My old church
 

The church I previously went to, I don't really know what to make of them. I do know that the general consensus of those that leave is that church views all others that don't agree with them as unsaved. I was reminded of this again just last night. The church I used to go to had a Christian School and a basketball team. A friend of mine used to go there also, but goes to a different apostolic church now, he was helping coach for his new churches basketball team so I went to see the game. But anyways, his wife made the comment that my old church don't believe anyone is saved but them. And she used to go there also. Anyways I don't really have much of a point to all this, just was sharing my experience.

Re: My old church
 

Sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Re: My old church
 

Well, the attitude of some local churches is that they are doctrinally pure and have higher standards than other churches around them --even churches that may be of the same organization. So, they do not fellowship others around them. And if you leave a church like that and go elsewhere --even another Apostolic Church-- you are considered a compromiser or a backslider or rebellious and out of the will of God. It's sad, really.

Re: My old church
 

jfrog,

Don't focus on that or it will keep you confused. Focus on YOUR walk with God and how he leads you - in other words, follow after God.

Re: My old church
 

How would you rate the number of those 2 kinds of apostolics churches. The ones that do that and the ones that do not. Would you say its 50-50, 60-40, 70-30 or what?

Re: My old church
 

Does it really matter?

Re: My old church
 

Yes :)

Re: My old church
 

No it doesn't - lol!

I think it's less than you think, but there is actually no way to measure it.

Are there some out there - yes.
Are they all like that - no.

Re: My old church
 

I really have no idea.
I'm sure the "exclusive" ones are the minority.

Re: My old church
 

That is why I asked Sam's opinion. For that matter, how many do you think there are that are like that?

Re: My old church
 

Too many/not enough.

I'm not sure anyone can tell for sure. It's partly a regional thing. So it might be 10/90 in Indianapolis or Dallas, but 90/10 overall in Georgia or Oklahoma. Just throwing out examples. I don't know where it is worst or best in any given locality except my own, and I won't reveal that on an open discussion board. I can tell you that even where it doesn't seem as bad right at first, it can become bad depending on the attitude of the pastor and members at the former church.

Re: My old church
 

I assume you mean by a large margin?

Re: My old church
 

I hope so.

Re: My old church
 

Interesting that it could be tied more to region.

Re: My old church
 

Oh, I would think it's has a lot to do with region for sure.

We've heard some pretty wild stories about Oregon and California - the ones about not letting their members even attend birthday parties of family members if they aren't in "their" church. Not letting youth date each other if they are in "certain" other churches.

I believe they are out there, but I believe they are the minority.

Re: My old church
 

There is nothing wrong with thinking about that and trying to sort it out. When people are pushed to move on before they are ready, they usually end up repeating their mistakes.

Re: My old church
 

Maybe we need a thread to ask the people that will reveal what state or maybe even general part of the state that they are in what their impressions are on this locally. Might could be the start getting an idea of where these types of church are concentrated at. Maybe with enough data we could eventually find some meaningful coorelations about the kinds of churches and the areas the exist in. ;)

Re: My old church
 

I don't think it's a good idea.

Re: My old church
 

I don't know if it's standard practice but we in the youth were always encouraged to get the pastors approval on who we date someone and stuff.

Re: My old church
 

Why not?

Re: My old church
 

I'll pm

Re: My old church
 

Just best to keep the conversation general. If we start pin-pointing locations/regions, then it gets personal.

Besides, you aren't ever going to get a clear picture anyway.