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A few participants in this forum degrade the church as a whole, including local fellowships and their pastors.
I'd like to see some POSITIVE input from individuals who are happy with their churches and pastors.
Does anyone have good reports about their pastors and their fellowships, to refute some of the anti-local church fellowship trashing that goes on here?
I'll give a testimony about my local fellowship.
I've been involved in this local Evangelical Free church for about 2 years.
I was backslidden for a number of years. After being involved with this chat site for a few months (another positive factor in my life..I think it helped me to get back to thinking spiritually), I started looking for a local fellowship again.
I began looking for an Evangelical Free or Christian and Missionary Alliance church, as I know their doctrines are in harmony with my own.
I called a few churches, and one of the secretaries took the time to call me back and encouraged me to attend. Her demeanor was very genuine and welcoming.
I attended on Good Friday services, and the secretary introduced me to the pastor, who is about 15 years younger than me. He spent quite a bit of time after the services talking with me and praying for me. I was highly impressed with him from that encounter alone.
Since then, I've been attending services regularly. The worship is great, and the teaching is sound. The people are very friendly and inviting. I've been attending a small group (they call them 110 groups based on Colossians 1:10). It's probably the best place I've fellowshipped, although I fellowshipped at a Christian and Missionary Alliance church that was also very good.
They sponsor a number of missionary efforts, including building an orphanage to house over 60 boys in India. They raised the money to do it themselves (about $60,000) even though they are only a congregation of 250, and continue to maintain their sponsorship with a monthly amount to cover food, clothing, and miscellaneous expenses.
Finding a good church was instrumental in helping me move from a backslidden state to one where I'm experiencing the joy of my salvation again (Psalm 51), and their good example has greatly encouraged me personally.
At any rate, I feel strongly about the danger of discounting the value of corporate teaching, worship and prayer. There are some on this site who seek to portray the state of the church in a negative light. They may have been disillusioned through an unsound local fellowship, and continue to harbor sinful cynical attitudes about the rest of Christianity as a result. They may think they are above the need for discipleship and fancy themselves to be teachers here. They may think that they have the only pure doctrine and everyone else is in error and beneath their level. They may think this forum is an adequate fellowship (and it is great supplemental fellowship).
Whatever their reasoning, the NT model for the church is clearly one involving face-to-face assembly where communion and baptism is observed, and where loving leadership is exercised by the elders of the church. It is an illusion to think that internet fellowship is an adequate substitute.
It's obvious that Christ is the head pastor of his church, but it's equally obvious that he uses men to lead. See Ephesians 4. He gave the gifts of pastors and teachings in order to build up the church, and to equip it for works of service, until all reach maturity and the image of Christ, and so the redeemed are not misled by false doctrine.
I hate it that local church fellowships and the state of the church as a whole is being disrespected by some here, because I see many fervent, dedicated believers in various fellowships, in many different locations and of various age groups.
I'd like to hear from people who are SATISFIED with their local corporate fellowships, and how God has used their pastor or church to bless them. Anyone have any encouraging words in this regard?
As a side note, I am not disrespecting individuals who may use internet fellowship as a sole means of fellowship due to being homebound or in a persecuted country where fellowship opportunities are much more difficult. My guess is these individuals wish they could fellowship in person, and are appalled at some who degrade local fellowships. I am sure God grants extra grace to help those people in their circumstances.
I'd like to see some POSITIVE input from individuals who are happy with their churches and pastors.
Does anyone have good reports about their pastors and their fellowships, to refute some of the anti-local church fellowship trashing that goes on here?
I'll give a testimony about my local fellowship.
I've been involved in this local Evangelical Free church for about 2 years.
I was backslidden for a number of years. After being involved with this chat site for a few months (another positive factor in my life..I think it helped me to get back to thinking spiritually), I started looking for a local fellowship again.
I began looking for an Evangelical Free or Christian and Missionary Alliance church, as I know their doctrines are in harmony with my own.
I called a few churches, and one of the secretaries took the time to call me back and encouraged me to attend. Her demeanor was very genuine and welcoming.
I attended on Good Friday services, and the secretary introduced me to the pastor, who is about 15 years younger than me. He spent quite a bit of time after the services talking with me and praying for me. I was highly impressed with him from that encounter alone.
Since then, I've been attending services regularly. The worship is great, and the teaching is sound. The people are very friendly and inviting. I've been attending a small group (they call them 110 groups based on Colossians 1:10). It's probably the best place I've fellowshipped, although I fellowshipped at a Christian and Missionary Alliance church that was also very good.
They sponsor a number of missionary efforts, including building an orphanage to house over 60 boys in India. They raised the money to do it themselves (about $60,000) even though they are only a congregation of 250, and continue to maintain their sponsorship with a monthly amount to cover food, clothing, and miscellaneous expenses.
Finding a good church was instrumental in helping me move from a backslidden state to one where I'm experiencing the joy of my salvation again (Psalm 51), and their good example has greatly encouraged me personally.
At any rate, I feel strongly about the danger of discounting the value of corporate teaching, worship and prayer. There are some on this site who seek to portray the state of the church in a negative light. They may have been disillusioned through an unsound local fellowship, and continue to harbor sinful cynical attitudes about the rest of Christianity as a result. They may think they are above the need for discipleship and fancy themselves to be teachers here. They may think that they have the only pure doctrine and everyone else is in error and beneath their level. They may think this forum is an adequate fellowship (and it is great supplemental fellowship).
Whatever their reasoning, the NT model for the church is clearly one involving face-to-face assembly where communion and baptism is observed, and where loving leadership is exercised by the elders of the church. It is an illusion to think that internet fellowship is an adequate substitute.
It's obvious that Christ is the head pastor of his church, but it's equally obvious that he uses men to lead. See Ephesians 4. He gave the gifts of pastors and teachings in order to build up the church, and to equip it for works of service, until all reach maturity and the image of Christ, and so the redeemed are not misled by false doctrine.
I hate it that local church fellowships and the state of the church as a whole is being disrespected by some here, because I see many fervent, dedicated believers in various fellowships, in many different locations and of various age groups.
I'd like to hear from people who are SATISFIED with their local corporate fellowships, and how God has used their pastor or church to bless them. Anyone have any encouraging words in this regard?
As a side note, I am not disrespecting individuals who may use internet fellowship as a sole means of fellowship due to being homebound or in a persecuted country where fellowship opportunities are much more difficult. My guess is these individuals wish they could fellowship in person, and are appalled at some who degrade local fellowships. I am sure God grants extra grace to help those people in their circumstances.
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