I don't think I'll ever join a church

[Jacque_Pierre22]

My views:
1) TULIP
2) Either the PCA or Lutheran view of baptism
3) liturgical worship
4) clearly defined documents
I know I was told the Anglican ACNA would be a good fit for me but after watching interviews, it seems like I would be an oddball there being a 5 pointer; but then the worship service in the local PCA is very modern with guitars, and everything with a massive number of people where I would just be ignored by all the large families. So I really just think it's pointless for me. I wanted to maybe study in a seminary in order to preach to Muslims with my Arabic knowledge but it seems that I will never be involved enough to be recommended, and I'm an older male anyway now.... thoughts?

 

[Tolworth John]

My views:
1) TULIP
2) Either the PCA or Lutheran view of baptism
3) liturgical worship
4) clearly defined documents
I know I was told the Anglican ACNA would be a good fit for me but after watching interviews, it seems like I would be an oddball there being a 5 pointer; but then the worship service in the local PCA is very modern with guitars, and everything with a massive number of people where I would just be ignored by all the large families. So I really just think it's pointless for me. I wanted to maybe study in a seminary in order to preach to Muslims with my Arabic knowledge but it seems that I will never be involved enough to be recommended, and I'm an older male anyway now.... thoughts?

Check out the churches in your area, don't just view them on line but go to a service, talk to people, get a 'feel' for the service and if it is largely in line with your views, talk to the minister.

There is no perfect church, just as there is no perfect Christian attending church, accept that not every T will be cross and not every 'i' will be dotted.
Work out what your bottom line is and work from that.

without a sending church there is no point going to theological college.

 

[sandman]

My views:
1) TULIP
2) Either the PCA or Lutheran view of baptism
3) liturgical worship
4) clearly defined documents
I know I was told the Anglican ACNA would be a good fit for me but after watching interviews, it seems like I would be an oddball there being a 5 pointer; but then the worship service in the local PCA is very modern with guitars, and everything with a massive number of people where I would just be ignored by all the large families. So I really just think it's pointless for me. I wanted to maybe study in a seminary in order to preach to Muslims with my Arabic knowledge but it seems that I will never be involved enough to be recommended, and I'm an older male anyway now.... thoughts?

It would be presumptuous to give you my thoughts…. as I am not the one that resides within you. Ask The Father which direction you should go.

We should use our minds to analyze situations, but many times what we perceive is inaccurate …God on the other hand will not steer you wrong.

 

[Jacque_Pierre22]

well to be clear I have attended the PCA, LCMS, and reformed baptist as a visitor but not as an officially "joined member" and that makes me unable to participate in things; in a few weeks I am thinking about visiting a local Anglican ACNA church too. When I was at a PCA church in 2019 it was very far and it seemed like I was shunned because I went there dressed wrong compared to others and the pastor didn't seem friendly, didn't reply to my emails either

 

[wonderkins]

My views:
1) TULIP
2) Either the PCA or Lutheran view of baptism
3) liturgical worship
4) clearly defined documents
I know I was told the Anglican ACNA would be a good fit for me but after watching interviews, it seems like I would be an oddball there being a 5 pointer; but then the worship service in the local PCA is very modern with guitars, and everything with a massive number of people where I would just be ignored by all the large families. So I really just think it's pointless for me. I wanted to maybe study in a seminary in order to preach to Muslims with my Arabic knowledge but it seems that I will never be involved enough to be recommended, and I'm an older male anyway now.... thoughts?

Have you been on the puritanboard forum? It's reformed based with Presbyterians and Baptists. You'll find a bunch of like-minded believers. There are always topics on the front page discussing all those positions you named. I use it myself.

 

[Jacque_Pierre22]

yea I couldn't register because its required to enter your church and other info to register

 

[Jacque_Pierre22]

It also says that me beleiving in liturgical worship is simply wrong and I should read more to be converted to the PCA way or reformed baptist way on a thread

 

[Blade]

Its always about others not self. There are people there that God uses to help you and He blessed you to help them. So be it Church or home Church WE me too.. need to always come together. Its about HIM not self. What would HE want?

 

[Jacque_Pierre22]

like I said I'll check out ACNA and see how that goes. I know being in community is important obviously

 

[wonderkins]

It also says that me beleiving in liturgical worship is simply wrong and I should read more to be converted to the PCA way or reformed baptist way on a thread

I don't know about the liturgical part. I'm a reformed Baptist going to a non reformed Baptist church. I explained my position and was able to register. I guess the bigger point was that there are people from lots of different reformed churches there. You may find one you didn't know about.

 

[Unqualified]

Don’t go where you have to be a member. Go, worship, give. But if not believe what they believe you will be out of touch. How will you not forsake the meeting of the saints? How will you get fed?
I go to Calvary chapel. I don’t want to steer you the wrong way if you can’t compromise your beliefs and if you find yourself in an impossible situation- God is merciful.

 

[PloverWing]

In general, the Anglican tradition allows for a diversity of beliefs, finding their unity instead in common worship. As I understand them, the ACNA and Continuing Anglican churches, while more conservative than the Episcopal Church in the US, are still broadly in this tradition of allowing some diversity of belief.

This means that (I think) an ACNA or Continuing Anglican church would be fine with you believing TULIP, as long as you're okay with the fact that many church members won't agree with you on that set of doctrines. Are you comfortable with that level of diversity, so that you might disagree with other church members about TULIP and perhaps some other points? If so, an ACNA or Continuing Anglican church might be a good home for you.

 

[Jacque_Pierre22]

well I'm fine with disagreeing with members. I'm more curious about the sermons, whether they sound Lutheran or Presbyterian, as long as they don't sound like overly Arminian or dispensational, it's fine by me. I used to attend a Lutheran Brethren church and the sermons didn't in any way catechically teach Lutheranism; about the only thing that was apparent was total depravity but not the other TULIP, and the sacraments were never really the crux of a sermon either. It was more just the NT stories and sort of lessons on that, but not arminian or dispensational sounding. I haven't listened to many Anglican sermons but the Presbyterians tend to have longer catechetical sermons unlike Lutheran ones which are like 10-15 minutes compared to 30-40 minutes. An Old Lutheran who did pastor once used to go way over time but he was secretly more of a TUUIP (unlimted atonement was still Lutheran in his teaching) Lutheran, he was pastor from when I was like age 8-16 and he was a graybeard so maybe in his 60s but once he was replaced by a younger guy it became more similar to an EO or Roman 10 minute homily. It's too bad his sermons were only on casettes because things werent as advanced now

 

[Jacque_Pierre22]

thanks everyone, i am very close like 90% sure ACNA is for me

 

[Paidiske]

I wanted to maybe study in a seminary in order to preach to Muslims .... thoughts?

This bit jumped out at me. Whether or not ACNA is a good fit, I wonder whether, if it's on your heart to reach Muslims, you might do better to work on building relationships in which faith can be shared informally, rather than trying to "preach"?

 

[Jacque_Pierre22]

I'm not an outgoing person really and Islam is very rational and philosophical so I would need more knowledge to argue with them. They are more interested in systematic stuff like the Trinity and that's why I think it's important to have a consistent doctrine and struggle to do that btw because they always point out contradictions with what Christians say. Islamic philosophy is a big field too. One reason they would listen to me is my respect/love of Arabic but its tough, to get anywhere because its risky for them to question anything.

 

[Paidiske]

Ah, well. You could equip yourself a bit for that without going to the extreme of getting a degree. A book like Migliore's Faith Seeking Understanding could be a good start.

I guess my point was more, the pulpit is not necessarily the best vantage point for reaching people of another faith.

 

[Jacque_Pierre22]

my goal is also to just better understand the philosophy behind the doctrines that they were arguing about in the 1500s and 1600s things like communicatio idiomatum and such that requires a lot more knowledge. A top scholars like William Lane Craig has 2 phDs; I've always been interested I guess in the Germans growing up Lutheran because all of them are German like Kant and Pannenberg; I also had a very long streak of Orthodoxy when I was in my 20s. So its a longterm aspiration. from what I know u need to spend many years on it.

 

[Halbhh]

In general, the Anglican tradition allows for a diversity of beliefs, finding their unity instead in common worship. As I understand them, the ACNA and Continuing Anglican churches, while more conservative than the Episcopal Church in the US, are still broadly in this tradition of allowing some diversity of belief.

This means that (I think) an ACNA or Continuing Anglican church would be fine with you believing TULIP, as long as you're okay with the fact that many church members won't agree with you on that set of doctrines. Are you comfortable with that level of diversity, so that you might disagree with other church members about TULIP and perhaps some other points? If so, an ACNA or Continuing Anglican church might be a good home for you.

I'd add that in every church I've talked with people at, maybe 25 or so in at least 5 denominations.... people always have diverse views.
So that I expect that's universal. And if you don't hear those diverse views in a church, it probably is because people are afraid to say what they think/believe. I'm just good at listening and am safe to tell....

 

[public hermit]

My views:
1) TULIP
2) Either the PCA or Lutheran view of baptism
3) liturgical worship
4) clearly defined documents
I know I was told the Anglican ACNA would be a good fit for me but after watching interviews, it seems like I would be an oddball there being a 5 pointer; but then the worship service in the local PCA is very modern with guitars, and everything with a massive number of people where I would just be ignored by all the large families. So I really just think it's pointless for me. I wanted to maybe study in a seminary in order to preach to Muslims with my Arabic knowledge but it seems that I will never be involved enough to be recommended, and I'm an older male anyway now.... thoughts?

You are one choosing restrictions into which nothing can fit. If you want to do that work, humble yourself and find a close fit.