[bigsmooth]

SJ, i was not intending to get you fired up, it was just the way it was worded, so the "chill out" reference really is not needed.

[bigsmooth]

wow...a great thought provoking thread. thanks tally and scorcho for firing it up a bit.

[Knucklehead]

Wow, I thread that I dare not read every word. Could take weeks. Great fun!
BTW, after LU I went to Forest Baptist and taught the Youth SS class. Currently, I go to Heritage Baptist and have for like 12 years. My wife is a Founding Member. Great Church for many reasons, which I will not mention for fear of reigniting any controversy.

[Libertine]

Wow, I thread that I dare not read every word. Could take weeks. Great fun!
BTW, after LU I went to Forest Baptist and taught the Youth SS class. Currently, I go to Heritage Baptist and have for like 12 years. My wife is a Founding Member. Great Church for many reasons, which I will not mention for fear of reigniting any controversy.

How dare you, sir! I take holy umbrage!

[Knucklehead]

How dare you, sir! I take holy umbrage!

With What? Where do you go? The Church of the holy sarcastic one?

[Libertine]

Where do you go? The Church of the holy sarcastic one?

I go to the First United Cynical Synagogue out in Bedford County. Our beloved pastor gets up every Sunday morning, surveys the congregation and asks a question as old as time itself:

"Whaddayou lookin' at?"

At that point, everybody shrugs, takes a little money out of the offering plate and goes home.

[Knucklehead]

Where do you go? The Church of the holy sarcastic one?

I go to the First United Cynical Synagogue out in Bedford County. .

Is that the cute little Bedford County Snake Handlin' Church?

[Libertine]

Where do you go? The Church of the holy sarcastic one?

I go to the First United Cynical Synagogue out in Bedford County. .

Is that the cute little Bedford County Snake Handlin' Church?

It's not so much "handlin' " snakes so much as it is balling them up and throwing them at each other. It's all fun and games until somebody gets a fang in the eye but, still, that's how you do Sunday School.

[FlamingYalieWahoo]

Start out this life a Presbyterian in the southern branch of that used to be fine denomination. Saved at baptism as an infant. Confirmed in that church as a teen. Left church one month latter. Four years later started attending an independent church which had left the United Church of Christ because the 10 members were more conservative than the denomination. It was a combo of Wesleyans and Baptists. Had a "rebirth" of sorts - I think of it now as a rededication/recommitment. Attended TRBC as an LU student because I had to - never a very good Baptist. Attended Dr. Fink's Faith Presbyterian - even though I was/am (of sorts) a thorough going Wesleyan. Attended Rivermont Pres for a time because of the music. Ended time in Lynchburg at Grace EV Free. Attended West Haven Evanglical Free church in West Haven, CT while at Yale. Most of the Yale Campus Crusaders and staff attended this church plus a number of Yale grad students who now teach at Westminster and Calvin. We had Sunday pot lucks. Great times. In C'ville became a United Methodist because of commitment to traditional Methodism - evangelical faith with a strong social commitment. Next leg of the journey will be some form of conservative Anglican church - (This is with a belief that in the next 20 years Methodism will go through a split over homosexuality. and church history has inspired a strong love for the Book of Common Prayer and liturgy which if you through in Wesley's understanding of "experience" makes for one heck of a worship time. Smells and Bells that's where its at! Also a closet Catholic of sorts - have a very, very high view of the sacraments and other trappings as well. Recently purchased a Madonna for the front lawn - we call her "our lady of the cul de sac" or "our lady of glade lane" works too.

[Sly Fox]

For the record, the Anglican church in America is currently in the midst of a split over homosexuality. Curiously it is being led by the primarily Nigerian parishes who are staunchly against the Church's recent acceptance of homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle.

I have to admit I have been rather enlightened in this thread. Nicely done, bbrothers.

[FlamingYalieWahoo]

Yeah Sly, I've been tracking those developments in the US Episcopal versus the worldwide Anglican communion. You've probably seen where two VA parishes have in essence aligned themselves with one of these new overlay Dioceses placing themselves under an African Bishop rather than the Virginia Bishop. Hopefully most of the dust will have settled by the time I'm ready for the transition which might be about the time Methodism goes through its own "split" of sorts. Technically, the ordination and acceptance of homosexuality is in violation of the UMC's Book of Discipline (which says such a life style is not in keeping with biblical teaching) , however, in reality it is pervasive in large urban areas, the Northeast, the Northwest, and - go figure - California. There are some other Anglican churches like the Reformed Anglican Church or the Reformed Episcopal or the Anglican Province of America - they don't share the same relationship with the Archbishop of Cantebury that most Anglican/Episcopal churches do but some are very, very close.

[bbrothers224]

For the record, the Anglican church in America is currently in the midst of a split over homosexuality. Curiously it is being led by the primarily Nigerian parishes who are staunchly against the Church's recent acceptance of homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle.

I have to admit I have been rather enlightened in this thread. Nicely done, bbrothers.

No problem...there will be a love offering later on. I'll be sending a website that links to my personal account...so feel free to give as the heart leads.

[FlamingYalieWahoo]

Quick somebody cue the "invitation" music - all together now "Just as I am...." 'Cause you can't take an offering and not have an altar call. Ah, the good old days of TRBC attending services twice on Sunday and once on Wednesday - he said with all sincerity. BB - paypal would be a good way to take up that collection.

[bbrothers224]

and don't forget, "the buses will wait" phrase that's always said during the alter call.

[BrysOn_G]

Quick somebody cue the "invitation" music - all together now "Just as I am...." 'Cause you can't take an offering and not have an altar call. Ah, the good old days of TRBC attending services twice on Sunday and once on Wednesday - he said with all sincerity. BB - paypal would be a good way to take up that collection.

speaking of altar calls. i can't understand for the life of me why many modern-day churches do not give altar calls during a normal sunday morning service. i have noticed in a few different churches that i have attended that altar calls are few and far between. even my church from back home has gone from giving an altar call every service, to standing and singing a hymn without an invitation, to ending the service with very little closure in the form of a song or even an encouragement to come to Christ. my pastor preaches the Bible hardcore the entire service, and he sends me out with a challenge every sunday. however, him, in additon to a number of other churches i've visited, don't offer much of an invitation these days.

trbc does EVERY sunday. i love it. has anyone else noticed maybe in their church, or another, that invitations are either nothing like they were even 5 years ago, or maybe not even happening at all??

[4everfsu]

I attended TRBC during my time at LBC, of course I believe we were mandated to attend. It was no big deal with me, I liked the church. I had to admit I got tired of the time Jerry took during the service asking for support, but who am I to complain. I learned alot as I got older and that is to keep my mouth shut when someone is doing something for God like Jerry and other pastors, etc. and my ears opened.

When I do attend church now I attend Liberty Baptist church nearby in Hickory NC. I don't attend like I should. I will say they have a great preacher there who reminds me of BR Lakin, as far as telling a story as he preaches.

Anyway as far a church not giving an invitation after the Word is preached, I could not attend that church or support it. To me it is like telling someone who is in a desert, the water sure taste good and cold and not giving him or her that drink.

Tally as far as people complaining about you getting on them whether they are serving in a church, etc, keep on the firing line young man, don't quit and don't change as long as you are using the Word of God to teach and exhort.
God Bless you!

Personally we need more young men and women for God and not be afraid of what other people say, Christians or non Christians.

[El Scorcho]

my pastor preaches the Bible hardcore the entire service, and he sends me out with a challenge every sunday. however, him, in additon to a number of other churches i've visited, don't offer much of an invitation these days. trbc does EVERY sunday. i love it. has anyone else noticed maybe in their church, or another, that invitations are either nothing like they were even 5 years ago, or maybe not even happening at all??

I think I know what you mean, but you're going to have to clarify on the invitation bit. Do you mean a traditional big tent revival style altar call? Or do you mean just an invitation to follow Jesus at all? I think a lot of churches now do so depending on what the preceding time was meant to be. (Evangelism, discipleship, worship, etc.) I may not be following though, so I'll let you clarify before I go on.

[BrysOn_G]

my pastor preaches the Bible hardcore the entire service, and he sends me out with a challenge every sunday. however, him, in additon to a number of other churches i've visited, don't offer much of an invitation these days. trbc does EVERY sunday. i love it. has anyone else noticed maybe in their church, or another, that invitations are either nothing like they were even 5 years ago, or maybe not even happening at all??

I think I know what you mean, but you're going to have to clarify on the invitation bit. Do you mean a traditional big tent revival style altar call? Or do you mean just an invitation to follow Jesus at all? I think a lot of churches now do so depending on what the preceding time was meant to be. (Evangelism, discipleship, worship, etc.) I may not be following though, so I'll let you clarify before I go on.

i'm talking about at the end of a service, when there typically used to ALWAYS be an invitation to follow Jesus, many times there is not an invitation... and it's not just specific to my church. we do give an invitation every now and then, and the amount of people coming forward is just unbelievable. why not give one every service? that's how it used to be. it's not like people didn't come.

a number of churches have changed to this... possible because of the nature of the sermons? i dont know.

i understand what you're saying scorcho about what the preceding time (i'm assuming you mean the sermon) was meant to be, but a service with no invitation seems to do exactly what 4everfsu said.

i feel like regardless of whether the sermon was on "crossing a Jordan" or "making Godly decisions" or "Genesis 1:1," there should always be something said at the end of the service encouraging people to join the church, come to Christ, come back to Christ, etc... as oppose to maybe just a song (which leaves people a little unsure of whether or not it is the correct time to make an important decision) or nothing at all.

[jcmanson]

I think there should always be an altar call. No matter what. I think altar calls that are solely centered on people accepting Christ, rather than becoming a member of the church are better. To me, the part that is placed on becoming a member totally disrupts what someone may be thinking in regards to coming to Christ. They may think that if they accept Christ, they are becoming a member at that particular church on that day.

[SuperJon]

I can tell I'm Pentecostal. I've never been to a church service without an alter call or invitation of some sort.

[bbrothers224]

I remember all those services and alter calls that were held at TRBC after some sort of time away such as a holiday. It was like clock work...you'd go home for Thanksgiving break and come back to school and there were always these services that we had to go to. The invitation / alter call had nothing to do with the service...it was more of guilt trip IMHO. It was along the lines of, "You've been away from Liberty and at home during this time off and we know there have been temptations that you've given into...gone to the movies or did this or that...come on down for forgivenss and assurance of salvation." In short...it was an alter call aimed towards all of us students who were away from the heavy hand (at that time) at Liberty and we know you blew it...so come on down for forgiveness. It always left a bad taste in my mouth...lots of guilt by association in those days.

[JDUB]

well, evidently its changed alot since you were here, because it isn't like that now. at least not at TRBC. i don't go to campus church, but i have been before and can tell you that i don't think they try to put you on a guilt trip.

[4everfsu]

bbrother I have to disagree with you, TRBC is not made up of all LU students, so your guilt trip theory doesn't sail with me. The alter call is for everyone, students, non students, lost and those away from God regardless of LU connections. Now if that is the way you felt, well if you telephone rings, answers it.

[bbrothers224]

bbrother I have to disagree with you, TRBC is not made up of all LU students, so your guilt trip theory doesn't sail with me. The alter call is for everyone, students, non students, lost and those away from God regardless of LU connections. Now if that is the way you felt, well if you telephone rings, answers it.

might I ask the years that you were there? I doubt very seriously that those services would have existed if it were not for the students. I'm not talking about a Wednesday night service either. Say you come back from your Turkey break and start back to class on Monday morning. That evening we were bussed to TRBC. It looked just like the chapel sessions we had every Mon, Wed and Fri...only it was Mon night and we were at TRBC with about 98% of attendees having some Liberty connection (students or staff). To me...and I'm just saying to me...it seemed a bit heavy handed or dramatic even. I didn't get sense of trust or grace. And I'm not saying that I was or was not listening to God's tugg. Belive me...I claim Proverbs 30:2-3a (NAS or RSV) for a reason. "Behold I am more stupid than any man. I do not have knowledge of the Holy One. Wisdom escapes me." (or something like that)

[4everfsu]

I was there in 1972 to 1975. Back then when LBC started the student body was small compared to the overall church membership. And we were required to attend TRBC not like today where you are free to attend any local church.
Did they give alter calls before students went on break thru out the year or just after the break ended with students back? That would be a more fair question. If they gave them before then no big deal afterward, just my 2 cents worth.

And again anytime the word of God is preached, there should be an altar call. Either have an alter call with a service or have no service at all.