Post by pvndorland on Sept 24, 2009 17:46:13 GMT -5
Hi everyone, I am excited and apprehensive about the prospect of a church. Over the last week Paul and I have come up with a list of questions and have decided to start with simply asking them via the phone.
Here is our list and the responses that this last pastor gave when my husband called him today. Praise God for speaker phone. I am a woman and there would have been no way my husband could relay such detail for me. heehee
They are promising.
Questions are in Black
His responses are in Orange and
our comments are in Brown
1. Which Bible Version do you use?
KJV1611 but we will not kick people out for bringing something else with them to church. After coming for awhile they get to understanding about the Holy Bible. We are not called Grace Baptist for nothing we really mean it. We try to give grace to people as they learn and grow.
2. Do you practice open, close or closed communion?
Well, we practice close. I guess is what some would call it. I just believe you cannot say if someone else is saved or not. Only they and God know so I make sure that before the Lord's Table that I read and let everyone know that this is not a light subject and that it should not be done unworthily. But yes, I say we are close communion.
3. Is the church in debt or will you allow the church to become indebted? No, we are not in debt and we will not get in debt. If God wants us to have a building, He will provide for it. Right now we are in a grange and here we will stay till God moves us on. We have a little over $1500 in our building fund saved up.
4. Have you been divorced? Yes, when I was a very young man I was married for about 6 months. She stepped out on me and divorced me. Many years later the Lord saved me and I met my wife of now 30 years.
Paul said to him, "Well, brother you are a new creature in Christ behold ALL things have become new.
5. Who is the body of Jesus Christ?... all saved people or all saved plus water baptized people? The Bible teaches in 1 Corinthians12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. So as far as your question goes I would say all saved people. Baptism is a picture and obedience to the scripture but not a requirement for becoming part the Body of Christ.
We were so happy to hear this!!!!!!We have been in a Baptist Brider Church for many years and GOd is moving us out of their apostasy.
6. Do you or will you use proper Church discipline? Well, I have not had to yet as we are called grace baptist church for a reason. But if and when something could not be handled personally and needed to be publically brought before the Church so that others may fear than we would follow the scriptural admonition in handling the matter.
7.Do you use a hymnal? Yes only the hymnal and some special music.
8. Does the Church have a store or does it sell products?
We explained that Herbalife had made headway into our church and my mothers church and that when we go to church more people are trying to sell the product and talk the product than that they are seeking God. Also, that the Church had been having weght loss challenges on Friday nights. We are opposed to this in the church. Jesus drove them out of the temple and told them not to even bring a vessel in. So we4 have opposed this practice for quite some time. Now if that is what they want to do out of their home we have no problem with that but NOT at Church. Here was his response
Well, we do not sell products, little laugh, they should keep that stuff for the gym and health food store, At Church really?
9.What is your stand on Modesty and do you preach it? Well, again we are Grace Baptist Church. We are a small country church, some men will come in a suit and tie but then right next to him in the pew is a logger in his overalls. They all can do service in the Church but I would prefer a tie if they were going to preach in the pulpit. Now some woman might wear coulottes (sp?) and a blouse. But most wear dresses. If a woman came in dressed inappropriately the first few times we might not say anything to her but after a while if she did not catch on that there needs to be more modesty than one of the ladies would take her aside and talk to her, again with grace. The same if a man were to come inappropriate.
10. Do you have an actual PRAYER meeting? This question is near and dear to my husbands heart because he believes the church lacks real prayer. Wednesday nights are just called prayer meetings but very little praying goes on and it is usually felt that it needs to be rushed through to just get it done.
Well we used to have it more often but now we have started a Bible institute and so we have one at least once a month. But requests are taken every service and prayed for then.
11. Do you support missions? I was a missionary to China for 12 years and have been here for two years. I have a unique insight to missions life. Yes, we do support 4 missionaries right now. I do not believe that numbers = spirituality. I believe if you take on a missionary it is for life. If they have a medical need than we strive to take care of it seperate from their living expenses. If that missionary dies I believe you still support his wife and children till they come off their field and are settled or if they remain on the field than you still support them. They were in it together just because the husband dies it is a travesty when he dies and now all their moneys are tore from them. When missionaries come through we do not take them on right away. We wait to see if they are willing to keep in contact with us for a year. If when God has provided the money to take on another missionary than we can see who has kept in touch with us and how they are doing serving God.
12. Do you mind that our so stays with us during services rather than go to classes? My children always sat in church with us and even on the front row. At my feet and I made them take notes. Now if they got loud or something I was respectful to my brothers and sisters in Christ and would remove them if need be but they were always there with me. I would have no problem. The children are the next generation church, they need to learn.
13. Is your youth group doing things to serve the Lord or are they mostly entertained? Well, we really only have a patch club for children and I do not think we even have any teens right now. Again, they will be in charge of carrying the gospel after we are gone so they need to know the scripture. In junior church they sit just like church, they have ushers, they pray, sing and have a sermon preached. Just like big church. Now after all this there is an activity but it is last and not the focus. Jesus is.
Now we still will not send our son but it is important for us to know what the children are doing because he will have some interaction with them.
Lastly, I believe women ought to cover their heads. My wife does. We do not want to be a problem for the church, though we have to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Do you have a problem with this? We are Grace Baptist Church and I think you said it just the way it is, "you have to work out your salvation with fear and trembling" I believe it is a family issue and man if you want your wife to cover her head than ok. Most men are wanting thier wives to tak emore off these days so that's ok by me. Now I am sure you are getting that from 1 Corinthians 11 and I believe that means that the womans long hair is a symbolism of the power over her, her husband. Now a man should not be covered with long hair because God is his head. We do not sit on opposite sides of the church we sit as families but if you want to sit seperate you can.
Paul interjected here and said that we are not Mennonite we are Covered Baptists. We hold true to solid Baptist doctrine the way the Bible lays it out. And we like to sit as families. He also said that we really do not want to be a problem but a good testimony of following Jesus Christ and his dorection for our lives. And that we have studied this subject extensively and are convinced without doubt that this is right.
So there you are. Tell me what you think. He is now coming over on Monday to meet with us at my husbands request and we will see what happens then. Do you have any feedback? Other questions? We will be different there also but it sounds like a better place that maybe we can go a couple times a month. It is over an hour away so weekly right now is out of the question. My husband just started work today after several months of being laid off. Another Praise! It is just temporary through December but it is paying the bills for now. More on this later. Please send me other pertenant questions to ask if you think of any.
Your sister in Christ, Vanessa
Here is our list and the responses that this last pastor gave when my husband called him today. Praise God for speaker phone. I am a woman and there would have been no way my husband could relay such detail for me. heehee
They are promising.
Questions are in Black
His responses are in Orange and
our comments are in Brown
1. Which Bible Version do you use?
KJV1611 but we will not kick people out for bringing something else with them to church. After coming for awhile they get to understanding about the Holy Bible. We are not called Grace Baptist for nothing we really mean it. We try to give grace to people as they learn and grow.
2. Do you practice open, close or closed communion?
Well, we practice close. I guess is what some would call it. I just believe you cannot say if someone else is saved or not. Only they and God know so I make sure that before the Lord's Table that I read and let everyone know that this is not a light subject and that it should not be done unworthily. But yes, I say we are close communion.
3. Is the church in debt or will you allow the church to become indebted? No, we are not in debt and we will not get in debt. If God wants us to have a building, He will provide for it. Right now we are in a grange and here we will stay till God moves us on. We have a little over $1500 in our building fund saved up.
4. Have you been divorced? Yes, when I was a very young man I was married for about 6 months. She stepped out on me and divorced me. Many years later the Lord saved me and I met my wife of now 30 years.
Paul said to him, "Well, brother you are a new creature in Christ behold ALL things have become new.
5. Who is the body of Jesus Christ?... all saved people or all saved plus water baptized people? The Bible teaches in 1 Corinthians12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. So as far as your question goes I would say all saved people. Baptism is a picture and obedience to the scripture but not a requirement for becoming part the Body of Christ.
We were so happy to hear this!!!!!!We have been in a Baptist Brider Church for many years and GOd is moving us out of their apostasy.
6. Do you or will you use proper Church discipline? Well, I have not had to yet as we are called grace baptist church for a reason. But if and when something could not be handled personally and needed to be publically brought before the Church so that others may fear than we would follow the scriptural admonition in handling the matter.
7.Do you use a hymnal? Yes only the hymnal and some special music.
8. Does the Church have a store or does it sell products?
We explained that Herbalife had made headway into our church and my mothers church and that when we go to church more people are trying to sell the product and talk the product than that they are seeking God. Also, that the Church had been having weght loss challenges on Friday nights. We are opposed to this in the church. Jesus drove them out of the temple and told them not to even bring a vessel in. So we4 have opposed this practice for quite some time. Now if that is what they want to do out of their home we have no problem with that but NOT at Church. Here was his response
Well, we do not sell products, little laugh, they should keep that stuff for the gym and health food store, At Church really?
9.What is your stand on Modesty and do you preach it? Well, again we are Grace Baptist Church. We are a small country church, some men will come in a suit and tie but then right next to him in the pew is a logger in his overalls. They all can do service in the Church but I would prefer a tie if they were going to preach in the pulpit. Now some woman might wear coulottes (sp?) and a blouse. But most wear dresses. If a woman came in dressed inappropriately the first few times we might not say anything to her but after a while if she did not catch on that there needs to be more modesty than one of the ladies would take her aside and talk to her, again with grace. The same if a man were to come inappropriate.
10. Do you have an actual PRAYER meeting? This question is near and dear to my husbands heart because he believes the church lacks real prayer. Wednesday nights are just called prayer meetings but very little praying goes on and it is usually felt that it needs to be rushed through to just get it done.
Well we used to have it more often but now we have started a Bible institute and so we have one at least once a month. But requests are taken every service and prayed for then.
11. Do you support missions? I was a missionary to China for 12 years and have been here for two years. I have a unique insight to missions life. Yes, we do support 4 missionaries right now. I do not believe that numbers = spirituality. I believe if you take on a missionary it is for life. If they have a medical need than we strive to take care of it seperate from their living expenses. If that missionary dies I believe you still support his wife and children till they come off their field and are settled or if they remain on the field than you still support them. They were in it together just because the husband dies it is a travesty when he dies and now all their moneys are tore from them. When missionaries come through we do not take them on right away. We wait to see if they are willing to keep in contact with us for a year. If when God has provided the money to take on another missionary than we can see who has kept in touch with us and how they are doing serving God.
12. Do you mind that our so stays with us during services rather than go to classes? My children always sat in church with us and even on the front row. At my feet and I made them take notes. Now if they got loud or something I was respectful to my brothers and sisters in Christ and would remove them if need be but they were always there with me. I would have no problem. The children are the next generation church, they need to learn.
13. Is your youth group doing things to serve the Lord or are they mostly entertained? Well, we really only have a patch club for children and I do not think we even have any teens right now. Again, they will be in charge of carrying the gospel after we are gone so they need to know the scripture. In junior church they sit just like church, they have ushers, they pray, sing and have a sermon preached. Just like big church. Now after all this there is an activity but it is last and not the focus. Jesus is.
Now we still will not send our son but it is important for us to know what the children are doing because he will have some interaction with them.
Lastly, I believe women ought to cover their heads. My wife does. We do not want to be a problem for the church, though we have to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Do you have a problem with this? We are Grace Baptist Church and I think you said it just the way it is, "you have to work out your salvation with fear and trembling" I believe it is a family issue and man if you want your wife to cover her head than ok. Most men are wanting thier wives to tak emore off these days so that's ok by me. Now I am sure you are getting that from 1 Corinthians 11 and I believe that means that the womans long hair is a symbolism of the power over her, her husband. Now a man should not be covered with long hair because God is his head. We do not sit on opposite sides of the church we sit as families but if you want to sit seperate you can.
Paul interjected here and said that we are not Mennonite we are Covered Baptists. We hold true to solid Baptist doctrine the way the Bible lays it out. And we like to sit as families. He also said that we really do not want to be a problem but a good testimony of following Jesus Christ and his dorection for our lives. And that we have studied this subject extensively and are convinced without doubt that this is right.
So there you are. Tell me what you think. He is now coming over on Monday to meet with us at my husbands request and we will see what happens then. Do you have any feedback? Other questions? We will be different there also but it sounds like a better place that maybe we can go a couple times a month. It is over an hour away so weekly right now is out of the question. My husband just started work today after several months of being laid off. Another Praise! It is just temporary through December but it is paying the bills for now. More on this later. Please send me other pertenant questions to ask if you think of any.
Your sister in Christ, Vanessa
