Well, I had looked forward to inacting with all of you on this topic, but I can't keep the text I am typing on the screen long enough to see what I am typing.
So, as a last post, I will say to Doc, I only took exception with the fact that you stated that the "health of the church" was the Church's primary mission. My reply was to show that Matthew 28 put the saving of the lost through the Gospel message as the primary mission of the church with disciping the saved as a close second. No need to get snippy just because I disagreed with you point of view.
Now I say so long for the above mentioned reason.
Sorry if I left you with the impression that I was "snippy" with you.......it had nothing to do with
what you posted, only that due to a vision problem, it required a lot of time for me to edit your comments so that I could respond to them.....further complicated by the fact that there were several members posting comments and questions at the time, and I was typing as fast as I could......
I'm sure that you didn't select the red font intentionally to create problems......
By the way.....thank you for adopting the forum default font and type color......it's a big help
Now to your reference to Mark 28......
Referring to my OP......I'm already "saved".....that happened a long time ago, so, at least for me, I don't need a "church" for that, my personal acceptance of Christ as my Savior accomplished that, and from that point, the relationship that I have with him is "personal", and not "institutional".
You mentioned that you are/were a Baptist pastor, therefore, you should see the absolute validity of my position. Now, regarding "deciping" the saved.......here is where my experiences have led me to the conclusion that the "church" has departed from Christ's mission for them. Again from my opening remarks, when a church finds liberal or conservative politics, "political correctness", or a "social agenda" as outwardly demonstrated to a new couple visiting the church for purposes of considering joining the fellowship,
their ecumenical priority......then I have no choice but assume that these fellowships are drifting far afield from the mission, and the Gospel.
You are probably correct that churches exist out there that have held fast to the teachings of Christ........I just have not found one yet......hence my comments, and my quest.......
And regardless of how you might personally feel about my position, you simply cannot deny the fact that many mainstream denominations (The Disciples of Christ being my primary example), followed by the United Methodists, the American Anglican (Epispical) Congregation, At least one Lutheran Synod, as well as an number of other mainstream denominations, have accepted ecumenical political policy positions that fly in the face of Christ's message.....as a matter of priorities......they may go through the motions, but their focus is on "political correctness", and "inclusion" rather than the Gospel.......
mainly because preaching the unadulterated Gospel will make some people unhappy, and feel "excluded".......Be that as it may......these are my personal (and therefore anecdotal) experiences........I posted them here for discussion, and as a warning to the faithful that all may not be as it seems, in American Christendom.
doc