Growing up I was hurt by my baptist church because they added extra rules to the Bible. I said I would never attend a baptist church again. After I was married I went to a non-denominational church that was a church plant of a Baptist church, but it was not baptist. After moving to Tennessee, we went to a church that was not baptist. now we attend a church plant that is non- denominational.
I love our current church and the clear vision of the leadership and a mission we work toward as a church. We are free to execute the great commission as we see fit with the support of our church ( and within the boundaries of the Bible). The people are still learning to know each other, but there are friendships being born and we are growing together in the Word.
As I have grown older I have attended several groups that are open to people from all churches like Bible Study Fellowship, MOPS and our home school CO-OP. It has been a great experience for me to see how people from all churches are part of The Church and are in God's Family which is my family. I have been challenged by these women and saddened when I hear stories of hurt from other denominations that add rules to the Bible or flat out don't follow the Bible, but mostly I am encouraged that we are working together even within our different denominations or non- denominations to be the wonderful family we were created to be.
As I have grown older I have realized that not all Baptists churches are unhealthy and there are many unhealthy churches all over, but there are many more healthy churches that outweigh the bad. Churches that do not put down their other brothers and sisters in Christ and use the Bible as their foundation with no other rules.
Three months ago my pastor was asked to pray with the elders of another church that was going through change. He prayed with them and eventually they asked if our church would consider marrying their church. This is done with the best of intentions and both church congregations have been in prayer to see if this should happen. All of the details are precious and good. There has been great beauty in seeing our church unite in spirit and mission with another church as we are suppose to. The leadership has gone over the details and replayed scenarios on how this should take place if it were to happen. We, as two congregations, have been asking questions and and receiving truthful answers.
This marriage of churches is happening and we will still be a non- denominational church that is a member of the Southern Baptist Convention... Technically not a Baptist church and it will be my Church.
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Let the Church Be One
1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV)- I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
Sticks and stones are soon forgotten, but words breathe fire that lasts for a millennium. For hundreds of years the church has been divided in mind and thought. The reasons for the divisions are known, and they are still dividing the church. This is just as much spiritual battle as it is a verbal battle and we need to choose to end the war and stop fanning the wrong flame.
Less often than it should the church agrees to work together. When this happens the Lord's prayer is fulfilled and His kingdom has come and His will is done on earth as is has always been in Heaven. When heaven and earth collide there is a spiritual awakening in our hearts as we unite with purpose. This is what is happening in our city. Revival has started. It began with a person, rippled out to a group and when we start to come together as The Church revival will pour out on our city. Get your umbrellas and boats ready because the time for the out pouring of the spirit is now for our generation. We need to fan the flame brought by the Holy Spirit as it laps up the cleansing water and spreads like wildfire across our neighborhoods, towns and countries.
Dear Father you are the Prince of Peace. As a church we have failed to be at peace with our brothers and sisters in the church, and have been divided. Forgive us. Help us to join together with our family, The Church, across our neighborhoods, towns and country so that your Great Name will be known to all people.
Dear Father you are the God of order. Please forgive us for not being united and orderly with our brothers in word or deed. Give us opportunities to bring us together. Let us recognize these times and to utilize them to bring unity in your family.
Dear Father you are our Protector. Please forgive us for not protecting each other in The Church.We have put our own causes and plans ahead of our family, The Church, because we are selfish. Let us be a refuge of hope to the lost in our community and come together with a plan to build up and protect each other.
You are our Hope and Shield. Please forgive us for hoping in our congregation and for lying by calling it the church. Please let us see the beauty in our differences and use them as strength. Your hope is our protection from the evil one. You have always been the only Hope we have. Let us see that as a united Church we can bring hope to our neighborhoods, community and nation by working together as one church.
God of Many names you are our sustainer and giver of life. Let us reflect this life in our neighborhoods, community and nation as we go to make disciples for your family. We declare this day that we will strive to be one, united with purpose to make your Great Name know to our generation as the God who can do all things and bring unity to your family.
Sticks and stones are soon forgotten, but words breathe fire that lasts for a millennium. For hundreds of years the church has been divided in mind and thought. The reasons for the divisions are known, and they are still dividing the church. This is just as much spiritual battle as it is a verbal battle and we need to choose to end the war and stop fanning the wrong flame.
Less often than it should the church agrees to work together. When this happens the Lord's prayer is fulfilled and His kingdom has come and His will is done on earth as is has always been in Heaven. When heaven and earth collide there is a spiritual awakening in our hearts as we unite with purpose. This is what is happening in our city. Revival has started. It began with a person, rippled out to a group and when we start to come together as The Church revival will pour out on our city. Get your umbrellas and boats ready because the time for the out pouring of the spirit is now for our generation. We need to fan the flame brought by the Holy Spirit as it laps up the cleansing water and spreads like wildfire across our neighborhoods, towns and countries.
Dear Father you are the Prince of Peace. As a church we have failed to be at peace with our brothers and sisters in the church, and have been divided. Forgive us. Help us to join together with our family, The Church, across our neighborhoods, towns and country so that your Great Name will be known to all people.
Dear Father you are the God of order. Please forgive us for not being united and orderly with our brothers in word or deed. Give us opportunities to bring us together. Let us recognize these times and to utilize them to bring unity in your family.
Dear Father you are our Protector. Please forgive us for not protecting each other in The Church.We have put our own causes and plans ahead of our family, The Church, because we are selfish. Let us be a refuge of hope to the lost in our community and come together with a plan to build up and protect each other.
You are our Hope and Shield. Please forgive us for hoping in our congregation and for lying by calling it the church. Please let us see the beauty in our differences and use them as strength. Your hope is our protection from the evil one. You have always been the only Hope we have. Let us see that as a united Church we can bring hope to our neighborhoods, community and nation by working together as one church.
God of Many names you are our sustainer and giver of life. Let us reflect this life in our neighborhoods, community and nation as we go to make disciples for your family. We declare this day that we will strive to be one, united with purpose to make your Great Name know to our generation as the God who can do all things and bring unity to your family.
The Wedding Banquet
You are invited to a feast. The food will be the best and you will be a guest of honor.
The marriage of the bride is coming together. The Church is once again deciding to stop being a harlot, join together with itself and be the way we are intended.
Please note that there will be guards on duty as we expect extra difficulty in making sure that the marriage happens. This has happened in the past and your journey to the feast may be one of difficulty as well, but please call on our service and our guards will come immediately to protect you. Once inside you will be safe and will be given the finest garments, furnishing and delicacies.
We look forward to this marriage and know that Heaven is meeting earth even as we speak. We are honored that you are choosing to experience this great event now and are not waiting until later.
Come, Taste, the Feast has started and you are chosen to join us. The joining of Heaven and earth. The eternal with the immortal. The Groom with the bride. You with all the Church. Now in this generation. You are my beloved and I choose you.
Welcome and celebrate with us,
The Father of the bride
The marriage of the bride is coming together. The Church is once again deciding to stop being a harlot, join together with itself and be the way we are intended.
Please note that there will be guards on duty as we expect extra difficulty in making sure that the marriage happens. This has happened in the past and your journey to the feast may be one of difficulty as well, but please call on our service and our guards will come immediately to protect you. Once inside you will be safe and will be given the finest garments, furnishing and delicacies.
We look forward to this marriage and know that Heaven is meeting earth even as we speak. We are honored that you are choosing to experience this great event now and are not waiting until later.
Come, Taste, the Feast has started and you are chosen to join us. The joining of Heaven and earth. The eternal with the immortal. The Groom with the bride. You with all the Church. Now in this generation. You are my beloved and I choose you.
Welcome and celebrate with us,
The Father of the bride
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