Denominational Indoctrination

[Who me]

10 hours ago, Saved.One.by.Grace said:

don't know what church non-believers in Christ 's divinity would be welcome at but it would not be Christian!

 

Use Google to investigate the beliefs of the churches in your town/district you will find churches with a less than orthodox view of Christianity. They are often lovely people and as you say ' are not christian' so how do you or your church evangelize them?

10 hours ago, Saved.One.by.Grace said:

False  Dichotomy.

Bias against the poor and bias against nonchristians is still bias against them and something Christians should not display.

[Who me]

9 hours ago, Michael37 said:

Well, how about Jesus loves you and so do I...

 

Thank you, but you still haven't substantiated your belief that denominational views distorts the gospel.

[Guest]

15 minutes ago, Who me said:

Use Google to investigate the beliefs of the churches in your town/district you will find churches with a less than orthodox view of Christianity. They are often lovely people and as you say ' are not christian' so how do you or your church evangelize them?

Not by making them members of a Christian church.  One bad apple spoils the basket.

15 minutes ago, Who me said:

Bias against the poor and bias against nonchristians is still bias against them and something Christians should not display.

Poor Christians are not discriminated against in church.  I don't feel I'm being discriminated against.  Non Christians in a Christian church are only there to confuse the parishioners with respect to sound Biblical principles.

[David1701]

7 hours ago, Who me said:

May I suggest that you read James again.

I would also like to ask a simple question.

 

I've read James many times, thanks.  I would suggest that you seek to understand it.

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An atheist tells you they are interested in learning about Christianity. What advice do you give them?

How many atheists are you talking about ("them" is plural)? 

Assuming that you meant "him", then I would advise him to read the Bible, if all he wanted to do was to learn about Christianity.  If he were under conviction and wanted help (although that would make him an agnostic, at worst), then I would tell him the gospel.

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From your answers to me you would not suggest they attend a church.

Assembly meetings are for Christians.  Unless there was a specifically evangelistic meeting, then I would not suggest that he attend an assembly.

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This rules out things like christianityexplord as two or three Christians are meeting together and that makes it ' a church'.

I don't know what "christianityexplord" [sic] is.

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Would you take the time to meet with this interested atheist, ah the problem is he is on a Christian forum somewhere in the world and you are elsewhere.

While you can email, text, zoom etc surely the best option is for this interested atheist to start attending a church and talking with the members and minister.

 

Atheists, by definition, are only interested in Christianity in an intellectual way (if that), i.e. something to study, not something to become a part of.  If a person is starting to think that there could be a God and/or he is coming under conviction, then you tell him the gospel.

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I would also suggest you ask your minister for his unofficial view as to how many non Christians regularly attend the church service?

Unbelievers should not WANT to attend Christian assemblies, unless they are under conviction.  The only reason that a reasonable number do, is because many of the meetings are so completely lacking in the Holy Spirit; in fact, the meetings could carry on, with no change, if He left completely, and no-one would notice any difference.

 

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That I have to suggest this implies you don't know the other members and attenders of your church.

I have attended several different churches and there were hardly ever any unbelievers at any of them, except specifically arranged evangelistic meetings.

Check the Bible and you will see that evangelism is not for assembly meetings.  I suggest you watch some episodes of "Way of the Master", by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron.

Edited August 12, 2020 by David1701

[Michael37]

13 hours ago, Who me said:

Thank you, but you still haven't substantiated your belief that denominational views distorts the gospel.

Straw man fallacies are not my gig. I haven't actually stated I believe what you say I have, and to substantiate what I have presented by way of thesis, see my OP quote below:  

On 8/7/2020 at 2:31 PM, Michael37 said:

that despite the errors and inadequacies of denominational institutions, if the saints are being equipped, if the work of ministry is being achieved, and if the body of Christ is being edified, this is worthy and should be encouraged and supported.

A position that stipulates there are no errors and inadequacies in denominational institutions is cultic.

[Who me]

18 hours ago, David1701 said:

I would advise him to read the Bible,

One of the common threads that appears in testimonies at the church I attend is the personal contact with another Christian. It is what I see through out the NT the personal connection.

18 hours ago, David1701 said:

have attended several different churches and there were hardly ever any unbelievers at any of them

And the key words are, ' there were hardly any unbelievers at them ' can you provide chapter and verse that says church services are for Christians only.

I have no problem with non Christians attending church services, Paul talking about the spiritual gifts said that they were to challenge the unbeliever, so he recognised there would be non Christians in there services.

 

It is why I linked James and the bias against the poor correctly with bias against atheists.

 

Ultimately we are to imitate Jesus, we are to show our love for him by our obedience to his commands, which were to love God and to love our neighbour as we love ourselves.

 

How loving is stopping an unbeliever from attending a church service?

Edited August 13, 2020 by Who me

[Who me]

11 hours ago, Michael37 said:

Straw man fallacies are not my gig. I haven't actually stated I believe what you say I have, and to substantiate what I have presented by way of thesis, see my OP quote below:  

A position that stipulates there are no errors and inadequacies in denominational institutions is cultic.

I have never said there were no errors etc in denomination, I have challenged you to prove your assertion.

[Who me]

18 hours ago, David1701 said:

don't know what "christianityexplord" [sic] is.

Google is your friend, type in christianityexplored and read the web site.

Use the search function to find churches that have or are running this course, check out its statement of belief and if you are happy with an evangelical statement of faith ask your minister why your church is not using this scheme, unless your church is more at home with the alphacourse and it's statement of believe.

[Justin Adams]

4 minutes ago, Who me said:

Google is your friend

I really do not think so brother. Google is a monopoly and information exchange for most governments in the world that subscribe. It is a BEAST.. one of a few that are NOT benign.

[Michael37]

10 minutes ago, Who me said:

I have never said there were no errors etc in denomination, I have challenged you to prove your assertion.

What assertion? What would constitute proof to your mind?