The Quakers

[Starise]

The Shakers, I hear they get a lot of exercise.

[Dennis1209]

I will be doing a little ‘shaking’ myself in Sunday School on the fourth Sunday of this month and deviating from our regular Lifeway Bible Studies for Life. We have a large picture framed church covenant on the wall, sort of out of sight. I doubt a few have read it, and it is never mentioned or addressed.

Few know and history of how, where, and why Baptists came about. I do not identify myself as a Baptist or any denomination. I am a Christ follower. The Baptist doctrine best reflects my belief and understanding of the Bible

Researching this church covenant for who, when, and why it was written, I discovered some facts on early American church history too lengthy to repeat here. The actual reason the Pilgrims, Quakers, and Puritans fled to America. Freedom to start their religion and belief system.

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson’s role in listening to these “new” denominations’ concerns about church-state safeguards and freedom from the government in religion is fascinating. The Baptist’s in particular, with support from other denominations, demanded a better protection of religious liberty written into the First Amendment. Amazing, that was their top concern and priority above everything else.  

[Sower]

10 minutes ago, Dennis1209 said:

Few know and history of how, where, and why Baptists came about. I do not identify myself as a Baptist or any denomination. I am a Christ follower. The Baptist doctrine best reflects my belief and understanding of the Bible

"The Baptist doctrine best reflects my belief and understanding of the Bible"  

 

()    When sharing the gospel to strangers, if they ask where they can find a church to learn more about the bible I always recommend they try to find a small baptist church near them.  I let them know that no church is without it's flaws and problems, but that they will hear the biblical truth straight from the bible, what they need to hear and not the latest popular fad.

I have never heard any false doctrinal preaching at a baptist church, and there is one thing you can be sure of if they attend a baptist church. They will hear that they are sinners in need of a savior, and Jesus Christ is the only way they can be saved, born again from above.

It was a baptist funeral service in the seventies where my wife and I first heard the words you must be born again. And our neighbor's mom who was the child's mother invited my wife to her bible study group. Two months later in our back yard alone with God she professed belief by faith in what she had learned, and was saved. For myself more un-trusting of religions,  it took a few more months of questions with the men at work days and bible study that gave me the light through the holy spirit to change my thinking to also believe.

I thank God He steered us to our new home next to that family who lost their son that we heard at the funeral. Where a faithful brother preached the truth of what the bible says, that we must be born again. I also do not claim to be baptist due to current unpopularity of denominational identity, which causes most, even here on this forum, instant 'denominational' hatred.  In any religion, denomination, etc, a born again believer in Jesus Christ is my brother or sister. I would rather we look for what unites us in the body than what divides us. Christ is the head, we are the body.
 

[JohnD]

I have to admit, my impression of them since I was a kid was a cereal box label... LOL

The empties made for good drums too.

Then I thought it sounded like Quakers: Movers and Shakers... but they are far from that.

If memory serves, they were slightly lest strict than the Puritans.

And I believe former President Nixon was a Quaker.

[Dennis1209]

9 hours ago, Sower said:

"The Baptist doctrine best reflects my belief and understanding of the Bible"  

 

()    When sharing the gospel to strangers, if they ask where they can find a church to learn more about the bible I always recommend they try to find a small baptist church near them.  I let them know that no church is without it's flaws and problems, but that they will hear the biblical truth straight from the bible, what they need to hear and not the latest popular fad.

I have never heard any false doctrinal preaching at a baptist church, and there is one thing you can be sure of if they attend a baptist church. They will hear that they are sinners in need of a savior, and Jesus Christ is the only way they can be saved, born again from above.

It was a baptist funeral service in the seventies where my wife and I first heard the words you must be born again. And our neighbor's mom who was the child's mother invited my wife to her bible study group. Two months later in our back yard alone with God she professed belief by faith in what she had learned, and was saved. For myself more un-trusting of religions,  it took a few more months of questions with the men at work days and bible study that gave me the light through the holy spirit to change my thinking to also believe.

I thank God He steered us to our new home next to that family who lost their son that we heard at the funeral. Where a faithful brother preached the truth of what the bible says, that we must be born again. I also do not claim to be baptist due to current unpopularity of denominational identity, which causes most, even here on this forum, instant 'denominational' hatred.  In any religion, denomination, etc, a born again believer in Jesus Christ is my brother or sister. I would rather we look for what unites us in the body than what divides us. Christ is the head, we are the body.
 

We are on the same page. The SBC has its share of scandals and introductions of politically correct nonsense. Satan and his minions are nondenominational and anti-truth, always at work disrupting the body of Christ.

What I did not realize until I was preparing my lesson on our Baptist Church covenant was how many divisions there are in the denomination itself. I suspect that would apply to most other mainstream denominations too.

[Not of the World]

7 minutes ago, Dennis1209 said:

The SBC has its share of scandals...

What demonitation doesn't?  

I don't know enough about the various denominations to be able to say if I can identify as one of them or not, although I do know that I am NOT a Catholic nor a Lutheran.  

I guess I'm too focused on trying NOT to be a jerk and to live by the Great Commandment to have time to bother myself with a bunch of doctrinal stuff.  Love God, follow his commandments, and love one another.  I guess if I do all of that I'll be ok.   

[Dennis1209]

42 minutes ago, Not of the World said:

What demonitation doesn't?  

I don't know enough about the various denominations to be able to say if I can identify as one of them or not, although I do know that I am NOT a Catholic nor a Lutheran.  

I guess I'm too focused on trying NOT to be a jerk and to live by the Great Commandment to have time to bother myself with a bunch of doctrinal stuff.  Love God, follow his commandments, and love one another.  I guess if I do all of that I'll be ok.   

I agree, and here is a statement followed by a question.

Jesus established the church; Jesus is the Groom, and we are the bride. Apostles were sent out worldwide to start and develop churches—no need to mention why a Christian needs to attend and support a church.

Here is the question: How should one find and pick a local church to attend? How does one edify and uplift one another, support the community and teach and spread the Gospel without congregating as one body?

[Not of the World]

57 minutes ago, Dennis1209 said:

How does one edify and uplift one another, support the community and teach and spread the Gospel without congregating as one body?

How many people owned Bibles centuries ago?  I think that's one reason why so many went to church, because that was the only way to hear the actual word of God from a Christian teacher that actually owned a Bible.  I presume fellowship also played a role in church attendance. 

Today, one doesn't have to attend a church to hear the word of God, as evidenced by (for example) this community.  

Personally, I'm not much of a fan of attending physical churches.  As I am home-bound (caretaker for my 90-year-old frail and sickly mother) I do spend a lot of time perusing secular forums and social media sites.  I have planted many, many seeds and I think that's what Christ wants me to do.  

I participate here to improve my understanidng of scripture, not to further my belief in Christ as that is unshakeable.  

 

[Michael37]

2 hours ago, Dennis1209 said:

Jesus established the church; Jesus is the Groom, and we are the bride. Apostles were sent out worldwide to start and develop churches—no need to mention why a Christian needs to attend and support a church.

Here is the question: How should one find and pick a local church to attend? How does one edify and uplift one another, support the community and teach and spread the Gospel without congregating as one body?

How should one find and pick a local church to attend?

- By a process of elimination. 

In my city I have encountered many hazards associated with attending and identifying with various ekklesias.

If the music is overamplified I immediately discern the administration is not concerned about the welfare of those who come to the services they organise.  

[Not of the World]

22 minutes ago, Michael37 said:

How should one find and pick a local church to attend?

- By a process of elimination. 

It's sort of like when I listen to online preachers.  When they delve into political advocacy they are no longer spreading Christ's message but, rather, their own and then I discern that I should probably listen to someone else.