Ken wrote: ↑Sun Jul 28, 2024 8:24 pm
Fine, do Ernie's math with that starting point. You still reach the same conclusion.
It has been hard for Plain Anabaptists to command their children and their households after them, but do the research and you'll find that in general, they help a much higher number of people into the kingdom than your average "community church" regardless of the denomination.
Really? Hmmm....
This means that, in total, there are now 3.4 million more people in non-denominational churches than there are Southern Baptist Convention congregations, one of the largest denominations in the US.
The report also found the number of people adhering to Southern Baptist and the United Methodist Church, has decreased by two million in comparison to those adherent to non-denominational churches, which has increased by nearly nine million.
I could not access that link. By "community church" I am referring to denominational and non-denominational that are focused on the local community, as compared with mega churches.
And I do not think most churches in the US are bringing people into the Kingdom.
Ernie wrote: ↑Sun Jul 28, 2024 8:56 pm
It has been hard for Plain Anabaptists to command their children and their households after them, but do the research and you'll find that in general, they help a much higher number of people into the kingdom than your average "community church" regardless of the denomination.
Really? Hmmm....
This means that, in total, there are now 3.4 million more people in non-denominational churches than there are Southern Baptist Convention congregations, one of the largest denominations in the US.
The report also found the number of people adhering to Southern Baptist and the United Methodist Church, has decreased by two million in comparison to those adherent to non-denominational churches, which has increased by nearly nine million.
I could not access that link. By "community church" I am referring to denominational and non-denominational that are focused on the local community, as compared with mega churches.
And I do not think most churches in the US are bringing people into the Kingdom.
In any event, the point of the statistics is that non-denominational community churches are growing far faster than conservative Anabaptism and adding millions of new members. I'm not arrogant enough to claim or pretend to know that those people are not real Christians. Are you?
0 x
A fool can throw out more questions than a wise man can answer. -RZehr
Ken wrote: ↑Mon Jul 29, 2024 1:25 pm
I'm not arrogant enough to claim or pretend to know that those people are not real Christians.
Are you arrogant enough to claim anyone isn’t a real Christian, who claims that they are?
I'm not sure what you are driving at.
I will offer opinions that certain positions or behaviors or acts are not consistent with what I understand to be the teachings of Christ. I don't think, for example, that the kind of greed and behavior necessary to become a billionaire is consistent with Christ's teachings.
However I would not suggest that someone who claims to be Christian is not a "real" Christian based on some disagreement or disapproval of their positions or actions. I don't think it is for me to say whether someone else is saved or not.
For example, I have colleagues who attend one of the fast-growing community churches in my neighborhood. It isn't my cup of tea. But I would not challenge their Christianity simply because of the church they attend.
0 x
A fool can throw out more questions than a wise man can answer. -RZehr
Ken wrote: ↑Mon Jul 29, 2024 1:25 pm
I'm not arrogant enough to claim or pretend to know that those people are not real Christians.
Are you arrogant enough to claim anyone isn’t a real Christian, who claims that they are?
I'm not sure what you are driving at.
I will offer opinions that certain positions or behaviors or acts are not consistent with what I understand to be the teachings of Christ. I don't think, for example, that the kind of greed and behavior necessary to become a billionaire is consistent with Christ's teachings.
However I would not suggest that someone who claims to be Christian is not a "real" Christian based on some disagreement or disapproval of their positions or actions. I don't think it is for me to say whether someone else is saved or not.
For example, I have colleagues who attend one of the fast-growing community churches in my neighborhood. It isn't my cup of tea. But I would not challenge their Christianity simply because of the church they attend.
Sudsy wrote: ↑Mon Jul 29, 2024 4:49 pm
Good to see Trump actually just stating he is not a Christian. Hope that is a new beginning to becoming one.
“You won’t have to vote any more, my beautiful Christians. I love you, Christians. I’m not Christian.”
I'm not sure where you saw that Trump said he is not a Christian. Here is what Rueters reported.
He added: "I love you Christians. I'm a Christian. I love you, get out, you gotta get out and vote. In four years, you don't have to vote again, we'll have it fixed so good you're not going to have to vote," Trump said.
If someone claims they are a Christian, I would ask them to tell me what they mean by that. That term is kicked around to mean quite a variety of things even living in a 'Christian country'. I have asked people this question and got all kinds of answers such as 'I was baptised in a church', 'I am a member of a church', 'I try to live a good life', etc, etc. Wrong answer.
I would be wanting to know when they were born again and how they now know they have been saved, are being saved and will be saved from the penalty of eternal death. God alone knows their real heart condition but I think according to a persons testimony regarding their salvation, we can have a pretty good idea of whether their hearts have been changed and the Holy Spirit is now their guide.
RZehr wrote: ↑Mon Jul 29, 2024 4:19 pm
Are you arrogant enough to claim anyone isn’t a real Christian, who claims that they are?
I'm not sure what you are driving at.
I will offer opinions that certain positions or behaviors or acts are not consistent with what I understand to be the teachings of Christ. I don't think, for example, that the kind of greed and behavior necessary to become a billionaire is consistent with Christ's teachings.
However I would not suggest that someone who claims to be Christian is not a "real" Christian based on some disagreement or disapproval of their positions or actions. I don't think it is for me to say whether someone else is saved or not.
For example, I have colleagues who attend one of the fast-growing community churches in my neighborhood. It isn't my cup of tea. But I would not challenge their Christianity simply because of the church they attend.
That doesn’t answer what I asked.
No I am not that arrogant. Or try not to be. Does that answer your question?
0 x
A fool can throw out more questions than a wise man can answer. -RZehr