Bible History ResearchMoney and the BibleThe Shrink wrote:Shrink, you seem to think the PCUSA and your church are impressive; BQO said the same thing about the ELCA. So, if your liberal stance is so impressive to Americans tell me why your denominations are shrinking in numbers. The PCUSA has lost a large percentage of its membership over the last couple of decades or so. Just for comparison here are some figures you can look at. Quote:
Since its organization in 1845 in Augusta, Georgia, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has grown to over 16 million members who worship in more than 42,000 churches in the United States. Southern Baptists sponsor about 5,000 home missionaries serving the United States, Canada, Guam and the Caribbean, as well as sponsoring more than 5,000 foreign missionaries in 153 nations of the world.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has approximately 2.5 million members, 11,200 congregations and 21,000 ordained ministers. Presbyterians trace their history to the 16th century and the Protestant Reformation. Our heritage, and much of what we believe, began with the French lawyer John Calvin (1509-1564), whose writings crystallized much of the Reformed thinking that came before him.
ELCA
Baptized Members: 5,099,877, down 26,042 from previous year
Just from the numbers it seems the SBC has better answers than both the PCUSA and ELCA combined.
Look at the number of upper class to middle/lower class people. We have to have somewhere to go on Sunday to get away from you people.
Do me a favor, I have already done such......and can post the results if you like.
Look at the income of Southern Baptist families/churches, as compared to that of....Episcopalians, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Methodists.
It is very funny....walk into a 500 member Methodist church and marvel at the huge pipe organ, the stained wood, the finished stained glass windows, the brick building, the beautiful altar and other beautiful details.
Walk into a 3000 member Baptist church and you can admire the metal building, the plain windows, the cheap commercial carpet, the "stage" for the praist band, the drumset, the kayboard, and the cheap design of the building.
Could it be the reason the Baptist Church is so much bigger, growing, and blessed by God is because God is apposed to the proud and gives grace to the humble?
But I see you are upset again. Praise in not spelled praist, drum set is not drumset, and keyboard is not kayboard. Many Christian’s are so focused on Gen 19:5 for the reason for the destruction of Sodom they miss the full impact of God’s explanation.
Ezekiel 16:49-50
49 "Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food, and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. 50 "Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it. NAS
The sheer arrogance and haughtiness of your post demonstrates why you promote homosexuality as a viable alternate lifestyle in opposition to God’ word.
First century Christians worshipped in homes, the catacombs, and were persecuted by the wealthy and powerful that lived in mansions and were proud of their estates and temples. Stained glass windows, pipe organs, and etc. don’t honor God; what honors God is a humble acceptance of His sovereignty. Isaiah 66:1-2
66:1 Thus says the LORD,
"Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool.
Where then is a house you could build for Me?
And where is a place that I may rest?
2 "For My hand made all these things,
Thus all these things came into being," declares the LORD.
"But to this one I will look,
To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.
NAS
Matt 19:21
"If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." NAS
Where will your fancy buildings and diplomas be when you die? Not in heaven where God’s treasures are our faith and trust in Him. He owns all the wealth of this world you are only a steward while on this earth.
I pity you and praise God I trust in Him and not pieces of fancy paper, stained glass windows, and men filled with pride because of God’s blessings. I can tell from your posts you lack a “peace that surpasses all understanding” and have filled the void in your life with possessions and trappings that will rot when you are in the grave.
Try humbling yourself before the throne of God; His peace is what really makes the life bearable, not wealth, status, and arrogance.
| View Parent Message View dfilename Return Home |