Difficulty in finding a church I can truly belong to.

[MechPebbles]

After decades as a Christian and going from one church to another, I have finally come to realize that I face a serious problem. I am a Calvinistic Baptistic cessationistic evangelical and it seems to me that all theologically conservative churches fall into two groups that I find disagreeable in some ways:

Group A Churches:
These are the modern evangelical churches. I don't like (more often, can't stand) the following:
1) The modern praise-and-worship songs. You may think this is a small thing but how do I worship God with songs filled with paltry, superficial lyrics? And I really hate drums and electric guitars during worship. The worst is when a rare hymn makes an appearance and the drummer puts on a martial beat. I honestly wanna puke!
2) These churches have no stated doctrinal stand except for the most basic. Their theological stand is dependent on who the latest pastor is. There's a Baptist church I usually attend which is currently cessationistic but used to insist that all its members make a personal pledge that all the spiritual gifts are still being given today (and I was politely told to leave!).

Group B Churches:
These are the fundamentalist or semi-fundamentalist churches. I can't stand these:
1) Some of them are KJV-Only churches.
2) Some are against learning Koine Greek and the use of the Greek New Testament.
3) Many are against today's evangelical scholars and their works. I study the Bible using modern commentaries and I find it objectionable that pastors can oppose the accomplished work of these Godly men (and women).
4) All hold to some kind of a separatist stand applied to the larger evangelical body. I understand that there are many things wrong in the evangelical world but it is sinful to separate ourselves from our brothers and sisters who honor the Lord and His Word just because of some differences.

How do I find a church I can belong to? Even the Reformed Baptist Church, what I would consider to be a theological custom-fit for me, is firmly entrenched in Group B.

 

[dysert]

Have you tried any non-denominational churches? Depending on where you live there may be a smörgåsbord that you can live with. (We had to go non-denom for doctrinal reasons.)

 

[Hieronymus]

I can't find one either...

 

[dysert]

We did a lot of church shopping (and hopping) for years. We finally had to break things down into two categories: Essentials and non-Essentials. The non-denom church we go to now has the right blend. In the Essentials (mostly doctrinal issues), they are spot on. Some of the non-Essentials could be a bit more suited to our taste, but since their non-Essentials we have learned to accept them. If we had continued analyzing each point of every church we would have never found one. There are just too many incidentals that could kick a church out of the running.

 

[JM]

Eat humble pie and attend somewhere. That's what I've had to do for years. Last Lord's Day I was sitting in the Presbyterian church I often attend and experienced a great humbling of spirit, I felt as if I was in the Great Cloud of Saints, surrounded by people who loved Jesus. If I wasn't there I would not have been reminded of the scripture and what truly unites us...Jesus Christ. The head of the church.

 

[mikedsjr]

After decades as a Christian and going from one church to another, I have finally come to realize that I face a serious problem. I am a Calvinistic Baptistic cessationistic evangelical and it seems to me that all theologically conservative churches fall into two groups that I find disagreeable in some ways:

Group A Churches:
These are the modern evangelical churches. I don't like (more often, can't stand) the following:
1) The modern praise-and-worship songs. You may think this is a small thing but how do I worship God with songs filled with paltry, superficial lyrics? And I really hate drums and electric guitars during worship. The worst is when a rare hymn makes an appearance and the drummer puts on a martial beat. I honestly wanna puke!
2) These churches have no stated doctrinal stand except for the most basic. Their theological stand is dependent on who the latest pastor is. There's a Baptist church I usually attend which is currently cessationistic but used to insist that all its members make a personal pledge that all the spiritual gifts are still being given today (and I was politely told to leave!).

Group B Churches:
These are the fundamentalist or semi-fundamentalist churches. I can't stand these:
1) Some of them are KJV-Only churches.
2) Some are against learning Koine Greek and the use of the Greek New Testament.
3) Many are against today's evangelical scholars and their works. I study the Bible using modern commentaries and I find it objectionable that pastors can oppose the accomplished work of these Godly men (and women).
4) All hold to some kind of a separatist stand applied to the larger evangelical body. I understand that there are many things wrong in the evangelical world but it is sinful to separate ourselves from our brothers and sisters who honor the Lord and His Word just because of some differences.

How do I find a church I can belong to? Even the Reformed Baptist Church, what I would consider to be a theological custom-fit for me, is firmly entrenched in Group B.

Agree. Agree. Agree. Eventually you have to stick to a church you can bear. That's where I'm at. My wife and I are part of a Sunday School class and I typically have to sit quietly. The longer I sit quiet the longer I really can't say anything. Just buying my time til church starts.

 

[Thursday]

After decades as a Christian and going from one church to another, I have finally come to realize that I face a serious problem. I am a Calvinistic Baptistic cessationistic evangelical and it seems to me that all theologically conservative churches fall into two groups that I find disagreeable in some ways:

Group A Churches:
These are the modern evangelical churches. I don't like (more often, can't stand) the following:
1) The modern praise-and-worship songs. You may think this is a small thing but how do I worship God with songs filled with paltry, superficial lyrics? And I really hate drums and electric guitars during worship. The worst is when a rare hymn makes an appearance and the drummer puts on a martial beat. I honestly wanna puke!
2) These churches have no stated doctrinal stand except for the most basic. Their theological stand is dependent on who the latest pastor is. There's a Baptist church I usually attend which is currently cessationistic but used to insist that all its members make a personal pledge that all the spiritual gifts are still being given today (and I was politely told to leave!).

Group B Churches:
These are the fundamentalist or semi-fundamentalist churches. I can't stand these:
1) Some of them are KJV-Only churches.
2) Some are against learning Koine Greek and the use of the Greek New Testament.
3) Many are against today's evangelical scholars and their works. I study the Bible using modern commentaries and I find it objectionable that pastors can oppose the accomplished work of these Godly men (and women).
4) All hold to some kind of a separatist stand applied to the larger evangelical body. I understand that there are many things wrong in the evangelical world but it is sinful to separate ourselves from our brothers and sisters who honor the Lord and His Word just because of some differences.

How do I find a church I can belong to? Even the Reformed Baptist Church, what I would consider to be a theological custom-fit for me, is firmly entrenched in Group B.

You are going about this the wrong way.

Instead of looking for a Church that agrees with what you believe, find out which Church Jesus started and believe what they teach.

 

[dysert]

You are going about this the wrong way.

Instead of looking for a Church that agrees with what you believe, find out which Church Jesus started and believe what they teach.

OR, find a Bible-based church with sound doctrine and learn to accept the non-essential incidentals. (Coming from a Baptist background myself.)

 

[Thursday]

OR, find a Bible-based church with sound doctrine and learn to accept the non-essential incidentals. (Coming from a Baptist background myself.)

Bible based churches teach many different things. They lean on their own understanding and reject those sent by Jesus.

Jesus only started one Church.

 

[mikedsjr]

Bible based churches teach many different things. They lean on their own understanding and reject those sent by Jesus.

Jesus only started one Church.

I'm assuming your alluding to the RC.

 

[Thursday]

I'm assuming your alluding to the RC.

That's what I believe. But the idea is the same no matter where you end up.

As Chesterton said, "we don't need a church that is right when we are right, we need a Church that is right when we are wrong"

 

[farout]

After decades as a Christian and going from one church to another, I have finally come to realize that I face a serious problem. I am a Calvinistic Baptistic cessationistic evangelical and it seems to me that all theologically conservative churches fall into two groups that I find disagreeable in some ways:

Group A Churches:
These are the modern evangelical churches. I don't like (more often, can't stand) the following:
1) The modern praise-and-worship songs. You may think this is a small thing but how do I worship God with songs filled with paltry, superficial lyrics? And I really hate drums and electric guitars during worship. The worst is when a rare hymn makes an appearance and the drummer puts on a martial beat. I honestly wanna puke!
2) These churches have no stated doctrinal stand except for the most basic. Their theological stand is dependent on who the latest pastor is. There's a Baptist church I usually attend which is currently cessationistic but used to insist that all its members make a personal pledge that all the spiritual gifts are still being given today (and I was politely told to leave!).

Group B Churches:
These are the fundamentalist or semi-fundamentalist churches. I can't stand these:
1) Some of them are KJV-Only churches.
2) Some are against learning Koine Greek and the use of the Greek New Testament.
3) Many are against today's evangelical scholars and their works. I study the Bible using modern commentaries and I find it objectionable that pastors can oppose the accomplished work of these Godly men (and women).
4) All hold to some kind of a separatist stand applied to the larger evangelical body. I understand that there are many things wrong in the evangelical world but it is sinful to separate ourselves from our brothers and sisters who honor the Lord and His Word just because of some differences.

How do I find a church I can belong to? Even the Reformed Baptist Church, what I would consider to be a theological custom-fit for me, is firmly entrenched in Group B.

Well you are not alone! I am a mild small "c" Calvinists. I am not in agreement with the HYPER Cal's. The church we just left the pastor quit giving an invitation, just a hymn at the end. I would like a few mor songs that relate to being quiet and focusing on respect and holiness and worship for God Almighty. The drum's and Electric Guitars just don't get it for me either, at least not all the time.

I don't like a "worship leader" how about the song leader and the pastor is good for me. I hat the can't stand getting up and down to go to the bathroom, the chatter as the prayer is being said. There is a disrespect for the whole service. We have had 4 babies in our life in churches. When our baby's cried and were making a fuss we had the courtesy to take them out of the service. Not now they just let then cry! We live at a time where WORSHIP is we all do our own thing and sort of listen when we think it might be worth while for us.

I am a Baptist, more open to new things, I like the 1985 NIV, the ESV and the Holman Standard Bible, I like the new Christian music, but please make worship services WORSHIPFUL!!!!!!!

 

[mikedsjr]

That's what I believe. But the idea is the same no matter where you end up.

As Chesterton said, "we don't need a church that is right when we are right, we need a Church that is right when we are wrong"

In my understanding of your statement, I agree.

 

[MechPebbles]

Have you tried any non-denominational churches? Depending on where you live there may be a smörgåsbord that you can live with. (We had to go non-denom for doctrinal reasons.)

I don't know of that many non-denominational churches in my area. There is one in particular I was interested in for some time. I listened to the sermons and read as much as I could about the church, its doctrinal stand and its lone pastor. The church seems to be ok in all respects except that it separates itself from other evangelical churches. The pastor takes great pains to stress that his church communes with others but by that he means that he invites some of the great Bible scholars to come speak (like the Pauline scholar, Thomas Schreiner).

The one major objection I had with this church is something I suspect might be intrinsic in non-denominational churches. In one sermon, I heard him talking about a recent disciplinary case he handled and he said that any future cases would be dealt with with greater severity. It seems to me that everything in the church depends on what he thinks and what he decides. Without denominational oversight and experience, without other ministers looking over his shoulder and being only in his thirties, I'm not sure that's such a good thing.

 

[dysert]

I don't know of that many non-denominational churches in my area. There is one in particular I was interested in for some time. I listened to the sermons and read as much as I could about the church, its doctrinal stand and its lone pastor. The church seems to be ok in all respects except that it separates itself from other evangelical churches. The pastor takes great pains to stress that his church communes with others but by that he means that he invites some of the great Bible scholars to come speak (like the Pauline scholar, Thomas Schreiner).

The one major objection I had with this church is something I suspect might be intrinsic in non-denominational churches. In one sermon, I heard him talking about a recent disciplinary case he handled and he said that any future cases would be dealt with with greater severity. It seems to me that everything in the church depends on what he thinks and what he decides. Without denominational oversight and experience, without other ministers looking over his shoulder and being only in his thirties, I'm not sure that's such a good thing.

As you describe it I agree with you. Absolute power corrupts. Our non-denom church is actually run by a set of elders and deacons. It's big enough to also have multiple pastors. Personally, I think an elder-run church is probably close to how the NT churches were governed.

 

[Look Up]

Are there any evangelical, that is non-mainline, reformed churches within your geographical range?

 

[JM]

What's wrong with attending a Presbyterian church?

 

[dysert]

What's wrong with attending a Presbyterian church?

The PC(USA) last year redefined marriage as a union between two people (regardless of gender). They also ordain ministers who are of a certain persuasion. (Not sure what I'm allowed to say here.) If you're a Bible believer, you can see the problem.

 

[Albion]

It would have to be a PCA or OPC church (or several other, smaller, ones), that's right. However, they'd probably be classed as Group B, as defined in the OP.

 

[Look Up]

It would have to be a PCA or OPC church (or several other, smaller, ones), that's right. However, they'd probably be classed as Group B, as defined in the OP.

I don't see the PCA (of which my local church is a member) or the OPC fitting in very well with the OP's "Group B" -- or "A" for that matter, though there is greater variation in the larger PCA than smaller OPC.