Do your end times beliefs align with those of your denomination?

[Amos_with_goats]

I wonder how many here may find their beliefs about the end times do not align with what they may hear from the pulpit, or their denom's official position?

How much of an issue is this for you?

How much of an issue do you believe it ought to be?

[Frecs]

I'm in agreement with my denom. I don't think I'd make a huge issue out of it with the exception of some of the heretical beliefs that are out there. One that tried to get into my local church but was sent packing is...I hope I get the name right.... "Kingdom Now"... stuff like that I'd take issue with but simply disagreeing on pre-, mid-, or post trib would not bother me.

[Amos_with_goats]

I'm in agreement with my denom. I don't think I'd make a huge issue out of it with the exception of some of the heretical beliefs that are out there. One that tried to get into my local church but was sent packing is...I hope I get the name right.... "Kingdom Now"... stuff like that I'd take issue with but simply disagreeing on pre-, mid-, or post trib would not bother me.

DO you know if your Church lists it's position in it's 'statement of beliefs'?

[RabbiKnife]

I don't even know if my current denom has an "official position" on the End Times.

Wouldn't matter to me if they did.

Never an issue for me.

Don't hear much from the pulpit on the issue, although the pastor and I are planning to preach a series next Spring working through Revelation and talking about how the various camps...pretrib, amil, and partial pret...interpret each section.

[Amos_with_goats]

I don't even know if my current denom has an "official position" on the End Times.

Wouldn't matter to me if they did.

Never an issue for me.

Don't hear much from the pulpit on the issue, although the pastor and I are planning to preach a series next Spring working through Revelation and talking about how the various camps...pretrib, amil, and partial pret...interpret each section.

I am going to pray for you in this. My senior pastor did just this a decade ago, and challenged us to search the scripture and ask the Lord what He would show us. I found that my prior belief did not stand up to the scripture, and the Lord forced me to change my view....

I differ from others in my body in this, but it has never become an issue in my serving... I wonder what experiences others have had.

[Frecs]

Well, I know that the tenet of faith of my individual church -- drawn up prior to joining the Church of God denom -- does include a statement of position on the End Times. I haven't looked but I suspect the CoG does as well. honestly, I don't know if the CoG is in agreement with my church but I know my Pastor hasn't changed his personal or "official" stance!

[markedward]

Not really, no, although the church I attend is part of an Affiliation not a Denomination. Denominations basically lay down the law for what the local churches may teach without crossing the line. Affiliations generally have a small core set of doctrinal requirements with great freedom with the rest. So the teaching of individual pastors in this Affiliation varies from church to church, since the HQ had deemed eschatology a secondary matter open to discussion. (The first one I attended in Iowa was pretrib premil; I'm not sure about the one I'm at now.)

[Amos_with_goats]

Not really, no, although the church I attend is part of an Affiliation not a Denomination. Denominations basically lay down the law for what the local churches may teach without crossing the line. Affiliations generally have a small core set of doctrinal requirements with great freedom with the rest. So the teaching of individual pastors in this Affiliation varies from church to church, since the HQ had deemed eschatology a secondary matter open to discussion. (The first one I attended in Iowa was pretrib premil; I'm not sure about the one I'm at now.)

I am also with a body with 'affiliation' not a denom. As you say, that probably matters. I have known it has for some, and am interested in hearing how, and how they have dealt with that.

[waslostnowfound]

With my partial pret. eschatology views, it is almost impossible to find a church that shares my beliefs in the middle of Nebraska. I am attending a First Christian church with a pastor whom I adore. I don't think our particular differences on end-times matter to our salvation, so I am completely ok with it.

It would be nice to find a church with the same views, but I'm being fed and challenged and that is a good thing.

God Bless

Craig

[amazzin]

...... Denominations basically lay down the law for what the local churches may teach without crossing the line.

Not entirely true. The local church, in most cases, is autonomous. The denominational affiliations are for credentialing and oversight in the event of a schism

[markedward]

The local assembly is autonomous in the sense of the local teacher putting together his own sermons, series, messages, etc. But according to "the rules", his there are a number of secondary issues he is not allowed to deviate from if he is to remain as a teacher in that denomination. For example, if you want to officially be a teacher for the Assembly of God denomination and you plan on teaching about eschatology, you must teach the pretribulational rapture and premillennial Second Coming. That's the rule; there's no freedom of "autonomous" study when it comes to that secondary issue, and hence, that drastically limits just how "autonomous" the local assembly is allowed to be in the A/G. How strictly that rule is actually enforced is debatable in the case of deviations, but the rule is laid down regardless. The A/G (and many other denominations) are like this with secondary issues.

[Ta-An]

DO you know if your Church lists it's position in it's 'statement of beliefs'?

No, they don't preach on it

[John146]

I wonder how many here may find their beliefs about the end times do not align with what they may hear from the pulpit, or their denom's official position?

Mine don't. I'm amil and my church is premil.

How much of an issue is this for you?

Minor. I don't like it, but I can live with it. End times beliefs don't affect the ministry of the church or the unity of the church at all.

How much of an issue do you believe it ought to be?

I believe it ought to be a minor issue, but if a church's end times beliefs have a significant impact in the overall ministry and focus of the church then it could become a major issue.

[Amos_with_goats]

Minor. I don't like it, but I can live with it. End times beliefs don't affect the ministry of the church or the unity of the church at all.

Do you find there are those who seek it out as an issue at times?

[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]I believe it ought to be a minor issue, but if a church's end times beliefs have a significant impact in the overall ministry and focus of the church then it could become a major issue.

I am afraid I find that to be the case at times. I know that when I have been tempted to make it an issue, I have been convicted.

I have also been a visitor, when a pastor stood and mocked anyone who did not believe as he did.... he was encouraging the body to mock them also. I was grieved, am I am even thinking of some of the conversations here.... these are important issues to discuss, but not to give the adversary room to use against us....

[genealogist]

I think some excellent points have been brought up, i.e. that many churches do not teach much about end times, and thus miss one of the main points of the bible.

My eschatology does not agree with my denom, at least the one they broke away from as there is typical we've sinned so "let's-get-saved-so-that-we-die-and-go-to-heaven" theology and everything else goes on the same as if that's all there is to the future.

Those into eschatology, including Jewish eschatology that I read, believe in some sort of trial at the end of days, a coming of Messiah for a Kingdom, and the regathering of Israel. The bible actually makes it clear that we are not saved to enjoy a heavenly bliss with Messiah, per se, but to rule and reign just like He will, and Psalm 2 is applicable to Messiah's brethren (chosen ones) as well.

The thing that even many "rapturist-tribulation-second coming of Christ- white throne judgment" evangelicals (where I originally came from) that you hear preach on TV today miss is the vital importance of Israel in the scheme of things. That's where I lay a heavier emphasis on eschatology.

Most do not realize that the bible is a book about Israel, and after the gospels but before Revelation is parenthetical to the "church age" of a special called-out people only destined to rule and reign with Christ if I may sound a little Bullingerish. The rest is addressed primarily to Israel.

For a person to miss the subject matter (Israel) of the bible is about the same as missing the point of a cookbook regarding foods as one focuses their attention to the plates that the food is served on instead. But that's what's happening. Churches everywhere are getting excited about the pretty plates in the cookbook.