Re: Southern Baptists, An Unregenerate Denomination (Part 2)
| Posted On: 07/06/06 07:35:40 AM |
Age 67, TX |
I have always found the words of our LORD in Matthew 7:21-23 to be so very frightening. May God remove any deception from church members who have not received Jesus Christ as their LORD and Savior. To read those words should cause a person to reflect on what they do believe. This article and the feedback from the man in New York caused me to see that we should reach out to those church members who do not come or who only come to preaching on Sunday morning and are never seen or have fellowship with other belivers. It is not so much for the numbers or to make us feel good but the realization that they are missing a blessing and the joy of worship.
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Re: Southern Baptists, An Unregenerate Denomination (Part 2)
| Posted On: 07/06/06 06:08:55 AM |
Age 65, TX |
Amen to your article ! Having been founded in an inerrant Bible Church, I've learned the truths of your article. I was hurt and wounded and was told simply to be responsible. Therefore, I reached out to others.....
I am currently leading a church worship service within the confines of a nursing home; soon 6 years of Sunday worship. Jesus said "Where 2 or 3 are gathered in My Name, there am I" - So I encourage others by reading the Word of God, singing about Jesus. My southern baptist home church does nothing to help this ministry. Christians are ABC people - the simplicity of life through Jesus getting to God. The Work of God is "believing in Jesus" ----
Thank you for your work in reform.
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Re: Southern Baptists, An Unregenerate Denomination (Part 2)
| Posted On: 07/06/06 06:03:01 AM |
Age 68, OH |
Jim is right on the mark and I hope to see this kind of teaching begin to pervade all "evangelical" denominations and churches everywhere. People have been looking for easier ways than the biblical way to get others converted, but it never works. Take it from one who failed miserably at the task in his brief tenure as a Southern Baptist pastor due to ignorance of all such basic matters of ministry, me.
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Re: Southern Baptists, An Unregenerate Denomination (Part 2)
| Posted On: 07/06/06 03:49:15 AM |
Age 46, CA |
While agree with the principle of re-generation or spiritual transformation towards a more christlike live. As per previous post - I would caution taking church attendance as a sign of it.
The Pharisees did a very good job of that but negleted the weightier matters.
Christians must understand that each one of us has a role in accomplishing God's work on earth. A unique calling to further God's kingdom.
Churches must effectively support and encourgae their members to fulfill their calling. Setting external, arbitrary, unbiblical, and in some cases irrrelevant performance standards is not the way to accomplish this. And always leads to the impossible question how much do I have to do to be re-generate. Which misses the point of salvation entirely.
The whole approach should be about fullfilling God's purpose for you life, (including the process of santification) which ultimately will lead to a life well lived. This is done by sincerely listening to the prompting of the holy spirit in the beliver. Pastot should be able to encourgae and counsel these seekers. I have not met many pastors who encourage a deeper spiritual walk with the Lord which will lead to true transformation and not legalistic hypocricy.
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Re: Southern Baptists, An Unregenerate Denomination (Part 2)
| Posted On: 07/04/06 09:44:05 PM |
Age 40, NY |
I would like to make one more suggestion to you as you make recommendations for church reform. I truly believe that it would be very valuable and insightful to contact people who were once faithful attenders, but are no longer coming to church. These people may be in danger of being carried off into deception by the enemy, they might be hurt and in need, OR they may have some important insights to share about how the Lord has directed their path elsewhere.
I was beginning to see problems in my own church, and I decided to call others who had 'disappeared'. The people I called were very devoted, and I knew they must have a justified reason for walking away. It was no only an encouragement, but also a confirmation for me that what the Lord had shown me was true... it helped to give me the confidence i needed to move forward.
Do not assume that the non-attenders are not really Christians - they might be hurt and in need, or they might have some godly wisdom to share. They might even be willing to step up and do something to help the church if others are willing to join them.
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- Re: Re: Southern Baptists, An Unregenerate Denomination (Part 2)
| Posted On: 07/06/06 07:48:40 AM | | Age 67, TX |
Thank you for seeing our responsibility to reach out to our church family. It caused me to see that I have not put my feet to moving as my LORD has been telling me to do. The love we show for other believers is a witness of the grace of God. Contacting those who have dropped out of church could reveal a need that is an opportunity of ministry. Too, it may even reveal that the person had never received Jesus as their LORD and Savior.
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