Anonymous
Post 11/05/2011 22:06     Subject: Looking for recommendation for a good Bible-based church
A bible based church will not pressure you to give money, have certain political opinions, pressurise your to please the elders or conform to the 'norm', and will not make undue demands on your time
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2011 22:03     Subject: Looking for recommendation for a good Bible-based church
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I need a church that doesn't play that god-awful (excuse the pun) contemporary worship music with a full band on stage and people in the pews holding their hands up in the air with their eyes closed. I just want to go and sit and take in my sermon and feel like a better person, and make friends too, but not the kind who will be uptight and judgy and want to be super Christians outside of church. Just regular people who go to church on Sundays to feel like good people and try to have a good relationship with God but also don't want to make their whole LIFE about serving God and "fellowship."


If this existed, I might actually go to church! Have you tried Methodist or Presbyterian? These are the most low-key, IMO.


I am that OP. Yes, I have tried Methodist (I was baptized Lutheran, and Methodist churches seemed pretty similar) and did not mind them, but this was in the south, where I am from, so compared to some of the Southern Baptist bible beater/handles snakes/talks in tongues churches you can find down there, the Methodist churches seemed refreshingly moderate. In this area (NoVa), I'm not sure what they'd be like and have yet to decide on a church to go to. I am looking into a Lutheran one in my area that seems like it might be a good fit, but I guess you never know until you actually go one Sunday.

I read other PP's suggestions of Unitarian churches, and I'll have to research that, but it might be a little "out there" for me. I like my church going experience to be traditional; hymns, scripture, sermon, prayer. But I'm just never going to be the type to read from my Bible every night, feel bad about cursing or having a drink if I want, I'm not going to put a Jesus fish on my car, I'm not going to ban "worldly" music in my home, etc. etc. Basically, I need to find a church that has traditional services but fairly liberal and laid back congregants. Should be totally easy!!!


You sound Episcopalian to me.

Top 10 Reasons to be an Episcopalian
(from the comedian Robin Williams, who is an Episcopalian, on a recent HBO special)

10. No snake handling.

9. You can believe in dinosaurs.

8. Male and female God created them; male and female we ordain them.

7. You don't have to check your brains at the door.

6. Pew aerobics.

5. Church year is color-coded.

4. Free wine on Sunday.

3. All of the pageantry - none of the guilt.

2. You don't have to know how to swim to get baptized.

And the Number One reason to be an Episcopalian:

1. No matter what you believe, there's bound to be at least one other Episcopalian who agrees with you.
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2011 21:57     Subject: Looking for recommendation for a good Bible-based church
liberation theology = liberal politics
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2011 20:59     Subject: Looking for recommendation for a good Bible-based church
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I've always assumed Bible-based meant literal interpretation of the Bible, sometimes also referred to as theologically conservative. Many Baptist churches would fit that description, or Churches of Christ. (But not the United Church of Christ, which is a different denomination and theologically liberal. Also generally not Presbyterians. Definitely not Unitarians.)


bible based meaning they don't make shit up to suit their liberal ideas


you're confused. liberal theology is not the same as liberal politics.
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2011 19:49     Subject: Looking for recommendation for a good Bible-based church
OP, PP who mentioned 4th Pres here. I skipped over the the tangents in this thread, just wanted to say I re-read one of your posts re diversity - you won't really find that there. Maybe try an Episcopal (and/or Anglican) church in northern Va. Some more diverse than others.
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2011 19:44     Subject: Looking for recommendation for a good Bible-based church
Anonymous wrote:
Nope, I believe in something else and it doesn't include covens or sacrifices. It also doesn't involve being on the "right side" of Armagaddon, or being "bible-based".


If her beliefs don't involve sacrifices, this rules out:

Islam - those goats
Hinduism - various animal sacrifices
Judaism - Torah has lots of examples of animal sacrifice and Abraham almost did it to Isaac
Paganism - chicken sacrifices, anyone?
Christianity - sacrifice of Jesus

Which leaves Buddhism and atheism. I doubt she's a Buddhist, unless she's a total fail as a mean-spirited Buddhist.

Which leaves atheism. She probably claims (she probably even tells herself) that she "believes in the human spirit." Nothing wrong with that - unless your actions are in total opposition to your words, like her many spiteful posts on this thread. This nasty little poster has no, zero, nada, zip redeeming "humanistic" spirit....
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2011 18:42     Subject: Looking for recommendation for a good Bible-based church
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

Nope, I believe in something else and it doesn't include covens or sacrifices. It also doesn't involve being on the "right side" of Armagaddon, or being "bible-based".


Then please share.

Truly? Paganism is the only other thing you can think of?! Maybe Buddhism? Islam? Hinduism?

Paganism???


Wonder if it's the whack-job jewish poster who rants about whorehouses?


Islam totally involves sacrifices - a goat has to be slaughtered a certain way for certain celebrations.
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2011 18:37     Subject: Looking for recommendation for a good Bible-based church
Anonymous wrote:

Then please share.

Truly? Paganism is the only other thing you can think of?! Maybe Buddhism? Islam? Hinduism?

Paganism???


Trying to correct the quotes thing....

Wonder if it's the whack-job jewish poster who rants about whorehouses?
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2011 18:35     Subject: Looking for recommendation for a good Bible-based church
OP - welcome to DC and DCUM. As you see, these are the kind of believers you'll find here. You may want to consider going back to NC...
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2011 18:33     Subject: Looking for recommendation for a good Bible-based church
Anonymous wrote:

Nope, I believe in something else and it doesn't include covens or sacrifices. It also doesn't involve being on the "right side" of Armagaddon, or being "bible-based".


Then please share.

Truly? Paganism is the only other thing you can think of?! Maybe Buddhism? Islam? Hinduism?

Paganism???


Wonder if it's the whack-job jewish poster who rants about whorehouses?
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2011 18:32     Subject: Looking for recommendation for a good Bible-based church
Anonymous wrote:
I find it funny when athiests talk about plagiarized paganism as if this is some secret they have uncovered. Duh. Did you get that from the da vinci code and were shocked and outraged? Constantine converted the empire to christianity and it was easier to keep the existing holiday dates. So stupid. Paganism and worshiping many gods has nothing to do with the SINGLE POINT of christianity, though, which is Jesus is the son of God and died for our sins and came back from the dead. So shut up.


While I agree with everything you've said re Christianity appropriating the pagan dates, and how this is only surprising to folks who are totally ignorant about Christianity -- do you really want to engage in historical/theological/philosophical discussions with a troll?

By now you've seen how she responded to your post. She's not listening. She will never listen. She just wants to goad you, because trolls are so pathetic they goad you to get some sort of reaction out of some human, any human, somewhere on the planet....

She says she "believes" in "something else" -- I'm sure that whatever it is, it's just as subject to historical critiques as this minor point about celebration dates. But do you really want to stoop to her level? My point is, even trying to argue with her is also stooping to her level.

Just ignore the troll....
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2011 17:59     Subject: Looking for recommendation for a good Bible-based church
When someone mentions devil worship as a "religion," then, yes, I think of Paganism - or Wiccan practices. something off the radar

Thankfully, I don't connect Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism with devil worship. Obviously you do.


Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PP here who said you were probably the only believer in this forum. Look at the previous posts... now you know what I'm talking about...


I'd say we're all believers, just in different beliefs. A devil-worshiper has his beliefs and is a believer.


That's an odd example to use.

Will you be joining the coven this evening for a sacrifice?


Nope, I believe in something else and it doesn't include covens or sacrifices. It also doesn't involve being on the "right side" of Armagaddon, or being "bible-based".


Then please share.

Truly? Paganism is the only other thing you can think of?! Maybe Buddhism? Islam? Hinduism?

Paganism???
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2011 17:50     Subject: Looking for recommendation for a good Bible-based church
And really, in the final analysis, I think most theologians can agree that when we boil it down to its essence, the single point of Christianity is "SHUT UP AND GET A JOB YOU GODDAMNED HOMO HIPPIE PERVERT!!!1!"

Now let us bow our heads...
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2011 17:40     Subject: Looking for recommendation for a good Bible-based church
Anonymous wrote:with the SINGLE POINT of christianity, though, which is Jesus is the son of God and died for our sins and came back from the dead. So shut up.



Thank you for this engaging and heartwarming exegesis on the true nature of Christianity. I'm sure Jesus--wherever he is--is looking down on you with a warm smile and two big thumbs up.
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2011 17:36     Subject: Looking for recommendation for a good Bible-based church
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PP here who said you were probably the only believer in this forum. Look at the previous posts... now you know what I'm talking about...


I'd say we're all believers, just in different beliefs. A devil-worshiper has his beliefs and is a believer.


That's an odd example to use.

Will you be joining the coven this evening for a sacrifice?


Nope, I believe in something else and it doesn't include covens or sacrifices. It also doesn't involve being on the "right side" of Armagaddon, or being "bible-based".


Then please share.

Truly? Paganism is the only other thing you can think of?! Maybe Buddhism? Islam? Hinduism?

Paganism???


Well, it is a natural assumption - after all, Christianity is largely pagan in its origin. In fact, it's plagiarized paganism. I bet they don't teach that at McLean Bible Church.


I find it funny when athiests talk about plagiarized paganism as if this is some secret they have uncovered. Duh. Did you get that from the da vinci code and were shocked and outraged? Constantine converted the empire to christianity and it was easier to keep the existing holiday dates. So stupid. Paganism and worshiping many gods has nothing to do with the SINGLE POINT of christianity, though, which is Jesus is the son of God and died for our sins and came back from the dead. So shut up.