Today , I got a letter from an old freind who was part of my Father's funeral service, where you may or may not know, I delivered the message. He asked me to consider becoming ordained in the PCA(Presbyterian Church in America) , which is a very conservative and sound group. There are a couple of problems, first and foremost is that I do not fit the 'mold' ofthe Reformed theology--mostly, but primarilyI do not concur where their concept of predestiantion and the sovereignty of God. I so want to be involved in minstry, but don't know if this is how. I am notreally overly concerned, but i don't want to just let this go without some due consideration. Any advice and or prayers would be helpful.--Greg
There are 2 different churches of these. My friend from Bible College teaches in the Presbyterian Church of America.They are more conservative than the older branch. They are Calvin in doctrine. They sincerely believe once you are saved it doesn't matter what you do..You are saved by grace alone.
The older one does not believe the Word of God is without error. They do not believe in heaven or hell. I went to a Wednesday night bluegrass gospel practice. We were not singinggospel and through their speech and conversation you wouldn't know they were saved. That was my last dealings with them.
Man's only hope for redemption (salvation) is through the atonement made by the Messiah (Lev. 17:11; Isa. 53; Dan. 9:24-26; I Cor. 15:22; Heb. 9:11-14, 28; John 1:12, 3:36), resulting in regeneration by the Holy Spirit (Tit. 3:5), which is the new birth (John 3:3-8). For by grace we are saved through faith, it is a gift of God (Eph. 2:8-9).
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
I certainly will pray for you Manuman. I know that I could never preach what I consider to be untrue and I doubt you can either. So I guess the question to me would be "Does God want me to go to this church and rattle their cage and preach the truth". If so , one would have to realize that one may not be preaching there long. . . .Just my initial thought on the question. To me it sounds like a suicide mission, figurativley speaking. God may see different.
My prayers for you will be that God reveals His will to you and that you have the discernment to see it.
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Greg, my view on this pretty much mirrors Mac's. To teach at a church where your views conflict doesn't seem like a good move and your time there would likely be limited. I saw a very large church in this area split when it was discovered that the senior pastor didn't agree 100% with the church doctrinal statement.
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Today' s small bucks are tomorrow' s trophies.
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Manuman ,
You pray about it..God called my wife and I to the Methodist church in 1992. The doors were open wide and for 5 years my wife had I had the opportunity to ministerin lots of different areas. Five years later a new pastor came and it was time to move.
One thing for sure. these liberal type churches are very open. ..especially if they aren't too big. We did not go into the church to straighten them out. We went in there out of faith, God opened doors to teach their 4th grade kids, kindergarden, and a Wed. night adult Bible class. I was very careful to stay with the Word and give them tools to study the Word for themselves. They were some of the most profitable years I've ever had. They also raised money and sent me on a trip to Israel.
Pray about it my friend. My pentecostal brothers thought I was backsliden. They were wrong. At that time it was the perfect place for my wife andI . We run into those 4th graders today and they tell us it was the best Sunday school class they've ever attended. We had a wonderful time. Go to where you are wanted..and go to where the need is. Jesus will lead.
Most of these folks have no idea what they believe. They go there because they were raised that way.
Greg, all I can tell you is let God tell you what He wants. The only way I can tell you if your called to preach or not is that you will be miserable unless your doing it. Nothing in the world will feel as good as being in the pulpit. God will give you an uneasy feeling of not fulfilling your divine plan, until your in His will.. it starts will lots of prayer and fasting. There are a million ways to serve God, but pastors are called. Thats is why I am a preacher, not a pastor.. (Thank God). Of course, unless He calls me to it.
There are 2 different churches of these. My friend from Bible College teaches in the Presbyterian Church of America.They are more conservative than the older branch. They are Calvin in doctrine. They sincerely believe once you are saved it doesn't matter what you do..You are saved by grace alone.
They do believe in salvation bygrace alone, but notanything close tosaying that it doesn't matter what you do afterwards. If a person is truly born again, then their snactificationbecomes the utmost and primary purpose afterwards. There is agreat emphasis on your living a life of sevice and , especially evangelism.
The older one does not believe the Word of God is without error. They do not believe in heaven or hell. I went to a Wednesday night bluegrass gospel practice. We were not singinggospel and through their speech and conversation you wouldn't know they were saved. That was my last dealings with them.
Mac, and cheese--I mean Mac and Dave(sorry --I couldn't resist) That was my initial thoughtsas well. I have beenasked to speak privately with the man who invited me,and i thought that Iwould lay out these 'differences ' upfront, as a means to test their disposition towards some areas of possibel conflicting teachings. Ibelieve in the sovereignty of God, not in a predeterminism type of manner as they do. I believe in predestination--thatthe plan was predestined--not the selection of certain individuals, to the point of others being excluded frombeing offered salvation, and i don't believe in 'irresistable grace' as Reformers do. Those are the problem areas.Thanks
Honored, but uncertain!?!?
