What Worship Practices(Singing, Hymns, etc), Ecclesiastical Practices, Fellowship Practices, Preaching Experiences did you have growing up in an Arminian Church that you wish you had in your present day Church now and if given the chance would bring back as a good practice or experience?
Growing Up and Wish You Had Now?
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Pilgrim
Puritanboard Commissioner
None that I can think of. (Wayne, I would imagine your post has in mind evangelical Arminian churches, not liberal ones who are not worthy of the label Wesleyan or Arminian.)
I grew up in the United Methodist church. We sing many of the same hymns. I don't miss the handbell choir, "liturgical dancers," the altar and other assorted abominations. This includes being told from the pulpit that there is no literal hell and being given a book authored by the pastor upon my High School graduation that contains rank heresy on practically every page.
My last visit there was at the "baptism" of my niece. During the ceremony, the pastor (who came across generally as sounder than many of his predecessors--he at least made reference to the Bible more often) stated that the sprinkling conferred the new birth.
I grew up in the United Methodist church. We sing many of the same hymns. I don't miss the handbell choir, "liturgical dancers," the altar and other assorted abominations. This includes being told from the pulpit that there is no literal hell and being given a book authored by the pastor upon my High School graduation that contains rank heresy on practically every page.
My last visit there was at the "baptism" of my niece. During the ceremony, the pastor (who came across generally as sounder than many of his predecessors--he at least made reference to the Bible more often) stated that the sprinkling conferred the new birth.
Pilgrim
Puritanboard Commissioner
I think one of the subconscious reasons I may have joined the OPC several years ago is that the pastor's family graciously invited me (a bachelor at the time) to feast on delicious lunches nearly every week at the church. After I joined, it seems those meals became less frequent!
But maybe that's just my perception.
Kim G
Puritan Board Junior
I can't say that I miss potluck dinners because we have lunch together every Sunday at my reformed church. It's wonderful!
I would say that I miss Sunday night hymn sings but I never had these, even growing up in an indy-fundy baptist church. I wouldn't want to have a hymn sing instead of a worship service, but I'd stay afterwards for it!
And NONE to the rest of the poll.
I would say that I miss Sunday night hymn sings but I never had these, even growing up in an indy-fundy baptist church. I wouldn't want to have a hymn sing instead of a worship service, but I'd stay afterwards for it!
And NONE to the rest of the poll.
JonathanHunt
Puritan Board Senior
Nothing, I never had any arminian days
Rae would be correct!
-----Added 3/9/2009 at 06:14:10 EST-----
Thank You Josh! Exactly!
-----Added 3/9/2009 at 06:15:35 EST-----
For us it was a shortened service. In other words, announcments, prayer, preaching and then the majority of the service afterward was selecting favorites from our Hymn books.
-----Added 3/9/2009 at 06:16:28 EST-----
Nothing, I never had any arminian days
Good for You! How fortunate indeed!
PresbyDane
Puritanboard Doctor
A big fat NOTHING
Michael Doyle
Puritan Board Junior
Although my old church is not fully reformed, I would be hard pressed to call them arminean, nonetheless, the Pastor preached with such zeal and fire. He really called the troops to arms and left services very motivated. We would go Sunday afternoon to the local parks and witness and open air preach.
I do miss that. I will still go to the parks when the weather warms, however, those sermons were certainly motivating.
I do miss that. I will still go to the parks when the weather warms, however, those sermons were certainly motivating.
historyb
Inactive User
Well I really had no idea that most churches are bad until I came here.
I really miss my AOG Church days, I was in Royal Rangers and achieved the highest rank and was on my way to being a leader in it. I loved the music we sung and the preaching, in fact I am still not sure why I left. I think it was teenage rebellion I'll be honest some days I wish I never went through all I went through and was still happy in my old life. I guess I never been the same since I went through Catholicism.
SolaScriptura
Puritanboard Brimstone
I realize my experience isn't indicative of reality, but I have to say that back in my days in Evangelicalism, church was more fun.
Specifically, it seems that the churches of which I was a part would get together to have fun and hang out. Potlucks and fellowship dinners were seriously about having a good time.
Ever since coming to the Reformed side of the house, the churches of which I've been a part DO have fellowship dinners, but even then the focus is much more serious... on our duty to worship and fellowship, etc.
I'm glad for the sobriety in worship, but I do miss the nostalgia of good clean fun.
Specifically, it seems that the churches of which I was a part would get together to have fun and hang out. Potlucks and fellowship dinners were seriously about having a good time.
Ever since coming to the Reformed side of the house, the churches of which I've been a part DO have fellowship dinners, but even then the focus is much more serious... on our duty to worship and fellowship, etc.
I'm glad for the sobriety in worship, but I do miss the nostalgia of good clean fun.
Ivan
Pastor
You're missing the Gospel since coming at a Reformed church?
SolaScriptura
Puritanboard Brimstone
caoclan
Puritan Board Freshman
TOTALLY misread the poll question. That would be the answer for what DID I miss growing up.
historyb
Inactive User
Well I really had no idea that most churches are bad until I came here.
I'll be honest some days I wish I never went through all I went through and was still happy in my old life. I guess I never been the same since I went through Catholicism.
One more thing I miss is a choir, in a lot of the churches that are of the reformed variety choirs don't exist. Such a sad thing. I have determined that all my problems started when I left and I regret that decision now.
Well I really had no idea that most churches are bad until I came here.
I'll be honest some days I wish I never went through all I went through and was still happy in my old life. I guess I never been the same since I went through Catholicism.
One more thing I miss is a choir, in a lot of the churches that are of the reformed variety choirs don't exist. Such a sad thing. I have determined that all my problems started when I left and I regret that decision now.
I kinda like the way Lutherans do Choir with them behind the congregation and usually up in a loft behind the congregation that way your focus is on the Music and the Praise of a Holy God rather than the people singing it. I personally don't think Choirs separate from the Congregation violate the RPW but that's just me.
JBaldwin
Puritan Board Post-Graduate
I voted "nothing" because we have all those with the exception of the Sunday night hymn sings, and we get plenty of singing in worship to take care of that need.
Our church has a fellowship dinner every month after worship. It's the week a lot of folks use to invite guests.
While I wouldn't call my pastor's preaching "fiery", it's really good, so I'm not missing anything.
If I wanted to go to a camp or retreat, the PCA has that available.
I'm happier than I've ever been in our church, and I don't miss a thing.
Our church has a fellowship dinner every month after worship. It's the week a lot of folks use to invite guests.
While I wouldn't call my pastor's preaching "fiery", it's really good, so I'm not missing anything.
If I wanted to go to a camp or retreat, the PCA has that available.
I'm happier than I've ever been in our church, and I don't miss a thing.
charliejunfan
Puritan Board Senior
I miss sitting around a fire at night singing the most recent worship songs and eating s'mores(roasted marshmellows, chocolate, and grahm cracker for those of you who live in caves), I miss looking at people and creation and contemplating how good and righteous it all was, same with myself. Now I see people and creation as the decae of sin, often I find myself decieved into thinking that universal goodness is the truth and that I have "prayed the prayer" and thus I can have assurance and just go on living without giving a thought to Christ and His church, but then the Holy Spirit by grace reminds me of the glory found in Christ among the decae and I am refreshed in Him, and besides, I can still have campfire gatherings as soon as I get a collection of Reformed people together and we can have some Ale since we are Presbyterian, wooooo!
Amen Brother! 
-----Added 3/11/2009 at 04:07:01 EST-----
You bring up and important topic. Hell is mentioned by Christ in the NT more than Heaven. I have heard many urgent pleas for folks to come to Christ and begin a new life in Him but I rarely hear messages these days on the perils of eternal torment in the Lake of Fire. Much of the focus I'm hearing these days is "emptiness, lack of self worth, family problems, drugs, and the particular sins" that keep one from enjoying life in Christ but not as much on the fear of dying without Christ to spend eternity in Hell.
Is Hell a real place of torment? If so why do we not spend as much time warning folks of what awaits them without Christ as their Redeemer?
-----Added 3/11/2009 at 04:07:01 EST-----
You bring up and important topic. Hell is mentioned by Christ in the NT more than Heaven. I have heard many urgent pleas for folks to come to Christ and begin a new life in Him but I rarely hear messages these days on the perils of eternal torment in the Lake of Fire. Much of the focus I'm hearing these days is "emptiness, lack of self worth, family problems, drugs, and the particular sins" that keep one from enjoying life in Christ but not as much on the fear of dying without Christ to spend eternity in Hell.
Is Hell a real place of torment? If so why do we not spend as much time warning folks of what awaits them without Christ as their Redeemer?
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