Which Church would you join Church A or Church B

[matt wade]

I seriously doubt that many actually attend a church because the felt "led of the Lord." No doubt some may claim they were led, but in truth it is highly unlikely and nothing but personal choice. If they were "led" they would go with a predetermined mind join the first Sunday before they even heard the sermon or met a soul knowing this is where the Lord wanted them.

Right...because no one has ever been led of the Lord and still tried to do things their own way. **cough Jonah cough **

 

[freeatlast]

Right...because no one has ever been led of the Lord and still tried to do things their own way. **cough Jonah cough **

Non applicable. You need to take care of that cough. :sleeping_2:

 

[matt wade]

Non applicable.

Why exactly is it non-applicable? Would you mind enlightening us?

 

[freeatlast]

Why exactly is it non-applicable? Would you mind enlightening us?

My post was not about all the nuances of a being led as if accepted, denied, put off or what ever else. It was simply intended to show what being led involves and that very few are actually led in the area of what church they attend even though many make that claim.

 

[Thousand Hills]

[SIZE=+0][SIZE=+0][SIZE=+0][SIZE=+0][SIZE=+0][SIZE=+0][SIZE=+0]I seriously doubt that many actually attend a church because they are "led of the Lord." No doubt some may claim they were led and even think they are led, but are basing a call on personal feelings so in truth it is highly unlikely and nothing but personal choice. If they were "led" they would go with a predetermined mind to join the first Sunday before they even heard the sermon or met a soul and even if the teaching was as corrupt or false as any can be, knowing this is where the Lord wanted them. No, few are actually led. By led I mean like the early apostles who were led to go here or go there even if it meant losing their lives. They went because they were led to go, not because it seemed good to them or fit their liking. They did not need to check things out ahead of going. They just went knowing this was of the Lord and the same with any call from the Lord.

In fact very few pastors are actually led to a church. I have talked to pastors and asked them if they felt led to a certain church and they say they felt no leading one way or the other, they just accepted the church as a place to carry out what they felt led to do and that was pastoring. It is true that some will say that they were "led" out of piety, but if honest they needed a change or a job and felt a particular church would suffice. They actually had no real leading from the Lord if you base leading on the examples given in scripture as how He has done it in the past. The same with calling a pastor. There is no need to listen to him if the church is being led to call him. Just do it.
The same with most believers. We are called to attend, but few are called to a particular church even though some make great claims to the contrary. While it may make us feel and even sound spiritual to claim we were led to a certain church, the truth is most just decide a certain church fits their liking or attend because they are commanded to attend church, not because they have a direct call from the Lord to that particular church.

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I was led to post that I disagree with this baloney. You are certainly free to roll with the tumbleweed if you want to, but I'll let the author and finisher of my faith guide my steps through this life as I seek God's will in prayer and time in his word (which Christ modeled for us). It may not always make sense at the time, but "He leadeth me O' Bless the Thought"

 

[annsni]

[SIZE=+0][SIZE=+0][SIZE=+0][SIZE=+0][SIZE=+0][SIZE=+0][SIZE=+0]I seriously doubt that many actually attend a church because they are "led of the Lord." No doubt some may claim they were led and even think they are led, but are basing a call on personal feelings so in truth it is highly unlikely and nothing but personal choice. If they were "led" they would go with a predetermined mind to join the first Sunday before they even heard the sermon or met a soul and even if the teaching was as corrupt or false as any can be, knowing this is where the Lord wanted them. No, few are actually led. By led I mean like the early apostles who were led to go here or go there even if it meant losing their lives. They went because they were led to go, not because it seemed good to them or fit their liking. They did not need to check things out ahead of going. They just went knowing this was of the Lord and the same with any call from the Lord.

In fact very few pastors are actually led to a church. I have talked to pastors and asked them if they felt led to a certain church and they say they felt no leading one way or the other, they just accepted the church as a place to carry out what they felt led to do and that was pastoring. It is true that some will say that they were "led" out of piety, but if honest they needed a change or a job and felt a particular church would suffice. They actually had no real leading from the Lord if you base leading on the examples given in scripture as how He has done it in the past. The same with calling a pastor. There is no need to listen to him if the church is being led to call him. Just do it.
The same with most believers. We are called to attend, but few are called to a particular church even though some make great claims to the contrary. While it may make us feel and even sound spiritual to claim we were led to a certain church, the truth is most just decide a certain church fits their liking or attend because they are commanded to attend church, not because they have a direct call from the Lord to that particular church.

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I would highly disagree with this. I didn't want to come to this church but did feel led to come here and I see that there were greater purposes than just our desires and likes/dislikes.

 

[matt wade]

My post was not about all the nuances of a being led as if accepted, denied, put off or what ever else. It was simply intended to show what being led involves and that very few are actually led in the area of what church they attend even though many make that claim.

So basically you are trying to doubletalk your way out of it now. You realize you were wrong, but won't admit it. Don't worry...we understand.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

You've recently moved into a new area and you have been to just about every Baptist and Like minded church in town. You've narrowed your search down to two churches. You need to make a choice. Here are your two choices and you MUST pick one!

Church A:
1. Baptist Church: Southern Baptist Association Member Church
2. The church body is very loving and you really feel a connection with them.
3. The pastor is not a "deep" preacher, although his sermons are biblically accurate.
4. The music program and worship time are what you would consider close to perfect; good blend of traditional and contemporary music and top notch orchaestra/band.
5. The pastor doesn't believe in church discipline, even though there is a church discipline section in the church constitution.
6. The pastor allows membership candidates who promise to be baptized within 3 months full church membership rights.

Church B:
1. Independent Baptist: Textus Receptus/KJV Only
2. Church congregation is cordial, reserved, standoffish. You struggle to make connections in this church body.
3. The music is very traditional only singing out of a hymnal.
4. The pastor has legalistic tendencies (i.e. thinks women should wear skirts, equates drinking alcohol with adultery, considers Liberty University and Bob Jones University liberal colleges).
5. Here's the kicker....The pastor is the best preacher/teacher you've ever heard. The pastor is also a very deep studier and thinker of the Bible you always learn something new about the scriptures under his teaching/preaching ministry.
6. You've also developed a love for the pastor's family and the assistant pastor and his wife.

Okay there you have it! Please make a choice and tell me why or why not you made that choice.

Thanks,
Phil

P.S. yes, this is a true story and yes it's my story.

Both have good and bad points.

In the case of church "A", it may be a case that the pastor is immature, but could be reasoned with. Plus the fact that pastors are not autonomous.

In the case of church "B", I'm pretty hard core, so the pastor's conservatism wouldn't bother me.

But I think the deal breaker would be church "B"'s KJVO stance. I've never seen a KJVO church that didn't have serious doctrinal issues in other areas and many of them have cult-like aspects.

So I think I would choose Church "A".

 

[Salty]

So I think I would choose Church "A".

So no one is going to go with choice "C' with me? :tear:

 

[Ed B]

So no one is going to go with choice "C' with me? :tear:

Well, in my town you can't throw a stick without hitting a Church, and most of them are Baptist Churches. So, no I wouldn't wouldn't want to start a new one. Would rather assist, server and worship in an existing one.

Your mileage may vary

 

[Salty]

Well, in my town you can't throw a stick without hitting a Church, and most of them are Baptist Churches. So, no I wouldn't wouldn't want to start a new one. Would rather assist, server and worship in an existing one.

Your mileage may vary

I drive about 15 miles to church - I only pass two other ones - one very liberal - the other is Bible Believing - but too big for me.

 

[sag38]

FAL, I'm so glad we have you around to enlighten us. Thank you!!! But, I don't need your help in determining what being led of God means. I'm perfectly capable of determining that for myself.

 

[DeaconPhil]

I just wanted to clarify the Pastor of Church B does not believe in double inspiration. What he believes is the original manuscripts were God inspired and then God preserved the original manuscript through a line he calls the majority text culminating in the Textus Receptus, which he claims to be 100% equal to the original manuscripts. I do not believe this.

I just wanted to thank everyone for their response! This is a very frustrating decision for me. I will conrtinue to seek God's will and direction, but ultimately I need to choose one or the other and do it soon, because it is becoming an issue in my marriage. Thanks for your prayers!

 

[Salty]

... but ultimately I need to choose one or the other and do it soon, because it is becoming an issue in my marriage. Thanks for your prayers!

You may have mentioned before, but which church is your wife leaning to...

 

[Arbo]

[SIZE=+0][SIZE=+0][SIZE=+0][SIZE=+0][SIZE=+0][SIZE=+0][SIZE=+0]I seriously doubt that many actually attend a church because they are "led of the Lord." No doubt some may claim they were led and even think they are led, but are basing a call on personal feelings so in truth it is highly unlikely and nothing but personal choice. If they were "led" they would go with a predetermined mind to join the first Sunday before they even heard the sermon or met a soul and even if the teaching was as corrupt or false as any can be, knowing this is where the Lord wanted them. No, few are actually led. By led I mean like the early apostles who were led to go here or go there even if it meant losing their lives. They went because they were led to go, not because it seemed good to them or fit their liking. They did not need to check things out ahead of going. They just went knowing this was of the Lord and the same with any call from the Lord.

In fact very few pastors are actually led to a church. I have talked to pastors and asked them if they felt led to a certain church and they say they felt no leading one way or the other, they just accepted the church as a place to carry out what they felt led to do and that was pastoring. It is true that some will say that they were "led" out of piety, but if honest they needed a change or a job and felt a particular church would suffice. They actually had no real leading from the Lord if you base leading on the examples given in scripture as how He has done it in the past. The same with calling a pastor. There is no need to listen to him if the church is being led to call him. Just do it.
The same with most believers. We are called to attend, but few are called to a particular church even though some make great claims to the contrary. While it may make us feel and even sound spiritual to claim we were led to a certain church, the truth is most just decide a certain church fits their liking or attend because they are commanded to attend church, not because they have a direct call from the Lord to that particular church.

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Is that your opinion or were you 'led' to post this nonsense?

Some of us who are less spiritual believe we are led to the church we belong to.

 

[DeaconPhil]

You may have mentioned before, but which church is your wife leaning to...

She is leaning very heavily toward Church B, but she understands how I strongly I feel about the TR/KJV only position, even if it is a moderate one.

My wife is an amazing woman. She is what you call a Type A personality and it is a struggle for her to submit to my spiritual leadership, but she feels that God is doing a work in me right now and wants to honor God by submitting to the decision I make about the churches. Whatever church we go to she wants it to be my decision and she will go to that church.

 

[HAMel]

On another thread I raised the issue of people claiming the Lord told them this, or He told them that, or He instructed this way, etc.

I am of the opinion that inside all of us we know what we should be doing and where we should be going and what we should be supporting, checked and balanced against His Word and our understanding as it applies to our individual lives. Not what "we" want to do..., but what we should be doing.

If we are moving accordingly the Lord will bless. If He doesn't bless your effort(s) then it's time to move on. Often, many people totally ignore those Acres of Diamonds right in their own back yard.

Like the guy who owned a farm in Pennsylvania a hundred plus years ago. His cattle wouldn't drink the water because it was "poisoned". So, he sold the farm. The new owner knew the source of the poison. It was the result of crude oil seeping right up through the ground.

One can't run ahead and then ask the Lord to hurry and catch up.

 

[Salty]

She is leaning very heavily toward Church B, but she understands how I strongly I feel about the TR/KJV only position, even if it is a moderate one.

Just to clarify is he KJ only or KJ very perfered ( I understand about the TR)
And is the KJ the main issue, or do you have major issues with the other items:

A. congregation is standoffish.
B. music traditional only
C.legalistic tendencies (i.e. thinks women should wear skirts, equates drinking alcohol with adultery, considers Liberty & BJU are liberal)

If so, how intent is your wife on those issues (including KJ)

 

[Jkdbuck76]

My wife is an amazing woman. She is what you call a Type A personality and it is a struggle for her to submit to my spiritual leadership, but she feels that God is doing a work in me right now and wants to honor God by submitting to the decision I make about the churches. Whatever church we go to she wants it to be my decision and she will go to that church.

You married one of them too, huh? I feel for you, DeacnPhil. Our first year of marriage was like boot camp. I didn't realize how she REALLY was until after the wedding when she ripped off her human disquise to reveal the reptillian queen from the show V.
It is evident that your wife cannot wear the pants anymore--especially if you choose Church B! :laugh:

But seriously:
Which way is God leading you? Is he sending you to a third one you don't know yet?
Although there never was a perfect church this side of Glory, could it be that God is leading you to a "Church C"? And if you do not pick bapticostal Church B, will your wife really be OK with it? I don't think you are being too picky when you have told us what you like and don't like in a church; I think maybe you have to ask yourself "what does God like?" Maybe that is the answer.

 

[MamaCW]

I'd choose B. Mainly for the reason that you are being fed spiritually more at church B.
Have you tried showing yourself friendly to those who seem reserved? Maybe you just need to break the ice?

Is the pastors view on the colleges and women's wearing skirts/dresses affecting you in any way?

As for the alcohol, do you drink? Is his stand against alcohol affecting you? I would say calling it adulterous is probably not the best way to describe it..although it CAN and (from friends in the past) HAS led to adultery lol..

Im an Independent fundamental baptist, and I love my church.


As for the Southern Baptist,
I don't think the pastor should set "time limit on baptism to gain membership. Although I believe someone should get baptisted soon after receiving Christ, that shouldn't be a selling point for church membership (call within the next 5 minutes and you get a free membership..lol..type thing)

Hope you find your home church!