Reformed Churches

[MCoving]

Wow. I am amazed by some of the reformed churches in my area. I have for the last year been trying to find a church that I feel teaches the most Truth about Christ. Mind you no church is perfect, it is full of sinners but I would think there would be a group who gets the majority of the Gospel message correct.

The nice thing about churches around my area is their sermons and doctrinal beliefs are online. Today as I was searching online some churches that I have visited interested in their beliefs... I listened to Evergreen Prysberterian sermon last weekend. This was a church that had been recommended to me to attend.. however I wouldn't now, they are no different than my old church. For some reason the main outlook of some reformed churches in Oregon is that they know Truth more than their other brethren in the Lord, and their other brethren will come around someday. Meaning they believe all churches that believe in Christ are their family, except Roman Catholic. In the message the main pastor said to his congregation "how do you treat your brothers in sisters in Christ from the Pentecostal church?" And started talking about unity in Christ and not in doctrinal beliefs. Almost same message I heard from Intown Prsy when I attended that place a few times... unity amound different denominations in Christ. Is this where the reformed church is heading???

I had to look up Pentecostal beliefs.. their main belief is Arminian rather than Calvinist. Its completely different Gospels yet the reformed churches embrace them all as weak brothers in the Lord. I dont get it??

Say the least.. I think I found only one church in my area who openly admits that Arminians, Pentecostals, etc are not their family, and do not have the Gospel message, the Truth. Thats Beaverton Grace Bible.. which I may go back too... they are very young and growing in the Gospel message.. I know a few don't believe that God is sovereign over all things (including sin) but maybe I can be of value.. maybe I can teach them and help to guide them to Truth and they can teach me and guide me to Truth. Glencullen was the same way as Prsyberterians.. other denominations like baptists, pentecostals were their family just babies not possessing as much knowledge of the Lord as them.

I dont know about others but this really irritates me.. I hear more and more sermons about unity which really just means dont take a stand for what is True. Its okay let people believe as they do.. ie there's not many absolute Truths these days in Oregon.. its very liberal. No one is wrong everyone is right type of thinking. Do people see this more today or is it just me?

Mary

[Kentucky Kid]

Hi Mary: KK here. Being an eyewitness firsthand to the apostacy in the congregations of Oregon, I would have to say I would attend only one in Oregon, and this is AFTER YEARS of searching. As you know, my daughter lives in Portland, OR. If I could have found a place there, I would have gladly moved there (and been your neighbor). Being that I am not of the "Reformed Faith", I can only recommend one: Parkway Landmark Baptist, 175 C, Springfield, OR 97477. Pastor Mike Dewitt, Sr. Phone (541) 747-2397. Email: dmichael67@qwest.net. Services Sunday 10am-12; also 6pm. Wed 7pm Sat 4pm. I know it's quite a drive for you, but you could spend the day there. They have morning services, then lunch together. That is the only one I can recommend. Old predestinarian proverb: "better to drive a distance for truth then to go somewhere close with not the truth"!..........................KK

[Highlyfavored]

Another Old predestinarian proverb: Better no church at all, then sitting with a bunch of reprobates on Sunday, when one could be watching football!!!

[Kentucky Kid]

Amen Greg! In watching football, one can enjoy onesself (especially if one is a Steeler fan or college West Virginie Mountainer fan). If one attends a congregation that doesn't preach the gospel one is participating in idolatry; my definition of idolatry being a misrepresentation of God: ascribing things to God that He has not said about Himself! Old football proverb: There is always room in the Steeler camp for more Steeler fans!"Steelernation" is a big tent!.......................KK

[Highlyfavored]

Old football proverb: There is always room in the Steeler camp for more Steeler fans!"Steelernation" is a big tent!.......................KK

Of course the Steelers new coach is from the Vikings.
http://www.predestinarian.net/attach...1&d=1186200689

[MCoving]

haha LOL thanks men! I appreciate your encouragement to checkout Springfield Craig, but I think its quiet a drive for me. And ultimately i do want truth but also some people around my age would be nice... not sure what I will do.. its something I have thought about over the last years... to find a church I call my home and place that I would give my all in. I miss my old church just in that it had a College group and I was invovled in their youth ministry.. it would be nice to have something like that but where Truth was taught instead of lies... and the antigospel.

Thanks,
Mary

[Kentucky Kid]

Mary: Beaverton Grace Bible does look like a group more your age than Glencullen. So for friends your age maybe Grace Bible, but for truth: Springfield. Try calling or emailing pastor Mike and tell him the mailman from Coos Bay who used to attend a few years ago sent you. You could ask him what you will; he would be glad to answer! You might want to pm me and I could tell you their + and -'s...........................KK

[MCoving]

I was reading Cheung's blog this morning and came across his current one.. http://www.vincentcheung.com/2007/08...-galatians-36/. I had to share some Scripture here because this could so easily pertain to many reformed churches in my area. They start off on the right foot justification by faith alone, their focus on Christ.. and then change to it being about works. I added the word in [..] for emphasis... if you read Cheungs blog you'd understand...

GALATIANS 3:1-5
You [stupid] Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so [stupid]? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing – if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

I highlighted what I thought was most interesting in this text. After it being by the Spirit, do they then work as if by their own effort? And two does God give His Spirit AND work miracles among them because they observe the law, or because they believe. It is about faith.. about believing in the Lord.. that is our justification that is what we live by. Its not just about works with no faith, no belief... its not just about observing the law. Justification is by faith alone.. and our life in Christ is lived out by Him in us, by believing and obeying. We dont then go from it being justification by faith to merely observing the law. Faith and observing the law.. faith and obediance to Christ is what our spiritual life should be about. If it weren't for faith we would have nothing... we'd be like the rest who are self righteous work mongers. I'm thankful for God for Him opening my eyes.. for faith alone that justifies me.

Mary

[Whammer]

I was reading Cheung's blog this morning and came across his current one.. http://www.vincentcheung.com/2007/08...-galatians-36/. I had to share some Scripture here because this could so easily pertain to many reformed churches in my area. They start off on the right foot justification by faith alone, their focus on Christ.. and then change to it being about works. Mary

I read the article and it was a good one, and I understand your thinking, but to think that most of the "reformed churches" actually started off on the right foot and ended up with a "faith-works" salvation......is too far a leap for me, too much of an assumption.
If is kind of like parrots, they are able to repeat certain things that they are taught......but they have no understanding of such things, or in other words, it may appear they speak the same language as we do because they use some of the same words of truth...but they are empty of the Spirit........IMHO