Is it a mine field or not?

[ClayInHisHands]

My family moved recently and put us pretty far away from our old church. We met a neighbor at the pool and her husband is the pastor of their church. She invited the kids to come to Vacation Bible School. The kids went all week and loved it. They have wednesday evening service, which is something we were looking for. When we were on our way out the door to try our first service my wife visited their website quickly to check the time and threw up concerns. She read it to me and it seemed like red flags all over the place. Check the link and tell me if you think we made the right decision not to attend this church. I'll just let the Beliefs/Doctrine statement speak for itself. I really felt convicted to not go....was I wrong....was I or were we overreacting?

http://www.northsidebaptistmc.org/Doctrine.html

[andrew_no_one]

Hello! What are your concerns?

[adampjr]

Hello. I personally disagree with just about everything in this doctrinal statement.

The first one of obvious concern is the KJV-only thing. In my opinion, this is one of the greatest absurdities still around. It betrays a terrible lack of knowledge of both history and linguistics, and is rather confused approach to the question of inspiration.

The last paragraph are minor behavior preferences that I disagree with, but would not an issue out of.

I would attend a church function even if I disagree with many fundamentals they have, as long as they are well reasoned and I can understand their position. But I would stay away from a group taht chooses to be adamant about such an absurdity as the KJV only thing.

[Indueseason]

It wouldn't be one I would attend, unless the Lord specifically told me to, but that's just because we differ in biblical interpretation. I can't obviously see what stopped you. Could you elaborate?

blessings to you

[Adstars]

Looked at there list of faith statements and there where two that concerned me.

The pre-tribulation rapture should not be in a churches list of doctrines of faith. It is a disputable matter not a central doctrine of the Faith needing adherence for salvation. What people believe in regard to rapture and it's timing has nothing to do with their salvation status with God.

Their last statement on calvinism while far more serious an issue then rapture is a grey area as far as salvation goes. But they seem not to understand the Arminianism doctrine. They lump them both together as if they both state the same thing and they are both counter to their teachings in the parragraph where they are featured. whilst calvinism is against what they preach Arminianisim to my knowledge is not.


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

[ClayInHisHands]

It just gave me the sense of legalism. We were there in the parking lot and all the women had long dresses or dresses on. Girls were in dresses and boys were dressed in slacks and dress shoes. A couple of years ago we attended an old neighbors church(which was Baptist too). My neighbor told me that the girls wear dresses, etc. but then tried to empasize that it was okay not to. We felt very uncomfortable when we attended and was looked up and down by a few of the elders/ushers. I believe Baptist have one of the most strongest foundations(not all I know but most). They seem to be more solid biblically than most.(That doesn't mean no one else is either, just my opinion from observation over the years) However, what it comes down to is will the choice of mine to use a bible other than the KJV and listening to contemporary christian music leave me open to judgment and ridicule in the future? If they express it matter of factly in their doctrine then logic would tell me that it would likely be a problem in the future. I know one church is not another, but it seemed like Deja Vu all over again.

[Indueseason]

Well, I would go with your first impression, the Lord will sure make it clear if you were meant to be there!

blessings to you

[adampjr]

Looked at there list of faith statements and there where two that concerned me.

The pre-tribulation rapture should not be in a churches list of doctrines of faith. It is a disputable matter not a central doctrine of the Faith needing adherence for salvation. What people believe in regard to rapture and it's timing has nothing to do with their salvation status with God.

Their last statement on calvinism while far more serious an issue then rapture is a grey area as far as salvation goes. But they seem not to understand the Arminianism doctrine. They lump them both together as if they both state the same thing and they are both counter to their teachings in the parragraph where they are featured. whilst calvinism is against what they preach Arminianisim to my knowledge is not.


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

Statements of doctrine generally go beyond only what is necessary for salvation. Nothing on there is necessary for salvation in and of itself. There is a need for churches to more narrowly define their doctrine.

[crawfish]

Sounds fairly legalistic to me. As long as you toe the party line and don't question, you'd be fine, but differ in any way and you're a pariah. Any church that does not allow dissent (or admit there is room for disagreement among Christians) is bound to be trouble.

[Slug1]

Don't get me started....

[Saved7]

These are really the only two issues I have too.

Looked at there list of faith statements and there where two that concerned me.

The pre-tribulation rapture should not be in a churches list of doctrines of faith. It is a disputable matter not a central doctrine of the Faith needing adherence for salvation. What people believe in regard to rapture and it's timing has nothing to do with their salvation status with God.

Their last statement on calvinism while far more serious an issue then rapture is a grey area as far as salvation goes. But they seem not to understand the Arminianism doctrine. They lump them both together as if they both state the same thing and they are both counter to their teachings in the parragraph where they are featured. whilst calvinism is against what they preach Arminianisim to my knowledge is not.


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

[andrew_no_one]

Perhaps a good question to ask is "What are you doing to evangelize the local lost?"

[TomH]

How does a church grow unless there is challenges to their faith?

Obviously, those things you see in this church as shortcomings, are your strengths.

God builds His church from individual stones. Each, carved and formed to fill the walls in an exact fit.

Perhaps God simply showed you we're the gaps to be filled are.

Church membership is a two way street. You need a church. What people sometimes overlook is the church may very well need you.

Time will give you the answer.

[LetsDrinkCoke]

I know this church well. I use to live in Goose Creek for many years and had several friends who went there. The church itself is a very loving church. I personally did not like the pastors preaching style but that does not take away from him as a man of God at all. When it came to the Doctrines of Faith, I don't believe any of them specifically are wrong, but for me is misguided accept for the last.

I do really disagree with the last statement as it more shuns and dismisses many fellow believers when they say they reject the charismatic movement and lumps in contemporary Christian music with it. If you don't want to follow the charismatic movement, that's fine, but to say we believe in being "separate" from it, then all you are doing is dividing the church. The Church today needs to be united in one movement, doing His will here on Earth and not being separate.

Statements of Faith in a church is a good thing for the simple reason it allows a person to know what they are going to get fed. How is the style of worship, the substance of the word, and even the fellowship of the church going to affect your growth and walk is essential. I never considered going to Northside personally, I loved my church over in Mount Pleasant.

[Jemand]

My family moved recently and put us pretty far away from our old church. We met a neighbor at the pool and her husband is the pastor of their church. She invited the kids to come to Vacation Bible School. The kids went all week and loved it. They have wednesday evening service, which is something we were looking for. When we were on our way out the door to try our first service my wife visited their website quickly to check the time and threw up concerns. She read it to me and it seemed like red flags all over the place. Check the link and tell me if you think we made the right decision not to attend this church. I'll just let the Beliefs/Doctrine statement speak for itself. I really felt convicted to not go....was I wrong....was I or were we overreacting?

http://www.northsidebaptistmc.org/Doctrine.html

Packing up and moving 5,000 miles from that “church” may be overreacting, but finding a real church would not be. Pray that God will heal your kids from whatever damage was inflicted upon them during their visit to the Vacation “Bible” School at that “church.”