Why is the phrase "IS YOU IS, OR IS YOU AIN'T" so popular in Southern churches?
439426
I go to church and have lived in the south all my life, but I've never heard that in church!\n\nIt was on the Tom and Jerry show.  It's a song, "Is you is, or is you ain't my baby?" \n\nOh, I got a man that's always late\nAny time we have a date\nBut I love him\nYes I love him\n\nSo I'm gonna walk up to his gate\nSee if I can get it straight\nCause I want him\nYeah I can't help it\nI'll just ask him\nIs you is or is you ain't my baby\nWell, the way you're acting lately, well it makes me doubt\nYou were still my baby, baby\nBut it seems like my flame in your heart, well it's just gone out\n\nA man is a creature\nThat has always been strange\nJust when you're sure of one\nYou'll find that he's gone and made a change\n\nIs you is or is you ain't my baby\nWell, maybe my baby found somebody new\nOr is my baby still my baby too?"\n\n\nIt's a call to make a decision.  I guess that's why they use it.  \n\nProbably better to quote Joshua than Tom and Jerry though...\n\nAnd if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”\nJoshua 24:15
348162
The genre is not the issue. However, the lyrics are very important. I was saved during the Jesus People movement, and the music being brought in (tame by todays standards) was considered devil music by other denominations. However, it was a constant source of blessing for me because the words were so uplifting. It really does depend on the lyrics in my opinion.
909248
It means that it looks good on him, and on anybody else who sits in the church and preaches intolerance and bigotry as they pretend to be better than others, with their self-righteous agenda.\n\nAt least the truth is coming "out" for Rev. Ted Haggard -- just as it did with Rev. Jim Bakker and Rev. Jimmy Swaggart, and others who have lied their way to the top.\n\nNumbers 32:23 from the Bible, "... be sure your sin will find you out".  \n\nHypocrites should also remember that in other terms:  "people who live in glass houses should not throw stones."
386096
because we southerners believe we where right ( at least some still do)..as for the term Yankee, it is used for anyone from the north, so don't feel insulted, they are just still alittle sensitive about the north winning..........the only part of the south i thought was really wrong was slavery !!! no man should own another............
819012
who said better?\nyou mis-interpret scripture....\nnot "better" .....just different.
597272
"Fixin' to" as in "I am fixin' to go to the store."\n\nI think this is just a southern US thing, but I get made fun of for it.
388930
Happy are you when people . . . lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against you for my sake.—Matt. 5:11.\n\nJewish leaders said of the early Christians: “Truly as regards this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.” (Acts 28:22) Paul and Silas were accused of having “overturned the inhabited earth,” acting “in opposition to the decrees of Caesar.” (Acts 17:6, 7) Such false accusations did not prevent the early Christians from carrying out their commission to preach the good news of the Kingdom. In 60-61 C.E., Paul was able to speak of the “good news” that was “bearing fruit and increasing in all the world” and that had been “preached in all creation that is under heaven.” (Col. 1:5, 6, 23) Today, Jehovah’s Witnesses are being falsely accused, even as the first-century Christians were. Yet, the work of preaching the Kingdom message prospers and brings those who share in it much happiness.
1016612
In the South, traditions are passed on over the years-which is  why a lot of people that aren't from the southern region believe we are "backwards". We don't sit around crying because we lost the Civil War, but we do still honor the Confederate soldiers who lost their lives in it. From the moment we are born, we are taught that we are different from the rest of America, a difference we embrace and take great pride in. Southerners have their own way of speaking, acting, relaxing, and eating--we are truly a seperate culture. Yankee can be a derogatory term, but it is usually just a statement of fact. My mom has lived in the South for over twenty years, after spending the first half of her life in Ohio, and I still call her a Yankee (affectionately of course). Southerners know we are different, and we love the fact that we are, and that few people from around the nation truly understand why we are the way we are. So if you come down here and get called a Yankee-just take it in stride. We're not trying to insult you (usually), we're just recognizing that you ain't the same as we are. Y'all come back now, ya hear?
1006488
I would say to be militant about it is a little strong, but Jesus says that we are to go into the world teaching and preaching the gospel, baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  So, I would think it should make a great deal of difference to you what someone believes; as he also said I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Light - NO man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  The capitals are not yelling but for emphasis and I don't know how to make emphasis without using capitals - so if you are saved and you don't feel an unction to spread the gospel, then what good is your salvation?  I'm not judging you, I'm simply posing a thought pondering question to you.  I can't tell you what is sin and what is not - Jesus can - a reference you might find helpful is James 4:17.
368305
It is said that our righteousness is like filthy rags in the sight of GOd.\nItis HE that makes things right wiht us.\n\nlook at it his way. indeed many christians are giving lip service, I know so many people that only call themselves christians because they were raised christian, but dont even believe in GOD. It's just a response. \n\nHere's the TRUTH:\nWhen I say....... "I am a Christian" I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin." I'm whispering "I was lost," Now I'm found and forgiven. \nWhen I say......"I am a Christian" I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need CHRIST to be my guide. \nWhen I say........ "I am a Christian" I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess. \nWhen I say....... "I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect, My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it. \nWhen I say...... "I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain, I have my share of heartaches So I call upon His name. \nWhen I say........ "I am a Christian" I'm not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow. \n~Maya Angelou \n\n this IS the christian lifestyle. We are not perfect, and media hypes, fakes and others who try to portray us that way are WRONG! that doesn't mean we dont have a stand on some issues,and it doesnt mean we dont have radicals, it just means we are HUMAN SINNERS!!
721585
Ain't is in the dictionary brother, go look it up.  And it's not just hillbillies who use it.  I live in Dallas, Texas and EVERYONE here and in the whole South uses it regularly, and we ain't all hillbillies.  Yankee.
816397
As a Pastor I enjoy both equally.\nI agree with your little joke. In our Church the music is usually thumpin, and the preachin is usually jumpin.
828101
It is a quote from Saint Augustine - "He who sings prays twice". It is simply meant to describe the high place of music in worship.
236841
You feel about it however you decide.  You can love it or hate it or anything inbetween.  Just because something isn't true, it doesn't mean people will abandon it.  The Bible says it is true, therefore it is?  Is that logical.
316240
you better be careful when saying you "know" in a theological debate. you are setting yourself up for failure Pentecostal.
430286
cutetrio2002,\n\nMy father was a Southern Baptist minister, so I know some of the history of the Baptists. The Baptists originated in Germany where they were called Anabaptists. In America, the Baptists were all one group until the time of the Civil War when they split over the slavery issue. Today there are several types of Baptists, but mainly the same 2 groups who split over slavery. Obviously the Southern Baptists supported slavery while the American Baptists in the north opposed it. I have heard of Conservative Baptists, and I seem to remember some others, but I don’t remember their names. While there are black churches that are affiliated with the Southern Baptists, they are often called Missionary Baptist churches.\n\nAll Baptists believe similarly. By the way, I believe that Southern Baptists still have the largest foreign missionary program of any denomination. I trust this will help.\n\nGod bless.\n\ncutetrio2002,\n\nI add this note for vangyblue from Wikipedia:\n\nSeveral existing denominational bodies may be legitimately regarded as the successors of the Continental (European) Anabaptists — Amish, Baptists, Brethren, Hutterites, Mennonites, Bruderhof Communities and Quakers.\n\nI don't want to argue. I just thought that you might like to know.\n\nGod bless.
55761
There are many things that Jesus did where the Tanach (OT) fulfillment is hard to find such as Jesus walking on water. Then we find an obscure little passage in Job where we read that God "treads on the sea". In the case of the "I AM" statement knocking the sense out of the arresting officers, I do not think there is any prophecy related to it other than what would have happened to Moses if he didn't take the shoes off his feet. We do know one thing, and that is that Jesus was not just saying "I AM", He showed that there was power and authority behind it.