Comments on: “12 Questions to Ask to Find a Church” http://www.jesussaidfollowme.org/blog/2007/09/19/12-questions-to-ask-to-find-a-church/ Challenging Bible Studies for Maturing Christians Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:15:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Greg Gibson http://www.jesussaidfollowme.org/blog/2007/09/19/12-questions-to-ask-to-find-a-church/comment-page-1/#comment-7732 Greg Gibson Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:08:40 +0000 http://www.jesussaidfollowme.org/blog/index.php/2007/09/19/12-questions-to-ask-to-find-a-church/#comment-7732 Proto, Good question. I recommend praying about joining a gospel-preaching church (regardless of their doctrinal distinctives) or praying about starting a church. We sensed the Lord leading us to join a 5-pt. Arminian, Pentecostal, Disp. church here on our street. Since then, the Lord has really matured that church in love and doctrine. The pastor is now Calvinist, non-Pent., and amil. And he's preaching through whole books of the Bible. So I guess I'd consider joining a gospel-preaching church whose pastor is humble and teachable or starting a church. Earl, You said, "the tie that truly binds - and that tie is not reformed theology or Calvinism." Amen. I'd rather fellowship in a gospel-centered Arminian church, than a Reformed-centered Calvinist church. (But I'd prefer a gospel-centered, Calvinist church. ) Our fellowship is in the the gospel of Christ, not doctrinal distinctives. Proto,

Good question. I recommend praying about joining a gospel-preaching church (regardless of their doctrinal distinctives) or praying about starting a church.

We sensed the Lord leading us to join a 5-pt. Arminian, Pentecostal, Disp. church here on our street. Since then, the Lord has really matured that church in love and doctrine. The pastor is now Calvinist, non-Pent., and amil. And he’s preaching through whole books of the Bible.

So I guess I’d consider joining a gospel-preaching church whose pastor is humble and teachable or starting a church.

Earl,

You said, “the tie that truly binds - and that tie is not reformed theology or Calvinism.”

Amen. I’d rather fellowship in a gospel-centered Arminian church, than a Reformed-centered Calvinist church. (But I’d prefer a gospel-centered, Calvinist church. ) Our fellowship is in the the gospel of Christ, not doctrinal distinctives.

]]> By: Protoprotestant http://www.jesussaidfollowme.org/blog/2007/09/19/12-questions-to-ask-to-find-a-church/comment-page-1/#comment-7731 Protoprotestant Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:55:14 +0000 http://www.jesussaidfollowme.org/blog/index.php/2007/09/19/12-questions-to-ask-to-find-a-church/#comment-7731 What do you recommend for people who live in a place where there is no sound church...nothing that even remotely meets a Biblical or Historic (in terms of orthodoxy) criteria....? Would you attend an Arminian Dispensational church? In many rural parts of the United States these are your choices.... Liberal Mainline Roman Catholic Arminian Dispensational...a few hardshell types...the rest contempo Not much of a choice is it? And then if you live between the Rockies and the Appalachians you've also got all the Holiness-type groups Are we living in the middle ages again? Just curious.... What do you recommend for people who live in a place where there is no sound church…nothing that even remotely meets a Biblical or Historic (in terms of orthodoxy) criteria….?

Would you attend an Arminian Dispensational church?

In many rural parts of the United States these are your choices….

Liberal Mainline
Roman Catholic
Arminian Dispensational…a few hardshell types…the rest contempo

Not much of a choice is it?

And then if you live between the Rockies and the Appalachians you’ve also got all the Holiness-type groups

Are we living in the middle ages again?

Just curious….

]]> By: Earl Shetler http://www.jesussaidfollowme.org/blog/2007/09/19/12-questions-to-ask-to-find-a-church/comment-page-1/#comment-7271 Earl Shetler Tue, 01 Jun 2010 11:07:58 +0000 http://www.jesussaidfollowme.org/blog/index.php/2007/09/19/12-questions-to-ask-to-find-a-church/#comment-7271 Greg, Have been reading various Bible studies on your web and so much appreciate your emphasis on the Person of Jesus Christ. Also, it is refreshing to find someone who truly practices Scripture as their final authority and does not simply say that Scripture is their final authority while practicing creeds and Reformers and Puritans and commentators as their final authority. Because of Gospel issues as explained at my web site (TheTrueLie.com), it seems the Lord is directing us away from the church where we are presently members. How often I've heard, "You won't find anything closer to your beliefs elsewhere" (implying that another church may not be "reformed.") The fact is, as I have visited a few other churches, I have found their Christ centeredness and more accurate presentation of the gospel to be "closer to my beliefs" regarding the tie that truly binds - and that tie is not reformed theology or Calvinism. In contrast, it is faith in the resurrected Christ, the exalted Son of God. One Lord, one faith (not Calvinism), one baptism (by the Spirit), one God and Father of all, one body! Hallelujah! Would welcome critique of the book I'm writing entitled "The True Lie" In Christian Fellowship, Earl Shetler Greg,

Have been reading various Bible studies on your web and so much appreciate your emphasis on the Person of Jesus Christ. Also, it is refreshing to find someone who truly practices Scripture as their final authority and does not simply say that Scripture is their final authority while practicing creeds and Reformers and Puritans and commentators as their final authority. Because of Gospel issues as explained at my web site (TheTrueLie.com), it seems the Lord is directing us away from the church where we are presently members.

How often I’ve heard, “You won’t find anything closer to your beliefs elsewhere” (implying that another church may not be “reformed.”) The fact is, as I have visited a few other churches, I have found their Christ centeredness and more accurate presentation of the gospel to be “closer to my beliefs” regarding the tie that truly binds - and that tie is not reformed theology or Calvinism. In contrast, it is faith in the resurrected Christ, the exalted Son of God. One Lord, one faith (not Calvinism), one baptism (by the Spirit), one God and Father of all, one body! Hallelujah!

Would welcome critique of the book I’m writing entitled “The True Lie”

In Christian Fellowship,

Earl Shetler

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