Starting a new fellowship. Advice?

[Gettingtalents]

After running from it a long time, and trying to change the modern day churches I have attended, to only face rejection and exclusion, the Lord is (still) pushing me towards starting a fellowship. In Texas, there are "churches" all over. Plenty. And this isn't going to be, so help us God, like the stereotypical "church."

Unpaid pastor (unpaid everybody)
Transparency regarding finances
Disagreements welcomed and encouraged (even hosting debates) on Biblical matters
Time or events for men (not just ministers) to speak
After service fellowship (like lunch together, not just "somebody next to you in a seat," but getting to know one another)
Not preaching "tithes," but the New Testament manner of giving
Water baptism whenever anyone gets converted (hey, it is just plain Biblical)
Women will not be teaching men or have authority over them (Biblical), but will be able to do other things.
Not into entertainment and "programs," but Spirit filled preaching and singing
Helping those in the congregation who have needs
Not feel good blabbing, but wholesome messages
Active church.... Busy for the kingdom, not "church then nothing till next service"
Conversations will be (so help me God) about God even after church
Pastor easily approachable and not putting on as infallible or better than
No "Pastor's family" preferences at the church
No fashion show. I intend to wear basic stuff and to encourage the same
No allowance for some high unrealistic view of the pastor, nor a lavish life for him while the congregants who are faithful in Christ go without


Any suggestions? Criticisms? Comments?

 

[drstevej]

My seminary classmate, Dan Duncan, is teaching pastor here: Believers Chapel > Home

They incorporate quite a few of your thoughts. Might visit them and see what they are doing.

 

[IchoozJC]

I would certainly visit.

What type of teaching? Topical, expository,...?

 

[Gettingtalents]

My seminary classmate, Dan Duncan, is teaching pastor here: Believers Chapel > Home

They incorporate quite a few of your thoughts. Might visit them and see what they are doing.

Thanks for the response. While I appreciate his straight forward declaration that he teaches Calvinism, I disagree with this doctrine and do not believe it to be biblical (1 Corinthians 8:11, etc.)

Now, if he was like "I teach Calvinism but if you want to openly debate it in from of the congregation we will" then that would be nice

 

[Gettingtalents]

I would certainly visit.

What type of teaching? Topical, expository,...?

Well, both... But topical without exposition seems to be missing something, so I should hope both. I would want to let others preach too.... Haven't received all the details yet. Definitely clear topical teaching though as The Lord leads... So much grey area in mainstream Christian thought

I do believe the LORD has just, with exquisite timing, hooked me up with a coworker who believes like me on pretty much every subject we have discussed! (RARE) and I am discussing, should The Lord say the same, being co pastors of the church. To prevent the one man show (for my sake too, as a buffer against pride and a balance of powers so to speak). Haven't received all the details of this either.... He mentioned associate pastor... Dunno yet, but it looks like (not presuming, which can lead to spiritual pitfalls) God is putting this together.

 

[CherubRam]

After running from it a long time, and trying to change the modern day churches I have attended, to only face rejection and exclusion, the Lord is (still) pushing me towards starting a fellowship. In Texas, there are "churches" all over. Plenty. And this isn't going to be, so help us God, like the stereotypical "church."

Unpaid pastor (unpaid everybody)
Transparency regarding finances
Disagreements welcomed and encouraged (even hosting debates) on Biblical matters
Time or events for men (not just ministers) to speak
After service fellowship (like lunch together, not just "somebody next to you in a seat," but getting to know one another)
Not preaching "tithes," but the New Testament manner of giving
Water baptism whenever anyone gets converted (hey, it is just plain Biblical)
Women will not be teaching men or have authority over them (Biblical), but will be able to do other things.
Not into entertainment and "programs," but Spirit filled preaching and singing
Helping those in the congregation who have needs
Not feel good blabbing, but wholesome messages
Active church.... Busy for the kingdom, not "church then nothing till next service"
Conversations will be (so help me God) about God even after church
Pastor easily approachable and not putting on as infallible or better than
No "Pastor's family" preferences at the church
No fashion show. I intend to wear basic stuff and to encourage the same
No allowance for some high unrealistic view of the pastor, nor a lavish life for him while the congregants who are faithful in Christ go without


Any suggestions? Criticisms? Comments?

What are your personal doctrinal beliefs?

 

[dumpsterdiver45]

Thanks for the response. While I appreciate his straight forward declaration that he teaches Calvinism, I disagree with this doctrine and do not believe it to be biblical (1 Corinthians 8:11, etc.)

Now, if he was like "I teach Calvinism but if you want to openly debate it in from of the congregation we will" then that would be nice

I'm a Christian Universalist. Would I be welcome in your fellowship?

 

[Gettingtalents]

I'm a Christian Universalist. Would I be welcome in your fellowship?

Yes. And we could discuss our beliefs openly without fear of persecution. Even have a debate on it. And afterwards, we would eat together and fellowship as brethren (as long as we don't fall under the category of 1 Corinthians 5:11).

 

[Gettingtalents]

What are your personal doctrinal beliefs?

Christ was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. he ascended into heaven.

In the Christian's freedom from sin (that is, by grace we have power over sin, so that we do not have to yield to things we know are sinful)

That the Bible trumps tradition (I don't believe it is, in its present form, without contradiction)

That there is one God, the Father, and that Christ, who is the Word, was created first and is God in a sense, being the image of God, but just as I can hold an image of myself up and you can see it and say, "That is you," while understanding there is only one me, and that the image is me by expression, so also Christ, the Image of God, is God as well, while the Father is still the only true God.

That the Holy Spirit is the presence of God and Christ on earth

In water baptism (don't think it is necessary, but do think it is needed to be obedient after salvation, and that salvation is only maintained through obedience to the known or perceived will of God)

That we are saved by the grace of God, which is not dormant, but is empowering (2 Corinthians 12:9-10), and that by his grace we can do what we, of our own accord, cannot. That is, we are God's workmanship, not against our will, but in accordance with our denying ourselves and taking up our cross daily.

That salvation can be lost even after grace (Romans 6:15-16)

That Christ died for the remission of past sins (Romans 3:25) and that if we sin willfully, it doesn't cover our sins automatically afterwards (Hebrews 10:26-29), but that while we walk in the light, it does cover sins done in ignorance

Post trib rapture

Bodily resurrection

Being filled with the Holy Spirit and in speaking in tongues

We are nothing without God.... Boasting is excluded. We just need to deny ourselves and keep our own way out of his way.

That predestination applies to Israel and some can be added to and some removed from Israel (Romans 11:21-23)

Think that covers a broad spectrum... And all these points could be openly contested at the church by other men.

 

[Albion]

IS THERE a pool of prospective members in your area that hold these beliefs and are willing to start up, from scratch, a new congregation? Or are you only hoping to find some?

 

[seeingeyes]

Any suggestions? Criticisms? Comments?

I would have some, but I'm not allowed to speak...

 

[CherubRam]

Christ was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. he ascended into heaven.

In the Christian's freedom from sin (that is, by grace we have power over sin, so that we do not have to yield to things we know are sinful)

That the Bible trumps tradition (I don't believe it is, in its present form, without contradiction)

That there is one God, the Father, and that Christ, who is the Word, was created first and is God in a sense, being the image of God, but just as I can hold an image of myself up and you can see it and say, "That is you," while understanding there is only one me, and that the image is me by expression, so also Christ, the Image of God, is God as well, while the Father is still the only true God.

That the Holy Spirit is the presence of God and Christ on earth

In water baptism (don't think it is necessary, but do think it is needed to be obedient after salvation, and that salvation is only maintained through obedience to the known or perceived will of God)

That we are saved by the grace of God, which is not dormant, but is empowering (2 Corinthians 12:9-10), and that by his grace we can do what we, of our own accord, cannot. That is, we are God's workmanship, not against our will, but in accordance with our denying ourselves and taking up our cross daily.

That salvation can be lost even after grace (Romans 6:15-16)

That Christ died for the remission of past sins (Romans 3:25) and that if we sin willfully, it doesn't cover our sins automatically afterwards (Hebrews 10:26-29), but that while we walk in the light, it does cover sins done in ignorance

Post trib rapture

Bodily resurrection

Being filled with the Holy Spirit and in speaking in tongues

We are nothing without God.... Boasting is excluded. We just need to deny ourselves and keep our own way out of his way.

That predestination applies to Israel and some can be added to and some removed from Israel (Romans 11:21-23)

Think that covers a broad spectrum... And all these points could be openly contested at the church by other men.

More specifically, do you believe in the Trinity doctrine, Hell, and a Sunday Sabbath; and do you believe the moral commands have been done away with?

 

[megaflies]

The only fellowship you need to establish is with the word of my father.

 

[Gettingtalents]

More specifically, do you believe in the Trinity doctrine, Hell, and a Sunday Sabbath; and do you believe the moral commands have been done away with?

Succinctly;
No, Yes, No, No

I do believe in Hell, but not as it is often preached. I don't believe in such eternal conscious torment for everyone not saved. I do believe in some kind if consciousness apart from the body, but not a time based conscious existence, but more like a dream state (which a man can sleep long and dream short, or sleep short and dream long... Otherwise those who, doing the same thing but dying earlier in time, would suffer more for the same sin, which is not justice as I see it). At the resurrection, new bodies are given, this will be a real conscious "time based" existence. Those thrown into the lake of fire will perish and (maybe?) slip back into the timeless "dream state." The Bible speaks if death as "sleep" and I believe we can see what death is like thereby in some regards, and the resurrection.... Unconscious, yet somewhat or sometimes conscious in a sense...