I've lost faith in the church

Member was searching for an appropriate church that didn't treat women as second-class parishioners and I offered my suggestion based on my own observation. What would be the church that you would recommend that treats women equally?

True. Its ruining everyone elses' reputation and dragging the name "Christian" through the mud. I wish there was some other 'title' to use but I havent thought of any yet.

But always remember: There ARE good churches out there. The bad ones are just the majority, as ALWAYS, the wide road, and they get all the media attention.

Bible predicts this apostasy, no need to worry. We do get sick and tired of it, but just hang on, God'll set everything straight one of these days. He will clean house

Just when you thought you heard it...

Way over the top, and completely asinine statement in the quote.

I actually don't call myself a "Christian" anymore. The word carries way too much baggage. Now I'm a "Christ follower."

And if I recall correctly, the word "Christian" was in fact invented by pagans. Before that, we were followers of "the Way."

And I know that. If anything it makes me more thankful for the fact that my church already takes these things very seriously. They do extensive background checks and no one, including the main pastor, is above accountability. Abuse of ANY form is completely unacceptable.

Though I will say, if it ever does happen, and it's my own family, there is going to be H*LL to pay.

And I get it, pastors are busy enough already. But given how huge this "revelation" is, and the fact that these issues have been pushed under the rug now for way too long, the time to address them publicly is long overdue.

For one thing, there are stories in the Bible that would shock us (especially given most of them are done by Israelites, God's chosen people), but that's GOOD! The Bible knows that sometimes it takes showing people sin in its ugliest and most barbaric form to get them to take it seriously.

If anything, those barbaric stories make one seriously wonder why God chose these people to begin with. I get it, it was nothing on their part, it was God's grace. Still, reading those stories knowing that they should know better, it is beyond ridiculous.

I would recommend conservative reformed churches or independent fundamental baptists.

I dont believe in that equality lie being sold so much today in the 21st century. Its an unbiblical idea. galatians 3 says nothing about men and women being the same, rather it just means what it says: In Christ, jew or greek, male or female, dont matter, saved the same way. There are still greeks and jews, males and females. SORRY. if you read the rest of the bible (NT) you quickly notice men and women STILL have different roles, dont care what the heretics at SDA say, i'll stick with Peter and Paul.

Well, I'm sorry to say that I know men and women are different, but we are still equal, no exceptions. I know my Bible pretty darn well on that, and no one's changing my mind.

And why would I want to go to an independant cultist (sorry BAPTIST) church given hundreds of them are crawling with scandal and believe in the pastor being above accountability?

I believe that women should be treated with respect and dignity. Thank you for providing an actual church recommendation. No, men and woman are not the same, men are from Mars and women are from Venus.

Hey, maybe those bar churches are double trouble, huh? I heard of one where they served beer to make people show up lol

And by the way, this whole complementarian BS is why we're so embroiled in scandal. Clearly it's not biblical and does not work.

I'll stick with GOD rather than Peter and Paul. A.k.a. the God who made men and women equally and never had any intention to put in any hierarchy of any kind. The one we have now was the result of SIN. If God does call me to preach, I'm going to obey him no matter what any man says.

You are just repeating 21st century political advertisements "we are all equal", not putting your sandals on and reading the Bible. Glad to see you atleast admit you will stick with the 21st century mindset and refuse to change it.

Nothing I can do here except provide a couple verses:

1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
1Pe 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

And many more, so clearly, ALL are treated well, but NOT equally, there is a biblical way.
Now obviously, you can either accept those scriptures, or REJECT them and "not change your mind". No skin off my nose.

Werent they writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit? Or do you also reject that? That would make logical sense.

Thats all I can do, posted evidence from the scriptures, accept it or reject it. If that wont convince people, nothing will, if people disagree, well they are in error.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand im out.

I knew you were going to put those in. Too bad. If you read the actual context and the original language, they don't say what they think they say. Nice try though.

Eph 5:11

"Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them."

Agreed we are called to expose them......

It wasnt about joining a cult. Sda have pros and cons. I havent heard about and sda being forces to stay or manipulated unlike the jehovas witnesses.
Are we to call every church a cult now.
Maybe he has had good experiences in them.
Tourist isnt a person to push people into damnation

How arrogant of someone like you to think you are absolutely right, never once thinking you could be wrong. How else do we learn?

I do accept these scriptures, and I do believe they were written under the Holy Spirit's inspiration. But the Catholic church taught salvation by works rather than faith for 1200 years until Martin Luther showed them to their faces how wrong they were, from the Bible itself. Just because something is tradition doesn't mean it's right.

I could do the same, but clearly I would be wasting my time with you.

Still, allow me to say that it is the Holy Spirit himself who prompted me to investigate the Scriptures for myself. He's opened my eyes, and now he's opening the eyes of many in the church to this complementarian nonsense that continues to plague churches with abuse. When certain people are allowed to have power over other kinds of people, be they different genders, races, whatever, with power that only belongs to God, disastrous consequences always follow.

Moreover, Satan knows that he can keep the church only half as effective as it should be, by keeping half of its population silent. Well, not anymore.

I pray that the Holy Spirit will open up your eyes as well.

With all due respect, she isn't looking for a sect, but a legit church. A church sound in doctrine, and that isn't any SDA group. Please stop peddling the SDA cult on a Christian site.

Bro, you cannot see clearly because of the bias of family being involved in it, and you[re just not sound biblically yourself. Kind? Yes, mostly, but kindness isn't Christianity, nor is appeasement or compromise Christianity. It may garner you some coddling, but it's still not Christianity.

I know it must be a difficult spot for you to be in, but then again you married yourself into that spot yourself.

The OP has several issues. Find a solid church, I suggest a Reformed Baptist church, and please then share your issues with the pastor there and receive some godly counsel.

I believe that I am certainly as much biblically sound as any member on this site.

What exactly qualifies as a legit church and who is the arbiter that decides this? Yes, the answer is provided in scripture, as in other answers as well, but the problem is that in the CC community, or even a church, legit or otherwise, any particular view is based on a human interpretation of scripture.

In my opinion, based on attending many Sabbath services, the SDA is a scripturally sound church and is not a sect or cult. Based on the many posts on this subject I could also say that most churches that are promoted based on the criteria provided, could also be considered sects or cults. The SDA doctrine on salvation is sound and based on that alone I would say that qualifies this organization as a Christian church. There are many other legit churches as well when considering a church to attend besides SDA.

Any opinion offered by anyone on any topic based on experience and observation is in itself biased. If someone is seeking an opinion from a particular matter or concerned from another the opinion is sought because of such bias as it would be pointless to ask a question from someone who has absolutely no knowledge or experience in what is being asked.

The OP was in regards to women being treated unfairly in a particular church. I offered my opinion on a possible church to consider based on my exposure to such a church. Other members have offered opinions as well to consider.

Based on reading countless posts on this site there are many that consider yourself and your perceptions not to be biblically sound but I beg to differ. Thank you for saying I am kind but even then that is only your opinion, but regardless, I respect that because you are generally biblically sound and this is not your first time around. For that matter, this is not my first time around either.

You're still going? Paul wrote Corinthians and Timothy, not satan trying to keep the church ineffective as you said. And you are right "not anymore". And look how its turned out? APOSTASY. Yeah, have fun with that "not anymore".

How arrogant of you to dismiss scripture, while claiming to accept it, indeed. How arrogant of you to think you know better than the ESV NASB KJV NIV etc. translators who have actually studied greek.

i am always open to be proven wrong with scripture and have changed my mind and apologized RIGHT HERE on this forum. You on the other hand, just a few posts ago said this:

yeah..... yet im arrogant? pot meet kettle.

More falsehoods and wild theories with no biblical support, and strange idea of "following God" rather than Peter and Paul, who were writing under the INSPIRATION of the Holy Spirit. Which God exactly are we talking about? Yeah.... Not the biblical one thats for sure, all you see is hierarchy in the Bible, not only men and women but within men, you have different levels of people, just like you do at your job, you have the people above you, and below you. I know reality is tough to deal with.

Go get your last word in, I wont be participating in this twilight-zone 21st century theology circus babble no more. its unproductive and im just getting mean the more i read this weird stuff.
Enjoy your burger king religion, have it your way! *ignore*

This is another generalized broad brush misnomer which seems status quo with the OP here.

Which "church?" What "constant" scandals? We just aren't witnessing the extreme assertions you're placing on the church, Christ's Bride. Everyone must understand God reserves his remnant, let's not root up the wheat while pulling up tares.

I'm hoping for a calm, TRUTHFUL, and reasoned argument from HistoryPrincess, but thus far it's only been sensationalistic purportings.

Sorry, but have to be truthful and call it out for what it is.

If anyone wants to come out with guns blazing, trying to appear as seeking truth and justice, well then speak the truth not shotgun accusations with no basis. In this case it's even been stated the OP hasnt experienced this herself.

Now, you all go ahead and be mad at me but proper perspective and truth is always in order, especially when a polemic on the church is offered up.