Jacie Posted April 10, 2017 Group: Junior Member Followers: 7 Topic Count: 5 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 116 Content Per Day: 0.04 Reputation: 288 Days Won: 0 Joined: 03/22/2017 Status: Offline Share Posted April 10, 2017 On 4/8/2017 at 11:45 AM, bryan said: Does your church have open or 'soft' rules stating certain types of people may not attend your church? I've encountered some of this recently and would like to hear your thoughts. Here are a few specific examples I've experienced in the past year. Please note I'm not judging these practices, simply describing them to see what you think. In a small, home-based fellowship consisting of six families, some friends asked if they could attend as well. Some of the elders (aka fathers of the families) said one woman could not attend since she had remarried. It didn't matter that her previous husband was abusive and in jail for violent crimes. Remarrying was judged as wrong and thus she could not be with us. In that same home-based fellowship, another family was considered and it was rejected because their political views were judged to be too progressive. The existing members stated they could not tolerate such views in their fellowship. I'll note that fellowship dissolved earlier this year when some views on marriage, women, and homosexuality divided the group and several families decided to leave instead if using biblical discussion to reach a rational consensus. In exploring some local churches, I've attended a couple bible studies to get to know some of the members in a smaller group setting. The first one was from a large church and looked promising as they were using a Gruden apologetics book and just starting. In the first meeting, they reviewed the chapter topics, restated the key concepts, and asked for questions. One person asked for some detail about a concept and was rebuked with the group leader saying "We believe this concept in our church" and made it clear no discussion was welcome. Further questions were treated similarly, so after a few meetings I stopped attending since they apparently only wanted people who repeated the phrases from the book. Another local church had a board meeting to deal with a current member. This member had been there for several years and ran all the audio for their services. Last year, he had been convicted of viewing child pornography online, spent some time in jail, lost is job, and was now applying to be a night janitor at the church to clean things when nobody else was there. While he had not committed any crimes other than online viewing, they banned him and his family from the church. In the past few months, I've seen several churches make it clear people aren't welcome if they ask the wrong questions, are from the wrong social class, have remarried, and more. It is all frankly quite disturbing. Biblical examples constantly show we should help people in need, yet what I'm seeing lately is rejection of people searching for help. Yes, I know of it happening. When my mom converted, things seemed to going great. After a few weeks, she started getting the "cold shoulder" treatment. She has been a member there for quite a while. She hasn't been to church for a 1 month because of her knee pain, then the surgery, but watches the Mass that is streamed. She asked a friend of hers what was going on, that friend told her that people who are converts aren't too welcomed, that unless someone is a "Cradle Catholic," they aren't treated with very much respect. It really saddens her. I'm staying with her to help her out while she recovers from the surgery. I was hoping to go to at least 1 Mass while I am here, just to see what the church is like, but it's not going to happen. I certainly don't want to be treated with disrespect. Maybe it's only this church that this happens at, I don't know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMatrixHasU71 Posted April 10, 2017 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 6 Topic Count: 21 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 1,573 Content Per Day: 0.51 Reputation: 723 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/10/2015 Status: Offline Share Posted April 10, 2017 14 minutes ago, Jacie said: Yes, I know of it happening. When my mom converted, things seemed to going great. After a few weeks, she started getting the "cold shoulder" treatment. She has been a member there for quite a while. She hasn't been to church for a 1 month because of her knee pain, then the surgery, but watches the Mass that is streamed. She asked a friend of hers what was going on, that friend told her that people who are converts aren't too welcomed, that unless someone is a "Cradle Catholic," they aren't treated with very much respect. It really saddens her. I'm staying with her to help her out while she recovers from the surgery. I was hoping to go to at least 1 Mass while I am here, just to see what the church is like, but it's not going to happen. I certainly don't want to be treated with disrespect. Maybe it's only this church that this happens at, I don't know. Better yet, find another church. The RCC is not a true Christian church to begin with. Sorry to be so blunt here but there is no better way to put it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacie Posted April 10, 2017 Group: Junior Member Followers: 7 Topic Count: 5 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 116 Content Per Day: 0.04 Reputation: 288 Days Won: 0 Joined: 03/22/2017 Status: Offline Share Posted April 10, 2017 3 minutes ago, TheMatrixHasU71 said: Better yet, find another church. The RCC is not a true Christian church to begin with. Sorry to be so blunt here but there is no better way to put it. You're not being blunt at all, and I appreciate your reply. We had talked about it before she converted. From what she studied about it, she thought she was making the right decision, it was her choice. We are kind of a "split" family as far as religious beliefs goes. I'm Lutheran and she and my sister are RC. Me and my sister were raised Lutheran, which is what she was. She converted after we left for college, and my sister converted while she was in college. Why is it not a true Christian church? I would really like to know. She has no interest in being on computer right now because the pain med she has to take is wreaking havoc on her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMatrixHasU71 Posted April 11, 2017 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 6 Topic Count: 21 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 1,573 Content Per Day: 0.51 Reputation: 723 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/10/2015 Status: Offline Share Posted April 11, 2017 23 hours ago, Jacie said: You're not being blunt at all, and I appreciate your reply. We had talked about it before she converted. From what she studied about it, she thought she was making the right decision, it was her choice. We are kind of a "split" family as far as religious beliefs goes. I'm Lutheran and she and my sister are RC. Me and my sister were raised Lutheran, which is what she was. She converted after we left for college, and my sister converted while she was in college. Why is it not a true Christian church? I would really like to know. She has no interest in being on computer right now because the pain med she has to take is wreaking havoc on her. It is because they put manmade traditions alongside or in some cases even above the bible. They practice idolatry in the form of statuary or praying to dead saints. They worship a Queen of Heaven (they will deny this and swear on their mother's grave that they do not worship Mary but when they make statues of her while demeaning Jesus making him a baby in her arms, they are worshipping her. When they put HER on the cross - I have seen images of this- they worship her. When they call her Mediatrix and Immaculately Conceived, they worship her (there is only one Mediator and only Jesus was immaculately conceived). When they say Jesus still listens to His earthly mommy in heaven that suggests that He still has to obey her even now. Utter garbage cuz that puts her above Him. I could go on and on) They have many other practices that are purely pagan in origin, like the priesthood (reserved for only a small select group of people unlike what the bible says, that we are ALL a royal priesthood) Celibacy of priests Monks and nuns The rosary (a practice that goes back thousands of years to many pagan religions especially Hindus and Buddhists) Find a book called Two Babylons by Alexander hyslop. It was written about 1859 or 60 but it is still plenty accurate. Its quite easy to find reprints on Amazon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacie Posted April 11, 2017 Group: Junior Member Followers: 7 Topic Count: 5 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 116 Content Per Day: 0.04 Reputation: 288 Days Won: 0 Joined: 03/22/2017 Status: Offline Share Posted April 11, 2017 17 minutes ago, TheMatrixHasU71 said: It is because they put manmade traditions alongside or in some cases even above the bible. They practice idolatry in the form of statuary or praying to dead saints. They worship a Queen of Heaven (they will deny this and swear on their mother's grave that they do not worship Mary but when they make statues of her while demeaning Jesus making him a baby in her arms, they are worshipping her. When they put HER on the cross - I have seen images of this- they worship her. When they call her Mediatrix and Immaculately Conceived, they worship her (there is only one Mediator and only Jesus was immaculately conceived). When they say Jesus still listens to His earthly mommy in heaven that suggests that He still has to obey her even now. Utter garbage cuz that puts her above Him. I could go on and on) They have many other practices that are purely pagan in origin, like the priesthood (reserved for only a small select group of people unlike what the bible says, that we are ALL a royal priesthood) Celibacy of priests Monks and nuns The rosary (a practice that goes back thousands of years to many pagan religions especially Hindus and Buddhists) Find a book called Two Babylons by Alexander hyslop. It was written about 1859 or 60 but it is still plenty accurate. Its quite easy to find reprints on Amazon Wow. I think I just went into shock. It's no wonder why she feels the way she does. Now I understand, thank you for explaining it to me. Given the way my mom feels about the RCC, I don't know that she will want to return. I'm going to look for that book. When I started looking around the internet for information about the RCC, there were positive as well as negative things about it, but more negative. It all makes sense to me now. God Bless, Jacie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMatrixHasU71 Posted April 11, 2017 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 6 Topic Count: 21 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 1,573 Content Per Day: 0.51 Reputation: 723 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/10/2015 Status: Offline Share Posted April 11, 2017 (edited) Just now, Jacie said: Wow. I think I just went into shock. It's no wonder why she feels the way she does. Now I understand, thank you for explaining it to me. Given the way my mom feels about the RCC, I don't know that she will want to return. I'm going to look for that book. When I started looking around the internet for information about the RCC, there were positive as well as negative things about it, but more negative. It all makes sense to me now. God Bless, Jacie Hugz https://www.amazon.com/Two-Babylons-Alexander-Hislop/dp/1523282959/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491920715&sr=8-1&keywords=two+babylons Edited April 11, 2017 by TheMatrixHasU71 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kindle Posted April 11, 2017 Group: Royal Member Followers: 53 Topic Count: 88 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 4,064 Content Per Day: 1.36 Reputation: 3,748 Days Won: 8 Joined: 02/23/2016 Status: Offline Share Posted April 11, 2017 3 minutes ago, TheMatrixHasU71 said: Hugz https://www.amazon.com/Two-Babylons-Alexander-Hislop/dp/1523282959/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491920715&sr=8-1&keywords=two+babylons I Love that book! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMatrixHasU71 Posted April 11, 2017 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 6 Topic Count: 21 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 1,573 Content Per Day: 0.51 Reputation: 723 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/10/2015 Status: Offline Share Posted April 11, 2017 3 minutes ago, Jacie said: Wow. I think I just went into shock. It's no wonder why she feels the way she does. Now I understand, thank you for explaining it to me. Given the way my mom feels about the RCC, I don't know that she will want to return. I'm going to look for that book. When I started looking around the internet for information about the RCC, there were positive as well as negative things about it, but more negative. It all makes sense to me now. God Bless, Jacie I forgot to add the Pontiff itself is a pagan title. The College of Cardinals is also pagan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacie Posted April 11, 2017 Group: Junior Member Followers: 7 Topic Count: 5 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 116 Content Per Day: 0.04 Reputation: 288 Days Won: 0 Joined: 03/22/2017 Status: Offline Share Posted April 11, 2017 1 minute ago, Davida said: I appreciate your open-ness to hear Matrix sincere post to you Jacie. So good to see! Thank you Davida. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kindle Posted April 11, 2017 Group: Royal Member Followers: 53 Topic Count: 88 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 4,064 Content Per Day: 1.36 Reputation: 3,748 Days Won: 8 Joined: 02/23/2016 Status: Offline Share Posted April 11, 2017 11 minutes ago, Jacie said: Thank you Davida. Here's a link to a downloadable PDF. If it doesn't work let me know https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://ldolphin.org/PDFs/The_Two_Babylons-Alexander_Hislop.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwjZ0bnc0pzTAhUnrFQKHRdtDIsQFggaMAA&usg=AFQjCNG-sHWg2ZZDVOyphO0C-9bWhtVncg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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