[Mr.Dude]

Okay... so at this church I go to, they're 'independant fundamental baptist'. I kinda figure it's cool as long as they're brothers and sisters in Christ, which they are seeing as they preach salvation through Jesus Christ. But the thing is, I was a little concerned about the doctrine taught. But I figured I shouldn't really question it aloud, and go to this church with my dad seeing as he's the head of the household and chooses where we go to church, and the like. I've discovered I'm not baptist... where I agree with alot of their doctrine, I don't believe in denominations the least bit. Now I was concerned with some of their doctrine being taught, specifically in my sunday school class. I didn't really think much of it, just kind of ignoring things that were obviously wrong... until I talked to someone about it yesterday... she's pretty much my 'idiot filter', you know, I run things through her, and she kinda lets me in on if I'm really on to something, or just being an idiot. The thing is, when I started to talk to her about this stuff, she even started crying a little that someone would be teaching this... mainly because one of the teachings was that you should hate yourself, something which I had been struggling with on whether or not I should, and I had finally been convinced that I should, which led me to almost kill myself. I had a knife in my hand, not even kidding. I realize now that hating yourself is dead wrong, but the point is, she thought that I need to talk to these people about this, or something might happen. I kinda realized that maybe there really is something there that just ain't right.

So a few of the things I have a problem with in that church is that they preach that the king james version is the one and only bible and any other is a lie straight from hell. I tried explaining that the kjv is based on byzantine text written latter than the texts that the niv is based on. They said it was a lie straight from the pits of hell. Another thing was that they believe rock music is evil, in fact, anything with a beat is not something that you should be listening to. For me, I can't really understand why they would talk down such a great ministry, something that's even changed my life for the good. Blindside is one of those Christian rockish bands that I listen to, in fact, they're my favorite. Not because they're a good band with a good sound to them, but because they've helped to change my life, and through their music taught me some pretty powerful lessons. I don't know where I'd be without them. And then this church comes along and tells me that it's a lie from the devil that Christian rock is a good ministry. It really, really bothers me.

Now, about this sunday school class... gosh. I remember them teaching us one day that every song you sing should be a new song, because it says in psalms something along the lines of "I will sing a new song" so therefore, it's a command that it should be a new song. And that you should be able to understand what they're saying because it says in psalms 47:7 in the kjv "For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understading". He does alot of that. Pulling verses out of nowhere to justify what he's teaching, even when he pulls it out of context. It bothers the heck out of me now! I remember handing her a few of the lessons I got from him, and she said something that still sticks in my mind,"Alex, this is all wrong."

Really, its a little bit of the doctrine that bothers me. The sunday school teacher is only 2 years saved. The preaching is great, if it's from the pastor. He uses the Bible to back up what he's saying, and he uses it in context. I don't really see anything wrong with it until he starts going on a rant of how rock music is the devil and the like. I don't know that I should stay at this church. It's a good church in the sense of what they do. They pray allllll the time, they're always inviting people over to their house after service, even if it's the first time they've met... well, especially then. When something really bad happens to one family, the church pulls together for them. It's a good church, but sometimes... I just don't know sometimes. They don't emphasize on love like I believe they should. I agree with the whole, God is love, but that's not all He is. But the thing is, love is the greatest thing, and it really should be emphasized above all else. So I don't know... what do you guys think?