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One more time I will try to explain something about the church of Christ. In the first place , they do not...I repeat ..do not preach "hell fire and damnation".
In the second place, they do not 'shun' people ... If someone here had such an experience, it was not a normal occurance in a church of Christ.
The VBS's do not use scare tactics !. I would imagine that girl is a sensitive child, and was moved by the group response that occasionally happens when young folk get together.
I would suggest that all who think women are cowardly and down trodden in the churches do a little visiting and see for yourselves. The concept is a lie, pure and simple. It is straight from the devil. I do know what I am saying. I have been a member for 42 years, and have worshipped at several differant congregations, and visited several others. The only one that I found a little weird was in the back hills of Arkansas, at a singing, where the men sat on one side, and the women on the other side. I never attended their bible study, or their worship service, so do not know if it is the same. Since every congregation is self governing, and their doctrine is all from the New Testament, there is some variation, but usually very little.
Our congregation had a bad experience with a preacher that preached for us several years before he suddenly came up with the idea that women should not speak in the bible class, or teach a class. He was very radical about it. One Sunday morning he announced, from the pulpet, that if the congregation would not agree with him he would leave, Several members, men and wives, walked out on him! We did not happen to be there that day, due to illness, but we would have walked out also. He left and never returned. At least half of the congregation left with him, but most of them were his family who had came from elsewhere just because he was there ! Since I was one of the women who had been speaking in class, I confronted him at a later date, when I met him in town. He said he wasn't talking about me???? He never repented for tearing up the church ( he did it elsewhere also) , and for sowing discord amongst the brethern. Sad to say, he has since died, and I learned that he regretted what he did. If he had come to us, and repented, we would have all forgiven him. I am sorry he didn't.
Now, another thought, since the church of Christ is teaching only the word of God, and the members are obeying only the word of God, where does that place all who are condemning it ??? I believe there are scriptures that tell what happens to those who speak against Christ and his followers.
So...if you are comfortable in your church of Christ bashing...carry on, God will be your judge, and who knows....according to scripture, the church will be also.
I have read all the posts, of all that are rejecting the plain teachings of the scriptures, and they are in one of the books that will be judging you !
Marian,
Do you feel as the CoC is the only church that gets it right?
In answer to your question, please read Amos 6:1-5, espacially verse 5.
How did you become "more mature " in your " walk with Christ? I understand maturity comes with knowing the word of God and obeying it.
Marianinark: Amos 6:1-5 does not teach what you are assuming it teaches. Notice the adverb, "idly." It is not the use of instruments that is being taught against here but the emptiness of music and song performed in an ungodly fashion with a heart of pride. They were to go into captivity (vs. 7).
Continue on to verse 8 to find the context of this passage. "I abhor the PRIDE of Jacob." Verses 3-6 clearly describe their haughtiness. They lived in luxury and "were at ease." But to them God says ,"Woe to you!" They "lie on beds of ivory"; they stretch out on "couches," they "eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall" [the choicest animals]; they "drink wine from bowls," and they "anoint themselves "with the best ointments." They sing IDLY. The comparison being made is between how David sang and used his instrument and how they were using theirs. David sang and played to God's glory; they sing idly to their own glory! The instruments are not the issue here--it is the "pride of Jacob." They wanted to live in the luxuries and glories of David and completely shunned the humility of Joseph.
Psalm 150
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
As I said...I certainly do not want to take that chance! Since we are authorized to sing and make music in our hearts...that is sufficient for me. Besides, I have been in churches that use instrumental music, and have seen the confusion that it can cause. Also I have seen the fact that the one who is doing the playing sometimes 'lords' it over the ones who are not. I have heard some really bad 'music' from the players. I have seldom heard really bad singing in places that only have a cappella music. Even though there may be some who are not expert singers, it all blends in. We are singing and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, making music in our hearts unto the Lord. What is so unbecoming about that?
Nothing! But simply because some people might use instruments with a prideful attitude, does not make the instruments at fault. I have heard instruments played to God's glory numerous times. We shouldn't throw the baby out with the bath water!
Personally, I find the instruments (such as loud organs!) often overwhelming. I love to hear the blending of voices, so I prefer a cappella.
But I also do not find the instruments forbidden by God's Word.
Church of Christ or church of Christ claim to be non denominational, but is it really true, and do they answer to the government?
John 19:15 But they cried out, "Away with [Him,] away with [Him!] Crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar!"
The "One Worlders" goal was to neutralize "the church". They used this through the IRS.
Here are some requirements from the government that make up Caesar's church. Do the COC cater to this list. Do you count your money after worship service for example? Can you be sued. If no entity exists, if it is truly spiritual, then nothing can harm you.
According to this list, excerpted from a list of 30 requirements for bill 501(c) (3) Churches. Put out by the Department of Treasury Internal Revenue Service Pub 1826 (9-94) Cat. no. 21096G, churches must:
1. Be incorporated (BECOME A BUSINESS)
2. Have a recognized creed and "IRS approved form of worship."
3. Have "IRS approved code of doctrine".
4. Have ordained ministers educated in "state accredited colleges."
5. Be "neutral on political issues."
6. "Have tax exempt status issued by IRS."
7. Pastor must answer to the IRS as to "daily activities of the church."
8. The IRS must be privy to "all financial transactions" of the church.
9. Pastor must supply "names of all donors"- make books records available.
10. May only use "IRS approved" fundraising methods.
11. Pastor will be "called to account over any stand taken against the tax system."
12. Church "must advocate and support racial integration." (Multiculturalism)
13. May "not" engage in activities "opposing pornography."
14. May "not" support legislation saying "children belong to parents" rather than state."
15. May not form a Political Action Committee nor support legislation "opposing lotteries and gambling activity."
16. May not "oppose the public school system."
17. May "not publicly declare" we are to "obey God rather than the government."
Nowhere in scripture did Christ or any of the "saints" go to a "state run school" by Caesar to learn about the word of God. This tells you right now who is indoctrinating you, and other religionists. Not only COC, but other denominations, keep watching your carefully groomed televangelists. Billy Graham for example grew up with Bill Clinton.
"the church" ..yes if refering to the bride of Christ, all those who have accepted Christ as their savior, people from all walks of life, from every denomination, people from no-denonimation at all.
I am not trying to start a holy war here! I am just trying to make sure my step daughter is not being manipulated and taken advantage of. In my beliefs as a catholic all individuals should be accepted.....I really don't care what religion anyone belongs to...I do care and don't appreciate it when I feel somone is over the top and is trying to force their beliefs down my throat or a family members....I know all religions have the few members who are what I classify as radicals......I believe the problem with always quoting scripture is that it many individuals only interprete it to the advantage of their beliefs and will ignore other verses that may be interpreted in a manner that would put some question into their beliefs.....
Wouldn't everyone agree that what has happened to my step daughter is a little odd and that I should be concerned?
I am not trying to start a holy war here! I am just trying to make sure my step daughter is not being manipulated and taken advantage of. In my beliefs as a catholic all individuals should be accepted.....I really don't care what religion anyone belongs to...I do care and don't appreciate it when I feel somone is over the top and is trying to force their beliefs down my throat or a family members....I know all religions have the few members who are what I classify as radicals......I believe the problem with always quoting scripture is that it many individuals only interprete it to the advantage of their beliefs and will ignore other verses that may be interpreted in a manner that would put some question into their beliefs.....
Wouldn't everyone agree that what has happened to my step daughter is a little odd and that I should be concerned?
I re-read your post, and Im not for sure what you mean by "odd", the part about getting baptized or what? Ill do my best to answer the question, but I need more to go on
My step daughter recently went to a bible camp with her step siblings. The camp was a church of christ camp and after 3 days she was calling us asking to be baptised....she really didn't sound like herself....the pastor got on the phone and also asked saying that my step daughter was very emotional about this and this was something she really wanted to do but wanted our permission....we found this very odd. My step daughter is 13 and very impressionable so we are really concernec, we are catholic and have brought up our children catholic. We thought that as long as it was a christian camp that it might be a good experience, now we aren't so sure....she seems so different to us now more withdrawn and she is receiving text messages and calls on her cell phone from the kids amd the pastors wife trying to get her to go to their church. Some of the things I have read early on in this blog troubles me......is it true about the FBI cult watch thing...are women really not allowed to be vocal and are expected to be silent? any insight would greatly be apreciated
I would have a big big big problem with this. If some guy... that I didn't know was pressuring my kid to be baptized and also pressuring my kid to join their church.. I'd be pissed. First I'd speak with the child then I might find myself knocking on the preachers door kindly explaining that I'm their parent and if they want to discuss something as heady as baptism then they had better pay me a visit first. If that request is not something they could handle then their intentions are clearly wrong.
Also.. I don't care if this were CoC or Baptist or Methodist or Catholic or whatever. That **** wouldn't fly with me.
She is already baptised and will have her confirmation of her faith this year.....the odd thing is that it only took 3 days for her to say that she wants to be baptized and that a church would say sure you know enough about us and our beliefs to make a decision like that...also that she is receiving all these phone calls from the kids asking her to come to their church and that she needs to keep praying and she will do the right thing.....even the pastors wife has called her....it is pretty easy to put peer pressure on a 13 year old and I feel like they are putting on a full court press
I am not trying to start a holy war here! I am just trying to make sure my step daughter is not being manipulated and taken advantage of. In my beliefs as a catholic all individuals should be accepted.....I really don't care what religion anyone belongs to...I do care and don't appreciate it when I feel somone is over the top and is trying to force their beliefs down my throat or a family members....I know all religions have the few members who are what I classify as radicals......I believe the problem with always quoting scripture is that it many individuals only interprete it to the advantage of their beliefs and will ignore other verses that may be interpreted in a manner that would put some question into their beliefs.....
Wouldn't everyone agree that what has happened to my step daughter is a little odd and that I should be concerned?
I would only be concerned if a person is teaching her anything other than JESUS crucified and raised. Since I grew up Catholic, and left the church, and since leaving discovered who God and Christ really were, I would say let God have His Children and not worry so much. If her heart is sincere towards God, which it sounds like it is, LISTEN to her, as you continue to love her. Get past the religiosity of what you have been raised and taught in, and listen to her heart. Right now she is a pure as a new blossom. A new believer, with a whole new outlook on her Bridegroom. My grandmother used to say that a child's honesty is pure, and they speak with their hearts, until the parents come and take it or discipline it away. I really never knew what she meant until I had kids. I trust that God will see them through, and if it is His Will that they go through the fires of testing? Well, they are in His Hands, and they can hold on to them.
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Church of Christ
