On the topic of finding a church that is in the truth:
This is why church attendance at a Bible preaching church, seeking to apply the scriptures, is so important!
Where can one be found? Most do not preach the Bible.
You are right, most do not, but they do exist. If you need help finding one, I would be happy to help.
Oh, I found some in A True Church. I'm curious, who would you have recommended? Give me a list. Or any of them. I ask because I strongly doubt they are in the truth. Did you get a chance to check out the site I linked above?
Off the top of my head:
- Granite State Baptist in Concord, NH
- Bible Way Baptist Church in Worcester, MA
- Ambassador Baptist Church in Frederick, MD
- Harvest Baptist Church in Hagerstown, MD
- Pinecrest Baptist Church in Signal Mountain, TN (ours)
- Stanley Heights Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN
- Riverview Baptist Church in Seymour, WI
I know all of these churches and their pastors personally. None of us are perfect, but all have a proven love for Christ through their desire to faithfully preach, teach, and obey His Word.
From the website of Granite State Baptist in Concord, NH:
We believe the Authorized King James Version Bible is the preserved and infallible Word of God for the English speaking people.
The KJV is a suitable translation, but it is not perfect.
The Bible teaches there is one God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and we believe this to be true.
The Bible also teaches that God is many other things.
And in the case of those who reach moral responsibility, become sinners in thought and deed by choice.
The Bible does not teach a free will doctrine.
The first day of the week is the Lord’s Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance.
To those who believe, every day is the Sabbath.
[Baptism] has no saving power, only as an answer of a good conscience.
If you can get baptized, you must. Otherwise you are not saved.
The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the Church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine (unfermented)
Scripture says to drink wine, and never forbids drinking alcohol in general.
The churches on your list are very similar in what they have wrong; I'm just going to list new things that stand out.
From the website of Ambassador Baptist Church in Frederick, MD:
We believe that a marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman.
Indeed the two become one flesh, but the Bible does not forbid the man from having more than one wife.
You make a few good points, but are also putting forth your opinion and nit-picking for the majority. No one is perfect, and we all have a lot to learn.
So you agree they are teaching destructive heresy?
These are proven men that love the Lord, teach the Scriptures faithfully.
I thought we just established they are proven to hate the Lord and teach counter to scripture.
They would be a benefit to your Christian walk, if you would humble yourself to learn from them.
It would not benefit me to listen to the voices of strangers.
Also, I got a reply email from James Bussard of Pinecrest Baptist Church. I had asked if he allows women to speak in his church. He said:
Yes, we do allow women to speak in church. When the Bible speaks of not allowing women to do so, it is either referring to instructing men or speaking in tongues. We do not allow either of those, as Scripture forbids it. However, general speaking is allowed.
The Bible says women should not even ask questions, but remain silent. i
Where I agree with you is in immaterial details. Again, these are proven men that love the Lord, preach and teach Scripture faithfully, and would be a help to your Christian walk. 1 Corinthians 14 is speaking of prophesying and speaking in tongues, not general speaking and asking questions in the church. Context is king.
The Bible says we must believe everything in the Bible; there is nothing "immaterial." ii You are in danger of eternal destruction and you need to repent! I showed the context. It literally says women should not ask questions. You are not like a child iii in this regard. You are trying to add to the Word. iv
I am content that I have studied the Word faithfully, and am pulling the correct interpretation out. Thank you for your opinion and concern.
May God save this person!
- 1 Corinthians 14:
34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
- Matthew 4:
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
- Matthew 18:
2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
- Proverbs 30:
6 Do not add to His words,
Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
[...] He never got back to me on this thread, but had some things to say when I published a different conversation. [...]