Hey there

[ConservativeChristian97]

:wave: Hey there everyone,
My name is Dawn and I'm visiting from the Baptist forum to see if perhaps my family and I should start attending a CoC in MS when we move. I tried looking up the CoCs views on homosexuality and once saved, always saved, but was unable to find them. :( So, perhaps someone could help me on that? So far what I've read seems to be what we're looking for in a church, and after all of the stress associated with church hunting, I'm hoping this is where it ends.

Anyways, I'll tell you a bit about us. :) We've been married almost three years and our first child is due July 12 of this year, so 12 days before our anniversary. :D We're moving to MS bc we feel there is more Christian influence than there is here in the DC area. Which is more important to us than money, sadly a lot of people here don't get that.
Anyway, I am looking forward to getting to know most of you.

God bless you all,
Dawn

[Splayd]

Hey there Dawn and Welcome!

Typically, I've found that most CofC's agree that scripture tells us that practicing homosexuality is a sin. As far as OSAS goes - you'll probably find a variety of opinions on this, though we tend not to ascribe to theological systems such as Calvinism.

Peace

[HeyHomie]

You'll find that most CofC's in the South are strict non-instrumentalists. If that's your bag, then go for it. If not, let me recommend the Independent Christian Churches. Same general idea, but we have instruments!

[ConservativeChristian97]

Hey there Dawn and Welcome!

Typically, I've found that most CofC's agree that scripture tells us that practicing homosexuality is a sin. As far as OSAS goes - you'll probably find a variety of opinions on this, though we tend not to ascribe to theological systems such as Calvinism.

Peace

Its a Calvinist teaching? :scratch: I never knew that, I always thought Southern Baptist were Armenian (I think that's right :doh: ). I'm glad to hear this, though, I am encouraged to continue exploring CoC further. I told my dh what I've found so far and he thinks it sounds great, too.

You'll find that most CofC's in the South are strict non-instrumentalists. If that's your bag, then go for it. If not, let me recommend the Independent Christian Churches. Same general idea, but we have instruments!

Wow! I've never been to a church without instruments, but it sounds like it could be pretty neat. Definately different from Southern Baptist and Pentecostal, huh? ;)

Thank you for your help!
God bless you both,
Dawn

[Splayd]

Its a Calvinist teaching? :scratch: Well - yes and no. Classical Arminianism maintains that eternal security is conditional. Calvinists believe in "preservation of the saints". The Calvinistic perspective is often referred to as OSAS, but that's not entirely correct. Nevertheless it has impacted other theological systems and some refer to themselves as OSAS Arminians now.

Anyway, my point isn't really that we're necessarily opposed to or in favour of OSAS, but rather that we tend not to define ourselves by doctrinal systems. That said - I've personally found that we often agree with Baptists on this matter and lean more towards a sort of OSAS Arminianism than either of the traditional Arminian or Calvinistic perspectives. Others will probably have different experiences though.

Peace

[WesWoodell]

Trust me - you won't find any Churches of Christ in Mississippi that teach or support the Once Saved, Always Saved doctrine.

The Bible indicates in many different places that God would never abandon His children, but that doesn't mean that His children can't abandon Him.

And welcome to the forum. :)

[ConservativeChristian97]

Trust me - you won't find any Churches of Christ in Mississippi that teach or support the Once Saved, Always Saved doctrine.

The Bible indicates in many different places that God would never abandon His children, but that doesn't mean that His children can't abandon Him.

And welcome to the forum. :)
Okay, that's good. :) I just don't want my kids to get the wrong idea or anything, as my hubby and I both feel OSAS actually goes against what the Bible says. I do agree, it is a matter of us leaving Him and not Him leaving us.

[JDIBe]

I'd have to agree with Wes on the OSAS in American churches. Generally not taught over here, but it's not taught that people "wink in and out" of God's grace on a daily basis either.

The current mindset among most CoC's over here, is man is a free moral agent able to choose God or not before and after a saved condition.

Welcome to the forum. Feel free to check some past posts from CoC members here (and some in the Non-Denom. forum, some hang out there occasionally) to see general beliefs and issues within our brotherhood.

If you have any more questions, please feel free to post them here (this forum needs a little action) or PM one of us individually.

[Splayd]

Trust me - you won't find any Churches of Christ in Mississippi that teach or support the Once Saved, Always Saved doctrine.I don't know of any anywhere that teach or support Calvinistic OSAS. OSAS Arminianism is an altogether different animal from what I understand (which isn't much :))

The Bible indicates in many different places that God would never abandon His children, but that doesn't mean that His children can't abandon Him.I agree 100%. Calvinism isn't in agreement with this and classical Arminianism doesn't really address it. Beyond those 2 positions there's a whole host of hybrids like OSAS Arminianism and entirely different perspectives like Open Theism. All in all - it gets a bit hazy and frankly I'm content to simply acknowledge the scriptures on this one. I see problems with most of the specific theologies and while our beliefs generally fall on the Arminian sides of the equation I'm glad that we generally avoid lining ourselves up with the doctrinal position of any one man or school of thought and opt to simply let scripture speak for itself.

Peace

[Splayd]

I'd have to agree with Wes on the OSAS in American churches. Generally not taught over here, but it's not taught that people "wink in and out" of God's grace on a daily basis either.

The current mindset among most CoC's over here, is man is a free moral agent able to choose God or not before and after a saved condition.That's entirely consistent with what we teach here too.

[ConservativeChristian97]

Thank you everyone! Yeah, I found on the official (or unofficial, who knows? ;) ) CoC web site where it says non-instrumental, so it looks like Independent Christian Church it is! Hubby's gotta have those instruments, lol! Me, I'd be content with the chanting of the Quaker denominations, even though I do love music with instruments as well.
Thank you all and may God bless you,
Dawn

[Splayd]

That said - I've personally found that we often agree with Baptists on this matter and lean more towards a sort of OSAS Arminianism than either of the traditional Arminian or Calvinistic perspectives.
Hey guys!

I just wanted to clear this up. I may have confused some concepts here. In Australia, the Church of Christ and the Baptists are very very close, to the point that we actually share a major bible college. I know that in Australia, we're very often in agreement regarding this matter... and I'd heard that the Baptist belief is called "OSAS Arminianism" and without knowing much about the strict definition of the term, assumed it must also be the appropriate term to define our beliefs here. It's not that I'm unaware of what we believe as much as I didn't really understand what the term meant.

As it turns out - it's not so much a case that Australian CofC agree with traditional Baptist thinking on this matter, as much as it's a case that Australian Baptists tend to be more like the Church of Christ, so any stark distinctions regarding this matter that may be apparent between the churches in other place, aren't as clear here and the term I've used may be totally irrelevant for either of us, though I still don't really know :)

Sorry if I confused anyone. I tend not to pay too much attention to doctrinal terms and systems, but if I'm going to throw the words around I really should have a better understanding of them ;)

Peace