Christian Church

[stonewallfan]

My spouse grew up in the Christian Church. When I say Christian Church I don't mean the plural since of all of the Christian Church like the body of Christ. I attend with her because she feel comfy there. I personally do not. I have seen symbols and practices of masonary with in some Christian Churches I mean out in the open stuff. Like symbols on the side of their buildings and some have met in Lodges etc. I also believe that they believe the power lies in the symbol of the baptisim or in the taking of the bread and juice. I have mentioned that we could look at a Bible Based Community Bible Church, or a AOG ......she will not think about it.

Like today at Sunday SChool they were expressing their concerns with street ministers that share the gospel with people and want to have a sinners prayer and send someone to Church, they are insisted that unless a person is emersed then there is no salvation. Again I know that Masonary is full of symbols and practices but when I have seen the open symbols in some Christian Churches and then am told that unless a man is emersed then there is no salvation I am left confused.

[heybales219]

I used to attend an independent Church of Christ/Christian Church. It was more of a social club than a gathering of believers. They are adamant that unless one is baptised, they are not saved. Though they will dodge the question of the thief on the cross who Jesus told "Today, thou shall be with me in paradise" and wasn't baptised. I didn't notice much masonry symbolism but I wouldn't be surprised if many of their members are involved in freemasonry. Your spouse just needs to go to another church and see what she's missing. That's what happened to me. Our church of Christ hosted a community song fest with local choirs and I was introduced to the Church of God through their youth choir in my "dead" church. It was awesome and I soon left the CofC for the CofG.

[Racheal59]

I thank God that when I got saved that it was alone in my living room. I was raised a Roman Catholic and suddenly became curious about what the Bible had to say seeing that I have never read it till I was 23.

I began to read it and as I read it I began to repent (all I knew about was confession) but I repented day after day in my home as I read it and I couldn't stop reading it, I couldn't put it down. I wanted to know more and more and at the end of a year, I knelt on my living room floor and repented of my sins to Jesus and asked for more of Him (although I didn't know there was more).

Suddenly I was filled with the Holy Spirit alone in my living room right there, so much so that I fell to my face on the floor from a kneeling position. It scared me for a moment because it was such a powerful manisfestation that I had never before experienced in my entire life before.

The next morning when I awoke, I was floating as if my feet wasn't touching the ground. Everything was greener and more beautiful, I sang songs I had never heard before, and when people saw the change in me all I could say was "Jesus came in me." I know that sounds dumb, but that's all I knew.......till I learned more about the Holy Spirit.

I even went to my priest and he did not know what happened to me LOL. It wasn't till I met a Spirit Filled Pastor that he showed me the Scriptures of what happened to me and it inspired his own faith to know that Christ came to me in my living room without a pastor or a priest or anyone!

No doctrine of man (except the Bible alone and Christ), no pastor, no one reading rules into my ear and pounding them into my head and this was completely different from anything taught to me in the Roman Catholic Church either!

It was only AFTER that years later that I chose to be water baptised and after to tell the congregation what happened to me to lead me to water baptism.

Let me refer you to the story of Peter when he went to the house of Cornelius, a centurion (captain) of what was known as the Italian Regiment, and he and all his household was filled with the Holy Spirit as Peter was yet speaking and it was AFTER they were filled with the Holy Spirit that Peter suggested they get water baptised...and they were all gentiles!

Who has the nerve to argue with Scripture and make up their own doctrine that is opposite of what it says? Not I ....not after how I was saved!

I'm so happy and glad I was born again in this way, because man's religion cannot move me or confuse me anymore thank you Jesus.

In 1998 I finally got to go to Israel and I was baptised in the Jordan River and that was really an experience I'll never forget. I was more fortunate than most to have been able to experience that.

So let me end with this tidbit of advice. Jesus said, "FOLLOW ME."

[mustang]

My spouse grew up in the Christian Church. When I say Christian Church I don't mean the plural since of all of the Christian Church like the body of Christ. I attend with her because she feel comfy there. I personally do not. I have seen symbols and practices of masonary with in some Christian Churches I mean out in the open stuff. Like symbols on the side of their buildings and some have met in Lodges etc. I also believe that they believe the power lies in the symbol of the baptisim or in the taking of the bread and juice. I have mentioned that we could look at a Bible Based Community Bible Church, or a AOG ......she will not think about it.

Like today at Sunday SChool they were expressing their concerns with street ministers that share the gospel with people and want to have a sinners prayer and send someone to Church, they are insisted that unless a person is emersed then there is no salvation. Again I know that Masonary is full of symbols and practices but when I have seen the open symbols in some Christian Churches and then am told that unless a man is emersed then there is no salvation I am left confused.

I attend a Christian Church and I think part of the problem is the congregation seems to have the power over what is done in the church. I have never heard in our church that one must be baptized for salvation. It is more of an expression of joining God's family. If you are a Christian you want to be Baptized but it isn't necc. for salvation.
What Masonic emblems were there? Square and compass?

[felixthecat]

My spouse grew up in the Christian Church. When I say Christian Church I don't mean the plural since of all of the Christian Church like the body of Christ. I attend with her because she feel comfy there. I personally do not. I have seen symbols and practices of masonary with in some Christian Churches I mean out in the open stuff. Like symbols on the side of their buildings and some have met in Lodges etc. I also believe that they believe the power lies in the symbol of the baptisim or in the taking of the bread and juice. I have mentioned that we could look at a Bible Based Community Bible Church, or a AOG ......she will not think about it.

Like today at Sunday SChool they were expressing their concerns with street ministers that share the gospel with people and want to have a sinners prayer and send someone to Church, they are insisted that unless a person is emersed then there is no salvation. Again I know that Masonary is full of symbols and practices but when I have seen the open symbols in some Christian Churches and then am told that unless a man is emersed then there is no salvation I am left confused.

You may want ot remind these folks of the thief on the cross.

He wasn' t baptized. He didn't take communion. He didn't do any of the rituals that some impose for salvation but Jesus said this to him:

Luke 23:

[39] And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

[40] But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

[41] And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

[42] And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

[43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

While it is good to get baptized and take communion ... but that won't "save" you. He looks at our heart.