Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

    Yes, Aaron.  I searched for a long time (without even knowing it)
    before I found the Religious Society of Friends.  Or it found me. 
    Having been to a couple of different Meetings since I first joined, I
    find that I feel best at my own meeting.
    
    E Grace

    Most definately.  I've had to yield a little more than once, but I've
    come to understand that the "heart" of the church is more important
    (at least to me) than the details.
    
    I've also been to church I agree with theologically, but which I have
    found cold and distant.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

We've actually not had a problem finding a church home since we've been
married.  We've had three (primarily because of moves, not because of
any problems with the previous church).

I expect that's because I'm so open-minded and teachable.  :-)

In reality, we have spent a lot of time in prayer and had confidence
that God would lead us to the right church.  In addition, it's important
to not major on the minors.  What was important for us in a church was
a Biblically based church that where the Holy Spirit was present during
worship (not speaking from a charismatic perspective).  A church that
truly worships God and honors His Word makes us feel right at home.

But I do know that everyone does not have the same experience finding
a church body as we do.  The most important thing is to do God's will,
not your own.  In other words, if you hear God telling you that this or
that church is for you, commit yourself to it.

Collis

    Aaron,
    	there was a while when I thought I had that problem, then I learned
    that I could re-define the problem and find a solution. This may be
    harder for you, given your very specific requirements, but here's what
    I did. First job was to figure out what I believed, second was to
    figure out what I was willing to accept, third was to define what I
    needed from a church and fourth was to find the church. Raised a Roman
    Catholic - a fairly conservative group but not TOO far out - I walked
    out because church doctrine seemed (to me) to be at variance with the
    spirit of Christ's teachings. Several years later I had come to terms
    with my beliefs and settled on what level of divergence I could listen
    to in a sermon. And decided that I needed a church mainly for a spirit
    of religious community - for social reasons. Then I found a UU church
    and discovered that they do not preach a dogma !  They will not throw
    you out of the building if you disagree with them on some religious
    question(politely). The sermons were along the same lines as Christ's
    teachings even when his name was never mentioned. Sometimes there were
    Biblical quotes, more often the quotes were from secular works. Perhaps
    these people didn't believe quite like I did, but they would let me
    believe as I chose and help me out when I had concerns. 90% of all UUs
    would object to being called Christians, yet most that I know live as
    Christ asked us all to live - more so than many who claim to be
    Christians do.
    	I'm now at a different church, believe me when I say that all UU
    churches are different - yet the same holds true. I feel safe there, I
    get hugs there, they accept me even as a minority, we are a literate
    community, we talk, we sing, we dance.
    	I don't know where you might find a community that will agree with
    your KJV fetish, perhaps the JWs? If that is your worst obstacle to
    finding a church then all you need do is take out a phone book and
    start calling around.

    For myself I had no problem finding a home church. I found it in the
    first church I went to a Free Methodist. It was one big family, they
    believed in the bible and the Holy spirit was there. 
    The paster told it as it was, that Christ was the only truth and the only
    way for salvation. No white washing... I have now been at the church
    for two and one half years and it has grown a lot and is sill growing.
    I also enjoy going to other churchs so I can get to know other brothers
    and sisters in the Lord.
    
    Peace,
    Bill

re.0

Aaron,


	In the Bible there is only one church per city (the church in Ephesus,
 Rome, Phillipi, Sardis, etc.). 

	The reason for this is because of the reasons you stated. If you had
a difference with other members of the locality you were in, there was no
place else to go. In others words you had to work it out. Unfortunately, many
decided that rather than work it out or "get outta Dodge", they would rather
be divided on their differences and the result is a whole phone book full of
so called "churches". However, God's church is made up of all beleivers
in a locality whether the beleivers in that city agree to meet with each other
or not. Spiritually they are one, yet practically they are not, since thier
testimony of the Oneness of the Body has been damaged by the divisive
ground upon which they meet.

	We should ask God to place us where His heart is satisfied, not ours.
As long as we select fellowship according to our preferences, we will always
wander about. If we mean business with the Lord, we will seek out the place
of fellowship that pleases Him alone. When God finds rest in us, then we will
find rest in Him. then we will no longer wander, for we will have found our
mutual and practical abode in Him. Both God and man will be satisfied.

Regards,
ace

    ace,
    	your comments seem to follow the Roman Catholic logic still being
    preached a couple of hundred years after they lost their mandate as
    "the one church". There is some "sense" to what you say about choosing
    the church God would have you attend but there is in your message an
    absolute paucity of information as to how to divine which this might
    be. Aaron requires strict adherance to the KJV, I'd much rather the KJV
    never entered my church, others may not know that there really is more
    than one translation. I'm sure you are willing to be our guide through
    this plethora, but what makes you think your star is better than either
    of ours in this ?  Your .6 is a platitude that adds nothing to
    answering Aaron's question.

.7

Ahh, but you see, that is my "perspective".


ace

    Interesting topic, especially since I believe we are called to "be"
    the church.  I believe I have a responsibility to participate in a "covenant
    community" in or near where I live and not to make changes every time
    something happens that I don't like.
    
    We had a pastor who was not a good preacher, not a good administrator,
    not an in-depth counselor, in fact not (IMO) very good at *any* of
    the things that I need in a pastor.  But she tried, and she visited,
    and she remembered and cared about details about people she met.  For
    me, her pastorate was a "dry" seven years, and our membership declined.
    
    But the people and the basic spirit of that community remained, and I
    felt a commitment to remain there, too.  Now things are changing, and
    our community (still warm and caring and loving) is growing.  I am glad
    I stuck it out.
    
    Sometimes I am tempted to seek out a larger church in a nearby city --
    one that might offer more talents and more resources for greater
    variety in music, worship, and programming (such as I experienced
    growing up in Ky). 
    
    But the church is called to *serve*, and that service does not depend
    on numbers or money.
    
    "Bloom where you are planted."
    
    Nancy
    
    PS - BTW, I would definitely look elsewhere if I felt totally "out of
    sync" with every church in my area -- fortunately, that is not the
    case. :) 

    
    	When I started attending the church that we now go to, I had
    a whole list of what a church must be.  This church met only 2 of the
    things on my list.  They loved people and they were open to what God
    would do in their midst.  
    	I have since learned that if my life measures up in these two areas
    God can also work in me.  It was not my idea to go to a 'Baptist'
    church.  We used to make fun of Baptists where I came from.  But the 
    Holy Spirit 'boxed my ears' and showed me that He can move anywhere He
    wants to, dispite my narrow minded views.  Now, if I just open myself
    up to Him and be obedient to His leading then everything will be
    alright.
    
    	_ed-