A friend of mine is looking for a church, and wrote: "We're reading a book called Ekklesia that talks about the roots of the Biblical church. It presents a totally different model for church than what we typically see here: house churches instead of bigger institutional church buildings, interactive, open meetings where every brother can give a word of instruction, song, prophecy, tongue/interpretation, etc; elder-led church governance as opposed to a hierarchy ruled church, celebrating the Lord's supper as a full meal rather than a wafer and little cup, etc." Do you have any thoughts on the above?
Should one be excluded from becoming a church member if they hold membership in the Freemasons even if they are inactive in that organization, and should they let the pastor know of such membership?
If a married man's wife is not a Christian but the husband is, will this exclude them from church membership?
A Response to a Roman Catholic's Criticisms
What is a woman to do when she is basically forced to divorce?
What is the Scriptural basis for supporting missions through Faith Promise?
Would it be wrong to reconcile with your first husband according to Deuteronomy 24:4?
Is it biblically permissible for a divorced minister to resume a pastorate?
You mention a couple problems with Baptists.
1) "A desire to search out the Anti Christ and point fingers,(Usually at the Pope) at who this might be. The Bible clearly tells us that we are not to know this, nor are we to speculate."
2) "A desire to search out the Great Harlot, Mystery Babylon, Whore and Mother of Harlots and abominations.The Bible clearly tells us that we are not to know this either. And the Bible also clearly tells us that the Whore existed at the time the visions were being given. The Catholic Church did not exist then."
3) "Commonly coming up with unusual and outlandish accusations at companies of various sorts, including TV and film makers and even the characters involved, such as saying that Yoda's head looks like the Satanic Goat upside down. Where does this come from? Not from the Bible. Where in the Bible is a goat or a pentagram scene as a symbol for the Devil? You are committing a unique form of idolatry here. Attributing fears on symbols that mean nothing and giving them a power."
Does a Church have to hang Baptist over the door or have Baptist in it's name to be a Baptist Church? The Church I am referring to practices all the doctrines of the Baptist Faith, but the people just DO NOT want Baptist in the name.
We recently visited an Independent Baptist Church and was told that drums and guitar music were not welcome in the church. Is this true for all Independent Baptist Churches? If so, why? If you are using your gift for the Lord and His music, why would this not be allowed?
It comes to my attention that Independent Baptists are very strict in their ways. For example, they can't dance or listen to other music that does not glorify God. Is this true? Another example is that when you meet a girl you are not allowed to be in the same room with her alone. I am just so very confused...
Of the Baptist churches (or others), which is most like the Waldensians and Anabaptists? I have been studying church history of a few months now and I am greatly troubled that all of the Protestant churches came from Catholicism.