I was raised in an independent Baptist church & attended Christian schools from 4th grade through college. While in Bible college, we had some family problems that tore my family apart. My sisters blamed God / church. My folks (dad was deacon-trustee & mom a S.S. teacher) and sisters quit church. At the time, I felt like God wasn’t there / wasn’t hearing my prayers. I spent the next several years in and out of church. I have recently re-committed my life to the Lord and am getting back in church. However, my 9 year old son has developed an attitude towards church—doesn’t want anything to do with it. We visited a non-denominational church / he seemed to like it better. However, I’m not sure about the doctrinal differences. I don’t want to turn my son off to church by forcing him to attend a church he dislikes (Baptist). On the other hand, I’m not sure how I feel about attending a church that practices laying on hands, or praying for healing. Any advice?
A wayward brother in Christ
Brother, if you spent your life in church, you know that’s where your supposed to be: Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
As for your 9 years old, is he old enough to know where sound doctrine is to be found? Or are you, as his dad, responsible for making sure that he’s in the right place to grow up in the admonition of the Lord? Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. and also Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. You choose in the Spirit where your family should worship.
Baptists aren’t the Baptists we were in former days. Except for a few that is. They’ve become more and more like the protestants by letting formalism and ceremony to creep in. That’s a pity! What’s also a pity is they’ve forgotten that we’re told to pray for one another’s ailments and when asked to, to lay on hands, but I don’t believe that’s what your talking about. You’re most likely speaking of those who are “Faith Healers”, so to speak, that lay their hands on you even without your request. We know that many folks will believe all sorts of false doctrines in the last days. 2nd Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. That my friend, is exactly what you should keep your family away from.