Fundamentalist Christian Bible Churches

[Anonymous]

I live in a town (not DC) with many fundamentalist Christian churches. Lately, I have been talking to acquaintances who attend these churches and read some blogs and websites and done other research about them and my conclusion is that these churches are nothing more than big social organizaations. So many of them have "fellowship" meetings that consist of hikes or potluck dinners or breakfast meetings or ski trips or other fun outings. These churches also seem to have plenty of money to pay for a lot of full time staffers. One church has two full-time youth leaders. From what I can tell, all the youth leaders seem to do is host a weekly pizza night with the teens plus weekend outdoor outings such as camping trips and paintball. One of the youth leaders is approx. age 30 and he and his wife have a very nice house and are raising four young children. They look like models from Outside magazine. I'm thinking he makes a pretty good salary for a very easy job. I grew up in the Catholic church and it was nothing like this. The Catholic church emphasized helping the needy. The priests had volunteers (mostly older women) helping them run the church and rectory. These new age independent Bible church seems to emphasize the self. It just seems like religion-lite. They have many "ministries" - such as "divorce care" and "young parents group". These churches just seem so funny to me. The people only like to associate with other "Christians" and talk about "praying" for silly things. They do seem to have "mission trips" once a year to places like Guatemala, but even these trips, which are funded by the trip, seem like nothing more than a vacation with a little bit of praying or house-building built in. What does anyone else think about these Bible churches?

[Anonymous]

I was raised in a Baptist Church in Brazil - they're nothing like the Baptist churches I've visited here. I was much more like Catholic mass here. Just silence during the whole sermon and a very ceremonial, serious worship singing maybe 2 songs with just a piano playing.

When I got here I was amazed to see those churches. I felt so welcome and comfortable as soon as I walked in the doors. Everybody had a smile on their faces, they all invited me to their small groups to discuss the bible in our daily lives and share our interests, there was a group for bikers, for runners, musicians, young professionals, you could pick pretty much anything that interested you.

They had 2 mission trips a year but I never went on any of them. They had some community outreach activities where we would pick a house to renovate, a backyard to clean up, a house to paint, etc. Every other week we would spend a Saturday helping someone in the community. I got to paint people's houses, help to fix roofs, clean up backyards, plant new gardens, fix cars... it was awesome! I learned so much!

There was a babysitting swap group for the new parents, groups for new couples who were engaged to prepare them for marriage, etc... I'm a stronger believer that if one is living for the spread of the gospel the church should feed his/her family, now if the person is just a host for social events... nah, they should be volunteers.

I've been in the other end of mission trips and I must tell you... it's so funny when they come with bags and bags of used dirty shoes for kids "in the third world" and the poor kiddos have no socks to wear the shoes... or they come with canned food and the communities have no can openers.
I can't tell you how many shipments of winter clothing we got when the coolest temperature we have during the winter is around 70F. I know people have good intentions but they should do a bit more research before investing so much.

[Anonymous]

Agree they are religion lite and far too focused as a whole on conservative politics and legislating morality. I don't mind the social aspect but I dont' think they actually follow the mission of the gospels enough to warrant their haughty self-righteousness nor their need to legislate so-called morality based on personal convictions, religious or otherwise. Plus, any church that is that large and conducts worship as a pseudo rock concert gives me the creeps. Unfortunately I have attended one of these and I found everything about it to be overbearing and to some degree disingenuous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree they are religion lite and far too focused as a whole on conservative politics and legislating morality. I don't mind the social aspect but I dont' think they actually follow the mission of the gospels enough to warrant their haughty self-righteousness nor their need to legislate so-called morality based on personal convictions, religious or otherwise. Plus, any church that is that large and conducts worship as a pseudo rock concert gives me the creeps. Unfortunately I have attended one of these and I found everything about it to be overbearing and to some degree disingenuous.

+1, except I have attended with in-law family members and was appalled at the immaturity of the pastor and blatant xenophobic, homophobic, and sexist message. One church is not a good sample size though, I hope they aren't all that bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in a town (not DC) with many fundamentalist Christian churches. Lately, I have been talking to acquaintances who attend these churches and read some blogs and websites and done other research about them and my conclusion is that these churches are nothing more than big social organizaations. So many of them have "fellowship" meetings that consist of hikes or potluck dinners or breakfast meetings or ski trips or other fun outings. These churches also seem to have plenty of money to pay for a lot of full time staffers. One church has two full-time youth leaders. From what I can tell, all the youth leaders seem to do is host a weekly pizza night with the teens plus weekend outdoor outings such as camping trips and paintball. One of the youth leaders is approx. age 30 and he and his wife have a very nice house and are raising four young children. They look like models from Outside magazine. I'm thinking he makes a pretty good salary for a very easy job. I grew up in the Catholic church and it was nothing like this. The Catholic church emphasized helping the needy. The priests had volunteers (mostly older women) helping them run the church and rectory. These new age independent Bible church seems to emphasize the self. It just seems like religion-lite. They have many "ministries" - such as "divorce care" and "young parents group". These churches just seem so funny to me. The people only like to associate with other "Christians" and talk about "praying" for silly things. They do seem to have "mission trips" once a year to places like Guatemala, but even these trips, which are funded by the trip, seem like nothing more than a vacation with a little bit of praying or house-building built in. What does anyone else think about these Bible churches?

I could not care less about what they do or don't do. If you are a Catholic, why do you care what another church does? By the way, the Catholic church also is far from perfect! Perhaps you should spend your time and energy getting your own house in order first. Judge not,lest ye be judged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in a town (not DC) with many fundamentalist Christian churches. Lately, I have been talking to acquaintances who attend these churches and read some blogs and websites and done other research about them and my conclusion is that these churches are nothing more than big social organizaations. So many of them have "fellowship" meetings that consist of hikes or potluck dinners or breakfast meetings or ski trips or other fun outings. These churches also seem to have plenty of money to pay for a lot of full time staffers. One church has two full-time youth leaders. From what I can tell, all the youth leaders seem to do is host a weekly pizza night with the teens plus weekend outdoor outings such as camping trips and paintball. One of the youth leaders is approx. age 30 and he and his wife have a very nice house and are raising four young children. They look like models from Outside magazine. I'm thinking he makes a pretty good salary for a very easy job. I grew up in the Catholic church and it was nothing like this. The Catholic church emphasized helping the needy. The priests had volunteers (mostly older women) helping them run the church and rectory. These new age independent Bible church seems to emphasize the self. It just seems like religion-lite. They have many "ministries" - such as "divorce care" and "young parents group". These churches just seem so funny to me. The people only like to associate with other "Christians" and talk about "praying" for silly things. They do seem to have "mission trips" once a year to places like Guatemala, but even these trips, which are funded by the trip, seem like nothing more than a vacation with a little bit of praying or house-building built in. What does anyone else think about these Bible churches?

Haha, I was reading along wondering if you too were Catholic, and when I got to the part where you said that you are, I coudln't help but smile. We are too, and my DH and I often say the same types of things to one another about this same topic. It's a bit different from what we are used to, isn't it? My brain cannot quite wrap around it and I keep trying to wonder, "But, but, but, . . .where is the 'THERE' there?? What is the doctrine? Are there sacraments? WHAT BASICALLY IS GOING ON HERE???" I know this won't really make sense to non-Catholics reading this (and probably maybe fallen away Catholics too) and many will sieze upon it to then do some more Catholic-bashing posts, but, just wanted to say, OP, I know what you are talking about, and my DH and I sometimes feel this way too. It doesn't fit into our mental framework very well but it does seem to do some good. It's just, I would classify it more as a benevolent social organization too. Shrug. Oh well. (This will annoy all the non-Catholics): Pray for them.

[Anonymous]

The church Jesus started was based on small groups in people's houses helping to feed the widows and the orphans.

What church is like this nowadays?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The church Jesus started was based on small groups in people's houses helping to feed the widows and the orphans.

What church is like this nowadays?

Mbc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in a town (not DC) with many fundamentalist Christian churches. Lately, I have been talking to acquaintances who attend these churches and read some blogs and websites and done other research about them and my conclusion is that these churches are nothing more than big social organizaations. So many of them have "fellowship" meetings that consist of hikes or potluck dinners or breakfast meetings or ski trips or other fun outings. These churches also seem to have plenty of money to pay for a lot of full time staffers. One church has two full-time youth leaders. From what I can tell, all the youth leaders seem to do is host a weekly pizza night with the teens plus weekend outdoor outings such as camping trips and paintball. One of the youth leaders is approx. age 30 and he and his wife have a very nice house and are raising four young children. They look like models from Outside magazine. I'm thinking he makes a pretty good salary for a very easy job. I grew up in the Catholic church and it was nothing like this. The Catholic church emphasized helping the needy. The priests had volunteers (mostly older women) helping them run the church and rectory. These new age independent Bible church seems to emphasize the self. It just seems like religion-lite. They have many "ministries" - such as "divorce care" and "young parents group". These churches just seem so funny to me. The people only like to associate with other "Christians" and talk about "praying" for silly things. They do seem to have "mission trips" once a year to places like Guatemala, but even these trips, which are funded by the trip, seem like nothing more than a vacation with a little bit of praying or house-building built in. What does anyone else think about these Bible churches?

Haha, I was reading along wondering if you too were Catholic, and when I got to the part where you said that you are, I coudln't help but smile. We are too, and my DH and I often say the same types of things to one another about this same topic. It's a bit different from what we are used to, isn't it? My brain cannot quite wrap around it and I keep trying to wonder, "But, but, but, . . .where is the 'THERE' there?? What is the doctrine? Are there sacraments? WHAT BASICALLY IS GOING ON HERE???" I know this won't really make sense to non-Catholics reading this (and probably maybe fallen away Catholics too) and many will sieze upon it to then do some more Catholic-bashing posts, but, just wanted to say, OP, I know what you are talking about, and my DH and I sometimes feel this way too. It doesn't fit into our mental framework very well but it does seem to do some good. It's just, I would classify it more as a benevolent social organization too. Shrug. Oh well. (This will annoy all the non-Catholics): Pray for them.

So Catholic-bashing is wrong, but it is OK for you to be critical and judgmental of another denomination?

[Anonymous]

Many mainstream Christians and probably members of these Bible churches believe that the church is not a just building and a place to worship on Sunday morning. The church is a community of believers who care for each other as well as care for the larger community.
So these "social" events are organized to help the members of the community connect and grow spiritually. They are also events and activities to do outreach and to help the needy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The church Jesus started was based on small groups in people's houses helping to feed the widows and the orphans.

What church is like this nowadays?

Mbc

[Anonymous]

On a somewhat similar note, a neighbor and her child who attends a large prosperous fundamentalist Christian school in No. VA came to our door a few years ago asking for a donation for their annual appeal. He made a big point that the money was to help their sister school in Africa. (I'm sure he was told to say that).

After making a small donation, I later read the flyer and only about 10% of the donations were going to the sister school with the remainder going directly to the student's school.

Say what you may about the Catholic Church -- it certainly has problems with it's hierarchy. But Catholic school parents pay their own children's tuition, often at great sacrifice, or do it through internal fundraising. They do not ask for public donations disguised as helping those less fortunate.

I find it appalling that a Christian school would send their students out door-to-door asking for donations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in a town (not DC) with many fundamentalist Christian churches. Lately, I have been talking to acquaintances who attend these churches and read some blogs and websites and done other research about them and my conclusion is that these churches are nothing more than big social organizaations. So many of them have "fellowship" meetings that consist of hikes or potluck dinners or breakfast meetings or ski trips or other fun outings. These churches also seem to have plenty of money to pay for a lot of full time staffers. One church has two full-time youth leaders. From what I can tell, all the youth leaders seem to do is host a weekly pizza night with the teens plus weekend outdoor outings such as camping trips and paintball. One of the youth leaders is approx. age 30 and he and his wife have a very nice house and are raising four young children. They look like models from Outside magazine. I'm thinking he makes a pretty good salary for a very easy job. I grew up in the Catholic church and it was nothing like this. The Catholic church emphasized helping the needy. The priests had volunteers (mostly older women) helping them run the church and rectory. These new age independent Bible church seems to emphasize the self. It just seems like religion-lite. They have many "ministries" - such as "divorce care" and "young parents group". These churches just seem so funny to me. The people only like to associate with other "Christians" and talk about "praying" for silly things. They do seem to have "mission trips" once a year to places like Guatemala, but even these trips, which are funded by the trip, seem like nothing more than a vacation with a little bit of praying or house-building built in. What does anyone else think about these Bible churches?

Haha, I was reading along wondering if you too were Catholic, and when I got to the part where you said that you are, I coudln't help but smile. We are too, and my DH and I often say the same types of things to one another about this same topic. It's a bit different from what we are used to, isn't it? My brain cannot quite wrap around it and I keep trying to wonder, "But, but, but, . . .where is the 'THERE' there?? What is the doctrine? Are there sacraments? WHAT BASICALLY IS GOING ON HERE???" I know this won't really make sense to non-Catholics reading this (and probably maybe fallen away Catholics too) and many will sieze upon it to then do some more Catholic-bashing posts, but, just wanted to say, OP, I know what you are talking about, and my DH and I sometimes feel this way too. It doesn't fit into our mental framework very well but it does seem to do some good. It's just, I would classify it more as a benevolent social organization too. Shrug. Oh well. (This will annoy all the non-Catholics): Pray for them.

I am an atheist, but I do respect other people's right to believe and worship any way they choose. My opinion is that if people don't hurt anyone, don't try to impose their beliefs on others and use their church to help others then good for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it appalling that a Christian school would send their students out door-to-door asking for donations.

not just the schools. We've gotten multiple requests from various friends and families to contribute to their forthcoming mission trips. One letter said something along the lines of how important the trip was as Christians because the only other missionaries in the region were Catholics and Muslims. Um, I'm Catholic and that's pretty darn Christian to me!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On a somewhat similar note, a neighbor and her child who attends a large prosperous fundamentalist Christian school in No. VA came to our door a few years ago asking for a donation for their annual appeal. He made a big point that the money was to help their sister school in Africa. (I'm sure he was told to say that).

After making a small donation, I later read the flyer and only about 10% of the donations were going to the sister school with the remainder going directly to the student's school.

Say what you may about the Catholic Church -- it certainly has problems with it's hierarchy. But Catholic school parents pay their own children's tuition, often at great sacrifice, or do it through internal fundraising. They do not ask for public donations disguised as helping those less fortunate.

I find it appalling that a Christian school would send their students out door-to-door asking for donations.

+1 How many times do we have to read about the financial scams, closeted gay leaders spouting gay hate, etc etc from these groups? They give me the heebie jeebies and are sent summarily away with a no thank you and the door shut in their face.