Thank you for your comments. I believe that the Christian church has dealt with this issue from the beginning. Often we see these behaviors and say or do nothing about it because it's not easy to confront others and we may end up suffering the most for standing up for what is right. (Christ)  I was told not to post the comment because we live closely with the GB community and we may offend some friends.

My conviction is to risk personal relationship when Christ and His Image are at stake. We will step on some toes and offend and even separate friendships but we are the light and salt of this earth. If we never experience tribulation we should consider how salty we are.

Never forget the formula for Christian salt.

(LO na cl VE)  Our salt as a Christian must start with Love, be presented in Love and followed up with Love. 

a brother in Christ

steve

@mom1945 - "So my question is why would anyone want to join a church that they couldn't agree with?"

So I take that to mean that you AGREE with the OGBBC,NC which would tell one of your best friends, Joanie Wilson, that she is an unrepentant adulteress and that the ONLY way she could join your precious New Fellowship is if she SEPARATES from her husband Bruce thereby "repenting" from her "immorality" which you yourself claim that your church cannot "compromise"?

Please tell us, Mom, do you AGREE with the OGBBCNC position on this??  Hmmmm?  If not, my question to you is why would anyone want to join a church that they couldn't agree with on this issue?  Please do tell, Mom.  I'd really like to know if you agree with your church on this.  I'm all ears.

@mom1945 - "We have no other creed but the Word of God. We have no minute book."

Please please please stop LYING to me, Mom!  I am so tired of GBs (in BOTH conferences) speaking such falsehoods.  Your actions betray your words!

In the early Church there was a group (a “denomination” we’ll call them) who became known as the “Judaizers”.  They believed that circumcision (a long held Jewish custom that was clearly established by God Himself with their forefather Abraham and practiced consistently through the years that followed) should be something that all Christian males should have in common.  Among other things, the Judaizers argued that circumcision was a fitting symbol of nonconformity to the world around them and unity with each other.  And then there was another group who came along (namely uncircumcised Greek converts) who wanted to make the case that circumcision should not be “required” in order to be received as members in the Church.  There was quite a dispute that was stirred up over this issue.

And then along came someone named Brother Jedediah, in all his wisdom, to try to bring some peace to the whole situation.  (OK, I'm making this part up, but bear with me for a minute).  Jedediah said, “A relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ does not hinge on joining a certain denomination like that established by the Judaizers.  We become a part of a group because we enjoy the support of those who are like-minded with our interpretation of the Scriptures.”  Jedediah seemed so wise and reasonable with these words!

Jedediah went on to use a dispute between Paul and Barnabus as an example.  Brother Jedediah said, “Paul and Barnabus separated and went their separate ways because they couldn't agree.  It doesn't mean that one was right and one was wrong.  It means they interpreted things differently.”  And then Brother Jedediah posed a question.  He asked, “So my question is why would anyone (like, say, uncircumcised Greeks) want to join a church that they couldn't agree with?”

Essentially Jedediah was trying to make the point that those pesky uncircumcised Greeks should just go and form their OWN denomination and let those Judaizers alone.  Brother Jedediah justified the Judaizers position by saying this:  “The Judaizers have decided to stay with the same custom (namely circumcision) because there is nothing scripturally wrong with it and it does support solidarity with God’s chosen people and unity.”  And Jedediah was absolutely right about that, by the way.  There is NOTHING in the Scriptures that says that circumcision is WRONG.  But then Jedediah went on to make a rather outrageous statement.  Jedediah said, “On the other hand circumcision isn't going to be a test of fellowship.”

But Jedediah was wrong about that.  That was a lie.  The fact is, despite Jedediah’s justifications, the Judaizers insisted that the Greek converts needed to become circumcised just like they were.  “After all,” they insisted, “having this custom in common will foster unity!”

The bottom line is that Jedediah’s solution was to simply tell those pesky uncircumcised Greeks to go somewhere else if they weren’t willing to be “submit” to the custom that the Judaizers insisted upon. Jedediah believed it was best for those uncircumcised Greeks and Judaizers to simply go their own separate ways.  He argued that if that is what Paul and Barnabus did, then so should they!

Of course we all know that they didn’t go their separate ways.  Two denominations were not formed, as Jedediah suggested should happen.  God’s Spirit moved in their midst.  It was determined that the Judaizers (though sincere in their beliefs) were WRONG.  Yep, that is what I said.  The Judaizers were deemed wrong.  You didn’t have two factions who simply agreed to disagree.  You didn’t have two opposing (though earnest) interpretations of the Scriptures simply go their separate ways.  The Judaizers admitted that they were wrong.  They repented.  And the Greeks were not required to be circumcised so that they could be considered to be members in good standing in the Church.  They were not asked to “submit” even if they didn’t agree with the Judaizer’s “appreciation” of circumcision.  There were not two different “interpretations” of the Scriptures that were BOTH deemed “right” or valid.  One interpretation was considered error.

Mom1945 tries to have it both ways when she says, “If clothes are our main focus then we will go back into legalism.  We are walking by faith, trusting the Lord to direct our paths, and leaning not to our own understanding. We have no other creed but the Word of God.  We have no minute book.”

If those words are true, then the “New Conference” needs to prove it by their actions.  How on earth are they doing that?

The result of the council meeting in Acts 15 was not a “published statement” that read something like this:  “We the Judaizers want to let it be known that we DO NOT (repeat DO NOT) believe that circumcision is required for salvation.  However, with that said, we want to respect and affirm the customs that have been so faithfully handed down to us by our forefathers.  Therefore, while we readily acknowledge that the circumcision custom is NOT a means or a work of salvation, we still want to maintain the custom as the community of God.  Therefore we ask that all uncircumcised converts need to submit to this practice by being circumcised.  If they do not agree with our interpretation of the Scriptures then we would simply ask them why they would even WANT to fellowship with us in the first place!  We, of course, want to appear reasonable, so we will SAY to all uncircumcised Greeks that circumcision “is NOT a test of fellowship”, however we would certainly still expect you to become circumcised if you wanted to be a part of our ‘like-minded’ fellowship.  Naturally we would simply label you ‘rebellious’ or ‘unwilling to bear your cross’ if you were not willing to become circumcised.”

Just face it, OGBBCNC (as represented here by Mom1945), your required uniforms are identical to circumcision.  I know you’ve all been raised to drink the Koolaide that there is a VAST difference between the two.  There is not.  You have been lied to your whole life.  I don’t know how else to put it to you.

@srichards5 - Please tell me specifically where and how I was not loving.  I am being direct.  I am being honest.  And as far as I am concerned I am being loving.  My desire is to love German Baptists just like Jesus loved the Pharisees.

You said, "The German Baptists have chosen a way that they feel comfortable with to live their life for the Lord. Who are we to judge that, especially when we have our own stipulations on dress for our families."  May I remind you that the Judaizers chose a way that they felt comfortable with to live their life for the Lord?  And they imposed that on others who wanted to join the church.  Was that appropriate?

The question should rather be asked of German Baptists.  Who are THEY to judge people who are not interested in wearing their uniforms?

I love you too, Brother.

@davidpendleton - You know something David.  Your insincerity, your bitterness, your "sickness" is evident to all but yourself and perhaps a few with the same sickness.  You really need reminded of that from time to time.  

@davidpendleton - Do you consider yourself a "stronger brother?"

"p.s. I hope to share more about the meeting soon."