My personal journey (the way it has to be)

[NightWolf]

Good day all,

I have joined this forum a long time ago, but I am new. First post about a week ago. Here is what I have to do to remain on the Christian path.

I am a very "political" person. When I say "political" I don't mean politics (although I am active on political forums). What I mean is I am very "political" minded. I believe in literal things and my life is part of a fight to keep those literal things intact.

I live in the "Bible Belt". This area has been a sort of a thorn in my sides for years and has been much of what has my journey such a mixed bag of soul lost type stuff.

The churches in this area run a sort of dictatorship for the area. For example, there was an adult store put in this town. The church(es) fought it and got the man that opened the store arrested. It is bad.

As a person who believes in our Constitution I believe in everyones right to freedom. I believe in this right to freedom even if it does not align with what I might believe. I have no right to judge you or any right to dictate your happiness. And if adult things make you happy, then hey, I am all for you seeking out your own happiness.

This creates a problem for me. The only solution is I cannot join a church. It has to be this way because If I join, I would soon fall from Grace because I would not be any part of some of the things the church(es) do in this area. I have to make this journey my own and seek fellowship online and form my own study habits and such. Plenty of sites with people of great knowledge exist to feed my soul.

I just cannot go against my moral principle to join in what this local community does and how judgments are passed on the community. And it does not stop here either. I know a Christian woman that was married and her husband became abusive, she feared for her safety. She divorced him and was thrown out of her church. She could not go to any church because the news spread. I could never be any part of that.

It is a bit sad really, but this is where I have to stand.

God Bless

 

[graceandpeace]

It sounds like you would best fit in a mainline Protestant church (rather than an evangelical or fundamentalist Protestant church, which would be more typically active in the ways you've described in your post).

Of course, churches regardless of denomination can reflect the region they are placed within. What churches are your options, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[NightWolf]

It sounds like you would best fit in a mainline Protestant church (rather than an evangelical or fundamentalist Protestant church, which would be more typically active in the ways you've described in your post).

Of course, churches regardless of denomination can reflect the region they are placed within. What churches are your options, if you don't mind me asking?

Southern Baptist is really big here. There are some non-denominational churches but they are the ones that kicked the young lady I was talking about out.

It's a bad situation here. I really think I have no choices. We are banks, churches and dollar stores. The banks and churches run everything (in no particular order).

 

[graceandpeace]

Southern Baptist is really big here. There are some non-denominational churches but they are the ones that kicked the young lady I was talking about out.

It's a bad situation here. I really think I have no choices. We are banks, churches and dollar stores. The banks and churches run everything (in no particular order).

Yea, Southern Baptist falls into the evangelical Protestant category - & most "non-denominational" churches are Baptist or charismatic in theology & practice.
Do you have any other options? How far would you be willing/able to commute? Maybe there would be more options in a nearby city?

 

[NightWolf]

Yea, Southern Baptist falls into the evangelical Protestant category - & most "non-denominational" churches are Baptist or charismatic in theology & practice.
Do you have any other options? How far would you be willing/able to commute? Maybe there would be more options in a nearby city?

Nearest place that would separate this issue would be at least an hour away. I would not be able to do 2 hours of driving every Sunday.

 

[graceandpeace]

Nearest place that would separate this issue would be at least an hour away. I would not be able to do 2 hours of driving every Sunday.

That's tough. Me personally, I would make the drive, if it got me to a place I could be at peace with. Or move, but I know that's not always an option for many.

 

[Midst]

Good day all,

I have joined this forum a long time ago, but I am new. First post about a week ago. Here is what I have to do to remain on the Christian path.

I am a very "political" person. When I say "political" I don't mean politics (although I am active on political forums). What I mean is I am very "political" minded. I believe in literal things and my life is part of a fight to keep those literal things intact.

I live in the "Bible Belt". This area has been a sort of a thorn in my sides for years and has been much of what has my journey such a mixed bag of soul lost type stuff.

The churches in this area run a sort of dictatorship for the area. For example, there was an adult store put in this town. The church(es) fought it and got the man that opened the store arrested. It is bad.

As a person who believes in our Constitution I believe in everyones right to freedom. I believe in this right to freedom even if it does not align with what I might believe. I have no right to judge you or any right to dictate your happiness. And if adult things make you happy, then hey, I am all for you seeking out your own happiness.

This creates a problem for me. The only solution is I cannot join a church. It has to be this way because If I join, I would soon fall from Grace because I would not be any part of some of the things the church(es) do in this area. I have to make this journey my own and seek fellowship online and form my own study habits and such. Plenty of sites with people of great knowledge exist to feed my soul.

I just cannot go against my moral principle to join in what this local community does and how judgments are passed on the community. And it does not stop here either. I know a Christian woman that was married and her husband became abusive, she feared for her safety. She divorced him and was thrown out of her church. She could not go to any church because the news spread. I could never be any part of that.

It is a bit sad really, but this is where I have to stand.

God Bless

Not sad, and not unusual, of course some of the worst adversaries are going to come in thinking God is on their side. This is exactly the situation Jesus faced.

I would be wary of legalism, of religions which profess to be Christian but end up clearly being ritualistic, "do this and do not do that".

However, these things are obvious. What is less obvious is America is not the "Promised Land", and while there is fading glory to this Age, it is most surely not the "Age of Power" and the "Age to Come".

It is good to make right judgments on whatever you see, but I would advise to be very wary on politics. It can be very easy to be biased, left or right, rather then on right and wrong.

"Sin", if you recall is an archery term meaning "to miss the mark". One of those words everyone knows, and they even know this definition. But it is so simple, it is easy to forget the power of the meaning of it.

You want to be as accurate as powerful in your beliefs, then your words and actions will be on target.

Change will clearly not come by some political movement nor action, though the world wants very much for you to believe this. No, change comes by the Lord and angels descending in power on earth and taking over.

The Kingdom of Heaven does not come so people can see it, as Jesus said, but is amongst us. And so it comes to a surprise.

What all this means in terms of "what you can do", really gets down first to what is in your heart: and what it is you can believe, which has a solid foundation.

 

[parsley]

You are seeing an overview of a system that others might not see -- or might assume that is normalcy. It is a problem when nonprofit groups begin to dictate society, even when it seems for the good.

The IRS has standards for non-profits, and dominating political voice is not allowed. (We tend to limit this to presidential elections). I am not suggesting you oppose them, but at least create your own pocket of good in society. Start your own Bible study or fellowship.

Several friends through the years have started storefront churches and home fellowships. One rented out a YMCA gym for church services. (Kids n basketballs after.)

One I am close to now welcomes the broad mix of urban dwellers, and stirred up controversy among their peer pastors, but they are standing firm. They have conviction to reach anyone, without trying to transform them to a likeness the minute they meet.

I have heard southerners speak of brotherhoods like Freemasons or Klan intermingled with churches, and boosted that type of networked mindset. Us:them.
(But Kentucky?)

As for the adult store, I had an informative conversation with a town office. A topless bar was opening right next to a preschool. The office was concerned -- not just for policy, or the safety of the children, but the whole traffic pattern and staffing police.

They complained that a less-controversial business spurred continual crime, and officers needed to cover the perimeter of town every night because that business drew in more crime potential. People from outside the town, in reckless mode. It became a financial concern, a safety concern, drained their budget... and drew staff attention away from protecting the rest of town.

So you have a good point about dominance of an area, but the arrest was probably made for real reasons.