What are Cowboy Churches?

[@tylerk1013]

>"We're non-denominational. We're not trying to sell any brand of Christianity" >baptist theology

[@Anastas1786]

I've heard it said that "Non-denominational Christians" are typically just Baptists who don't like the label.

[@Foggybottom45543]

Every nondom is baptist

[@DJHarryteaches]

I'm a Baptist Theologian...we don't claim this! Haha.

[@unit2394]

Yep, as always.

[@LibertarianPatriot]

As a Baptist theologian, I don’t claim the above Baptist theologian

[@jemeyezedten3930]

"First, there is a horse in church. You don't see that in most churches" I adore this clarification. I want to believe somebody needed this, that they questioned the wood panels before the pulpit-horse.

[@jeffjarboe3634]

Sometimes they bring a donkey in on Palm Sunday

[@DiamondKingStudios]

⁠@@jeffjarboe3634As a Catholic, I could see this as a thing that happens in churches outside the US, especially rural areas and countries formerly ruled by Spain and Portugal.

[@helmdrudodallant]

@@DiamondKingStudios this is relatively common in England as well - larger churches and cathedrals will also sometimes have a live nativity scene

[@DiamondKingStudios]

@@helmdrudodallant I’ve seen live nativity scenes here in the US (and participated in some as a child), but we never brought in any live animals.

[@ibperson7765]

@@jemeyezedten3930 pulpit-horse 🙂

[@RevancedBurner]

1:51 "you dont see that in most churches in the US" In WHAT country do you see horses in churches?

[@jamesrussels7766]

It’s kind of fun to imagine an alternative history where Christianity spread to Mongolia in a major way and they had entire church services on horseback

[@jasontstein]

The United States. Some places in Canada. North Americans are uniquely gifted at syncretism.

[@whittierwatts865]

Europe

[@TheRealWilliamWhite]

​@jasontstein modern Syncretism, Europe got all of their syncretism out in the middle ages and now they call it doctrine.

[@JRBWare1942]

Australia?

[@treytrapani9813]

The european mind can not comprehend this.

[@FallingPicturesProductions]

I'm american and struggling to comprehend this being anything more then a one-off gimmick.

[@ratronald]

seriously lmao i'm surprised so few people are talking about how overwhelmingly american this seems. it makes sense something like this would exist though: if you see christianity as just part of your conservative identity, you might as well wrap your national identity in it as well.

[@schs1977]

​@@FallingPicturesProductions Most everyone can make that claim against any other church.

[@GenevieveUhler]

​@@ratronaldHow can Christianity be "just part of your conservative identity" could you please explain what you meant by that?

[@tobiasgriffin]

It American what do you expect

[@justjason7662]

I am a farmer and rancher in East Texas. I would never leave my hat on during church service. We used to teach young men to take their hats off when entering inside. We’ve relaxed on that etiquette, but absolutely no hat on during church or at the dinner table. Period

[@Jozeemoss]

Amen, 1 Corinthians 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

[@Caderic]

​@@Jozeemoss Thank you Mr. Legalistic. I agree with no hats kind of thing, but throwing laws at people is exactly what Jesus condemned the religious leaders. Lead with love, follow with law.

[@jimthompson5844]

@@Caderic you've got it entirely backwards, without the law one has no recognition that they need the gospel.

[@Caderic]

@@jimthompson5844 Cool, but you missed the point altogether. It's a packaged deal. But we are also not bound by the law.

[@justjason7662]

@@Caderic sorry but you’re wrong on this. Jesus did not come to replace the law, not one iota as in the Greek. What he condemned and corrected was the abuses and corruption of the law. There is an example of how Jews were taking their inheritance from their elderly fathers by legalistic and exploitation that is given in Scripture. As well as the abuses of divorce which was given as a confession to a fallen people, not an endorsement. But, there is a difference in tradition and custom versus “law”. Many scholars interpret Paul’s words on head coverings for men and women to be a matter of a cultural practice and not a universal law. In Corinth, it was an expected practice for women to wear head coverings and men to not. Because of this cultural understanding it was important to honor your cultural traditions. The Epistles are known for getting very prescriptive. Careful study and interpretation is necessary. After 3 years of theology education I still find it challenging at times! Hope that helps. Wear a hat, or don’t. But if it’s culturally understood that wearing hats indoors or in a place of reverence such as church, then I advise not wearing your hat.

[@nperium9886]

Believe or not I was literally thinking about how you should make a video about cowboy churches yesterday. Great timing!

[@enchantingdan3449]

Do you have a video on biker churches?

[@PhilipMarcYT]

Where are Gamer Churches at? 🤣

[@MAMoreno]

@@PhilipMarcYT I just checked, and there are churches streaming on Twitch right now, so...

[@mournblade1066]

@@PhilipMarcYT And what about Stripper Churches???

[@sbccave4015]

I got one near me interested in the history.

[@ikengaspirit3063]

​@@sbccave4015 name?

[@SojournerDidimus]

3:45 that's the first time I heard the word ultracontemporary, I like that description.

[@hotdogsarehoagies4673]

Texas being the state with the most Cowboy Churches is the least shocking thing about this.

[@hotdogsarehoagies4673]

@lisasdfwhightechworld9946 You're definitely right about that being a factor. I was more so commenting on the fact that Cowboy culture is so strongly associated with Texas.

[@Caderic]

​@@hotdogsarehoagies4673Well, I can tell you, I completely expected it, too. Like I've said in other comments here, I live in Texas, and there are 40+ within 50 miles of my house.

[@No_step_on_snake]

Why are so many people hating? Cowboy churches sound awesome and id love to attend one.

[@mournblade1066]

Only in America. . . . As a Catholic, this type of church is completely alien to me, but that said, they seem like a genuinely good group of people. There are far more bizarre and theologically questionable Christian churches out there.

[@AaronAustin-d9i]

Theologically questionable churches like those who worship Mary and protect priests who molest children.

[@saldol9862]

Time to establish the Cowboy Personal Ordinariate of the Saddle of Saint José Gabriel

[@Ilikebiologyandpeace]

LMAO

[@DiamondKingStudios]

I agree. When all’s said and done, they seem like good people, like most evangelicals I’ve met here in the South.

[@d_Gnome]

This is a great comment.

[@Dad-u8b]

Thank you for producing this video and presenting it in an objective and non-condescending way! A cowboy church might seem strange to some people in other parts of the country or world but as someone who lives in an area of Texas where there are several of them, I can assure y’all that it’s as normal and reflective of the local people and culture of these areas as any other non-denominational church would be in a more urban or suburban area. Much appreciated, sir! Thanks again and God bless! 🤠✝️

[@keithrogers589]

I used to go to a cowboy church in north Arkansas. It was fantastic I just moved out of state. The doctrine was Baptist. The preacher was a former catholic who converted to Protestantism and had a college-level theology degree (I wish I knew more details about that but I was too young to inquire at the time). We never mocked anything up to "look" like cowboys; we almost did the opposite. We held church in a rodeo arena with dirt still on the bleachers we sat on. Many of our congregation members worked with livestock before church, so the idea was that if you have manure falling off your boots, you wouldn't feel like you are ruining fancy carpets or chairs. We were never afraid to dig deep into doctrine, and every Sunday, we had a Bible study session immediately after morning service where we really went deep into the meaning. I mean to tell you, despite being held in a modest building, I never met another church that was more on fire for God. On a particular Sunday, our Bible study leader told a story where his bank gave him a pen that said, "You are in control of your finances." He said " that is a work of the devil right there because I am not in control of anything, God has full control over every aspect of my life." and threw the pen away. It might be hard to belive but that was not a stunt, it was the way he lived his life 7 days a week.

[@HistoryNerd808]

Wasn't a cowboy church but had a similar experience with my old church(moved recently for work) when I lived in Kansas. It was ICC but my old pastor was a former Baptist preacher as well. He's definitely more theologically conservative than even I am but the man was fantastic and it's the best church I've ever been at. Pastpr B has a master's degree from, I think, Liberty and was very knowledgeable about the Word while also being one of the most humble people I've ever met and the entire church is like that. A lot of people speak of the church as a family but it seems like a lot of churches don't actually follow through on that. They do. Was a huge, maybe singular, part of the rebuilding of my faith after it got torn to shreds in my past.

[@GenericYoutubeGuy]

I would like to see a Lutheran cowboy crossover 🤣 although asking that is a risk now since ELCA and LCWS are crazy and might take the idea before anyone else does.

[@philipmcniel4908]

@@GenericKZbinGuy He mentioned a UMC "cowboy church" in this video; I would think that a mainline liberal church would not have a problem with trying the "cowboy thing" since they're kind of freewheeling, but I also would think that such a thing would have a hard time taking off because the COWBOYS aren't going to join a liberal church. You'd probably just end up with a church that's seen by outsiders as "all hat and no cattle" lol. As for the conservative Lutheran churches, I don't see them adopting theme-heavy aesthetics since they don't want to add anything besides the theme of the Law and Gospel message itself (and because they have their own colorful traditions that are _supposed_ to be separate from people's outside lives, cultures, and careers); however, they could definitely have outreach into cowboy culture, and perhaps even meetings in places like the rodeo arena or the place where cowboys are staying when they're in town for a rodeo, especially since many cowboys are situated in the northern Great Plains where many Lutherans are located (e.g. North Dakota--which doesn't have any cowboy churches listed on the map in this video--has many Lutheran churches, and I'd hazard a guess that many of them have a number of members who are actual cowboys and natives of the Western cowboy culture).

[@georgerafa5041]

Absolutely a stunt. God is in control but he gives us agency. Typical former Catholics with their charismatic nonsense

[@familyengineering5591]

Bet your pastor worships israel and the jews as chosen people. Lol dig deep in acripture lmao

[@TubeFuzzyCheese]

it blew my mind to see my pastor in the thumbnail.

[@KandiKlover]

Blew my mind to see the Golden Valley church as well.

[@Sebman1113]

I once went to a cowboy church in Nashville. Now I was raised Lutheran in Minnesota, it wasn't our normal Sunday experience, but we were on vacation and on Sunday, we do Church so we wanted to do it in a Nashville way. The church service was fun. I still prefer my Lutheran Church most Sundays but I like trying something new every once in a while.

[@michaelmammoth1010]

Cowboy church, sadly, isn't the Nashville way. Nashville is all about high production music and 'Jesus is your boyfriend' vibes mixed with a 'God doesn't judge anything for any reason' sense of liberalism and focus on money filling mega growth

[@bowez9]

The way to spot a tourist in Nashville is they wear a Cowboy hat and Cowboy boots. Locals might wear one or the other but not both at the same time.

[@Sebman1113]

@@michaelmammoth1010 I probably wouldn't like that. Im pretty open minded being lifelong ELCA but I was also raised to know that sin exists in us all and that's why Jesus had to give himself for us. I like my small neighborhood church.

[@Sebman1113]

@@bowez9 I was definitely a tourist, I will say that.

[@Olorinii]

My dude finally undid that top button!

[@Caderic]

Scandalous!

[@nasonguy]

He's really let himself go.... /s

[@TrotterG]

Best comment here, well done :)

[@MAMoreno]

Have you accepted Roy Rogers into your heart?

[@theuglybiker]

What about John Wayne or Clint Eastwood? 😋

[@argentorangeok6224]

I am of Gary Cooper.

[@joshuaradick5679]

3:03 I’m the Catholic Church that I attend when I’m in Montana, western wear is the norm, and the only specific thing that seems to be required is for men to remove their hats when in the main sanctuary. I’ve even seen someone casually open carrying a compact pistol.

[@richlopez5896]

I'm a Byzantine Catholic in Arizona and have come to Divine Liturgy("Mass") in jeans and cowboy boots. I leave my hat in the truck.

[@saldol9862]

Maronite church attender in Oklahoma chiming in. This morn I attended the divine liturgy wearing cowboy boots and a concealed pistol.

[@bonniemoerdyk9809]

I was surprised reading the history of the early settlers who came to America back in the 1600's-1700s, the men all carried a musket to church in case of Indian attack. Can't say I blame them.

[@rx0102]

If you would never show up that way to an interview with a boss, don't show up that way to God in the Holy of Holies.

[@joshuaradick5679]

@@rx0102 I’m guessing that a clean western shirt tucked into jeans would probably be generally acceptable at a job interview in much of Montana. The people of Montana, by in large, are not particularly formal.

[@tianming4964]

This is interesting. I live in Canada so I haven't seen this before, but there are some people who come to my church dressed in cowboy hats and sometimes we have songs that are Christian country songs rather than CCM. I'd like to see more of this kind of stuff. It's cool to see different cultural expressions through music, architecture, etc. in the church.

[@planetyeo]

me: show me the western church me: no, the REAL western church cowboy churches:

[@MAMoreno]

Pope Sundance XIV

[@iamdigory]

Now I really want to see eastern orthodox cowboy church.

[@Ilikebiologyandpeace]

LOL

[@tjenadonn6158]

Haleyeehaw!

[@LazyCat010]

"We have both kinds, country and western."

[@graf]

saw one of these for the first time while driving through Alpine TX, was wondering when you'd cover them. thanks for the video!

[@tuckerbittick1718]

I was baptized in high school at a cowboy church. I had been saved several years prior to this, but my family was incredibly church-shy at the time for various reasons and I didn't end up getting baptized in part due to this. When a close family friend found out about this from my mother, they asked me to attend their cowboy church meeting at the local livestock marketing center (read sale barn) since they were having a baptismal service. So, I went to the service, we went to the Sac River nearby, and I was baptized. I don't attend one today, but they are near to my heart for this reason.

[@LadySilmarien]

Thank you for this delightful video. I’ve learned something new today. That makes it a great day😊

[@JanBear]

I know a truck driver who attended cowboy church when he was nearby. Truckers have no control over their time or location while they’re on the job, and there was a cowboy church meeting at a truck stop where he would pass through periodically.

[@jonslagill8864]

My sister attends one in Wichita. It's SBC. I live in Nashville and the one in the Gallatin area I believe was started by Johnny Cash's sister and her husband. JC was a Southern Baptist toward the end of his life and attended FBC Hendersonville. He got a Bible degree from Liberty before he died. People here LOVE him still.

[@HelionDark]

As "European " Americans can still suprise me with new angle on faith.

[@braedenh6858]

@@edbifner6370 it's not cynical, it's a positive response to local desires and needs.

[@edbifner6370]

@@braedenh6858 Rich Texans need to live out a whitewashed fantasy that was created by Hollywood. That sounds legit.

[@justinkase1360]

@@edbifner6370 I won't make a blanket statement, perhaps some of these are okay. I'm definitely fine with a change in dress code, although man should not cover his head in church. However, I agree with you overall. Themed churches are a mockery in my opinion. If Cowboys go to your church, that's a cowboy church. If you have a horse in church and mix rodeo into everything about your church, that is a lack of reverence for the things of God. I am in Texas and I wear jeans all the time. That is incidental and not part of faith. I find this very off putting.

[@braedenh6858]

@@edbifner6370 local desires and needs as in churches that cater to a blue-collar, working, and usually younger population that lacks formal clothing and which desire a positive church and worship - and community - experience. Calvary Chapel was the same way, but with hippies in the 70s. Pentecostalism was the same but in the eastern US. The people bringing livestock to church own the livestock. Have you never been to the country?

[@edbifner6370]

Also, where are the train robbery churches? We’re obviously not meeting the demands of consumers

[@renafielding945]

We sang those songs on long car rides with our parents to grandma’s house in the fifties. I still remember every line of this old house.

[@TurtleMarcus]

Honestly, I could see this as a seeker-friendly ministry to spread the Gospel in cowboy culture. It reminds me of how Martin Luther would write Christian lyrics to popular drinking songs and use that as a wedge to preach in taverns. I'm not sure about long term stability and membership retention, though. Cowboy churches are relatively recent, and it will be interesting to see in 20 or 30 years, when the children of Cowboy Church members get their own children.

[@johnmarquardt1991]

The drinking song thing is a myth ... Luther did not do that. When did Martin Luther preach in taverns? He never did.

[@glynnetolar4423]

Bonus! No one seeks after God, another myth.

[@dawnellafreeman4860]

Ohhhh that beautiful Jesus Jesus everywhere! ❤️ Australia

[@torspedia]

While not evangelical myself, this is certainly one tradition that I would certainly love to experience in-person. 🙂

[@clydeharrell1216]

I live in East TN, Cowboy Churches came to serve food and deliver supplies. That was the first time I ever heard about cowboy churches.

[@thetraditionalist]

would have never expected this to be a thing but only America could produce churches like this

[@bunnybeverley]

Some of the names of these Cowboy Churches are giving me a smile. "In His Rein" "Trail to Christ" "One Spur Ministries"

[@gottenspider2057]

Is this the “Western Rite” I keep hearing about on Twitter?

[@YourLordAnon]

Bdm tsss

[@thatrandomoshawott3427]

One of Hamblen's other Christian pieces - "Teach Me, Lord, to Wait" - continues to see occasional use in the worship of some congregations of the churches of Christ. In particular, a 1992 arrangement by Gerald Moore is used, with a soaring soprano line in the chorus that makes it one of the more "beautiful" pieces in the churches of Christ's repertoire.

[@BiblicalTeachings]

I live in the DFW are and have driven by the Ellis Co Cowboy Church many times. A good friend of mine attended the Cowboy Church but I've never gone. Her father was a Baptist minister and I figured that Cowboy church was similar to Baptist beliefs (at least according to my friend). I didn't know Billy Bob's once had a church inside. Been there many times (I don't drink but I like shooting pool).

[@Caderic]

Yeah, Cowboy is more a theme. I live about 2 hours west of the Metroplex, and there are probably 40 cowboy churches withing an hour drive of me. Almost all of them are Southern Baptist.

[@Caderic]

Oh, and yeah, Billy Bob's... That was interesting. I saw Neil McCoy there once.

[@Specialistkay]

Honestly some of the worst people I've had the pleasure of knowing went to the Ellis county cowboy church. Heck churches around that part of Ellis county are shady. Just look up Missy Beavers. Then another one was under that one dude who admitted to being a pe do ohile

[@theresolutemind9538]

1 Corinthians 9:20-22 To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) to gain those under the law. To those free from the law I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God’s law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law. To the weak I became weak in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some.

[@Liethen]

Are you saying....Cowboy Jesus?

[@Caderic]

The only problem that I see with many of them, they conform the church/God to society.

[@Ammo08]

The Cowboy Church in our town meets in a restored movie theater. Another one in a small town near us meets at a horse arena.

[@minui8758]

An American thing if ever there was one! Good Lord 😂😂😂

[@sallyoakes7709]

i served in a community where there ere horse farms. suburban rather than rural, but still hadn't completely beome so (we still had to drive 7 miles to a supermarket) Stanley had horses and a rodeo once or twice a year and our church was the hot dog and hamburger vendor (but if you wanted fries, you had to go to the fish man; we only had chips). There was a local very popular and very good Southern Gospel group sang. Stanley told us vendors about cowboy church during a planning meeting. early 2000's. There was someone who'd come give a devotion before the rodeo. I loved thiscommunity event with everybody working together, black folks, white folks, Mexican folks. Now I learn this. Nothing much has changed. It's just that he didn't have too many participants dry dock thei RVs on the residential property, so most just came for the day. Thanks for jogging this memory of something cool i did as a pastor.

[@MikeV8652]

That's a perfect and thorough explanation! Subject only to to Biblical beliefs and standards, I don't have any problems with it. After all, Jesus led what could be called a fisherman's church.

[@Specialistkay]

I think the wealth disparity would be the biggest issue. I mean the cowboy churches around me have people pulling up with 600+ dollar hats. 100k+ trucks they don't even use for work. The bible warns about that behavior while workers cry about their wages. Those items will testify against you.

[@MikeV8652]

@@Specialistkay Do you suggest that those whom God has excessively blessed be expelled from Christianity, and that hatmakers and auto workers who make too expensive products lose their good jobs and be added to those crying for wages, so that you can feel better? God has blessed me to live very comfortably (without being ostentatious), and I quietly give FAR in excess of a tithe, mostly to evangelism here and around the world, and it'll all go to Christian charities after I'm gone. If Jesus had divided the loaves and fishes equitably, everybody would have gotten a crumb. Instead, He multiplied them, so that everybody had plenty.

[@ChrisSamuel1729]

Could you please do a video on New Apostolic Reformation? Which denominations are NAR or open to NAR? And how does NAR relate to denominations that emphasize the “5-fold ministry”? It is an area that will be really illuminating to viewers, since NAR is a very relevant, but very unclear movement/group of denominations. Thank you.

[@Coast-to-Coast]

I think this is very cool and contextual. It's not for everyone, but if it's reaching people, especially if it's reaching people who may not go to a "regular" church, then Cowboy Church is a good thing. I actually think it would be successful at reaching people in my town.

[@christianfreedom-seeker2025]

I think Jesus would have LOVED this idea! He was a working man Himself. He assisted his step-father and his brothers at the carpenters shop until He was 30 years old. You become VERY STRONG working carpentry. Oddly, we have no record of Him mentioning this in his parables but He did always try to relate with the working people, who often were underpaid and overworked to an extreme measure.

[@pharisaeus6493]

Jesus would beat your ass if he saw you bring a horse to the temple

[@Caderic]

I think you are missing so much. He didn't try to relate to the working people. He loved the unloved. It might be the same people, but those are very different approaches.

[@hannahbaker3080]

Jesus was and is liturgical

[@Caderic]

@hannahbaker3080 Was he though?

[@Southron-CiK]

@@Caderic quite literally yes. The early church was liturgical, because prior to Christ the people were liturgical. Christianity has been liturgical up until the Americas and restorationist groups doing things their own way.

[@jeffp3415]

I work in the cattle business, I dress Western, and I've got dress boots for Sunday. I think I could enjoy a Cowboy Church on a Saturday, but I'd prefer a more traditional service on Sunday.

[@IvanGonzalez-mp4xh]

Well said! I’m LCMS confessional Lutheran and would agree. There’s just too much accommodation for comfort in it all for me. Reverent worship is beautiful and coming into the house of God with honor and respect is good for the soul. IMO.

[@tedrice1026]

My wife and I helped with a work day in Vermont a number of years ago for one that was starting out. Donated a few items from my "working cowboy" days that my wife was glad to get out of the living room! It was in a very rural area and never got enough supporters (we lived too far away to get involved). Lasted about a year, living in campers in the parking lot in winter really stressed the pastor's marriage and family. I still think it was an interesting idea.

[@johnhouchins3156]

I find the hostility here disheartening. While I too am convinced that there's no need for the theatrics of a horse in the service, what we're looking at here is an adiaphora; something neither prescribed nor forbidden by the scriptures. While I disagree with the Baptist doctrine, these churches ARE bringing people to Christ. Let's not forget that.

[@avantredguard565]

My parents took me to a cowboy church in central Florida one Sunday when I was a kid. It had been started by a man who used to pastor an SBC church we attended in the same area. I don't really remember anything about it other than it was held in a semi-covered area outside rather than in a building like a typical church. Most men wore blue jeans, but then again it's not uncommon for at least some men in the SBC to wear jeans or overalls anyway.

[@laushadad1]

I've been attending a Cowboy Church for 15 years. First at the Fort Worth Stockyards, but more recently in Lake Worth TX. Our church has a very small congregation but I can tell you we are focused on Christ first and foremost. Everyone is welcome, and we are very casual. We read Scripture out of the NIV translation, we sing southern gospel traditional hymns, and our sermon comes straight from the Bible as the sole source of authority. We do baptism through immersion generally, although I told my pastor he would get punched if he tried to dunk me, so I just had the water poured on me when I was baptized three years ago. We are not affiliated with the Baptists or Pentecostal church in any way. But we will welcome anyone who seeks to grow in their relationship with Christ

[@rasmusansin3273]

You're quite good at this, and this type of style is quite informative - have you considered making some other content? Other religious content outside of just denominations for example? Be it on this channel or another channel.

[@pastornickmcrae]

There’s a Brazilian Cowboy Church in Decatur, TX, affiliated with ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians.

[@sapphicselene8269]

I remember seeing a sign for one of these nearby Lawton, Oklahoma back in the late 2000s, and I had always been a little curious about what went on there. I wouldn't fit in (I'm an Episcopalian for a reason lol) but I appreciate this informative video.

[@brandon9715]

As someone from a rural town in Michigan, this is a bit odd to me. That being said, 1 Corinthians 9:22 comes to mind. As long as they are doctrinally sound, I’m all for it.

[@joshuab77829]

Imo it’s no different than having a primarily Chinese speaking church or any specific subculture.

[@jeremias-serus]

Spoiler: they are not doctrinally sound.

[@joshuab77829]

@@jeremias-serus ok? In what ways

[@Caderic]

I am from East Texas. I was raised around country/farming/ranching culture most of my life. There are probably 40+ Cowboy Churches within 50 miles of me. I still find it a bit odd.

[@Caderic]

​@@joshuab77829The only problem with that, most of those church members are Chinese imigrants and speak Chinese. Most of the Cowboy Church have very few, if any real cowboys. They are usually people that just like to play cowboy. Not saying Cowboys Churches are wrong. Just saying, it is a very different comparison.

[@TheCripeCrew]

Not exactly the same thing but the venue in Ohio where my daughter competes in hunters and jumpers (English riding as opposed to Western) has a church service on Sunday morning for the competitors.

[@ElizabethW-nz6oz]

I visited a cowboy church once that met in the beer garden of a restaurant. The restaurant was closed during the service. Something unique was that they used a watering trough as a baptismal.

[@JeremyKShort]

We are seeing more and more of these. Shepherd's Valley in Alvarado is big enough that they purchased a rodeo arena and host major events there. But we see a lot of others scattered around. I know we have one cowboy church in the Seventh-Day Adventist denomination in our area.

[@hestolemybrainatyouthcamp7750]

It's interesting that the early Church esp. First three first centuries - you know the 10s of thousands of Maryters, fried in pans,beheaded,hung upside down on cross',lit on fire etc.etc. condemned specifically having a horse in a sacred space of worship. I think those who had thier eyes blinded,tongues ripped out for thier faith knew this ( bringing a horse in for worship) was sacrilegious.

[@bobdrawbaugh4207]

Well, the early church didn’t have praise and worship services either. They didn’t have music or normal sermons as we know today. Jesus said my house will be a house of prayer. I think the early church would find most Sunday services ridiculous.

[@jimthompson5844]

As a Texas Lutheran myself these churches are incredibly embarrassing and a poor reflection on us. An ordered faith is where we decrease and God increases, this is decreasing God and subjecting his church to our whims. There have been cowboys in Texas for two centuries but I can promise you the faith of our pioneers was nothing like this. They attended divine service in presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodist, and Episcopal Churches. They loved liturgy and loved God.

[@epicnamepwns1242]

I might attend a service sometime at the one I discovered in my town.

[@alexandrzarezin7765]

God bless you, God is awesome. We don't have these in Russia.

[@chrismoody1342]

As a Wichita resident I’ve attended as a guest with friends. I found the church doctrinally sound and quite refreshing. Being older I long for the long time traditional hymns. Some of the modern music just doesn’t float my boat. All in all I’m not a cowboy, just a working class average Joe even though as a kid my family did have 3 horses. If it wasn’t a next county drive I would attend more frequently. Much rather attend a cowboy church than the super mega entertainment churches that can be found in the city.

[@antonimobay7334]

I’ve seen these around New Mexico. I was curious about them but rather leery of the concept.

[@ThePaulKM]

Could you do a video on the CREC?

[@jefferysmith4753]

So it's a "theme" Church then? What's next Goth Church or maybe Anime Church or Hipster Church or whatever?

[@timemaytell4669]

It's the age old thing about filling the coffers. Whatever it takes. Yes they're morality does change with time.

[@edhieeeee3]

It grew from rodeos and stock shows. People wanted church before work. Then it spread.

[@deutschamerikaner]

I was talking to a professor friend of mine who specializes in American religion, and he mentioned this denomination. I figured it would be something that you would have a video on it. Sure enough, now you do! 😂

[@Caderic]

It's more a theme, than a denomination.

[@corneliusmakin-bird7540]

Imagine seeing one of these types of churches in the jungles of Papua New Guinea....

[@duaneadams5210]

Not too far from my home, there is a "biker church". Instead of having a cross on the top of their "church", they have hoisted a bike. No thanks !!

[@tjenadonn6158]

That implies that in their theology Jesus died in a motorcycle accident instead of being crucified. Which makes me just imagine the Roman Empire but with bikes. Hannibal Barca and his forces at the Battle of Cannae but instead of elephants there are thundering engines with Judas Priest blaring in the background. Hell yeah.

[@garrettordner8524]

Jesus has got to be a little miffed about the Christian obsession with the Roman instrument of torture used to execute him.

[@pharisaeus6493]

Actual idolatry

[@mikeymullins5305]

Just bc you think a cross should go there doesn't mean that's what they intended to mean.

[@basketbasket1225]

We're obsessed with His victory over the cross and the reminder that it is forever empty, not the "instrument of torture" as you say

[@Spillers72]

I think it would be fun to attend.

[@philipmcniel4908]

We don't have a "cowboy church" where I come from--at least not by that name--but this feels a lot like our local Village Missions churches, with more of a cowboy aesthetic (and probably roughly the same proportion of actual cowboys). Definitely a place that any of our local VM attendees would feel right at home! p.s. Now that I think about it, I think Village Missions would be a good subject for its own video on this channel!

[@KennethKlein-lc2mk]

I wonder how their retention of members compares to conservative Baptist congregations?

[@funny_3341]

Do you have any information about LMS London missionary society

[@madisonlay8833]

There’s something about cowboy church I find so endearing. Like boot barn but with a baptistry.

[@SATX_09]

Is this similar to truckers truck drivers church

[@Jaggerbush]

Yeh Haw! 🤠 🐎👢🎸

[@ulexite-tv]

The music in Cowboy Churches is the best.

[@glynnetolar4423]

A branded church. Ugh My sister goes to one, i visited it and hated us. They played the usual 7-11 music at loud volumes. Visited Christmas Eve. No one i could see in the congregation was singing. But then how could you hear them?

[@johna5669]

These churches bring together folks who have common work and lifestyles Farming, ranching, etc Lifeonthetrail

[@johnyarbrough502]

First Presby in Elgin sounds like a pretty nice place.

[@arthurw8054]

Fascinating...

[@unit2394]

Could you make videos about the Southern Methodist Church and the Association of Independent Methodists?

[@karenrobuck8018]

I went to a funeral in a cowboy church. It had a contemporary worship band.

[@themanwhosleptin2517]

The original cowboys were Spanish and Mexican Catholic vaqueros thus the original cowboy churches were catholic

[@eileenmurphy2019]

I was lost in western NC once and saw one called Bended Knee Cowboy Church.

[@basketbasket1225]

Nothing says my identity first, Christ second so flamboyantly quite like this

[@Specialistkay]

Yeah. What do you expect from the southern culture who brought us the prosperity gospel. Their belief in God is wafer thin and they would reject him if it meant prosperity for them

[@mikeymullins5305]

I dont know why rural people love being told that they are too dumb for regular things. This attitude comes up all the time and i just want ppl to realize that they arent stupid.

[@Caderic]

As someone that has a very rural family (my mom was raised plowing fields with a horse in the 60s), they may not all be stupid, but they sure are happily to be ignorant.

[@oldfarmerboy4158]

It would seem that the main purpose of these kinds of churches is to reach people for Christ, so that when they go home, (I figure a large portion of the congregation is visitors) they will look for another church that preaches Christ and bases that on the Bible. What a great mission outreach!

[@Caderic]

Most of the congratulations are actually locals.

[@oldfarmerboy4158]

@@Caderic What do you mean by most? 51%? 99%? I imagine that most of the time, 95-100% of the the congregation of most churches are locals. I figure that at least in tourist areas, the number of visitors at these cowboy churches would be much higher than what you see at other churches. That means more people will be exposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and a lot of them just happen to be there out of curiosity. We have to find ways to reach the lost. This may be one way.

[@MidwestArtMan]

Not only did I learn that cowboy church exists, but I also learned that there's one in Ham Lake, not too far away.

[@jpanda79]

I passed the cowboy church in mineral point a lot few years ago when i was going back and forth between des moines and madison. Never knew it was a whole denomination

[@Caderic]

Um...it's not a denomination. It's more a theme.

[@joelkuykendall8564]

I went to a Cowboy Church in Llano County, Texas for a while. But then I got to noticing that you had to adhere to and except Baptist theology in order to join this church as a member.

[@saint.jerome]

Does anyone know good videos or sources on the New Apostolic Reformation? My parent's church identifies with the movement but i can't find too much on it. It seems very familiar to the new non-denominational or penecostal adjacent churches sprouting up everywhere

[@LoveClassicMusic0205]

What is their position on the pretribulation rapture?

[@Justanotherconsumer]

You do right by your neighbor and by God and get back in the saddle and keep ridin’. What God has planned is better than the sunsets and the coffee and the joy of coming home so just trust in Him and don’t worry about the details of how it will happen.

[@mkshffr4936]

My guess is that they are Dispy.

[@christo-chaney]

My family was part of a cowboy church years ago. King James only at first & my grandfather resigned it when the pastors allowed other translations to be used.

[@Caderic]

Good for that pastor.

[@christo-chaney]

@@Caderic can you imagine how my grandfather would have reacted if they were using the Masoretic Hebrew text?!

[@mikenixon2401]

It sounds more genuine regarding believers in traditional Bible-based congregations. IMO it is far better than the "Night Club" variety of contemporary evangelical "churches".

[@Caderic]

You get the same spectrum of genuineness as any other church.

[@prycenewberg3976]

"What are Cowboy Churches?" Awesome. Cowboy churches are awesome, simple as.

[@SantaFe19484]

Ye-haw!!! If I could start a cowboy church, I would set up a model of a train from the Old West.

[@dizzysdoings]

I've heard that song before. 😂 My church is near a popular riding trail. I have trailered my horse to church and ridden from there. I've told people it's bring your horse to church day. 😂 ETA: I have heard of a cowboy church near here, but I've never attended. I think it's held near Cowtown Rodeo in South Jersey.

[@LivingWaterEternal]

Yeeehaw!!! I wonder if they preach that in Revelation that Christ returns with a Cowboy hat on riding his horse? Only thing you missed in this video. Great video and great work. Thank you.

[@Justanotherconsumer]

Not Christ, Death, on a pale horse. Jesus is already at the saloon and they’re going to meet at high noon. Death, where is thy six-shooter?

[@mkshffr4936]

​@@JustanotherconsumerPale Rider was a fabulous movie.

[@nelsonstiveens5140]

En Colombia hay una iglesia temática llamada "pantokrator", para gente con gusto a la música y estilos del metal.

[@mumenrider2481]

How about a Pro Wrestling church next?

[@SRMkay]

I'm kind of surprised there's not as much of a presence in the southwest, a.k.a. the area where the Old West mythology was born

[@ReadyToHarvest]

I was also surprised about that.