tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post6216141625808444606..comments2023-12-22T08:29:29.230-08:00Comments on WHAT IS TRUTH: When I Left Fundamentalism part threeKent Brandenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13419354741455959191noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-90643293731276010702016-02-10T02:07:05.965-08:002016-02-10T02:07:05.965-08:00Coming back to read this commentary again, five ye...Coming back to read this commentary again, five years later, to find that my experiences since then echo your perspective even more. Ironically or not, even on the mission field we all strive to recreate that same kind of coalition...when honestly, hardly anyone seems to like each other, or those unspoken differences hinder honest, open and edifying dialogue. Perhaps God doesn't mean for our paths to cross, if he calls us to another city. Are we made stronger, does it truly encourage us, do we do more for God, when we unite and do stuff together? Not always, but often I feel kinda flat afterwards. Or, is it one person's ambition -- or desire for companionship -- that everyone else gets swept up in? Stateside, I certainly felt that on a few large, beautiful church campuses that I was looking at the ambition of man, not a work of God. Now that I am "one of them," I frequently feel like the untalented, unsuccessful missionary that pastors pass over. We're not the only ones, so it's not about us, but it needs to be said in the context of the continual stream in the last decade of Dear John letters making their way from US churches to EU missionaries. Pastors are not being patient. Perhaps that is part of the reason many of us aren't seeing people come to repentance, and the younger generation of missionaries comes for one or two terms and then leaves. I hope as I begin the other half of my life post-50, I can truly rely on God to make me strong while I am weak, and not man. Help is not coming from the hills anymore, because it never did. Praise the LORD for opening my eyes to that truth! Our sufficiency is of God.Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13317422677796973998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-27025116094996524932011-03-07T10:51:27.882-08:002011-03-07T10:51:27.882-08:00You are anonymous and you want to know my thoughts...You are anonymous and you want to know my thoughts on Westboro Baptist Church? What's the point? I can't think that you're serious. What are your thoughts about Joseph Stalin?<br /><br />If I'm going to answer the question, I want to know more about you anonymous, name, where you are coming from, etc. If you don't, then I'm going to assume that you're not serious.Kent Brandenburghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13419354741455959191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-74461881547740753722011-03-06T15:09:23.410-08:002011-03-06T15:09:23.410-08:00I know this isn't the correct place to ask a q...I know this isn't the correct place to ask a question, but I could not find an email. Anyway, I was wondering what your thoughts are on the Westboro Baptist Church? <br /><br />Thanks! :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-41702228824358161682011-03-03T01:27:34.925-08:002011-03-03T01:27:34.925-08:00From time to time blog posting facilities give pro...From time to time blog posting facilities give problems and you are left with no other option but to use the "Anonymous" route. However, despite the title, there is nothing to stop anyone simply signing their name at the bottom of their comments. It's a bit like the old story (is it true?) of NASA spending millions of dollars trying to invent a pen that would write in space, while the Russians simply used a pencil.<br /><br />P/s Interesting posts.Colin Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02632698769785766168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-16727364191274082952011-03-02T00:15:37.119-08:002011-03-02T00:15:37.119-08:00Looks like you are ready to get out of the gospels...Looks like you are ready to get out of the gospels and preach what Paul is teaching.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-69828426044916813662011-03-01T17:54:11.253-08:002011-03-01T17:54:11.253-08:00"Do something with your time--actually do som...<i>"Do something with your time--actually do something profitable with your time PLEASE!!!!!!!!"</i><br /><br />I've been looking for a way to get this said, I'm glad someone brought it up, so Bro. B., if you could maybe, in addition to being a full time pastor, perhaps help with a church plant a couple of hours away, be a good husband and father to your wife and four kids, teach some history in your Christian School, then squeeze in the writing of a few couple-hundred page books, then, THEN, you can come back and blog about this. <br /><br />:eyeroll:<br /><br />See you tomorrow!d4v34xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07346680257860879900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-80466167398350336692011-03-01T07:19:53.132-08:002011-03-01T07:19:53.132-08:00anonymous commentators or writers seem to fit in w...anonymous commentators or writers seem to fit in with Psalm 64:3-4. Not good. Many a times their writings are not worth reading.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11879718171217215602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-68080413002594632642011-02-28T22:30:12.989-08:002011-02-28T22:30:12.989-08:00Awful, really. The anonymous poster can sign up fo...Awful, really. The anonymous poster can sign up for a free ,yes free, gmail account and use that log in to post.<br /><br />It's free, easy and you get a great email account all in one.<br /><br />Hope all is well brother Brandenblogger (ha ha Titus!).<br /><br />Respectfully Submitted,<br /><br />Br Steve<br /><br />Gal.2:20philipians2511https://www.blogger.com/profile/17196287320434925537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-19636611973371734422011-02-28T20:29:48.189-08:002011-02-28T20:29:48.189-08:00Thanks for the comments everyone. Someone has com...Thanks for the comments everyone. Someone has commented anonymously, same person, twice, that I did not post, but here is the second one. I've included it because I thought everyone might get a kick out of it. Anonymous wrote:<br /><br />Once again I challenge your long sob story of how you were a nerd and never invited to the in crowd that you seem to have wanted so desperately to be a part of. This is a sad tale of Nerd Revenge! You have a key board and now the www. 20 years ago you would have had to really work and do something with your time, but now you can type and sadly people will read and comment. I know you won't post this because it is anonymous. Which you call cowardly. Change your server because that is what is offered to me. Do something with your time--actually do something profitable with your time PLEASE!!!!!!!!Kent Brandenburghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13419354741455959191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-55842672831588078212011-02-28T15:51:43.852-08:002011-02-28T15:51:43.852-08:00Do you have tapes or CDs of your sermon series you...Do you have tapes or CDs of your sermon series you mentioned? I wrestle with this issue off and on. We have made some changes here in the last few years, but I don't believe we have come far enough.<br /><br />I continue to enjoy this series, by the way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-49284093735474380792011-02-28T15:12:24.946-08:002011-02-28T15:12:24.946-08:00Great article.
I have for long contended that &qu...Great article.<br /><br />I have for long contended that "fundamentalist" fellowships exert more control over their constituent churches (or pastors) than "denominations" like the Southern Baptist. The fear of being shunned drives many practical decisions in those fellowships.<br /><br />I work as a missionary in an "evangelized" African country and see the result of decades of "soul winning" with very little discipleship. When I first began ministry I was so excited to see all of the raised hands and salvation "decisions." However, I now see that the Christianity is a mile wide and an inch deep. I have asked God to help me to "make disciples" in my future years of ministry.MShep2https://www.blogger.com/profile/07736574779047607829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-30388035782956479412011-02-28T08:59:35.386-08:002011-02-28T08:59:35.386-08:00Interesting point about the elder led congregation...Interesting point about the elder led congregations excluding women (and many/most men). I think in some churches, the elders are approved by both, though.<br /><br />As far as the self-confirming system, I don't think that's too different from IBdom in general. IBs recognize other IBs or not. Its a mutual acceptance group based on certain criteria. Similar to Fundmentalists. The debate is the grounds of approval (as well as the parachurch orgs, I guess.)d4v34xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07346680257860879900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-24822033541212084002011-02-28T04:19:23.101-08:002011-02-28T04:19:23.101-08:00I am enjoying these posts brother. As someone who...I am enjoying these posts brother. As someone who didn't grow up in a Fundamentalist church nor was I saved in one, I am nonetheless sympathetic toward them because I see so much sin in our society. I feel the pull to want to get away from it all and meet with people who are viewed as "extreme" in their standards, ways, traditions, etc. but then there are other aspects of the Fundamentalist movement that I don't enjoy.The Seeking Disciplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10850752852586928341noreply@blogger.com