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Post by Jolly on Dec 29, 2019 17:08:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2019 19:41:40 GMT
Thank God there are still people who will take a stand for Truth.
I hope the UMC doesn't try to steal their resources from them.
When we hung out with a UMC congregation in NW MO, there was a lot of really sloppy exegesis, as well as some out-and-out bald-faced lying going on. During a Bible study, the female pastor stated unequivocally that the book of Romans did not say that homosexuality was wrong, only pederasty. Yes, I called her out on it, and it caused barely a ripple. The Frozen Chosen in the pews did not want to rock the boat.
Nick and I left. A few years later, we got a phone call from a dear friend in that congregation. She and her husband, along with a few other folk, left when the district was assigned an openly lesbian circuit pastor. Others in the group decided to stay rather than confront the sin.
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Post by joebill on Dec 30, 2019 15:55:19 GMT
I was raised Methodist, although it did not stick. At first I was mystified as to why they were submerging Christianity under a blanket of social and even political blather, but I was forcefully reminded that John Wesley began that outfit as a sort of men's club that discouraged unfairness in horse trading, brutal honesty in all matters and generosity in business. It only later became a denomination unto itself, splitting from the Church of England.
In other words, it had gotten so used to looking down it's nose on the rest of Christendom in matters of morality it just could not seem to stop itself, and now felt entitled to be the Emily Post of morality, writing that book according to it's own preferences. It has now become the "First national church of anything goes", with apologies to Flip Wilson's "church of what's happenin' now".
The single Methodist doctrine that stuck with me other than habitual honesty was that old tradition known as "Methodist measure" which was simply the practice of giving the customer or person one was trading with an extra measure that one was not compelled to give by the deal one had struck. Similar to the "baker's dozen". A bit extra to sweeten the deal.
I have repeatedly googled the term over the years, and it seems to have evaporated from that culture. I always got a lot of returns, but nothing that matched the true definition. Small wonder.....Joe
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Post by Txsteader on Jan 13, 2020 22:02:01 GMT
I also was raised Methodist, was later baptized in the Pentecostal church after I got married. But the only message I remember from all those Sundays in the Methodist church was the importance of putting a significant donation in that offering plate as it went by. I remember even asking my parents about it, why it seemed that was all the preacher talked about. Sad, isn't it?
I'll tell you what's even sadder - when I began going to the Pentecostal church, the teachings about the Holy Spirit were a complete revelation to me. I'd never heard of it before. SMH
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Post by Ozarks Tom on Jan 13, 2020 22:57:39 GMT
Txsteader, I'll go you one better. When I was a kid my mother took us to a Lutheran church in our neighborhood, and signed a donation pledge. A couple years later we moved about 30 miles away and joined another Lutheran church. The first church started sending dun letters, and when mom didn't reply, gave it over to a collection agency. Boy, did she reply then! Gotta hand it to her though, she did use quite a few words from the bible.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2020 0:11:38 GMT
When I was in college in my early 20s, I got a letter from my home UMC. It stated that since I hadn’t tithed in a while they were assuming I had found another church to support so were removing my name from the membership rolls.
Thus started my dissatisfaction with organized religion and me beginning to notice that it was all about the money.
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Post by BrewDaddy on Jan 14, 2020 0:22:03 GMT
When I was in college in my early 20s, I got a letter from my home UMC. It stated that since I hadn’t tithed in a while they were assuming I had found another church to support so were removing my name from the membership rolls. Thus started my dissatisfaction with organized religion and me beginning to notice that it was all about the money.
When my (then) wife and I went to church they had a band that played throughout the service... then I noticed that whenever the collection plate was going around, they started playing songs that had lyrics similar to "all I have I give to you" and "silver and gold mean nothing to me but if I give them to you" etc etc etc....
Hmmm... just a coincidence I guess....
The church also sent my wife an annual statement with her donations... tax purposes? Perhaps, but also letting you know THEY knew how much (or how little) you gave...
bd
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Post by paisley on Jan 14, 2020 3:13:09 GMT
Catholic...
My mom taught CCD, forever. She volunteered to teach for free at our church's special ed classes
On one of the rare times my father attended church happened when the priest was a month into raising money for a "baddly needed organ replacement" ....reach deep the goal to raise the money was several months... I can't even remember the amount heck honestly if the following had NOT happen I would not even know we were wanting a new organ... I was 👦 boy shopping the pews. Come on... Like I was the only 13 year old who checked out what was out there!
Well, my dad who was a show off. (Which could be very embarrassing) stood up and said ....send the bill to me.
The car ride home was fun!!!!
Fast forward 6years later dad walked out I was in college and nothing was in moms name.
Dad's plan was to starve her out to get her to agree to pennies. Mom stopped going to church ...anywhere really and the priest came knocking on the door.
Per my mom She invited him in thinking he showed up to comfort in her hour of need. But quickly learn he was there to explain that her abstance was noted as well as her donations. Mom probably in shock let down her Boston stiff upper lip state she was not in the situation to do so at this time.I
He went on to inform her That the church had relied on her normal donations to maintain things.
Then went over the priest as he noted the grand house and two new model caddies in the driveway and Jack had been travelling even more that normal. Mom must have lost it as she told me..
At that mom claimed to me the him know
Jack left her
The two cars have enough gas to get to the gas station
The newspaper was canceled
The deposit to open her own account for the house has too on her list to save for and she is not having a very good day
He got a wake up call. Her parting shot was something to the point that ...don't worry if it gets any worse I will know not to darken your door for help!
It really hurt mom cause seeing he at the door she thought he was their to see what was wrong not same her for money!
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Post by Johnny D on Jan 14, 2020 3:34:29 GMT
Catholic... My mom taught CCD, forever. She volunteered to teach for free at our church's special ed classes On one of the rare times my father attended church happened when the priest was a month into raising money for a "baddly needed organ replacement" ....reach deep the goal to raise the money was several months... I can't even remember the amount heck honestly if the following had NOT happen I would not even know we were wanting a new organ... I was 👦 boy shopping the pews. Come on... Like I was the only 13 year old who checked out what was out there! Well, my dad who was a show off. (Which could be very embarrassing) stood up and said ....send the bill to me. The car ride home was fun!!!! Fast forward 6years later dad walked out I was in college and nothing was in mind name. Dad's plan was to starve her out to get her to agree to pennies. Mom stopped going to church ...anywhere really and the priest came knocking on the door. Per my mom She invited him in thinking he showed up to comfort in her hour of need. But quickly learn he was there to explain that her abstance was noted as well as her donations. Mom probably in shock let down her Boston stiff upper lip state she was not in the situation to do so at this time.I He went on to inform her That the church had relied on her normal donations to maintain things. Then went over the priest as he noted the grand house and two new model caddies in the driveway and Jack had been travelling even more that normal. Mom must have lost it as she told me.. At that mom claimed to me the him know Jack left her The two cars have enough gas to get to the gas station The newspaper was canceled The deposit to open her own account for the house has too on her list to save for and she is not having a very good day He got a wake up call. Her parting shot was something to the point that ...don't worry if it gets any worse I will know not to darken your door for help! It really hurt mom cause seeing he at the door she thought he was their to see what was wrong not same her for money! Paisley this just makes me wanna cry. Really is suggestive you buy your way to heaven. When Christ died giving you a free ticket fly.
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Post by paisley on Jan 14, 2020 3:45:24 GMT
Well, the rest of the story was the nuns heard and started calling on her and visited, bringing her the news paper from the day before.
The divorce judge forced support from my father. So much support that they remarried only to repeat but dad sold off l lots of assets prior to the next divorce. I
The next judge was really going hold him in contempt of a judge's orders in monday..... But the judge died mowing is lawn on sunday... Legal news no one can be charged for contempt of a dead judge ... But judge 3 had a clue about dad by the time he got the case and ruled dad got more than mom did so what was left to divide mainly went to mom cause he knew that the sales were sham deals and dad still honestly had access. Mom got us kids dad died alone.
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Post by joebill on Jan 15, 2020 14:33:58 GMT
I think the term "badly needed organ replacement" should apply to medical institutions, not churches. The church can continue with only a cheap harmonica, not so much the human....Joe
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Post by Johnny D on Jan 15, 2020 14:49:15 GMT
I think the term "badly needed organ replacement" should apply to medical institutions, not churches. The church can continue with only a cheap harmonica, not so much the human....Joe Right on Joe ...
With only a shirt on your back you can go out and minister to others by your words and labor to do good works. You can sing whistle yodel hum clap your hands skip jump and dance and do it all without a dime. Your prayers are your offering.
You might not have a dime but you can give yourself to God and he will have a task for you.... doesn't need your money do do this.
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Post by Ozarks Tom on Jan 15, 2020 15:09:48 GMT
I remember when the First Baptist Church of Dallas put out a plea for a "Special Offering" as their funds for their missionaries were running low. On that one Sunday they pulled in nearly $3 million dollars.
I'd attended 1st Baptist at the invitation of some members, and can remember all the conversation before and after the service was all about which big money people were there, what they owned, and affluence in general. A more money oriented crowd I've never seen before or since.
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Post by DEKE on Jan 15, 2020 18:23:57 GMT
I remember when the First Baptist Church of Dallas put out a plea for a "Special Offering" as their funds for their missionaries were running low. On that one Sunday they pulled in nearly $3 million dollars. I'd attended 1st Baptist at the invitation of some members, and can remember all the conversation before and after the service was all about which big money people were there, what they owned, and affluence in general. A more money oriented crowd I've never seen before or since.
I went there one time as well when my mother lived in Richardson, a northern burb. I'm glad those folks have found a place that makes them happy. It was quite impressive being the first time I had ever seen a mega church. I really enjoyed it, but once was enough. Not my thing.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2020 21:27:24 GMT
I remember when the First Baptist Church of Dallas put out a plea for a "Special Offering" as their funds for their missionaries were running low. On that one Sunday they pulled in nearly $3 million dollars. I'd attended 1st Baptist at the invitation of some members, and can remember all the conversation before and after the service was all about which big money people were there, what they owned, and affluence in general. A more money oriented crowd I've never seen before or since.
I went there one time as well when my mother lived in Richardson, a northern burb. I'm glad those folks have found a place that makes them happy. It was quite impressive being the first time I had ever seen a mega church. I really enjoyed it, but once was enough. Not my thing.
We call the mega churches "Six Flags Over Jesus."
On a couple of occasions, we went to the first "church" to be called "mega": Willow Creek Community Church in Hoffman Estates, IL. They put on a good show, and the Starbucks in the narthex was a nice touch, but it was not really a worship experience, more like an entertainment venue.
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