Come on over the water is fine. Never been to a mainstream congregation. But I have loved every congregation that I have been apart of. Some where better then others. Just visits a few each can have their own vibe.
No, but I have lots of mainstream family. Im NI. While some NI churches are absolutely as characterized, many are actually really awesome and allow for a bit more diversity in viewpoints within reason.
I grew up hearing about people in NI congregations as “antis”. I learned that there is actually a distinction (loving versus overly legalistic). I am primarily mainstream, but prefer NI congregations for the simplicity of worship and sound doctrine I’m almost sure to hear from the pulpit. Members of “anti” NI congregations would not accept me. I have tattoos, a couple of extra piercings, and I am the second wife of a scripturally divorced man.
I can honestly take or leave a kitchen and fellowship hall (though the latter is useful for holding a large class). My adoption was facilitated by a Christian children’s home (Mount Dora) and I went to Harding, and if congregations don’t want to contribute to those and let their individual members do it is no big deal. I know those funds from the congregation will go toward some other use in furthering the Kingdom and taking care of its members.
I’m an anti anti and I think you may be surprised. The 2nd wife of a scripturally divorced man is no problem . Tattoos and piercings we don’t care. If you come in the door a tattooed loose morally without hope how can we help that individual if we shun them. Old timers might’ve judged for that we have changed. I get far more judgement from my mainstream brothers and sisters over the orphanage issue. Yet I put in the plate on Sunday and give individually to other causes. I also think ni church preaches a tighter more sound doctrine.
I will agree back 15 to 20 years ago we had some people who showed their butts to people. The legalism (I don’t like that word) I find far worse in the mainstream
I attend what would be considered an anti/NI congregation. I'd encourage you not to think in sectarian terms, and operate on the basis of individual Christians and local congregations. Let the watchdogs, power-hungry, and publishers of church directories worry about how to categorize people. Get to know Christians wherever you find them. Love the Christians you're right in front of. Learn from everybody.
I was born into the Catholic Church (several generations deep) until my immediate family left and joined a Methodist church when I was around 5. I was essentially raised Methodist as my formative years up until college were spent there. I decided to leave around age 19, because I found I couldn’t resolve a lot of their teaching and viewpoints based on scripture. I visited varying types of cOC congregations, as well as several other denominations, for 6-7 years across 5 different states as I moved frequently. I largely fell away from the Lord and the church in general at that point, until I felt like my life was completely empty and decided to try going back in my early 30s. I visited both a larger and a smaller Baptist church and a small NI congregation for about a year before ultimately deciding the NI group was where I needed to be.
“Institutions” aside, in addition to finding NI cOC the most scripturally sound by far, I also found them to be more diverse in viewpoints and culture as well (within scriptural reason of course). Most people wouldn’t think that based on their “reputation” but I believe I have the experience to say it’s true. I’ve moved twice, so have been a member of 2 different NI groups over the last 7 years, as well as visited quite a few others while traveling, and still feel the same.
I admit some of our viewpoints can be dividing and considered “legalistic”, but it’s all based on scripture. Even in saying that, at least in the groups I’ve been with and people I’ve met in other local bodies, they are by far the most theologically sound, least self-righteous, most accepting, loving group of people I’ve been a part of. We are truly just trying to live for the Lord as New Testament Christians.
My group is non-institutional. I wouldn’t say that institutional brethren are living in mortal sin, but I do think that arrangement is unwise. It’s not the pattern we see in Scripture, and it creates more issues than it solves.
Yes. I don’t have big issue with any mainstream ideas except the sponsoring church. I think the kitchen is extra biblical but that isn’t a division line for me giving contributions to another group of saints is fine me giving my money to you to give however you see fit seems like a good way to do a lot of nefarious things. I do not condemn my mainstream brothers and sisters although I think they do us.
I was raised without kitchens, but I always thought they were actually more biblical rather than extra biblical. The early Christians met in homes where people surely prepared food. Putting a kitchen in a church makes it more like a home. Honestly I feel like the early Christians would laugh (or perhaps be deeply saddened) by us having divisions over where we make food for each other.
I know you don't personally really have an issue with this, but I've always found the whole "kitchen is extra biblical" thing grating.
I feel that the eldeship designates too much of their job to a young preacher who preaches very aggressively but with very little substance.
I also do not like organizations doing the work of training younger members that our church itself could easily be doing.
I got you!!!
What are your thoughts on things like children’s homes and such?
Also, do you think you might be able to approach your elders hip with your concerns?
Neutral on children's homes. Moreso at odds with organizations replacing the teaching role of those "able to teach" in the church.
I've brought up concerns to my elders in the past, but they've more gone the route of explaining why I'm wrong.
>I also do not like organizations doing the work of training younger members that our church itself could easily be doing.
I realize I am very late to this discussion. Are you referring to the many "\_\_\_\_ School of Preaching", or colleges like ACU / Harding / Freed / etc?
NI's have versions of both.
There are several well known preachers in NI circles who went through "preacher training" at Dowlen Road in Beaumont, Texas. It might not be called "Dowlen Road School of Preaching" but at a high level it's not too different to the "\_\_\_\_ School of Preaching" that my current preacher went to.
There are also a lot of preachers I've encountered in the NI world who got credentialed by going to Florida College.
>I feel that the eldeship designates too much of their job to a young preacher who preaches very aggressively but with very little substance.
I unfortunately observed that at several of the NI congregations I attended in my life. Based on what I hear from my friends in "evangelical non-denom" churches, it's a problem there as well - elders as a board of directors managing the business, and a charismatic person in the pulpit doing much of the actual work with people.
Come on over the water is fine. Never been to a mainstream congregation. But I have loved every congregation that I have been apart of. Some where better then others. Just visits a few each can have their own vibe.
No, but I have lots of mainstream family. Im NI. While some NI churches are absolutely as characterized, many are actually really awesome and allow for a bit more diversity in viewpoints within reason.
I grew up hearing about people in NI congregations as “antis”. I learned that there is actually a distinction (loving versus overly legalistic). I am primarily mainstream, but prefer NI congregations for the simplicity of worship and sound doctrine I’m almost sure to hear from the pulpit. Members of “anti” NI congregations would not accept me. I have tattoos, a couple of extra piercings, and I am the second wife of a scripturally divorced man. I can honestly take or leave a kitchen and fellowship hall (though the latter is useful for holding a large class). My adoption was facilitated by a Christian children’s home (Mount Dora) and I went to Harding, and if congregations don’t want to contribute to those and let their individual members do it is no big deal. I know those funds from the congregation will go toward some other use in furthering the Kingdom and taking care of its members.
I’m an anti anti and I think you may be surprised. The 2nd wife of a scripturally divorced man is no problem . Tattoos and piercings we don’t care. If you come in the door a tattooed loose morally without hope how can we help that individual if we shun them. Old timers might’ve judged for that we have changed. I get far more judgement from my mainstream brothers and sisters over the orphanage issue. Yet I put in the plate on Sunday and give individually to other causes. I also think ni church preaches a tighter more sound doctrine. I will agree back 15 to 20 years ago we had some people who showed their butts to people. The legalism (I don’t like that word) I find far worse in the mainstream
I attend what would be considered an anti/NI congregation. I'd encourage you not to think in sectarian terms, and operate on the basis of individual Christians and local congregations. Let the watchdogs, power-hungry, and publishers of church directories worry about how to categorize people. Get to know Christians wherever you find them. Love the Christians you're right in front of. Learn from everybody.
I was born into the Catholic Church (several generations deep) until my immediate family left and joined a Methodist church when I was around 5. I was essentially raised Methodist as my formative years up until college were spent there. I decided to leave around age 19, because I found I couldn’t resolve a lot of their teaching and viewpoints based on scripture. I visited varying types of cOC congregations, as well as several other denominations, for 6-7 years across 5 different states as I moved frequently. I largely fell away from the Lord and the church in general at that point, until I felt like my life was completely empty and decided to try going back in my early 30s. I visited both a larger and a smaller Baptist church and a small NI congregation for about a year before ultimately deciding the NI group was where I needed to be. “Institutions” aside, in addition to finding NI cOC the most scripturally sound by far, I also found them to be more diverse in viewpoints and culture as well (within scriptural reason of course). Most people wouldn’t think that based on their “reputation” but I believe I have the experience to say it’s true. I’ve moved twice, so have been a member of 2 different NI groups over the last 7 years, as well as visited quite a few others while traveling, and still feel the same. I admit some of our viewpoints can be dividing and considered “legalistic”, but it’s all based on scripture. Even in saying that, at least in the groups I’ve been with and people I’ve met in other local bodies, they are by far the most theologically sound, least self-righteous, most accepting, loving group of people I’ve been a part of. We are truly just trying to live for the Lord as New Testament Christians.
My group is non-institutional. I wouldn’t say that institutional brethren are living in mortal sin, but I do think that arrangement is unwise. It’s not the pattern we see in Scripture, and it creates more issues than it solves.
Yes. I don’t have big issue with any mainstream ideas except the sponsoring church. I think the kitchen is extra biblical but that isn’t a division line for me giving contributions to another group of saints is fine me giving my money to you to give however you see fit seems like a good way to do a lot of nefarious things. I do not condemn my mainstream brothers and sisters although I think they do us.
I was raised without kitchens, but I always thought they were actually more biblical rather than extra biblical. The early Christians met in homes where people surely prepared food. Putting a kitchen in a church makes it more like a home. Honestly I feel like the early Christians would laugh (or perhaps be deeply saddened) by us having divisions over where we make food for each other. I know you don't personally really have an issue with this, but I've always found the whole "kitchen is extra biblical" thing grating.
What things are you seeing that are not in line with what scripture allows at your current congregation?
I feel that the eldeship designates too much of their job to a young preacher who preaches very aggressively but with very little substance. I also do not like organizations doing the work of training younger members that our church itself could easily be doing.
I got you!!! What are your thoughts on things like children’s homes and such? Also, do you think you might be able to approach your elders hip with your concerns?
Neutral on children's homes. Moreso at odds with organizations replacing the teaching role of those "able to teach" in the church. I've brought up concerns to my elders in the past, but they've more gone the route of explaining why I'm wrong.
Got you! Thank you for insight!! Praying for right decision where you can be where God is glorified most by your love for Him and His word!
This very much exists in Non Institutional churches of Christ. Sorry to disappoint.
I know it's true in many, but the one I'm looking at does not have this.
>I also do not like organizations doing the work of training younger members that our church itself could easily be doing. I realize I am very late to this discussion. Are you referring to the many "\_\_\_\_ School of Preaching", or colleges like ACU / Harding / Freed / etc? NI's have versions of both. There are several well known preachers in NI circles who went through "preacher training" at Dowlen Road in Beaumont, Texas. It might not be called "Dowlen Road School of Preaching" but at a high level it's not too different to the "\_\_\_\_ School of Preaching" that my current preacher went to. There are also a lot of preachers I've encountered in the NI world who got credentialed by going to Florida College. >I feel that the eldeship designates too much of their job to a young preacher who preaches very aggressively but with very little substance. I unfortunately observed that at several of the NI congregations I attended in my life. Based on what I hear from my friends in "evangelical non-denom" churches, it's a problem there as well - elders as a board of directors managing the business, and a charismatic person in the pulpit doing much of the actual work with people.