Im looking at a church in Arkansas.
I figured you all could give me a quick this is a good thing or a bad thing because I never heard these terms before. Here goes...
Reformed documents: the Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, and Canons of Dort. We also highly regard the Westminster standards of faith and practice.
This is the church.
http://www.thereformedchurch.net
Pray, go.
Sermon audio web sight has this brothers sermons ,sermon audio is like sermon index in that they normally only host sound biblical teachings from sound teachers ,,,why don't you listen to some of the sermons on the church web sight and go from there, I listend to part of one and he sounds like a passionate paster ,,if you want to find out about those catechism and confessions ,google it ,that's your best way gathering Information...
But just be blunt ,this fellowship won't practice praying in tounge ,if that's what your looking for ,,
Wow Dolfan and Brothagary you guys were so fast! Thank you.
Sound teaching preaching is what Im after. Doesnt matter in tongues or not.
Ill go listen on Sermon audio. Thanks again.
I don't want to seem like I'm promoting sermon audio,,so you can just go to the church website that you posted in the link ,all there sermons are there ....
Sister,
It is part of Heritage Reformed Congregations.
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Origin and History
The Heritage Reformed denomination was established in 1993 after the Netherlands Reformed Congregations (NRC) underwent a split related to church-orderly and theological issues. The most substantive underlying issue to future HRC members and congregations was Christ-centered preaching, combined with the preaching of an unconditional offer of grace. In the first few years, churches were established in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Woodstock (now Burgessville), Ontario; St. Catharines (now Jordan), Ontario; Hull, Iowa; Bradford, Ontario; Fort Macleod, Alberta; Pompton Plains (now Kinnelon), New Jersey; and Plymouth, Wisconsin.
Presently, the HRC consists of approximately two thousand members in North American churches from the East Coast (New Jersey) to the West Coast (British Columbia). Most of her ministers labor in North America, though three are presently laboring in Africa””two in South Africa and one in Malawi.
--
The upside is it will be some good bible teaching, the down side is there will not be any belief in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, healings, miricales, etc. Or at least a de-emphasisation. We do not typically add strong reformed churches where we do not know if the pastor if Holy Spirit filled onto SermonIndex. Many reformed churches sound good in word but in practice the pastor is in great sins as well as most of the congregation.
By calling themselves "the" reformed church on their website address, they sound "very" exclusive. And their denomination only has 2000 members but they will believe they are the best church out there.
A religious church cannot produce true godliness it only produces a form of it.
I have found fellowship in very conservative reformed assemblies many times. May God lead you.
To be perfectly fair, I agree with you saying "By calling themselves "the" reformed church on their website address, they sound "very" exclusive. And their denomination only has 2000 members but they will believe they are the best church out there."
I most certainly got that vibe from their website and from the denominations larger website. It makes me feel like they think they are the only ones doing it right.
However, remember that it only takes 1 person to make a website and so their tone can be telling of their ideas, but not necessarily old Ms. Martha in some little old church who isn't on a high horse--she may never have even read the website and be the sweetest old saint you've ever met.
"Many reformed churches sound good in word but in practice the pastor is in great sins as well as most of the congregation."
Brother, doesn't this apply to every denomination? Everything depends upon Christ and upon His faithfulness. I have seen "spirit-filled" church participate in the worst kind of gossip about other members, and I have seen churches where the Holy Spirit indeed is working in the lives of the people and using the congregation to advance the kingdom, but emphasis on the Spiritual gifts is not necessarily given (they are, however, active).
Every member of the Body is the Church and we all vary in our degrees of knowledge, of holiness, and faith, but we are all pursuing Christ "until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ..."
Why should I cast a suspicious eye at every reformed member of a church, now, wondering if they have some secret sin of which I do not perceive. Won't that immediately drive a wedge between me and everyone else, including those who truly are followers of Jesus Christ? Won't that cause me to lift myself up in pride as if I were better and holier than they? It won't be long before I discover that I am the one in sin and no one else.
I speak that from experience, because I used to do that all the time.
Greg,
It's sad that you've cast suspicion upon a congregation of the Lord's people as you have.
Your comments are of a prejudice spirit as your conclusions concerning them are merely presumptuous.
Linda, I'd pray and go (as dolfan put it) and meet the brethren for yourself. If you find the teaching biblically sound, and the lives of the people in accordance with the holy life Jesus has called us to, and there is unfeigned love of the brethren along with the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His grace to those without, then by all means embrace them, if not, pray that God direct your steps and follow His lead. He is our Good Shepherd and will not lead us astray, but rather beside still waters even as He has promised.
Meditate upon Proverbs 3:5,6.
May God bless you as you follow Him, trusting Him with all your heart.
Can we speak factually without second guessing? Did Greg not encourage her to go and follow the Spirit? Didn't he admit fellowship in truth may indeed be found there? And did he not simply fulfill her request for helpful information? And though amy one or more of us can --- and evidently will --- emphasize or de-emphasize parts of his assessment, is it helpful?
Smh
Just to be fair there are still many reformed brethren who still believe in the supanatural ,,,I remember John MacArthur saying he believed God still heals,,,,,and here's what rc sproul said,,,who I think could be considered the most influential reformed teacher today....
Now of course when people ask me, do I believe in miracles, they’re asking one question and I’m answering a different one. If they’re saying to me, "Do you believe that God is still working in the world supernaturally?” Of course I do. "Do you believe that God answers prayers?” Of course I do. "Do you believe that God heals people in response to prayer?” Of course I do. All miracles are supernatural, but not all supernatural acts are miracles. Theologians get real tight in their making of distinctions, and when I say I don’t believe in miracles today, I don’t believe in the tight kind of miracle in the very narrow sense where a miracle is defined as a work that occurs in the external perceivable world; an extraordinary work in the external perceivable world against the laws of nature, by the immediate power of God; a work that only God can do, such as bringing life out of death, such as, restoring a limb that has been cut off””by command””such as, walking on the water, such as, turning water into wine.
Martin Lloyd jones ,who was one of the greatest preachers of the twentieth century who was reformed ,esteemed my many like tozer and ravenhill,and Paul washer ,actually was a continust regarding the miraculous gifts of the spirit ,,Martin is probably the most influential reformed preacher in the last few generations .....
To fail to mention reformed preachers like these ,is not really doing justice,to reformed thinkers ....
Before this thread degenerates into a war between the Calvinist Cavalry and the Arminian Army and gets locked by the moderator, let me throw this in...
While living in Grand Rapids I lived across the street from one of the Netherlands Reformed Congregations: The Sunday morning services are 4 hours. Sunday and Wednesday evening, 2-3 hours. The elders sit on the Big Pew facing the congregation. They have the authority to interrupt the sermon if the pastor says anything contrary to the Heidelberg Confession. The people are not allowed to talk after the service but go silently to their cars. Anyone with a TV in their house is not allowed to take communion. Only a small percentage of the congregation were allowed to take communion.
The strange thing is that this fellowship, which violated every principle of the Willow Creek Church Growth Model, was growing at an incredible rate. The building was constantly under construction as they expanded and expanded to accomodate the swelling crowds!
Sister seek Jesus in the fellowship of the prayer closet. Get alone with Him and His presence. Learn to hear the voice of the Shepherd. Learn the sweetness of His fellowship. If you can find one or two other believers that have this sweet relationship with Jesus. Meet with them when you can. For where two or three come together in His name. Jesus will certainly be present. And in this you will never go wrong.
I know you are in Branson MO. I believe in July brother Frank will be moderating a Remnant meeting in Kansas City. If you can make that meeting you will certainly find sweet fellowship in Jesus.
Dear sister it sounds like you need more the sweet fellowship of Jesus. Then the religion of men. Again seek Jesus in His fellowship. Ask the Lord the send to you one or two other Jesus filled believers that manifest His sweet presence.
Brother Blaine
Brother, doesn't this apply to every denomination? Everything depends upon Christ and upon His faithfulness. I have seen "spirit-filled" church participate in the worst kind of gossip about other members, and I have seen churches where the Holy Spirit indeed is working in the lives of the people and using the congregation to advance the kingdom, but emphasis on the Spiritual gifts is not necessarily given (they are, however, active).
Amen brother, thank you for that balance.
Brother Gary
I was in a Reformed church for some seven years, and amongst those who had known Martyn Lloyd-Jones personally, and can tell you that they considered that he had been misled by the charismatics he knew over their definition of Spirit baptism . which has never been the same one understood by holiness folk which of course they also disagreed with. They just thought he had gone off it in his later years but still loved him.
And although they believed that God heals miraculously today, and answers prayers, they stood firmly against glossolalia and not one of the Calvinists l knew would ever accept that tongues in scripture were not foreign languages.
double post
nevermind
Sister Linda, it sounds like you have your head screwed on right and will be able to discern from the Holy Spirit what spirit is in control of any fellowship you might visit:-) The problem occurs as I am sure you know, when we are lonely and desperate for company and are willing to "turn a blind eye" to the red warning flags.
And to be clear I am not wanting to war with anyone on the Calvinist side or the Charismatic side...and strangely I have been in both camps at different times of my life:-) I am in neither camp now but I see strengths and weaknesses on both sides. Over it all I have come to love my brothers and sisters in all these various and sundry camps, but that does not mean I am unaware of the dangers of getting involved with calvinist churches or charismatic churches.
I am sure you will agree that "you gets what you gets" in these different church systems. Just go into these things with your eyes open but know this, you will be very, very hard pressed to find many people who are not tainted by and conformed to the systems of men and the religious spirits behind them.
Not saying it is all wrong and not saying anyone is going to hell, just saying to be very careful. I have so many stories I could share with you that it would fill a book lol.
Please take brother Waynes personal advice to heart about the reformed church across from the street from him. If you do choose to go...enter at your own risk:-) Brother Greg has been around the block a time or two as well and is only speaking out of a concern for your safety, he is not trying to be prejudice or run any churches into the ground. Its a safety thing...please understand:-)
And consider brother bears words too..."If you can find one or two other believers that have this sweet relationship with Jesus. Meet with them when you can."
May you be led ever so carefully by the Holy Spirit and may you be quick to run at the first sign of religious spirits seeking to control you or force you into their mould. Stay firmly and securely at rest in the only mould that matters...being conformed to Christ!!!
I am in constant grief over the numbers of believers who have been attacked by religious spirits...from all camps..and succumbed! They do not even know that they have been shipwrecked but they are...lying fallow amongst the reefs at the bottom of the ocean. Most people think that it is those who have succumbed to outward sin that have shipwrecked their faith, but I would contend that there are more...many more who have become shipwrecked in their faith because of religious spirits who have succeeded in getting them to take their eyes off Jesus and placing their trust in Christ PLUS something else.
And btw, I have found that no denomination or group, including house churches are absolutely free from these religious spirits. I am a part of a very small home fellowship and I find myself fighting off these spirits all the time. No-one is safe, and to him who says he is...that is a sure sign that he isn't:-)
I pray that the Lord will lead you and guide you to a local spiritual family where you can love and be loved and grow up in all things unto Him, Christ the Head.
May God's blessings rain upon all your heads!
I get everyones concern for me and I thank you for it.
I have been churchless. But so desiring and seeking for a church.
I think it time to surrender totally, give up totally.
Let me remain in prayer and Bible study.
Ive been alone for very many years. I keep kicking against the goads I spose.
This is Gods will for me. How do I know that now? Because it IS. It has been for many years, it is today, likely will continue on.
So I will stop singing the tune, find a church find a church find a church. And begin singing I love you God for being here with me today, here am i here are you.
This discussion is locked.
