Hey! As someone raised in that cult - most “community” churches are independent Baptist churches of one stripe or another that figured out that “Baptist” in the church name actually made it harder to get new people in the door because it became equated with fundamentalism and hate. 😉
Though there are Baptist organizations (Southern Baptist Convention, General Association of Regular Baptist Churches, American Baptist, Freewill Baptist, etc.), these are usually kind of “loosely” organized, with every church being an independent entity and the organizations kind of a way to sort finer points of agreement and/or to have a larger group to support missionaries.
Mostly sharing to give you a heads up on the “community” churches probable denomination. 😉
Yep, that's a good thing to flag. Like the one in this week's update with the totally vague Spanish name that you'd never know was SBC unless you went to the SBC directory.
I searched for LGBTQ friendly churches last year and got directed to a “community church.” They told me they liked writing position papers and published them on their app and website (I have NEVER found them).
Though they are very friendly, they are a “sure, you can be LGBTQ, you just can’t act like it, because that is sin.”
Finally got a meeting with the pastor and was blunt, and he explained the whole sin thing, so…
I don't know. I am a Christian, and I have several translations. They all say the same thing in different words. And it depends on why I am reading it, which version I want - especially since one is annotated, which is helpful.
But they appear to equate King James with Jesus, apparently not knowing of James' predilections, and also appear to think HE wrote it.
Hmm, ok. I fully get the different translations thing. I think the church I grew up in used RSV but that's just what was in the pews, it wasn't something on the sign outside. Or is "Independent Fundamental KJV" something like a sub-denomination?
When I taught Sunday School, I used Good News, because it was easier for kids to read, and had the occasional line drawing - which is always attractive to children (2nd - 4th grade). For delving into information, I use the Annotated Oxford NRSV.
But way back in the early days of the Internet, I learned that KJV ONLY!!! people were....different.
Oh yeah, I think my grammie gave me a Good News version as a kid. I keep a KJV red letter edition around for the language, as you said. Bad translation, but incredibly important text for the history of English.
The declaration on the sign makes me question Baptist understanding of Christian theology. Jesus is not the creator and did not create Adam and Eve. Furthermore, Steve was created by the same entity that created Adam and Eve.
As always, every accusation is a confession from these people. Point to "the gays" or trans people because you know full well it's your own people who are actually the ones doing this shit.
When that big Southern Baptist report came out a couple years ago I was actually shocked that my "youth pastor" from when I grew up in the late '80s wasn't on it. Relieved, but surprised, because he was always a bit creepy.
You have the potential to make this a "Spotlight" event. The Boston Globe piece on the Catholic Church and sexual abuse of children tipped the scales, exposing their cover-up methodology.
We need to watch these cases even more closely lest the MAGATs -- (MAGA Trumpites, pronounced "maggots") -- grant them pardons, clemencies, amnesties, time off for "good behavior" etc. ad nauseam.
Magas are so pathetic. Who is in charge of government right now? Who's flunkie had list on her desk? Who was praising Epstein as a great guy with same taste in women? Gee,can't add two and two? We are so doomed....
Recently I was thinking about a few MAGA I have known well, with whom I've since gone low or no contact. 3/4 have sexually assaulted minors (one did jail time; the others were decades ago). The one who hasn't committed any sexual misconduct (that I know of) abuses his wife and pets. All claim to be Christians. If anything, that claim should now automatically come with suspicion, not a free pass!
In April of this year, my abuser Robert David Fenton was sentenced in Bradford County PA to 3-6 years confinement, 8 years probation, and lifetime registration as a sex offender for the sexual assault perpetrated from the time I was 14 to the time I was 17. He used prophetic manipulation to convince me and our church community that God had promised me to be his wife. He was the youth pastor and worship leader at a church which was part of Morningstar Ministries when he laid claim to me. It took 6 years to bring him to justice and he was apprehended internationally. He should definitely be on this list. If you need the media releases I’m happy to provide them.
Hey! As someone raised in that cult - most “community” churches are independent Baptist churches of one stripe or another that figured out that “Baptist” in the church name actually made it harder to get new people in the door because it became equated with fundamentalism and hate. 😉
Though there are Baptist organizations (Southern Baptist Convention, General Association of Regular Baptist Churches, American Baptist, Freewill Baptist, etc.), these are usually kind of “loosely” organized, with every church being an independent entity and the organizations kind of a way to sort finer points of agreement and/or to have a larger group to support missionaries.
Mostly sharing to give you a heads up on the “community” churches probable denomination. 😉
Yep, that's a good thing to flag. Like the one in this week's update with the totally vague Spanish name that you'd never know was SBC unless you went to the SBC directory.
PCA/EPC Presbyterians pull that shit too.
I searched for LGBTQ friendly churches last year and got directed to a “community church.” They told me they liked writing position papers and published them on their app and website (I have NEVER found them).
Though they are very friendly, they are a “sure, you can be LGBTQ, you just can’t act like it, because that is sin.”
Finally got a meeting with the pastor and was blunt, and he explained the whole sin thing, so…
Not a lot of real friends there I guess.
The baptist announcement: he didn’t make adam and eve either, that was well before his time!
Came here to say this... They maybe need to actually read the Bible?
Good catch!
Thanks for including the analysis, and for putting it above the jump. I hope you will continue to do that from time to time.
But...but...but I don't see any drag queens?1?!
Weird, innit?
They put the version of the Bible they use on the sign? Is that a thing in those circles? (Also, so much for inerrancy, etc.).
For KJV adherents, it's very much a thing. I don't think any other translations have similar cults around them.
I don't know. I am a Christian, and I have several translations. They all say the same thing in different words. And it depends on why I am reading it, which version I want - especially since one is annotated, which is helpful.
But they appear to equate King James with Jesus, apparently not knowing of James' predilections, and also appear to think HE wrote it.
Hmm, ok. I fully get the different translations thing. I think the church I grew up in used RSV but that's just what was in the pews, it wasn't something on the sign outside. Or is "Independent Fundamental KJV" something like a sub-denomination?
To answer the sub-denomination question, this link is probably illuminating
https://www.kjvchurches.com/location/near/gps/31.7568268,-89.2742269/
Thanks Evan!
Possibly, just because that name made me laugh.
I read KJV for the poetic language.
When I taught Sunday School, I used Good News, because it was easier for kids to read, and had the occasional line drawing - which is always attractive to children (2nd - 4th grade). For delving into information, I use the Annotated Oxford NRSV.
But way back in the early days of the Internet, I learned that KJV ONLY!!! people were....different.
Oh yeah, I think my grammie gave me a Good News version as a kid. I keep a KJV red letter edition around for the language, as you said. Bad translation, but incredibly important text for the history of English.
The defenders of the King James Version like to say "It's the language of Shakespeare!"
But no one ever tried to spin the Complete Works of William Shakespeare into the instruction manual for life...
You should get the Pulitzer for this piece, Evan.
The declaration on the sign makes me question Baptist understanding of Christian theology. Jesus is not the creator and did not create Adam and Eve. Furthermore, Steve was created by the same entity that created Adam and Eve.
As always, every accusation is a confession from these people. Point to "the gays" or trans people because you know full well it's your own people who are actually the ones doing this shit.
When that big Southern Baptist report came out a couple years ago I was actually shocked that my "youth pastor" from when I grew up in the late '80s wasn't on it. Relieved, but surprised, because he was always a bit creepy.
I got through quite a bit this time.
This is triggering.
You have the potential to make this a "Spotlight" event. The Boston Globe piece on the Catholic Church and sexual abuse of children tipped the scales, exposing their cover-up methodology.
You will do something great with this.
Some kid, somewhere is going to be thankful.
No drag queens....again?
We need to watch these cases even more closely lest the MAGATs -- (MAGA Trumpites, pronounced "maggots") -- grant them pardons, clemencies, amnesties, time off for "good behavior" etc. ad nauseam.
Magas are so pathetic. Who is in charge of government right now? Who's flunkie had list on her desk? Who was praising Epstein as a great guy with same taste in women? Gee,can't add two and two? We are so doomed....
Recently I was thinking about a few MAGA I have known well, with whom I've since gone low or no contact. 3/4 have sexually assaulted minors (one did jail time; the others were decades ago). The one who hasn't committed any sexual misconduct (that I know of) abuses his wife and pets. All claim to be Christians. If anything, that claim should now automatically come with suspicion, not a free pass!
In April of this year, my abuser Robert David Fenton was sentenced in Bradford County PA to 3-6 years confinement, 8 years probation, and lifetime registration as a sex offender for the sexual assault perpetrated from the time I was 14 to the time I was 17. He used prophetic manipulation to convince me and our church community that God had promised me to be his wife. He was the youth pastor and worship leader at a church which was part of Morningstar Ministries when he laid claim to me. It took 6 years to bring him to justice and he was apprehended internationally. He should definitely be on this list. If you need the media releases I’m happy to provide them.
Sickening. I’m so sorry.
Also funny they love that version given all the historical evidence of that King James loving men.