What sounds that way? Serious question, not being a smart aleck.

I grew up a Pentecostal. Going to church with my grandparents. Hearing speaking in tongues, laying on of hands, being touched by the Holy Spirit, the whole nine yards. When you are 5 seeing someone touched by the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues makes a lasting impact on you. You're thinking, "If God can do that to a person, He's real."

Then my Daddy got saved by Reverend Frank Barker and we became Presbyterians. I went to Briarwood Church, Briarwood School and Briarwood Summer Camps.

Then I got into lots of trouble and did a lot of stupid chit. I later joined the Marines and the only church I occasionally went to was whatever was at that particular Marine Base.

I later got married and became a member of the Church of God and became a Royal Ranger Commander working with kids. I think the church is still under investigation for that one.

When Irish Jr. was born we moved away from there and joined a Methodist church that we loved. It was nice being able to say "Hey!" to all my church friends at the liquor store and not be embarrassed that we were there.

We got divorced and I dated a girl that was an Italian Crib Catholic so I went to Catholic church with her. Which was kind of strange, knowing when to stand up, when to sit down, when to cross yourself, etc... It's all very confusing.

Then I met and started dating Mrs. Irish and she went to Church of the Highlands You know the big Cult. So I started going there and 11 years later we still go there. I think that the founders are former Baptist that have somehow lost their way...

So the point is, I think as long as you love love God, believe in Jesus and love other people like Jesus told us to do, it don't matter so much who's roof you are under on Sunday. All the denominations were started by small people fussin' over small details.

When Jesus started this movement called Christianity there wasn't nothing but a belief in the power of love through Jesus. Human beings have been trying to screw it up ever since.

After living 48 years I’ve learned to listen to my conscience.

My caps added. It's also important that the roof you are under is teaching and following the Bible. Some churches and denominations do it better than others.

I've been going to the same church for 27 years. We've had a lot of changes. People have left for all kinds of reasons, I've had 1000 reasons to leave too. I'm not staying because I agree with everything everyone says or does. Right now the teaching is bad, the worship needs some help. I've been hurt along the way too. What keeps me from leaving is a handful of people I deeply care about. I'd go through hell with them, so this is just part of loving them. Everytime my wife and I start to leave we realize it isn't about us at all.

Good post.

John 3:5 - Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Actually Chris Hodges and the others who were there originally to start the church came from Church of God.

Paul states in 2 Timothy 3:16 that "ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness"

Just because it's not mentioned in the New Testament doesn't mean it's no longer acceptable or unacceptable.

That's the argument gays use in regards to the Bible. They argue that because Jesus himself never spoke out about homosexuality, then it's ok...which we all know to be false.

Matthew 5:17 Jesus states "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”

New Testament scriptures make Old Testament scriptures "whole" under the new covenant....they do not contradict them.

If you’re going to be literal to that extent, the Lord’s Supper was actually observed only at night, in the early church. As far as being lost after being saved, where is the line? One cuss word, two? It only takes one sin to separate us from Christ. Does that mean every person that makes it to Heaven was sin free at death? The Bible also tells us that once a person is saved that no one, not even the son, can remove you from the father’s hand.

Amen

Hey I applaud you for willingness. I applaud you for noticing there are areas you need to correct. I have many in my life too. My advice is to stay in The Word, no matter what church you attend. In other words, how does one know if the truth is being spoken from the pulpit otherwise? As for picking a church, the only advice I can offer is prayer. Pray brother. Grab your wife and pray together. I dont believe in luck, coincidence, or conscience. The Holy Spirit will guide you. He will put you where He wants you.

^^^ + 10 million

The Bible makes a distinction between repentance unto SALVATION and general "repentance."

Repentance unto Salvation has nothing to do with personal effort or works - it has to do with our mentality and beliefs and attitude about ourselves,
God the Holy Trinity, His Word and the life and work of Christ and his sacrificial and atoning sacrifice.

In other words - repentance unto Salvation is where the person completely stops thinking and believing what they did in the past (could be atheism, agnosticism, Islam, Hinduism, secularism, all the other isms, etc.) and begins to believe what GodTHT says and totally agrees with it as Ultimate Truth of the Universe - and *receives* Christ as Lord, God, Creator, Redeemer and Saviour.

Repentance unto Salvation is repenting from the Unpardonable Sin of *unbelief*.

It has nothing to do with "repenting of sin and former life" in terms of performance - yes in belief, faith and attitude, and yes change in outward things like lifestyle can be evidence of an inward reality.

But Salvation is "by Grace through Faith not of works lest any man should boast."

"By the works of the {moral} Law shall no flesh be saved."

"All of our {good} works (deeds) are as a filthy rag before the Lord."

Acts 2:38 says to repent and be baptized........ then the verse continues by saying.....”every one of you, in Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins. The Greek word for baptized is baptizo which literally means immersed. The verse says to repent and be immersed, every one of you, in Jesus Christ. Immerse yourself in Jesus Christ not water.

John 3:5 talks about our birth into this life and then spiritual life. Born of water (by a woman) and spirit (the act of repenting and accepting our salvation)

Neither one of these verses mean to me what they mean to the CoC people. I’m not going to change your mind and you aren’t going to change mine. This is semantics.

John 10:10 says, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

Satan uses the devision between denominations to steal, kill and destroy. The same way that he uses division to destroy every other aspect in our lives

I’m a hypocrite and a sinner. Suppose I always will be to some extent. I try to do as good as I can and ask for forgiveness when I don’t. For the largest part I don’t concern myself with what others do in church, I try not to put my spiritual faith in other people (good or bad). I’ve been to all denominations of churches, most were good with good people.

I’m a Baptist.
I attended the COC with me ex-wife.
I prefer the Baptist church.

The COC teaches (at least the one I attended did) that you must be baptized to get to heaven.
I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and was baptized in the Baptist Church. My oldest son was saved and baptized in the COC, on this very day, immediately after the baptism, one of the church’s elders came to me and said “your turn”. I was offended.

The COC takes communion EVERY Sunday. As they were passing the communion around I was sitting at the end of the pew. As I reached for the communion tray the deacon sort of turned his shoulder to me and handed the tray over me and to my wife. I was offended. When he returned with the offering plate he handed it to me. I looked at it and handed it right back to him! I didn’t pass it down the pew and I didn’t put a penny in it. I didn’t go back to the COC.

Yep, In fact, the CoC's I attended occasionally with friends, growing up, would not let me take communion, and I HAVE been baptized. But I was baptized in a Methodist Church, as a baby. And according to them, that didn't count.

joshm,
I can only give advice of bathing your situation in prayer.
Hypocrites are no reason to leave a church or you will only find yourself hopelessly trying to find a church without them.
You as the male head of your household are called to be the spiritual leader and though the decision can be discussed with your wife and children, it is ultimately your decision through prayer and counsel of God the Father.

As far as salvation and repentance, Jesus never taught that, Jesus preached about the good news of The Kingdom of God.
If you declare that Jesus is Lord, and believe that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9) In other words we worship a living king.
Our salvation is guaranteed through our acceptance of our invitation and maintaining citizenship of The Kingdom of God.
Our citizenship in The Kingdom of God is the end goal and we are saved from the fiery pits of Hell.
Matthew 6:33 Jesus tells us to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
This statement was on the heels of speaking of treasures in Heaven and not worrying, the Lord will provide if we reside in the Kingdom of God.
Jesus replied once to a Pharisee that asked about the Kingdom of God when it would come and he replied that the coming of The Kingdom of God is not something to be observed, nor will people say here it is or there it is, because the Kingdom of God is in your midst.
The Kingdom is here among us, and it is up to us to accept our invitation of citizenship to The Kingdom of God.
It is then we are saved from Hell and begin living life by the Spirit in order to maintain our citizenship.

Galatians 5
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

We are given free will but it is up to us to choose daily to live life by the Spirit.
Only then do we maintain our Kingdom Citizenship and therefore will remain saved.

Jesus said "A house divided against itself cannot stand". It appears satan was paying attention but most christians were not.

From the Greek, Metanoia-change in one's way of life resulting from penitence or spiritual conversion.

Luke 13:5 English Standard Version (ESV)
5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”