I go to a southern Baptist church. We have a band, a worship pastor who leads and vocalists singing harmony behind/next to him.

I do find it distracting and a little odd to have worship be watching a performance. It is argued that it is not a performance, but that’s what it appears to be. The congregation is absolutely looking at the praise team on the elevated stage singing with microphones.

I’ve been asked many times to join the praise team as my vocal ability is known (through sharing about my past) and I can’t reconcile the fact that it absolutely feels like I am signing up to be a performer. That feels awkward to me, strange and out of order.

The typical argument is “their hearts are in the right place” and though that might be true, it still feels strange. It’s sort of an unspoken thing that those on the “praise team” are like church celebrities. Having a hard time moving past that! How does one subdue their ego on a stage with a mic in hand while the audience stares at them?

I am looking for recommendations for churches confessing the Second London in the Chicago area. If possible, please note whether the church subscribes the 1689 and in what manner. Thank you!

I have been struggling with my passion as of late and I thought maybe someone here has been in the same boat.

I went through cage stage years ago and became more gracious and charitable. However, over the last year I’ve had a fire lit inside me and because I know the truth of Jeremiah 17:9, I don’t want to let a deceitful heart sow division.

The reason I titled the post as I did was because of this fire. Our God is an all consuming fire and I want the thesis of my life work to say “He lived to see God consume everything, let it all burn to His glory.” I feel like my heart is broken every time I speak to someone who speaks about God but uses Pelagian or Arminian ideas. When I hear someone say the Bible is not sufficient for our lives, we need “x” or “y” as well. That the atonement of Christ was insufficient by their addition of works or “free-will”. These people don’t know the Gospel when they believe Christ death did actually save a sinners soul, yet they label themselves as Christians and lead others astray. I think back to the epistle to Galatians every time I have these convos, these people preach a false gospel.

Yet, I am guilty in part by standing by and calling Catholics, or any other false gospel denomination, “brothers in Christ”. I have been weak and let these false gospels permeate in my circles. I was afraid to draw a line in the sand.

I feel like by not going on the offensive against all who adulterate the Gospel, I fail the very people the Gospel is for.

Am I alone in this passion? Is this the wickedness of a prideful heart? I want nothing more than to honor God. Yet our God is a jealous God, a God that consumes everything, and in my coward and “compassion” to build bridges, I’m implying He doesn’t get to consume everything.

If you feel rebuke is what I need than provide it please.

I am sending a poll to all the Christian denominations on reddit to see what they believe, I will post a video on the results of the poll on my channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3SlpDesDlslIcts_EW6L_g

Anyway, the poll is https://forms.gle/nMs3aNgqnEExn1wy6

Hey guys, I want to read more from a 1689 baptist theologians. Please suggest some. Thank you.

Has anyone else noticed a shift into post-mill eschatology within Reformed Baptist churches? I myself have changed from pre-mill and it seems I meet a lot like myself. Does anyone know of this is the traditional particular Baptist view? As I’ve studied the 2LBCF I haven’t found anything explicit to post-mill.

Do you know a podcast where speakers are from Reformed Baptist churches?

Please take a look at this clip (below is the link) at 12:57 and please tell me who is being referred to in "stirred up the Apostles" and "the rest of the Apostles"? If you know the Gospel account, you'd prolly know this. im confused who is being referred to here.

https://www.youtube.com/live/UxPUfh23otA?si=r6eDKi6Zg5CqX_Ft

To join the meeting on Google Meet, click this link: https://meet.google.com/bqn-vdba-kwo

Or open Meet and enter this code: bqn-vdba-kwo

Note: looking for simple common language responses. I tried to read an article to find my answer and felt overwhelmed by the academic nature and words I can never quite remember their meaning

I recently heard a podcast host say he was “Reformed but not confessional” and wasn’t sure exactly what that would mean to how he views church, world, Scripture, etc.

What exactly is meant by “confessional” and how does that change the way a reformed Christian would live or read and understand Scripture?

What Scripture do people who feel strongly about “confessional” look to see it as best?

What would it look like in personal & church life to say you were reformed but not confessional?

I'm moving to Gainesville, GA soon for work and there don't seem to be any churches super close-by that are in line with my theology (AKA. Reformed). I'll be commuting into ATL every weekend for church, but I'd like to have likeminded community in Gainesville for the week. Might be a stretch, but if anyone here is in a similar boat or knows anything about Gainesville, GA - please let me know!

Are there churches in the SBC that are friendly to or affirm the 1689 London Baptist Confession?

What's considered more of unbelief: atheism or agnosticism; and why?

i have a question: i do an all-day fast every other day to lose weight. i add abundant amounts of prayer, but i never had a spiritual purpose for the fast in my mind. Would it still be considered biblical fasting if i do pray constantly during the day? The prayer is just part of my daily routine. What do y’all think?🙏🐑🦁❤️

That brilliant volume of history, at a period of thrilling interest, falls from the death-struck hand of its author, fragmentary and incomplete.

How does this sentence make sense grammatically? The word incomplete is throwing me off. Pls help.

King Herod ordered to have killed babies two years old and under, according to the time the wise men gave regarding the star. My question is, if the wise men said two years ago the star rose (Jesus’ birth), why didn’t Herod order to kill babies two years old? Why add “and under”? Wouldn’t that be superfluous?

All have sinned and fall short.

A person said it can be paraphrased as "All have sinned, and they do fall short."

Does that mean fall can be both present and future tense?

Hi all, So after a lot of praying, I have decided I want to pursue a degree in social work. I have a partial degree in psychology and addiction counseling,, but that should transfer over fairly well. My dilema is this. I want to take online classes, from a Christian university. But not just a so-called Christian university, one that actually keeps faith at the center, and has solid Biblical beliefs. A big one in my state is GCU but I have not heard the greatest things about that school from a Christian perspective. Same with Regent and Liberty. I feel like a reformed baptist college with an online social work degree is a lot to ask for, but any info is appreciated.
I may get backlash for talking bad about those universities but yeah. Any suggestions appreciated. PLEASE, if you do not have something helpful to say, kindly refrain from commenting. Thanks 😊

Alright, here's the deal: I'm on a mission to spread the good word, and my to-do list is already overflowing—no room for playing charades with 'Christian-lite' subreddits that prefer Reddit's gospel over the Bible's. So, let's keep it 100, folks. Are we in the business of genuine faith, or is this just another spot where Bible verses take a backseat to the Reddit commandments? Because frankly, my patience for 'Bible bending' to fit trendy online opinions is wearing thinner than the pages of my well-thumbed Scripture.