Okay, time for me to chime in......born catholic. Accepped Jesus as Savior at 16 at a pentecostal church.
left said church to go to my GF's (now wife of 36 yrs) charismatic baptist church. Her father was pastor there from '57 to '87. Next pastor, 29 yrs. Both taught the Word, both New and Old Testament. Very stable church. Most of you here would like the teaching. I have been a deacon, and more recently an elder. I stepped down from the elder position last winter. Becoming and elder was an eye opening, sad experience for me. While on the surface our church was a loving, caring and praying church, I found, as and elder, that there tends to be two sets of leadership in most American churches, using our church as an example, the spiritual and the administration leaders. I'm not talking about general members (that's a separate problem.LOL I'm a member, or was.) but about those who RUN the church. Most all churches own a building. Most all churches are nonprofit. And most have a constitution or some declaration that is a guide to how they operate in both realms. Money and power is usually where the under lying fighting begins, then there is the human weakness of the flesh. Oh boy does that cause trouble!!!! Our Pastors won't counsel any woman unless his wife is present. We are all sheep. Even AJ, who knows the Word very well.
Let me share that in Jesus' day, in the Hebrew culture when a man and woman became betrothed, the man is bound to this betrothal, He can not leave her for another, but goes to prepare a place for HIS Bride. However the woman can split at any time before the marriage. If she sees a dude with a Hemi A body camel, she can go be with him. This would end her betrothal to the other non Hemi guy. But if they do get married they are both bound and can not leave the marriage.
We are the Bride, those who put their trust in Christ the Messiah to save us from sin. We are waiting for Him to come and get His Bride!!!!! But in the meantime we live here as sheep. (read the book of Romans then read Watchman Nee's book "the Normal Christian life")
Back to church...Our church has people who have been on the same boards for for 30+ yrs.
It is so easy to get caught up in CHURCHIANITY. This is when we promote our church for the sake of pride, attendance,and money under the Christian name.
I will end here, after a lifetime for my wife, and 37 years for me at the same church, we left two weeks ago to start attending a Calvary Chapel fellowship. Hope we don't ruin it..............................
