What is Word of Faith?

It would be nice to know how you arrived at that conclusion.

Could you explain what you mean by exclusive and close-minded?

I can honestly tell you that you could come to our church dressed exactly how you want and it would not matter to anyone. No one would ever give you an ugly look.

These reformed Baptist churches are not Bible literalists at all. They ignore commands in the Bible such as "Do not forbid speaking in tongues", or "Forbid not to prophesy". They have a whole system of tradition which stops them from actually reading the Bible and accepting it at face value.

Please don't lump me in with them! I was thrown out of a church like that.

There is a Scriptural truth that "bad company corrupts good character" and you have to be careful. If you hang around with people who do drugs for example, then you are more likely to do drugs. If you hang around with people who are rude about churches and ministers, then that is what you will end up doing.

However, on the other hand Jesus was known as friend of sinners, and was often in the company of prostitutes and frequently married women and tax collectors and rebels. This two truths must be held in balance as we determine how we spend our time, our passions and our money.

As for women staying at home, that is not Biblical because the Bible says that women should be in business and generating money (Proverbs 31). I believe that a woman should submit to her husband, but also that a husband should love his wife - however, it is vital to know that they are both humans and both should be treated with dignity, love and respect(Ephesians 5). I also believe both male and female are equal worth before God (Genesis 1,2) and that in Christ there is no male or female (Gal. 3) and therefore women can occupy any office in the church, as outlined by the fact that there are women apostles (Romans 16) and deacons (also Romans 16) in the church.

No, but you also have to remember that churches are open to everyone, including judgmental people. For you to get annoyed at their comments is not really that much different from them making comments to you, is it?

I homeschool my 4 children. I was a secondary school teacher for 6 years, so I know what schools are like and I don't think they are the best place for children. I can't comment on their attitudes. My sons are normally very welcoming to people from other faiths and ideologies. What I have found is that at their age (eldest 12, next is 10) then non-Christian children with a secular background tend to be bullying and very mean to them. I think as their peers age then this issue will subside.

Again, this is typical of the kind of church you are talking about. I understand this part of your story entirely, including the references about entering church. I remember going to Baptist church with an Iron Maiden T-Shirt, long hair, ripped jeans and an attitude from hell. They didn't respond to me in the way I would have wanted.

The first time I ever went to church I was 15 and I went as a dare. I sat in the back after arriving really early. Two old ladies turned up and told me off for sitting on their pew. I asked them "What the blank makes you think it is your pew?" (I was 15, not born again). They said it had their name written on it, and it did. You could have fitted 10-12 people on this pew, but it was just the two of them and I had to find another seat.

But that day I heard the gospel and it changed my life. Now as a pastor I am so passionate that no-one ever will walk out my church because they feel judged because of their dress or attitude.

I respect everyone's right to believe what they want. I respect someone's decision to reject Christ and go to hell if that is what they honestly choose. But I will always ensure people know the truth of the Word of God. Our church believes the Word of God is the sole source of life, so if you came to our church saying X,Y,Z, I would say fine - if you can find the Scriptures for X,Y,Z, I will believe X,Y,Z.

My problem with the kind of churches you reference there is that they are tied to traditions and often can't even explain the gospel clearly from a Biblical base. Others will actually say the Bible is not the Word of God!

I agree that sometimes churches can go into what I call "shepherding" where they want to control people's lives, normally out of a misguided sense of compassion. I have experienced the worst of that as well and could compare stories. Just please don't think that everyone is like that!

Faith churches do so much outreach and good in the world you simply would not believe!

No the personal experience was more than appreciated. When I have a bit more time, I might share a few of mine.

Blessings,
Ben

I basically concur with what KZZUb said about the churches you described. These people's actions were wrong, plain and simple and have nothing to do with their understanding of the Scriptures, but rather with their own self-righteous arrogance. However, don't let that cause you to steretype people who take the Bible literally as falling into that same category.

I wanted to ask you, what are you searching for in all these denominations? I think it is fine for you to visit these places and to learn what you can, but would it not rather be better to seek God and go where He leads than to keep trying to seek out what would be your preference. I go to a Methodist church, though I am a Spirit-filled WOF charismatic by all accounts in terms of ideology. Why? Because I know that God wants me there. I don't have particular affinity to the service honestly. I am free to worship how I please, if I want to lift my hands during a song I can or whatever . . .but maybe 2 other people in the whole church would join me in that. We always do traditional hymns except for the special. I wish we had more of a worship service. They don't speak in tongues . . .yet, so we don't have that aspect of the service. However, they do know how to pray for healing, and the pastor extols them to listen and be guided by the Holy Spirit (which is actually not the usual for a pastor at that church).

However, it isn't about my personal preference when it comes to things of God, it is about Jesus Christ and the work that He wishes to accomplish in me and through me to others, so I bear with these people (who by the way, kicked me out once for prophesying against their sins as a church, not accepting outsiders or reaching outside to bring others to Christ was the main thing among others). I continued to pray that their hearts would be turned toward God when I left, and eventually God sent me back there and I was accepted back with open and loving arms. They turned toward God and He changed them and the work continues as God accomplishes His purposes and now I still get to be a part of it.

And that isn't the first time I got kicked out of a church and for less than that, but even for those people, I still love them, even if they don't love me and I know that God called me there at the time to do whatever He desired me to do.

So, not that you necessarily are, but make sure that you are not looking too closely at a denomination or others to define your relationship with Jesus Christ. If you want to stop seeking a denomination to belong to, then start seeking and intimate relationship with Christ and you will find where you need to be . . .if may help to ask God to help you clear out everything you think you know or have presumed about Him over the years, and to fill you with the truth. He will not fail to give you wisdom, knowledge, or understanding if you ask for it, but so often we struggle with the truth, because we cannot let go of our preconceived notions about who God really is. It seems (though I can't know for sure) like you are trying to find a link to Jesus through a denominational lens, and that will never work. You must first be transformed by Christ and then look at everything through the Jesus lens, so to speak.

If you look through the Jesus lens first, then you will clearly see where your path lies and which direction you should go and yes, even which church to be a part of.

Anyway, I hope something I've said has been beneficial to you. Good luck with your seeking . . .