Greetings, new to forums

[Kricket_temper]

Greetings everyone.

I am brand new to the forums and just wanted to introduce myself. I have been a Christian for about 11 years now. I have visited and attended a lot of churches since I first excepted Christ. Though I have been a Christian for this long period of time I still consider myself a babe in Christ because I have not been able to define myself by finding a “home church” . Every church I go to I seem to find something that rubs me the wrong way doctrine wise. I am praying that I can find peace with this issue in the future.

Half of my youth I went a small church (can’t remember the name I was pretty young) and then my father married a Catholic and we became a part of the Catholic church. I have since left the Catholics in my teen years and have been on a search for truth ever since. I have in my search fallen into a couple cults (but it didn’t take me long to see the anti-biblical teaching and to leave them) and a period where I no longer even went to church because I felt so hurt by the infighting of all the denominations. I have just recently started going back to church and have found a small Southern Baptist church that I have really enjoyed, but again have found problems that my mind has a hard time excepting.

I know this is a weird way to say hi to all of you, but I felt if fair to let you know where I am spiritually. I look forward to the discussions that will transpire on these forums and hope to be able to have some fellowship with you my brothers and sisters.

In Christ,
Kricket

 

[TexasCatholic]

Welcome Kricket!

I can completely understand your search. We are all babes in Christ. Anyone who believes they are wise, is usually quite the opposite. I have traversed non-Denominational (they almost always follow closely to one denomination, they just wont' tell you so upfront), Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Catholic churches, and I keep coming back to Southern Baptists. It just feels like home.

Something that may encourage you regarding the problems you've had with many churches is this: Baptists are known for their independent thought. We have no Catechism book (large OR small), we have no Clergy who have the "power" to decide what is or isn't right or what we can and cannot believe. We are the Priesthood of All Believers. That means you go directly to God through Christ. You may read the Scriptures YOURSELF and through the blessing of the Holy Spirit, interpret those words for your own life. Our rule book is the Word of God -- The Bible.

You do not have to agree with every line of the Baptist Faith & Message. Although, it's not a very long document! We don't need a 1000 page book of "beliefs" which were NOT written under divine inspiration, like the Catholics do. We have a much more authoritative book to go by, and it's a book that contains all we need to know about our lives and our walk with God.

Religious Liberty is at the core of the Baptist Faith & Message, and that means not only freedom from civil authorities in matters of religion, but also freedom from would-be church "rulers" who feel they can re-write God's word in their own books and hold them in equal regard to the Word of God.

I presently refere to myself as a Christian... a Christian who happens to attend a Baptist church and grew up in a predominately-Baptist background. I am a Christian first. But the Baptist beliefs and worship-style fit most closely with my preferences. And baptists do not have to submit to authority other than God himself. We need no political organization to decide what we believe.

In other words, if you find some minor issue that you disagree with in a Baptist church -- that is OK! We don't presume to control your beliefs. You can always ask a Pastor a question about beliefs, but just because his answer and your belief don't fall in line, doesn't make YOU wrong! He has no greater authority to go to God than you or I do. Now, I'm not saying Pastors don't provide excellent counsel. They are generally much more educated on the Scriptures than a layman, but it doesn't mean they are more authoritative.

God Bless,

James

 

[Kricket_temper]

Welcome Kricket!

In other words, if you find some minor issue that you disagree with in a Baptist church -- that is OK! We don't presume to control your beliefs. You can always ask a Pastor a question about beliefs, but just because his answer and your belief don't fall in line, doesn't make YOU wrong! He has no greater authority to go to God than you or I do. Now, I'm not saying Pastors don't provide excellent counsel. They are generally much more educated on the Scriptures than a layman, but it doesn't mean they are more authoritative.

God Bless,

James

James,

I have prayed a lot the past week or so on if I should stay at this church because I strongly disagree with the Calvinistic view of the pastor. It has been strongly impressed on me during prayer that God wants me to stay at this church right now. I am a little confused as to why, but I want to let God lead me instead of my own feelings.

One thing the pastor did say to me was that there were others in the church flat out call it a false teaching and not let the fact that I don't believe hinder God's will. Even though he said this months when you brought it up It snapped back to the front of my mind.....

Thanks for the conformation of what the Holy Spirit has been impressing upon my heart.

Love In Christ,
Kricket

 

[BT]

One thing the pastor did say to me was that there were others in the church flat out call it a false teaching and not let the fact that I don't believe hinder God's will. Even though he said this months when you brought it up It snapped back to the front of my mind.....

Kricket

Hey Kricket. I'm a Baptist and I would agree with you and these certain members of your church. Stick it out though. Calvinism probably won't overshadow all things. You don't need to leave the church though. You'd never find a "perfect" church anyway. Oh and if you ever do find a perfect church let me know 'cause I'll go there too

Keep in mind that the thing that brings us together as Baptists are the seven Baptist distinctives... Heck I went to a Baptist church for 5 years and pretty much refused to be called a Baptist.. until one day I asked my Pastor what exactly made one a "Baptist". After he explained the seven distinctives to me I excitedly replied, "Hey! I am a Baptist!"

Anyway welcome aboard!

BT