What I escaped....

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Feb 7, 2015
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#1
This is the frightening "denomination" I (thankfully) left 30 some years ago. They actually considered things like this to be of paramount importance.... and would waste an entire Sunday sermon pushing this stuff.
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[video=youtube;hXPctqlCuxA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXPctqlCuxA[/video]
 
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kaylagrl

Guest
#2
Wow,ten minutes in and I couldnt take it anymore.
 
Feb 7, 2015
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#3
Wow,ten minutes in and I couldnt take it anymore.
And it was rare to have sermons that differed much. I understand things have gotten a lot better in 30 years. I sure hope they have.

I'll see if I can find some video of the singing in the CoC. Although I still love A Capella singing, (It can be absolutely beautiful.), their stilted and rigid manner is almost laughable to watch.

[video=youtube;T7l8xK0My1Y]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7l8xK0My1Y[/video]
 
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Feb 7, 2015
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#5
So this would be way out of line....? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkQy4W3lZwM

Not a fan of TBN just using the music as an example.
Very much so. Some elders do not allow clapping. You NEVER raise your hands. Only an occassional low-pitched "Amen" from males is allowed, and I have honestly seen a visitor be told "We don't do that here!" when he said, "Praise the Lord." out loud.

Even too much smiling is frowned upon.

Of course ANY instruments are strictly forbidden.
 
H

Hellooo

Guest
#6
How did you end up in that denomination willie? Grew up in it?
 
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oldthennew

Guest
#7
willie,

precious one, take Him at His Word,,,you are now a mature man that He has given
His Truths to, He lays them out for us all, grab a hold and commit to the Ride -
it will be the best thing that you have ever done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Feb 7, 2015
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#8
How did you end up in that denomination willie? Grew up in it?
I was driving past a church of that "denomination" (they HATE being called a denomination... they honestly DO believe they are God's one and only "true" church.), when I read their marque. It said, "the church that cares." I came back the next Sunday night to see if it was true.

Well, it wasn't. What they meant was that they were the church that cares that they do everything perfectly. But, I met my present wife that night. We spent that evening, sitting outside the church till midnight, talking. I eventually joined the church, and we were married a year and a half later..... I stayed in that denomination for 12 years.
 
Feb 7, 2015
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#9
willie,

precious one, take Him at His Word,,,you are now a mature man that He has given
His Truths to, He lays them out for us all, grab a hold and commit to the Ride -
it will be the best thing that you have ever done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No idea what this post means, but.... OK.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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#10
Very much so. Some elders do not allow clapping. You NEVER raise your hands. Only an occassional low-pitched "Amen" from males is allowed, and I have honestly seen a visitor be told "We don't do that here!" when he said, "Praise the Lord." out loud.

Even too much smiling is frowned upon.

Of course ANY instruments are strictly forbidden.
I at one time had temporarily attended the so called church of Christ (around 30 years ago) and I remember this kind of nonsense, along with them claiming to be the one and only "true church" and also along with them trying to "shoe horn" works "into" salvation through faith. :rolleyes:
 
Feb 7, 2015
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#11
I at one time had temporarily attended the so called church of Christ (around 30 years ago) and I remember this kind of nonsense, along with them claiming to be the one and only "true church" and also along with them trying to "shoe horn" works "into" salvation through faith. :rolleyes:
Yep. I probably never would have joined if it weren't for the fact that I love to study and learn. Of all denominations I have been in contact with, none even begin to hold a candle to the CoC when it comes to study. That intrigued me, and I do have to say that I learned possibly six times more than most Christians ever do while I was there.

Only trouble is that, as with so many denominations, all that head knowledge was skewed by being strictly bound to the CoC doctrine...... which is so messed-up that it is almost impossible to imagine a group of people completely missing Jesus' message so far.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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#12
It was a friend who invited me to attend the CoC many years ago. His Aunt was a thoroughly indoctrinated member of the CoC. I'll never forget several years later running into my friend's Aunt at my friend's daughter's birthday party. Since then, I have received Christ through faith and was now a born again Christian. I shared this good news with his Aunt and the only question that she had for me was, "where do you attend church?" When my answer was not "the church of Christ," she bowed her head in sadness as if to imply that I was still lost because I didn't say the church of Christ. Her husband approached me and I shared the good news with him that I received Christ through faith and am now a Christian as well and he had the same question, "where do you attend church," and when I told him and the answer was not the church of Christ, his eyes glazed over followed by a cheesy legalistic grin on his face and he simply walked away from me and neither of them would speak with me for the rest of the night. I knew that something was terribly wrong! I over heard them at one point talking among themselves and they were grinding on water baptism and Romans 16:16 which says..the churches of Christ salute you. They believe that verse is a direct reference to their denomination. Whoops! They don't claim to be a denomination. :rolleyes: I also remember that later my friend received Christ through faith and was now a Christian and left the church of Christ and started attending a Baptist church. When he told his Aunt about it over the phone, she yelled at him, telling him that she taught him better, then hung up on him! Truly sad! I would stay far away from the so-called church of Christ.
 
Feb 7, 2015
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#13
Yes, it is a confused and messed-up group, and I could never recommend it to anyone.
 

hilo

Junior Member
Jul 14, 2014
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#14
I also attended the CoC about 30 years ago in my community. my neighbor has invited me to come to their meeting next week, i am going to go.
i wonder how much, if any, it has changed over the years. it is the same congregation i attended before. i am actually going to wear my blue jeans which was a definite no no when I was a young man.
 
Feb 7, 2015
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#15
I also attended the CoC about 30 years ago in my community. my neighbor has invited me to come to their meeting next week, i am going to go.
i wonder how much, if any, it has changed over the years. it is the same congregation i attended before. i am actually going to wear my blue jeans which was a definite no no when I was a young man.
Please let us hear about your experience. I go to funerals there, but that's all. And the comments are still the same from the older crowd.
 
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kaylagrl

Guest
#16
I was driving past a church of that "denomination" (they HATE being called a denomination... they honestly DO believe they are God's one and only "true" church.), when I read their marque. It said, "the church that cares." I came back the next Sunday night to see if it was true.

Well, it wasn't. What they meant was that they were the church that cares that they do everything perfectly. But, I met my present wife that night. We spent that evening, sitting outside the church till midnight, talking. I eventually joined the church, and we were married a year and a half later..... I stayed in that denomination for 12 years.
The us four and no more crowd,ya I love them. Christ himself wouldnt please them.
 
Feb 7, 2015
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#17
That first night my future wife and I sat talking for so long, she actually said, at one point, "... and you're not even a Christian.", discussing how I saw something in a way she approved of because of her background of being raised in "The Church." (That's what they call themselves.)
 
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Powemm

Guest
#18
I stand up front at church now where I use to stand at the back... I decided I would move forward so nothing would get in my way of worshiping god.. I use to get looks and people would turn around because I was vocal and clapped said amen in agreementioned with god and his word.. not doing so only hinders me and my relationship with him... I no longer see or hear or get distracted because of the looks.. but I had to move past it to get to the kind of worship I wanted to worship god with
. It wasn't real comfortable at first.. but there are others who are now doing the same and following in the type of worship God deserves.. I decided I'm done sitting back doing it only so so... I'm going through the sea to get to where god is... I'm a chaser now..not one who is getting crowded put by the sea..how others worship God is okay for them.. it doesn't matter if I'm okay with how they do it.. it matters that they're okay with it.. it matters to me that God knows I value him and appreciate all he has done for me.. sitting down and showing him no appreciation just isn't okay with me.. to each his own worship.. to each be free to worship Him exactly as their worship is to be
 
Feb 7, 2015
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#19
I stand up front at church now where I use to stand at the back... I decided I would move forward so nothing would get in my way of worshiping god.. I use to get looks and people would turn around because I was vocal and clapped said amen in agreementioned with god and his word.. not doing so only hinders me and my relationship with him... I no longer see or hear or get distracted because of the looks.. but I had to move past it to get to the kind of worship I wanted to worship god with
. It wasn't real comfortable at first.. but there are others who are now doing the same and following in the type of worship God deserves.. I decided I'm done sitting back doing it only so so... I'm going through the sea to get to where god is... I'm a chaser now..not one who is getting crowded put by the sea..how others worship God is okay for them.. it doesn't matter if I'm okay with how they do it.. it matters that they're okay with it.. it matters to me that God knows I value him and appreciate all he has done for me.. sitting down and showing him no appreciation just isn't okay with me.. to each his own worship.. to each be free to worship Him exactly as their worship is to be
That's one of the main reasons we sit on the third row. It is staggering how much silliness goes on back there.
 

hilo

Junior Member
Jul 14, 2014
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#20
i went to the meeting,or revival at the CoC where i attended as a teen this week. it didn't appear to have changed much. there were a few subdued amens, quickly followed by a head turn to stare at the person who said it.
several people came forward and confessed their sins and had to write them down and have it read aloud to the congregation. the youth minister baptized a young man and it was wonderful.
i am searching for a home church and pray that i find it.