do you have this problem in your church?

[Wyomingdude]

OK now I know that we should be true to our heritage but in my church the people and deacons have this mentality that anything but Baptist is from the devil. I totally disagree with this but I wanted to know if alot of other churches have this problem or it is just mine. thanks.

[staugustine68]

OK now I know that we should be true to our heritage but in my church the people and deacons have this mentality that anything but Baptist is from the devil. I totally disagree with this but I wanted to know if alot of other churches have this problem or it is just mine. thanks.I attend a Baptist church and they don't agree with the above statement. We respect all Christian related beliefs. I, personally, don't agree with it either.

[SumTinWong]

OK now I know that we should be true to our heritage but in my church the people and deacons have this mentality that anything but Baptist is from the devil. I totally disagree with this but I wanted to know if alot of other churches have this problem or it is just mine. thanks. She is not a deacon but one of the ladies in missions won't read the Voice of the Martyrs because it is not a Baptist missions mag. So yeah it does happen contrary to what the poster above me says.

[LostnFound]

Hey, I get that, too!!

Anyway, that is tough for a spiritual novice like me. As I confront needing to find a new church home, I am open to other denominations, and yet I have no idea how to go about it, and I don't have anyone locally to ask. My "current" church is very cliqueish.

[P_G]

I got news for any Pastor or Deacon that would say such a thing!

When Jesus returns he is not comming back for
Baptists
Methodists
Mennonites
Presbyterians <sp>
Catholics
AoG
Anglicans
Lutherans
Anybody else I forgot

No

Jesus is comming back for those who trusted in him alone for their salvation

Jesus is comming back for his children.

Remember no temple shall have one stone atop the other when he returns.


Blessings

Pastor George :wave:

[Gold Dragon]

The "Us good, them demonic" mentality has been prevalent in every Christian group from the very beginning. Sometimes it is true and the Bible does tell us to be wary of the devil's deceptions and false prophets. But I find that most Christians have no problem with labelling "everything that isn't Us"="devil".

What is rarer is finding Christians who can honestly look at what the Bible says to find that what the "Us" believes may not be 100% biblical and what the "Them" believes actually is more biblical than we originally thought.

[Gwenyfur]

I got news for any Pastor or Deacon that would say such a thing!

When Jesus returns he is not comming back for
Baptists
Methodists
Mennonites
Presbyterians <sp>
Catholics
AoG
Anglicans
Lutherans
Anybody else I forgot

No

Jesus is comming back for those who trusted in him alone for their salvation

Jesus is comming back for his children.

Remember no temple shall have one stone atop the other when he returns.


Blessings

Pastor George :wave:Hear Hear!!!

May He come quickly:clap:

[staugustine68]

I find other Christian related religions interesting. I would be highly offended If a Pastor or Deacon would say such a thing.

[daveleau]

OK now I know that we should be true to our heritage but in my church the people and deacons have this mentality that anything but Baptist is from the devil. I totally disagree with this but I wanted to know if alot of other churches have this problem or it is just mine. thanks.

Our church (and all of the Baptist churches I have ever been to) have been very open to other denominations and groups. We understand that the disagreements between the other churches are wrong, but that we are all working for the same purpose- worhipping God.

We should NOT be true to our heritage but true to what we believe is right. We should be true to Scripture, not true to our heritage.

God bless,
Dave

[rural_preacher]

We should NOT be true to our heritage but true to what we believe is right. We should be true to Scripture, not true to our heritage.


AMEN!

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to daveleau again.

[Blazin4Christ]

When God judges us, he won't judge us for being a Baptist or being a Methodist, or anything else, he will judge you for your works(not 4 salvation), and he will ask u if u are saved, I personally prefer to go to churches with my beliefs because...well its my beliefs, and plus I believe as long as you are saved and stick to the Fundamentals of Christianity you are fine, but if you asked me what church you should go to I would reccomend one like mine, my church visits other Baptist churches with our beliefs, and so forth, because we disagree with others, but honestly, no one will stone you just because you go to a church you don't completely agree with, I have given my life back to Christ for 2 years now, and for these 2 years I have seen how even in my church I have never agreed with ANYONE about everything regarding church, this is not mentioning other beliefs, its because everyone is different, and as long as there are different people in the world there will be different beliefs, so if I was supposedly like someone who believes all other churches are sent by Satan, then that means I would have to kill of most Christians completely, the main thing I believe are churches sent by Satan are ones that directly go against the FUndamentals of Christianity, and only make Christianity look like just another religion when it is about God the Father, God the SOn, and God the Holy Spirit, as the trinity, who we have a strong not religion, but relation with, which leads to an overcoming of many obstacles, race, choices, and so forth, so what I am simply trying to say is, you can call yourself a Lutheran, Methodist, or anything, but if you are saved, you are good, I may not completely agree with your beliefs, but when judgement comes we can find out who was right, if I was wrong I will apologize, if you were wrong I would ask the same,

[daveleau]

Not by works, but by Faith (Gal 2:16)

God will not judge us by our works, but by our faith (Rom 4:1, Rom 9:30). We are to use our faith to do good things, and if we do not, then our faith is dead (James 2). You should not go to a church because it fits your beliefs, but because it fits the Bible(1 Cor 1:19). The idea that works is salvific or works are the basis for our judgement is the opposite of Scirptural teachings.

All of these verses state that works are NOT sufficient and are not the basis for our judgment:
Psa_49:7-8; Psa_127:1-2; Ecc_1:14; Isa_43:26; Isa_57:12; Isa_64:6; Eze_7:19; Eze_33:12-19; Dan_9:18; Mat_5:20; Luk_17:7-10; Luk_18:9-14; Act_13:39; Rom_3:20-31; Rom 4:1-22; Rom_8:3; Rom_9:16; Rom_9:31-32; Rom_11:6; 1Co_13:1-3; Gal_2:16; Gal_2:19; Gal_2:21; Gal 3:1-29; Gal_4:9-11; Gal_5:2; Gal_5:4; Gal_5:6; Gal_5:18; Gal_6:15; Eph_2:8-9; Phi_3:3-9; Col_2:20-23; 2Ti_1:9; ***_3:4-5; Heb_4:3-10; Heb_6:1-2; Heb_9:1-14; Jam_2:10-11

Remember to set your belief on Scripture, not on ideas that have come from man. Find a church that fits the Scripture's ideas, not your own.

God bless,
Dave

[infantyouthpastor]

Mike Yaconelli, the former president of Youth Specialties, stated that you've gotta believe in the core values of Christianity...after you believe those universal truths, then all the "little stuff" will fall into place. It may not be like the person next to you, but being a christian is personnal. We are all ONE BODY! we're made up of many parts, but we're out for one mission...to make him known.

[gkhster]

I agree that the truth found in the scriptures overrules my heritage (traditions). My pastor says that he believes this, yet he makes frequent comments about various 'churches down the road'.
I came to the conclusion that for this reason, it is MY responsibility to witness to my Catholic neighbor Pete. If I just drag him to my church he may hear one of these disparaging remarks and be offended. If he is offended like that, the chance to witness may be slammed shut!
I say all of this to highlight the fact that this problem does HURT others and our ministry. The cost may be measured in souls!
I guess I have these questions:
1) Why do you suppose that so many (esp. pastors) feel the need to disparage other churches.
2) How can a lay-person tactfully show these pastors that salvation does not belong to one particular church (or even a list of approved ones), and that such talk impedes the true work of the church?

[Gwenyfur]

I agree that the truth found in the scriptures overrules my heritage (traditions). My pastor says that he believes this, yet he makes frequent comments about various 'churches down the road'.
I came to the conclusion that for this reason, it is MY responsibility to witness to my Catholic neighbor Pete. If I just drag him to my church he may hear one of these disparaging remarks and be offended. If he is offended like that, the chance to witness may be slammed shut!
I say all of this to highlight the fact that this problem does HURT others and our ministry. The cost may be measured in souls!
I guess I have these questions:
1) Why do you suppose that so many (esp. pastors) feel the need to disparage other churches.
2) How can a lay-person tactfully show these pastors that salvation does not belong to one particular church (or even a list of approved ones), and that such talk impedes the true work of the church?
as a woman in the church, I don't confront Pastors, I pray for them. I pray for God's light to shine on them, and the truth of the Word be revealed to them. For a man, well I don'tknow how to confront them tactfully, but where 2 or more are gathered....

However as I teach, I teach that salvation is for ALL who call oh the name of Jesus. I don't specify religions and I surely don't make examples of other religion's practises. ... I will comment on them if asked (what I love about the forums) and I will read dissenting views. I must admit to changing a stance, because it was proven wrong scripturally. I was wrong and freely admitted it.

I guess my point is, that if a person professed that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God and that is the standard they wish to preach, then point out those scriptures that show He is God...for the earth...not just the one's we choose :)

Good Luck with this...

[abednego]

If a church group or denomination is wrong then they are wrong and it should be known! Dont let them become a stumbling block for our loved ones! In the bible it says to rebuke them sharply!

[ZiSunka]

OK now I know that we should be true to our heritage but in my church the people and deacons have this mentality that anything but Baptist is from the devil. I totally disagree with this but I wanted to know if alot of other churches have this problem or it is just mine. thanks.
What exactly did they say that made you think they think everything but baptist is of the devil?

[Wyomingdude]

It's not so much what they said as to what they did. In our church we have AWANAS and that is the only minestry in our church yet we have to fight to keep it running. We had to fight to put the lines in the carpet, we have to fight to keep it running, we have to fight to get enough workers to help out with it, all because it isn't a Southern Baptist program.

[Andyman_1970]

The "Us good, them demonic" mentality has been prevalent in every Christian group from the very beginning. Sometimes it is true and the Bible does tell us to be wary of the devil's deceptions and false prophets. But I find that most Christians have no problem with labelling "everything that isn't Us"="devil".

What is rarer is finding Christians who can honestly look at what the Bible says to find that what the "Us" believes may not be 100% biblical and what the "Them" believes actually is more biblical than we originally thought.

Once again Gold Dragon you have hit the nail on the head.

[TwinCrier]

I agree, however, I think most people perfer to read the writtings of their denomination. I certainly have no intention of wasting my time reading Watchtower or the book of Morman either. Are they really saying flat out that everything not 'baptist' is demonic or was that hyberbolic?

It's not so much what they said as to what they did. In our church we have AWANAS and that is the only minestry in our church yet we have to fight to keep it running. We had to fight to put the lines in the carpet, we have to fight to keep it running, we have to fight to get enough workers to help out with it, all because it isn't a Southern Baptist program.What denomination is AWANAs? My church recently went to Mater Clubs because it is independant Baptist in doctrine and we felt AWANA was getting too ecumenical.

[fluffy_rainbow]

AWANA is non-denominational, but they have specific requirements before a church can enroll. Alot of Baptist churches are opposed to the program because it typically replaces RA's and GA's which are SBC endorsed children's programs; however, in every church I've been in that had an AWANA program, more children attended and more adults participated in assisting with it. It was overall a more successful program.

As far as my experience with Baptists who don't like other denominations, I only experienced this in the first Baptist church I attended, which was a large SBC. The pastor preached that all methodists are alcoholics, Presbyterians are not spirit-filled, and that Catholics are the whore of Babylon and will not enter heaven. I'm not sure what the Biblical teaching for this is, although I agree that there will be no denominations in heaven, only saved people. Doctrinal differences are just that - differences. They do not condemn one specific group to hell and damnation.

[jones_of_pbf]

My church doesn't feel that non Baptist is wrong.
Simply that not following Jesus is wrong.
We actually feel that being a denomination is not the right thing to do, but non-denominational churches are taken.:D

[Gold Dragon]

I think most people perfer to read the writtings of their denomination.

I don't ever remember reading a single piece of 'Baptist' writing and I wouldn't begin to know where to look for it. :)

I've probably read many writings by Baptists, but they never advertised it as 'Baptist writing'.

[Wyomingdude]

I don't think that just cause AWANAS isn't Southern Baptist a church shouldn't do ti. We have had over a hundred kids accept Christ because of it so you can't tell me that it is to ecumenical.

[Gwenyfur]

AWANA is non-denominational, but they have specific requirements before a church can enroll. Alot of Baptist churches are opposed to the program because it typically replaces RA's and GA's which are SBC endorsed children's programs; however, in every church I've been in that had an AWANA program, more children attended and more adults participated in assisting with it. It was overall a more successful program.

As far as my experience with Baptists who don't like other denominations, I only experienced this in the first Baptist church I attended, which was a large SBC. The pastor preached that all methodists are alcoholics, Presbyterians are not spirit-filled, and that Catholics are the whore of Babylon and will not enter heaven. I'm not sure what the Biblical teaching for this is, although I agree that there will be no denominations in heaven, only saved people. Doctrinal differences are just that - differences. They do not condemn one specific group to hell and damnation.

I'm beginning to think my church is the exception to may "baptist" rules.
We have AWANAs and my youngest daughter loves it. She's (I'm ashamed to say:blush: ) a better memory than her mother when it comes to addresses of verses and the ability to quote them. RA's and GA's really fizzled in our neck of the woods. We've had 30 kids in the last 3 years come to know the Lord. We are a small church in a small community, so it doesn't sound like much, but our first AWANAs meeting had 12 adults and 3 children....we're now up to 40 children and down to 10 adults LOL but it's still growing. It's twice as large as our youth group....need to fire those teens up somehow :D

[christianrock1]

OK now I know that we should be true to our heritage but in my church the people and deacons have this mentality that anything but Baptist is from the devil. I totally disagree with this but I wanted to know if alot of other churches have this problem or it is just mine. thanks.

I grew up Baptist,and yeah,they think that also,wich really ticks me off when i visit there now...

--rich

[ZiSunka]

It's not so much what they said as to what they did. In our church we have AWANAS and that is the only minestry in our church yet we have to fight to keep it running. We had to fight to put the lines in the carpet, we have to fight to keep it running, we have to fight to get enough workers to help out with it, all because it isn't a Southern Baptist program.

If you have to fight to keep your only ministry going, your church has much bigger problems than spiritual bigotry. You've either got spiritual laziness or spiritual mismanagement at worst.