running the church.
3. Baptist Union - Similar to the SBC in the U.S. Enjoyable Conservative worship.
4. Salvation Army - Absolutley love their evangelical meetings and their Wesleyian theology.
5. Anglican - Interesting liturgical worship, not my style of worship.
6. Revival Fellowship - A group that teaches that speaking in tounges is the evidence of Salvation, did not last one full meeting there!
7. Lutheran, - A little to traditional for my taste, but certainley good solid preaching of the word.
8, Uniting - Amalgamation of the Methodist, Congregational and Presbyterian churches in Australia. I found it heavilly left wing politically, and not something I could identify with.
9. Church of Christ, - Good Evangelical church that seems to be growing in Australia.
10. Church of God Seventh Day, - I belonged to this church for two years until an argument came up where I refused to give up my belief in the Trinity. It was from there that I discovered the Seventh Day Baptist Church of which I currently am still a member.
I visited various Charismatic churches until I recognized the false doctrines. I currently attend a Southern Baptist church but this Sunday I'll be visiting a Presbetyrian church. I'm very weary of Churches of Christ for their view on baptismal regeneration. The only times I went to Catholic churches were for weddings or was invited by friends of my relatives. Definatly did not edify my spirit.
By God's grace,
Dustin
By God's grace,
Dustin
I checked almost all of them.
There was one that suprised me by speaking in tongues. I forget which denom it was, but it wasn't AOG or one of the ones I would have expected it from.
That was probably the worst experience in that I had my young children with me and it started out of nowhere and we were all creeped out, but the pastor had brought me and I couldn't just leave. I took the kids back in the nursery and stayed until it was calm, then went back into the services.
It really is interesting to see just how different Christian churches can be. I enjoyed the Methodist services, although they were shallow. The Lutheran church probably came closest to giving useful, in-depth messages, and the denom I enjoyed visiting most outside of the denom I normally attend.
The Catholic church was a different language to me. Get up, sit down, I don't even know if the message was in English. If it was, it had no meaning to me.
There was one that suprised me by speaking in tongues. I forget which denom it was, but it wasn't AOG or one of the ones I would have expected it from.
That was probably the worst experience in that I had my young children with me and it started out of nowhere and we were all creeped out, but the pastor had brought me and I couldn't just leave. I took the kids back in the nursery and stayed until it was calm, then went back into the services.
It really is interesting to see just how different Christian churches can be. I enjoyed the Methodist services, although they were shallow. The Lutheran church probably came closest to giving useful, in-depth messages, and the denom I enjoyed visiting most outside of the denom I normally attend.
The Catholic church was a different language to me. Get up, sit down, I don't even know if the message was in English. If it was, it had no meaning to me.
It was surprising to me how different Baptist Churches can be. The Primative Baptist Church that we visited was very different in order of worship than our home church (SBC). I enjoyed it, tho.
The only church I didn't really like was the Methodist Church. The pastor had nothing of substance in his sermon. He basically begged for volunteers to work in the nursery, children's church, etc. That was his sermon.
I'm sure they are not all like that!
The only church I didn't really like was the Methodist Church. The pastor had nothing of substance in his sermon. He basically begged for volunteers to work in the nursery, children's church, etc. That was his sermon.
I'm sure they are not all like that!
Joseph M. Smith
New Member
Don't throw stones at me for this .. but I have to say that two of the best sermons I have ever heard came from women rectors of a couple of Episcopal churches in our metro area. One of them did two funeral sermons for a family also connected with my church, and I found myself wishing I could attend her parish regularly.
Bro. James Reed
New Member
Gwen and Marcia,
don't feel bad. I am one and I've spelled it wrong on occassion.
Oh well, spelled right or not, at least we're getting some pretty good air time lately in BB world.
It does look kinda weird with all of those "i"s. An "a" thrown in just seems right.
don't feel bad. I am one and I've spelled it wrong on occassion.
Oh well, spelled right or not, at least we're getting some pretty good air time lately in BB world.
It does look kinda weird with all of those "i"s. An "a" thrown in just seems right.
James, I didn't even know about Primitive Baptists until I saw some of your postings. I don't think we have a lot of you guys down here.
What are the distinctives between Primitive and other Baptists?
What are the distinctives between Primitive and other Baptists?
Bro. James Reed
New Member
FoS,
you can check out some FAQs at the following websites. They should answer a lot of your questions because most people outside the PBs ask the same type questions.
Link 1
Link 2
Link 3 - A newspaper widely circulated amongst PBs
If you have questions after viewing these sites, I would love to offer my "wisdom".
What city are you in? I can find out where the closest church(es) is/are to you.
Bro. James
you can check out some FAQs at the following websites. They should answer a lot of your questions because most people outside the PBs ask the same type questions.
Link 1
Link 2
Link 3 - A newspaper widely circulated amongst PBs
If you have questions after viewing these sites, I would love to offer my "wisdom".
What city are you in? I can find out where the closest church(es) is/are to you.
Bro. James
James --
Interesting. Here's my take on the links. Is this correct?
Salvation - Calvinistic - closer to Presbyterians compared to most Baptists.
Baptism - Similar to other Baptists with notable addition of washing feet
Lord's Table - Closed communion, with real wine. Not similar to anyone else I'm aware of.
Pastors - Elders, similar to Presbyterians, with notable exception that seminary education is not required (or desired?)
Music - No instruments - similar to Church of Christ.
Missions - Not anti-missions per se, but not involved with mission boards.
Other - No Sunday School or organized youth programs.
BTW, I'm in the Miami area. Not a lot of you down here, but then again, not a lot of evangelical churches here to begin with. For example, in my town we have eight houses of worship - one Methodist, one Lutheran, two Presbyterian, one Catholic and three temples.
Thanks for sharing the information.
FoS
Interesting. Here's my take on the links. Is this correct?
Salvation - Calvinistic - closer to Presbyterians compared to most Baptists.
Baptism - Similar to other Baptists with notable addition of washing feet
Lord's Table - Closed communion, with real wine. Not similar to anyone else I'm aware of.
Pastors - Elders, similar to Presbyterians, with notable exception that seminary education is not required (or desired?)
Music - No instruments - similar to Church of Christ.
Missions - Not anti-missions per se, but not involved with mission boards.
Other - No Sunday School or organized youth programs.
BTW, I'm in the Miami area. Not a lot of you down here, but then again, not a lot of evangelical churches here to begin with. For example, in my town we have eight houses of worship - one Methodist, one Lutheran, two Presbyterian, one Catholic and three temples.
Thanks for sharing the information.
FoS
SaggyWoman
Active Member
Often times the singing time is what I like that many churches lack on. One church I like to visit sings for 45 minutes. I LOVE IT!!
Bro. James Reed
New Member
FoS, sorry for not responding sooner. I just noticed your post.
I would say your description is pretty accurate. Many would refer to us as hyper-Calvinist, but I prefer your term of calvinistic rather than Calvinist since we are different than pure Calvinists.
I would also say that the Lord's Supper, as observed by the majority of us, is a Close communion, meaning that all churches with which we fellowship may partake. It is real wine, and real unleavened bread, and yes, we do wash feet. Many people shun us for that, but if you've never seen it, I could not describe to you the way the Spirit moves us when we humble ourselves to such a lowly position as washing our brethren's feet.
As far as seminary, it is not needed nor desired. We believe the biblical method for a man to learn is for him to come under the study of other ministers. We also believe it is for the church to decide if they see a gift in a man to preach. The problem with a seminary is that anyone can go and become a "licensed" preacher, even if they don't have a gift to preach the gospel. How many people are out there who have been to seminary, gotten a degree to signify they are a preacher, yet do not preach the gospel, not feel a burden to preach?
Our ordained ministers are called Elder, but we do not ordain women, unlike the Presbys.
Not anti-missions, although I really don't like that term, but we don't agree with having mission boards and such that will send a preacher here or there. A man is to go preach where he feels the Spirit sending him. This was a great cause for the split of Missionary Baptists and Primitive Baptists in 1832. see The Black Rock Address for more info on that.
We are very different from most modern Baptists. Most modern Baptists have adapted and changed with the opinions of the world around them in the past 200 years or so. We have pretty much stood where we always have. We are not very popular with most folks because we do not sensationalize everything and make it a big show. People also don't want to hear that, in an unregenerate state, we are completely dead in our sins with no way of helping ourselves. People don't want to hear that we are sinners by nature and practice and that our very nature is to go against the things of God. Those beliefs put all of the power to save us in God's hands, rather than man's. People don't like to think that we are helpless and can not save ourselves, but must depend solely on God.
A lot of people also don't like the true preaching of the gospel. They want a feel-good, self-esteem, I-have-the-power message. That's why places like Lakewood Church are so popular.
You just won't find that kind of stuff in an Old Baptist church.
After a quick search online, the nearest church I would recommend to you would be by Lake Okeechobee. Of course, I'm not all that familiar with the southern part of FL, so there might be others closer that I'm not aware of. I would love to find a church close to you that you could visit and see firsthand just who we Primitive Baptists are.
I'm going to contact the head of the Primitive Baptist Library in Illinois and see if he has any lisitngs for churches down that way. He has many that are not yet listed online.
I'll get back with you on that.
God bless.
Bro. James