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how come
Johnson City, TN
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Why do baptist churches aroud here not visit or contact people like they used to? How come people can leave a baptist church after attending for a long time and never be contacted? Why do baptist churches here worry so much about going overseas but will not show any concern about the people around here? Aren't the lost sheep the Bible talks about, just as important here as they are on the other side of the world? I know most baptist churches here have a youth director, but I never see them contacting the youth. Maybe if these kids were shown some interest from their teachers, youth directors and the kids in their youth groups, they might get them back in church.
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opinion
Johnson City, TN
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Judged:
1
how come wrote: Why do baptist churches aroud here not visit or contact people like they used to? How come people can leave a baptist church after attending for a long time and never be contacted? Why do baptist churches here worry so much about going overseas but will not show any concern about the people around here? Aren't the lost sheep the Bible talks about, just as important here as they are on the other side of the world? I know most baptist churches here have a youth director, but I never see them contacting the youth. Maybe if these kids were shown some interest from their teachers, youth directors and the kids in their youth groups, they might get them back in church. I will tell you why, they coundn't care less.
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Blight
Johnson City, TN
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opinion wrote: <quoted text>I will tell you why, they coundn't care less. What used to set baptists apart from other denominations was that WE BELIEVED :ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED...... I am a baptist at heart, but I couldn't stand the hate any longer and I go to a Presbyterian church on Sunday and I get bible study from a Methodist .... Baptist church is totally lost...I mean TOTALLY
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hillbillyboy
Johnson City, TN
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Judged:
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how come wrote: Why do baptist churches aroud here not visit or contact people like they used to? How come people can leave a baptist church after attending for a long time and never be contacted? Why do baptist churches here worry so much about going overseas but will not show any concern about the people around here? Aren't the lost sheep the Bible talks about, just as important here as they are on the other side of the world? I know most baptist churches here have a youth director, but I never see them contacting the youth. Maybe if these kids were shown some interest from their teachers, youth directors and the kids in their youth groups, they might get them back in church. You must remember the culture of where you are. This is Appalachia, the slightly archaic and backwards land that time forgot. And part of that culture comes from the Scots-Irish, who settled here in the 1700s, and were the ancestors of most of the people around here today. They also left us their culture and tradition, which still exists here today. Let me break it down for you. Family. Its all about the kin. A family was headed by a patriarch, and if anyone had any business with a family member, they went through the patriarch. He was the absolute head of the family, which included aunts and uncles and cousins and second cousins, and so on. That is who people looked to. If the patriarch thought outside help was needed for something (barn raising, etc) then it would be he who went to the Church to ask for help. For a non-kinsmen to circumvent the patriach and go and deal directly with somebody, was an offense to the patriarch, and thus to the whole family. Feuds started that way. This might be hard for outsiders to understand, or even for local people who may have a weaker family association, or who have forgotten the old ways. But for the old families of Appalachia, they understand this just fine. Its all about kin, you see. Now, for the outsiders who come into this region and have no strong family associations to hook up with, then it is perfectly acceptable for them to go to the Church and interact with them. But it has been a long standing tradition up here that if people wanted some interaction from the Church, they would ask for it. And unless it is asked for, it is just assumed that no special interaction is wanted. Appalachian culture respects the privacy of the kinsmen.
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amen
Johnson City, TN
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Blight wrote: <quoted text>
What used to set baptists apart from other denominations was that WE BELIEVED :ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED...... I am a baptist at heart, but I couldn't stand the hate any longer and I go to a Presbyterian church on Sunday and I get bible study from a Methodist .... Baptist church is totally lost...I mean TOTALLY Amen, they are too busy taking care of everybody in the world but their own in this country. Kind of sounds like the government.
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on the road again
Elizabethton, TN
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hillbillyboy wrote: <quoted text>
You must remember the culture of where you are. This is Appalachia, the slightly archaic and backwards land that time forgot.
And part of that culture comes from the Scots-Irish, who settled here in the 1700s, and were the ancestors of most of the people around here today. They also left us their culture and tradition, which still exists here today.
Let me break it down for you.
Family. Its all about the kin.
A family was headed by a patriarch, and if anyone had any business with a family member, they went through the patriarch. He was the absolute head of the family, which included aunts and uncles and cousins and second cousins, and so on.
That is who people looked to.
If the patriarch thought outside help was needed for something (barn raising, etc) then it would be he who went to the Church to ask for help.
For a non-kinsmen to circumvent the patriach and go and deal directly with somebody, was an offense to the patriarch, and thus to the whole family.
Feuds started that way.
This might be hard for outsiders to understand, or even for local people who may have a weaker family association, or who have forgotten the old ways. But for the old families of Appalachia, they understand this just fine.
Its all about kin, you see.
Now, for the outsiders who come into this region and have no strong family associations to hook up with, then it is perfectly acceptable for them to go to the Church and interact with them.
But it has been a long standing tradition up here that if people wanted some interaction from the Church, they would ask for it.
And unless it is asked for, it is just assumed that no special interaction is wanted.
Appalachian culture respects the privacy of the kinsmen. Nothing has changed in the past 20 years... everything is still the same. After having the priviledge of traveling in different areas, I will be glad to move again from this area (I thought it would be nice to live in the mnts again). Residing in an area that has true beliefs, helping people and understanding true forgiveness is wonderful.
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Ben Upton
Johnson City, TN
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on the road again wrote: <quoted text>
Nothing has changed in the past 20 years... everything is still the same. After having the priviledge of traveling in different areas, I will be glad to move again from this area (I thought it would be nice to live in the mnts again). Residing in an area that has true beliefs, helping people and understanding true forgiveness is wonderful. If I didn't know better (and I don't) I'd swear I know who this is. Is that you sue? I'm telling you. If people from this area ever got out of here, they would Atleast see things a little differently. It's almost half and half in this area. It's truly the most divided are I've ever seen. Half the folks aren't looking for trouble and the other half are just the people to give it to them. Half the churches are hate groups. That's the truth. They go to church. Read a verse together, never talk about his they can better live up to what's in the bible, just start pointing fingers at those who aren't ..... In their opinion.. It's awful.
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hillbillyboy
Johnson City, TN
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on the road again wrote: <quoted text>
Nothing has changed in the past 20 years... everything is still the same. After having the priviledge of traveling in different areas, I will be glad to move again from this area (I thought it would be nice to live in the mnts again). Residing in an area that has true beliefs, helping people and understanding true forgiveness is wonderful. I hear ya. Nothing much does change around here, as the old traditions are so imbedded in the culture of Appalachia. But, if you are an outsider, I just thought I would sort of explain things. Any responsible Church elders would be glad to come and visit you or get the Church involved to help you. But you will probably have to ask for it first. And that is just a timeless part of Appalachian culture and tradition. It goes far back into the ancient Celtic society of the Old World, and probably predates the Christinization of the Picts of Scotland, probably sometimes around 400 AD? The "Old Celtic Church" which was around in Iona and other places in Scotland in those days, were fiercely independant, and didnt readily organize along dioceese lines (unlike the Roman Catholic Church). It was a locally run organization, and the family groups that made up the Churches were usually run along patriarchial lines. A congregation of family groups, where each family was headed by a patriarch. The best way to make close friends up here (and have strong, every day interactions with close friends), is to marry into a local old Appalachian family. You will probably always feel like a tolerated outsider, but your kids will be accepted as "kinfolks". And all of the generations that follow them will be accepted as kin. But, like I say...if you seek comfort and assistance from a local Church (and your family isnt from here) then it will come as you wish. But you will probably have to make the first move in asking for it. There is a lot of love up here for you. We just have our quaint ways, is all.
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parent
Johnson City, TN
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I would still like to see some of these good church people visit my kids along with a lot of others who have been forgotten about around here. Maybe if we call it a " misson trip" it would get done.
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Other way
Harvey, IL
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parent wrote: I would still like to see some of these good church people visit my kids along with a lot of others who have been forgotten about around here. Maybe if we call it a " misson trip" it would get done. Can you take your kids there instead? Have you asked the correct person for a visit? Maybe whoever you asked for a visit just forgot.
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OldTennGranny
Johnson City, TN
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Change begins with us! Why expect others to do what we should be doing ourselves? The only thing we can control in this life is our own conduct & behavior.
Personally, as weird as ppl are this day & time, if someone came to my house even mentioning the youth in my family I would suspect them. I dont trust the kids in my family with absolutely anyone!
I find it utterly repulsive that the churches will proudly inform us of how much they spend on missions but they cant tell u how much is donated locally. Yet the scriptures tell us that a man whom wont support his OWN family is worse than a non-believer. Isnt our OWN area, our OWN family? Oh wait, thats basing my opinion on what the scriptures say & as church going experiences proved over most of my life; trying to live by what the scriptures actually say sure does infuriate the church go'er's when its something they dont want to do. Admit it, church is all about cliques! U either go along with the majority or youre ostracized!
Its a mighty good thing that its all about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ instead of everybody else.:)
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OldTennGranny
Johnson City, TN
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BTW, I dont know why this site shows my location as somewhere different every time I post but I am in Limestone, TN.
Not that its actually important or anything I just like keeping things honest.
:)
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URClueless
Johnson City, TN
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The reason is that it is easier to interact with ignorant people than people who can think for themselves and ask questions that can not be answered. Why does God allow things to happen to people? Why doesn't God intervene? These are just some of the many questions with out a good answer. Belief in God is on the downswing. Belief in a religious system that was created later than most all of the rest and not even based on Jesus is becomming harder to swallow. Why does christianity believe itself to be the one true and only way when it cam along late in the game?
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hillbillyboy
Johnson City, TN
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Granny is right, and that reflects the thinking of old Appalachian culture. Family is supposed to take care of its own.
It is just a given article of fact, that the family is supposed to be the first line of defense.
And, for someone who is not from here, they would probably have to seek assistance from the local Church by asking for it.
Folks around here just dont usually go knock on doors and ask if there is something that you need.
Its just assumed that a persons family will be their first line of assistance. The Church comes in to help, but only if the family cant.
And one must probably go and ask for help.
The family is the first line of assistance, not the Church.
Thats just Appalachian tradition. And its a good one, as it has lasted thousands of years of testing. It long outlasted the decadent, secular humanism of ancient Rome, and all of the other pagan cultures that didnt follow along strong family tradition.
That is why the family is so important. Thats another good reason why divorces, broken homes, unwed pregnancies, shacking up with, or living with someone out of wedlock, and all of the other crap that is pushed by the media and the world popular culture, is so corrosive and bad for people.
Folks should think about these things before they enter into the secular-humanist lifestyle, which only weakens or destroys families, and leaves its victims alone and crushed by lifes problems.
Families are very important.
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Home Visits
Johnson City, TN
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I'd say the reason they don't do home visits is cause a door got slammed in their face too many times. I wouldn't open my door to just any person who knocked.
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Leo