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What doctrines in a local church would cause you to now leave if adopted?

JesusFan

Well-Known Member
What doctrines if adopted by your pastors/Elders would be enough to cause you to leave and depart?

Women being ordained now, charismatic expressions, one bible only now allowed for all to use as members, no longer just a pretrib premil?
 

Van

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
False doctrines

1) Denial of the authority of scripture for faith and practice.
2) Denial of the Trinity
3) Denial that Jesus is God incarnate.
4) Denial of the name of Christ, virgin birth, sinless life, death on the cross, resurrection as Savior and Lord.
 
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Some Rando

New Member
Any doctrines into the Chruch statement of faith that I personally was not able Biblically believe.
I don't think I could hold to this standard. This would eliminate too many churches (for me). And, frankly it would qualify churches which have pathetically uninformative statements of faith (which seems rather suspicious or just lazy). Some doctrines are not critically important, and I hold to one or two Scriptural beliefs which many Baptists do not hold to.

By way of example: I believe in what people might call "grace giving" or put simply, I do not believe in a ten percent tithe requirement:
I wouldn't disqualify a church which holds to this commonly believed and assumed view they likely inherited without much thought.
Many churches still do and it's on their statement of faith.
Many churches still do and they simply don't put that on their statement of faith.
I can't favour the church that avoids the issue if they actually teach and believe it.

This tends to favour churches with minimalist statements of faith. I tend to prefer detailed statements of faith, and to dislike minimalistic ones which tell you practically nothing about what the Church teaches.
Those particular views I do not share in common with most Baptists, I do not consider critically important and simply tend to keep my mouth shut about.

I dislike, for example, when a church simply links to the B.F.M. when you click their link on the "What we Believe" section of their website.
I know what the B.F.M. says, and I already know you are Southern Baptist, you have therefore told me nothing.

For instance, I don't particularly care a lot about a Church's view on Eschatology and have few strong opinions about it. As long as they aren't overly divisive about minor details, I don't really care.
 

Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator
I don't think I could hold to this standard. This would eliminate too many churches (for me). And, frankly it would qualify churches which have pathetically uninformative statements of faith (which seems rather suspicious or just lazy). Some doctrines are not critically important, and I hold to one or two Scriptural beliefs which many Baptists do not hold to.
Some Rando - I think I agree 100% with your post (#6) - I will mention that our web page only lists BF&M - but I am currently working on that (though it is not at the top of the list)

I did visit one church that was closed communion. Someone asked me about being youth director (they knew from another church, where I was the youth director.) - I mentioned that when it came to communion - I would teach open communion - the offer to be youth pastor was withdrawn!

JOHN OF JAPAN - I have no problem with Tulip, but I think on Mothers Day - Roses would be more appropriate
 

Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator
ithout May I answer ? Rando stated: "Some doctrines are not critically important,"
However, one person may think a critically important - but someone else does.
Again - as Rando stated - "grace giving". I do agree with him on that issue - I could attend a church that emphasizes the "tithe". But if the church went to extremes, and wanted to know how much I gave - well, that might happen once - if it did, then I would only give cash- without an envelope! If they still complained - then I would be looking for another church
 

Some Rando

New Member
Am I to understand you would profess to believe what you really do not?
No. But, frankly, if I waited to find a church that agreed with practically everything I believe I'll never find a Church. I happen to have recently moved and will begin a search soon. Some Churches believe in certain (non-critical) issues I don't really believe in. I just don't really bring it up and don't "teach" it.

Some Churches have practically nothing meaningful on their statements of faith. I.E. their "What we Believe" section will be little more than a link to whatever the most recent B.F.M. statement is.

I don't have to agree with every generally accepted issue to be willing to belong to, worship with, fellowship with and partner in ministry with a local body. Where I come from in the American South, there's an SBC Church on every corner. Quite often, they haven't meaningfully combed through their own statements of faith or Church Constitutions in decades. Half the members don't know what they supposedly believe a lot of time. That's not good, it's just how it is sometimes.

The 10% tithe is a good example around here. Most churches assume it to be Biblical. (My last Church did). It was in their statement of faith. I wasn't the Pastor and it wasn't my job to convince them to change their position. I consider it to be a non-critical issue.

I also have to consider the possibility that I can be the one who is mistaken on some issues! (Especially if I am the minority).

Most Christians (even pastors sometimes) rarely critically examine the doctrines they were taught as a new Believers or even as a kid. That's unfortunate, but, normal for many believers.

I hold to a few (not many) uncommon views for most Baptists. I'll never find a Church that agrees with me 100% on all of them. Until then, I find a Church I can worship in regardless and keep it to myself except in private individual conversations with other mature believers and my own family.
 
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Some Rando

New Member
Any Charismatic doctrine, TULIP, inerrant translation, elder rule instead of pastoral leadership
Glad you mentioned the "Elder Rule" doctrine. While I don't consider it to always be inherently problematic; In my experience, whenever someone or a particular group introduces this into a formerly pastorally-led congregation something suspicious is going on.

....And 90% of the time, once that battle is fought, TULIP comes in immediately afterwards as well.
 

Some Rando

New Member
Some Rando - I think I agree 100% with your post (#6) - I will mention that our web page only lists BF&M - but I am currently working on that (though it is not at the top of the list)

I did visit one church that was closed communion. Someone asked me about being youth director (they knew from another church, where I was the youth director.) - I mentioned that when it came to communion - I would teach open communion - the offer to be youth pastor was withdrawn!

JOHN OF JAPAN - I have no problem with Tulip, but I think on Mothers Day - Roses would be more appropriate
By Open, did you mean open to all people (even non-believers) or simply all believers? (Or what some people call "Close" communion?)
Sometimes, I think people are speaking past each other on that one.
 

Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator
Open Communion - Depends:
A: anybody
B. (only) someone who is born again

Closed: you must be a member in good standing of that local church.

Close - somewhere in between - I suppose a SBC church could say only SBC can.
others may say an evangelical bible believing church, others might say any Christian other than RC or Episcopal.....
 

John of Japan

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Glad you mentioned the "Elder Rule" doctrine. While I don't consider it to always be inherently problematic; In my experience, whenever someone or a particular group introduces this into a formerly pastorally-led congregation something suspicious is going on.

....And 90% of the time, once that battle is fought, TULIP comes in immediately afterwards as well.
I agree. And it is not Baptistic, either.
 

JesusFan

Well-Known Member
By Open, did you mean open to all people (even non-believers) or simply all believers? (Or what some people call "Close" communion?)
Sometimes, I think people are speaking past each other on that one.
Open to all Christians, not restricted to just those who are members of that local church
 
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