tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post6169837209366072469..comments2023-10-19T10:34:33.030-05:00Comments on Praisegod Barebones: FBC Farmersville's Proposed CovenantBart Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021102240441576393noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-17595059158202922212009-06-02T11:23:46.748-05:002009-06-02T11:23:46.748-05:00I hope to have time soon to catch up on responding...I hope to have time soon to catch up on responding to comments. Thanks to all!Bart Barberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14021102240441576393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-61219479590544933552009-06-02T10:23:03.637-05:002009-06-02T10:23:03.637-05:00I applaud your attempt at this. I'd like to comme...I applaud your attempt at this. I'd like to comment about this part:<br /><br />"I want to see God change my life according to His plan, and I need the help of the entire church body for that to happen. I am not perfect, and God will not be finished perfecting any of us until we get to Heaven. That is why, whatever commitments we make, we will need much love, grace, and gentleness to keep us Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-61186081204461741572009-06-01T15:41:20.280-05:002009-06-01T15:41:20.280-05:00Dear Dr. BB,
I had to chuckle at the section whic...Dear Dr. BB,<br /><br />I had to chuckle at the section which, if quoted out of context, reads, "my commitments: To employ chemical substances such as alcohol and drugs."<br /><br />How was the conclusion reached to phrase that particular section positively rather than negatively?<br /><br />Love in Christ,<br /><br />JRYJeff Richard Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03733241874625816333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-17699494747815117982009-06-01T13:13:10.229-05:002009-06-01T13:13:10.229-05:00Brother Bart,
This is an excellent thing for your...Brother Bart,<br /><br />This is an excellent thing for your church family to do! The wording of the covenant suggests that a lot of thought was put into the document,…. and to have the entire church family involved should be comforting to those that choose to be members.<br /><br />You touched on love near the middle of the document, and I was wondering if you think it may be important as well Chris Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09477874901216715726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-40243385996214633152009-06-01T11:53:38.631-05:002009-06-01T11:53:38.631-05:00bart no one can disagree withwhat Jesus says.
wall...bart no one can disagree withwhat Jesus says.<br />wallyWallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16967197816579690289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-54840624835376909202009-06-01T11:21:28.952-05:002009-06-01T11:21:28.952-05:00Bart
For what its worth, I really like this docum...Bart<br /><br />For what its worth, I really like this document and the idea behind it.<br /><br />My only additions would be as follows:<br /><br />To confess and repent of personal sin; to practice personal worship, prayer, and Bible study; to participate in corporate worship and Bible study with this congregation, except as prevented by illness, travel, necessary labor, or other serious Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-39208232174034550362009-06-01T10:12:00.874-05:002009-06-01T10:12:00.874-05:00Dr. Barber (Sorry, can't give up that formality),
...Dr. Barber (Sorry, can't give up that formality),<br /><br />Do you have another set of guidelines that will accompany the covenant which addresses any discipline that might be involved? I noticed the one line that reads, "As I fail to live up to this covenant, I commit to yield to correction, to seek forgiveness and reconciliation, and to turn from my sin." I was wondering if the church is Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-87418120909910217212009-06-01T08:52:19.767-05:002009-06-01T08:52:19.767-05:00Bart:
Good to hear it, though obviously it can't ...Bart:<br /><br />Good to hear it, though obviously it can't be all the integration new members receive as they join in coming years. <br /><br />The four HUGE problems each purposeful people-group anywhere (i.e., organization, social system, etc.--large, small, doesn't matter) must deal very well with EVERY single day in order to see a brighter tomorrow: INTEGRATION, MOTIVATION, ADAPTATION, GOALAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-37836828360061559192009-06-01T08:44:30.222-05:002009-06-01T08:44:30.222-05:00David,
New members will affirm when they join.David,<br /><br />New members will affirm when they join.Bart Barberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14021102240441576393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-17101350384823892012009-06-01T08:43:59.039-05:002009-06-01T08:43:59.039-05:00Roger,
The paperwork is in the mail to you. ;-)Roger,<br /><br />The paperwork is in the mail to you. ;-)Bart Barberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14021102240441576393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-18001180758982758742009-06-01T08:43:16.003-05:002009-06-01T08:43:16.003-05:00Nathan,
Lord willing, I'll be there. I hope to se...Nathan,<br /><br />Lord willing, I'll be there. I hope to see you there too. Thanks for the words of encouragement.Bart Barberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14021102240441576393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-24105209736680449052009-06-01T08:42:38.067-05:002009-06-01T08:42:38.067-05:00Wally,
Our membership covenant is nothing more th...Wally,<br /><br />Our membership covenant is nothing more than our congregation coming to agreement around important biblical principles. In that regard, we direct you to Matthew 18:18-20, where Jesus reminds us:<br /><br />"Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, that if Bart Barberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14021102240441576393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-16325433610244378062009-06-01T08:38:31.018-05:002009-06-01T08:38:31.018-05:00Louis,
Thanks for the well-wishes, and blessings ...Louis,<br /><br />Thanks for the well-wishes, and blessings upon you today.Bart Barberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14021102240441576393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-56812441216499562092009-06-01T07:51:25.314-05:002009-06-01T07:51:25.314-05:00Bart:
Better keep on proposing it to members annu...Bart:<br /><br />Better keep on proposing it to members annually after its adoption, as a part of the congregation's integration strategy--else the covenant will become meaningless to future members ("Hey, you guys did this--years ago--before I was here; it's YOUR document, not mine"). Just a thought.<br /><br />Hey, on the GCRD: it READS like a document put together by senior pastors or former Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-7388725529211960412009-06-01T06:35:08.352-05:002009-06-01T06:35:08.352-05:00Dr. Barber:
The covenant is great!
The document...Dr. Barber:<br /><br />The covenant is great! <br /><br />The document itself crystalizes the essence of what the congregation sees as the core shared values that hold them together. It gives some clarity as to what "being a member of this particular local body" means. <br /><br />The fact that they developed it themselves -- as opposed to a theological "confession" such as the Geneva or RKSOKC66https://www.blogger.com/profile/00169189225205863504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-68959222460951494192009-05-31T18:00:48.175-05:002009-05-31T18:00:48.175-05:00Bart,
I think it's fantastic that your church...Bart,<br /><br />I think it's fantastic that your church will soon (Lord willing) adopt a covenant that has been crafted within the congregation, for the good of the congregation, to the glory of God. I know you know that this is a very "Baptist" thing to do in the very best sense. <br /><br />It is my hope that many other Southern Baptist congregations will prayerfully write new Nathan Finnhttp://betweenthetimes.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-46013059300828772592009-05-31T17:44:35.549-05:002009-05-31T17:44:35.549-05:00bart what is this world coming to?
1st THE ABRAH...bart what is this world coming to?<br /><br />1st THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT Genesis 12:1- 3 <br />"Go forth from yo <br />THE THEOCRATIC COVENANTS Pertaining to the Rule of God <br />ur country to the land I will show you <br />I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you." <br /><br />2nd THE MOSAIC COVENANT Exodus 19:5 - 8 <br />"God said to Moses, say to the sons of Wallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16967197816579690289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-61800827257571079252009-05-31T13:48:17.145-05:002009-05-31T13:48:17.145-05:00Bart:
Congrats on adopting the covenant.
We have...Bart:<br /><br />Congrats on adopting the covenant.<br /><br />We have had one since we started our church in 1992. Ours doesn't read as yours does, but the things in your covenant are heartily agreed to by the members of our congregation.<br /><br />Good luck and God bless on this new polity related endeavor.<br /><br />LouisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-14506423776068312852009-05-31T10:28:38.797-05:002009-05-31T10:28:38.797-05:00Thanks so much, David.Thanks so much, David.Bart Barberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14021102240441576393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-8579002436970307622009-05-31T10:27:55.971-05:002009-05-31T10:27:55.971-05:00Alex,
Thanks for the feedback. "Iron sharpen...Alex,<br /><br />Thanks for the feedback. "Iron sharpens iron," you know. I appreciate the recognition of our autonomous nature as a congregation in your last paragraph, and I know that you meant well by it. But I try to keep reminding myself that it is not my fellowship. I further try to keep reminding the congregation that the fellowship does not belong to them. It belongs to the LordBart Barberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14021102240441576393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-89972907919583514492009-05-31T10:27:20.452-05:002009-05-31T10:27:20.452-05:00Excellent. One of the best Church Covenants I hav...Excellent. One of the best Church Covenants I have ever seen. Also, I like the "I's" and "me's." It makes it more personal....not just for those people...but for me!<br /><br />Davidvolfan007https://www.blogger.com/profile/15635929001030697924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5643342666676162215.post-49385151983213300582009-05-31T09:54:49.000-05:002009-05-31T09:54:49.000-05:00The intention of the document my heart echoes. Bu...The intention of the document my heart echoes. But shouldn't a covenant be in the language of 'we' or 'us' not 'I' and 'me'?<br /><br />In the same context it is obviously not true that God established the church to change 'every member - especially me'. It makes it look like 'I' am the centre of the church or the covenant.<br /><br />And in general it looks very long compared to the call of Alexnoreply@blogger.com