One of largest Christian churches in US departs Southern Baptists following vote to ban women from pulpit

[Grey Colson]

I certainly support SBC but they are rip with issues, just stream their annual SBC Convention and listen to the business topics. However, there are issues with any large organization and especially when large amounts of money is involved so I don't get overly concerned with it. I'm a conservative southern baptist and will not hang around any church that strays from the conservative preaching of God's Word. It doesn't have to be from the "red letter" edition but it has to be from His word. I firmly believe that people are "called" to attend a particular church, for me that is a conservative baptist church. For others, it may be Reliant or any other christian church not including the word baptist. This is a current topic of discussion among several bike riders in our riding group. Many attend churches that don't have a baptist name on them but I can attest that most of these men are conservative christians who are on fire for the Lord and serve often in ways that give them the opportunity to share the Word. I've attended some of their church services as well and although theirs don't necessarily follow the order of service that I'm familiar with I can vouch that the preaching was directly from the Word and the Spirit was moving among the crowd. Not necessarily my church tasted but suitable for others. It's an interesting topic and can get heated quickly if not handled delicately.

Of course I'm not suggesting that people who go to churches without the word "Baptist" in them are not true Christians. Not at all. But there has to be some reasoning behind it. And clearly, I just don't get it. Do they feel that tradition is viewed as a negative? I have no idea. I just have to wonder. It must now be out of fashion to call Sunday School....Sunday School. I have a feeling the majority of the world doesn't go to Church because of their church titles or the outdated or old fashion terminology used. They don't attend because of the evil in this world that has only grown stronger in this culture of right is wrong and wrong is right.

 

[Boss 302]

And the same could happen with any denomination with central control.

The Christian church belongs to Jesus, not to men.

The church belongs to Jesus, but who ensures they are run the way Jesus wants them to be? What was Paul's purpose for writing the letters to the Corinthian Christians?

 

[J-man]

Of course I'm not suggesting that people who go to churches without the word "Baptist" in them are not true Christians. Not at all. But there has to be some reasoning behind it. And clearly, I just don't get it. Do they feel that tradition is viewed as a negative? I have no idea. I just have to wonder. It must now be out of fashion to call Sunday School....Sunday School. I have a feeling the majority of the world doesn't go to Church because of their church titles or the outdated or old fashion terminology used. They don't attend because of the evil in this world that has only grown stronger in this culture of right is wrong and wrong is right.

I know you're not and I didn't mean to imply that you did. It's a very interesting topic and I enjoy hearing both sides. I honestly think it boils down to people are "called" to worship at different churches and believe one should attend where they're called. I'm very traditional so a "non-baptist" church doesn't appeal to me but some of our friends who attend non-baptist churches feel awkward when they visit ours. It's weird how that works.

 

[Guard Dad]

The church belongs to Jesus, but who ensures they are run the way Jesus wants them to be? What was Paul's purpose for writing the letters to the Corinthian Christians?

I don't think they had the SBC back then.

 

[Boss 302]

I don't think they had the SBC back then.

The point I'm making is there has been a hierarchy in the church since the Apostles. I've seen more churches split over a pastor or changes made in a church than I have seen denominations split. In fact, the only split I can recall in my lifetime is the Methodist church.

 

[Grey Colson]

I know you're not and I didn't mean to imply that you did. It's a very interesting topic and I enjoy hearing both sides. I honestly think it boils down to people are "called" to worship at different churches and believe one should attend where they're called. I'm very traditional so a "non-baptist" church doesn't appeal to me but some of our friends who attend non-baptist churches feel awkward when they visit ours. It's weird how that works.

I certainly agree. And it is an interesting topic. I know I'm a creature of habit and I think most of us are. I've only been to multiple types of Conservative churches because in my early years we never stayed in the same state for more than 4 or 5 years at a time. The worship styles varied in each one but I've enjoyed being part of each one for different reasons. It's all what you are or become accustomed to I guess. And our group sang in a wide variety of churches, the bulk being protestant and we saw many different worship styles and preaching. It was sort of an education for me.

 

[The Sound Guy]

It must now be out of fashion to call Sunday School....Sunday School. I have a feeling the majority of the world doesn't go to Church because of their church titles or the outdated or old fashion terminology used.

I think that part of the move from Sunday School to Weekday small groups is that Churches are becoming much more labor intensive on Sunday mornings. Used be a couple of ushers handing out the bulletin, a pianist and a couple of ladies in the nursery and you were good. Anyone over two went to the service.

Now most growing churches have greeters/directors in the parking lot, nursery workers, children's church workers, middle school church workers, coffee, sound people, video people, projection people, multiple musicians, etc. The church needs volunteers on Sunday morning. If its' growing and you have multiple services, double the need. (Or for Cedarcrest, with three services, triple the need) I missed my Sunday School class more than I was there when I one of the A/V team at McEachern. Those in our class that are greeters had to leave 20 min early to go greet, so missed most of the discussion. Many would pop in and out for other activities.

The other advantage I've found to small groups in homes is that you are not time constrained. With home groups, if the lesson discussion is going long, no problem, you don't have to cut it off to make sure you are not late to the service. I've also found it more welcoming being in a home environment (unless you meet at the building for nursery services) But that's just me.

 

[Boss 302]

I certainly agree. And it is an interesting topic. I know I'm a creature of habit and I think most of us are. I've only been to multiple types of Conservative churches because in my early years we never stayed in the same state for more than 4 or 5 years at a time. The worship styles varied in each one but I've enjoyed being part of each one for different reasons. It's all what you are or become accustomed to I guess. And our group sang in a wide variety of churches, the bulk being protestant and we saw many different worship styles and preaching. It was sort of an education for me.

I've been to SBC churches and North American Baptist churches, and the two have huge differences. While in high school in Augusta, I went regularly to a Pentecostal church belonging to the Church of God. I belong to one today, although it's what we call Pentecostal light.

 

[Boss 302]

I think that part of the move from Sunday School to Weekday small groups is that Churches are becoming much more labor intensive on Sunday mornings. Used be a couple of ushers handing out the bulletin, a pianist and a couple of ladies in the nursery and you were good. Anyone over two went to the service.

Now most growing churches have greeters/directors in the parking lot, nursery workers, children's church workers, middle school church workers, coffee, sound people, video people, projection people, multiple musicians, etc. The church needs volunteers on Sunday morning. If its' growing and you have multiple services, double the need. (Or for Cedarcrest, with three services, triple the need) I missed my Sunday School class more than I was there when I one of the A/V team at McEachern. Those in our class that are greeters had to leave 20 min early to go greet, so missed most of the discussion. Many would pop in and out for other activities.

The other advantage I've found to small groups in homes is that you are not time constrained. With home groups, if the lesson discussion is going long, no problem, you don't have to cut it off to make sure you are not late to the service. I've also found it more welcoming being in a home environment (unless you meet at the building for nursery services) But that's just me.

Our church does not have Sunday school for adults because it has church services at 9 and 11. They serve breakfast starting at 10. We have growth groups during the week for adults. They are several different classes to choose from, and we are more than welcome to take as many as we want, as they meet on different nights of the week. I'll be taking two starting next week.

 

[Grey Colson]

I've been to SBC churches and North American Baptist churches, and the two have huge differences. While in high school in Augusta, I went regularly to a Pentecostal church belonging to the Church of God. I belong to one today, although it's what we call Pentecostal light.

One of the dearest men in my life was an Uncle named Ralph Walker. He passed a couple of years ago, but he was an associate pastor at a Church of God in Dayton, TN. The Pioneers would sing for them at least once per years and they were very small, but a wonderful and loving congregation. In my experience singing in the COG, they were more conservative than the standard Baptist Church, but at the same time, more "liberal" as far as encouraging liberty in their worship. A little more responsive to preaching and singing, but no jeans or pants for women. That type of thing.

Those differences don't bother me. The only thing that matters is them preaching Christ crucified, resserected and the only way to the Father.

 

[rolltidega]

My wife and I go to the same church as quite a few of you on here. We like a change of the worship experience so we have been attending services at West Ridge. It is a worship style which we enjoy and connect with more. I have done a lot of research on West Ridge (note no Baptist in the name) and they definitely preach Christ crucified, resurrected and the only way to the Father, so I am OK without Baptist in the name. A lot of people are turned off my denominations such as Baptist, Methodist, etc so i think that may be one of the reasons you dont see Baptist in the name anymore. The church may follow the exact things the Baptist church does but chooses not to use the denomination in the name to be more open to people. Crazy that a denomination name would do that but it does not shock me that it does.

For those of you we attend church with, we have been out of town or sick lately but also attending West Ridge so we are doing ok

 

[J-man]

Those differences don't bother me. The only thing that matters is them preaching Christ crucified, resserected and the only way to the Father.

While we were "visiting" churches our entire family got up and left mid-sermon when the "preacher" strayed way off course from scripture (it was there in front of his face be he kept on and on ). Another funny one was when our son nudged me and asked, "Do we really have to sit here and listen to this, and their music sucks." I got a kick out of that one, we didn't go back.

 

[Boss 302]

One of the dearest men in my life was an Uncle named Ralph Walker. He passed a couple of years ago, but he was an associate pastor at a Church of God in Dayton, TN. The Pioneers would sing for them at least once per years and they were very small, but a wonderful and loving congregation. In my experience singing in the COG, they were more conservative than the standard Baptist Church, but at the same time, more "liberal" as far as encouraging liberty in their worship. A little more responsive to preaching and singing, but no jeans or pants for women. That type of thing.

Those differences don't bother me. The only thing that matters is them preaching Christ crucified, resserected and the only way to the Father.

At our church, men and women can wear jeans. I do. We have a good praise band too. One of the things I like about our church is how much we are involved in the community. Every year, we provide school supplies to students. We financially support Northeast Georgia Christian Counseling. There are quite a few other things we do in the community as well.

 

[The Sound Guy]

One of my preachers at a startup church I was at told me that we needed to know what other churches were around us and be willing to send people to them if their style of worship fit the person better than ours did. I always thought that to be a very Christ like attitude towards believers. The key is to get them involved with God and Jesus, not to add numbers to OUR rolls. I've tried to hold on to that concept.

 

[J-man]

One of my preachers at a startup church I was at told me that we needed to know what other churches were around us and be willing to send people to them if their style of worship fit the person better than ours did. I always thought that to be a very Christ like attitude towards believers. The key is to get them involved with God and Jesus, not to add numbers to OUR rolls. I've tried to hold on to that concept.

Agree, you can't hear the sermon if you don't attend.

 

[Grey Colson]

While we were "visiting" churches our entire family got up and left mid-sermon when the "preacher" strayed way off course from scripture (it was there in front of his face be he kept on and on ). Another funny one was when our son nudged me and asked, "Do we really have to sit here and listen to this, and their music sucks." I got a kick out of that one, we didn't go back.

A family was sitting around eating lunch one Sunday after church. The Dad was saying how the pastor preached too long, how no one greeted him at the door and how poor the music was. His 9 year old son looked across the table and said, "I thought it was a pretty good show for a dollar."

 

[Guard Dad]

Here's a song Colson's kids wrote about what their dad did at church