Associate Chaplain

I do not wish to go against the closure of a simular site. "I feel this will show how some simple minded people will react if they do not get their way." I am a member of a Methodist church and within 1 mile there are now three(3) Methodist churches.
The reason for this, the dispute of the purchase of the original church's first and current Pipe Organ.

epistemaniac

well that is silly..... I live in an area that has many many churches as well.... alas, there are none that I am in agreement with as to the nature of the gospel itself, ie I am a Calvinist (Reformed Baptist to be exact) and this area (north central Indiana... Goshen, Shipshewana, Topeka...) is dominated by Anabaptists... eg Mennonites and the Amish, yes, they are so many in this area that all the stores, Wal Mart etc have to have special areas attached to the sides of their parking lots for the Amish to tie up their horse and buggies... .. although there are many Methodist churches and other mainline churches as well.... so its a real bummer for me, and I really wrestle with this issue a great deal, I want to hear the word of God and go to a chruch where at least we agree on the fundamentals of the gospel, namely; who does what in salvation?... who saves who?... which comes first...? faith or justification? etc etc... so I find myself not really attached to any local body but then, God is sovereign and He establishes the times and places where we live and so He has a reason for me being here now, because i just don't believe in "chance".... so in one way, I agree with the OP, there are just too many churches and too many church splits for side issues, on the other hand, hopefully God will bring a Reformed Baptist church this way soon

blessings

Boanerges

Many members with many applications one Lord and One Church- that is the way I see it. If we belong to Christ then ultimately we are one church with many expressions. And yes it is human nature to divide over even the smallest details. One can be unified in spirit and purpose even when doctrines differ. The most important aspect ( only my opinion again ) is finding which member of the body God would have you plug into and bearing fruit for the kingdom.
AC I have been in a church that split. It brought great sorrow into my life and my spirit was greatly grieved- Yet when it was all said and done there were 3 thriving works in the community and God was glorified.

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Anything that dims my vision for Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps me in my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult, is wrong for me; and I must, as a Christian turn away from it. – J. Wilbur Chapman

SweetSurrender

Well, Epistemaniac, you just answered one of my questions in your profile. But, that doesn't mean you couldn't start a church of your own, does it? You could at least start a Bible study group for those like you who don't want to go to one of those churches. It sounds like you have all the "tools" to do that.

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Boanerges

Brother Ken is as fine a man and good a brother as I have known.

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Anything that dims my vision for Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps me in my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult, is wrong for me; and I must, as a Christian turn away from it. – J. Wilbur Chapman

epistemaniac

I appreciate the kind words from both of you.... they really mean a lot to me.

As far as the tools issue goes, I lack the most important one, I have never felt a call to the ministry.... however, I would love to have taught, and my greatest dream would have been to be able to teach Systematic Theology or Apologetics at a place like Westminster, but God had greater plans for me, plans that only I could fulfill, struggling with moderate to severe daily chronic pain (hoping to one day even to be at peace with that so as to be able to say, should someone say to me that they wish they could take some of the pain from me, that I would have the grace and maturity to honestly respond "I haven't got a pain to spare".... but here I am fulfilling God's plan for me as I am able.... falling.... but hopefully always falling forward and with the kind and encouraging words like those of Boanerges, well they make you feel as if there is no other place you ought to be

blessings

Whirlwind

Woulda been cheaper to buy earplugs, hmm?

(Of course, I'm only kiddin ya)

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Chapter-by-Chapter, verse-by-verse.
Jesus is the Living Word.

Associate Chaplain

I had to laught but in my heart cry when I was told this church's history. I agree, earplugs would have been a great idea. I guess in the long run with three churches more people have been able to fill the pews but for the longest time there was simply a shift of where one went to worship (meaning a lot of new empty pews) in the first church.

slavetoChrist

it's sad the division in the Body... and this is why I have been called as I have.

we must relearn what it means to die... because 95% of the church has not.

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we know the way!
we speak the truth!
we live the life!
cause He's the Lord!

Boanerges

As far as the Spirit filled, vibrant and living expressions of Christ I do not see division but instead I see a diversity. As far as the rest they need to wake up- Christ commands us to be hot or cold- I pray He finds us all hot.

__________________
Anything that dims my vision for Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps me in my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult, is wrong for me; and I must, as a Christian turn away from it. – J. Wilbur Chapman