| Church or ??
Posted: 1/14/2006 9:54:08 PM | | People in the Old Testament never got to know Jesus. And they had to sacrifice animals - aren't you glad it isn't like that anymore? It's not easy to live life the way we should but it is so easy to change your life. People are so turned off by religion - why WOULD they want to go to church? All religion does is tell people a bunch of rules they can never dream of keeping all the time, they're no good and they're going straight to hell and there's no hope. The whole fire and brimstone idea. Being a Christian, a real Christian, should not be religious - it's a relationship - full of hope. We have been learning about hope and being steadfast in our expectation (our hope). I came to my church at the right time because I didn't know how desperately I needed to hear what I heard this year until I heard it. | |
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Posted: 1/14/2006 10:01:18 PM | I understand, Strange Fiction—I’ve been there. Not with any one church, but with a certain group of over-zealous people within a church. If the majority of people make you feel uncomfortable—definitely the wrong church.
Why do people lose credibility? Well, from my point of view—and PLEASE understand that I’m not judging you and I’m not looking down on you. But for me personally, I love worshipping God with others who love him as I do. I love hearing his Word and praying together with other believers. I love hearing the testimonies of other believers and how God is working in their lives. I love hearing the prayer requests of others in the congregation so that I know what their needs are and what to pray for them. And I really love hearing when the prayers are answered. I’ve seen people healed miraculously, and I sure wouldn’t miss that for the world! I guess love it all so much, that I can’t imagine how anyone could not want to be in church. | |
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| Church or ??
Posted: 1/14/2006 10:10:08 PM | Do you know what you said? You said I lose credibility because you think I don`t love what you love. Well, your wrong. But that doesn`t make me lose credablity even if it were true.
I love Christians. I recognise you as a dedicated believer. If you told me that you didn`t belong to a church that wouldn`t change my opinion of you, yet it changed your opinion of me. | |
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Posted: 1/14/2006 10:22:51 PM | I don't think Alive was saying you lose credibility. I think she was just trying to explain why she loves going to church. Maybe I'm wrong?
Fiction, I think maybe you are feeling guilty about not going to church and are looking for a reason to go (or not to go??). You asked but I think you already know the answer. Besides what do you care what Alive or anyone else thinks of you? God doesn't really care where you are when you talk to him. Church is a place for you to be with others - because we're all a part of something that is greater than ourselves but we all have a function as individuals. If you feel the way you do about church, especially having tried as many as you have, then you still haven't found the right one. But like I said earlier, don't focus on finding a church so much as finding God and leaving it to him. He'll put you where he wants you. | |
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Posted: 1/14/2006 10:30:16 PM | | Thanks Santorini! As I said, Strange Fiction, I honestly wasn’t judging you. Maybe I’m just not doing a good job of putting my thoughts into words. Please forgive me if I offended you. It’s not that you lose credibility with me. It’s more that I love it so much myself that I can’t understand how anyone else wouldn’t. | |
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Posted: 1/14/2006 10:32:26 PM | | Honestly?? I`m not interested in anybodies opinions . I`m asking for biblical references to back up all your kind advice because to me all your help is just the sunnyside of control. So . please unless you can backup what you say with God`s Word why would I want to here it? | |
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Posted: 1/14/2006 10:42:58 PM | Try this site it gives references to bible verses
:- http://www.gotquestions.org/church-attendance.html
also
Heb 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.
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Posted: 1/14/2006 10:44:36 PM | | I'm very sorry that you feel that way. But your orignal post did ask for suggestions . . . I was only trying to offer some. Again, I';m sorry if I offended you. It was not my intention. | |
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Posted: 1/14/2006 10:45:45 PM | | Maybe you woukd like post them if they do indeed have at least 3 references for what I need. My popcorns ready. | |
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Posted: 1/14/2006 10:48:31 PM | The Bible tells us that we need to attend church so we can worship God with other believers and be taught His Word for our spiritual growth (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:25). Church is the place where believers can love one another (1 John 4:12), encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13), “spur” one another (Hebrews 10:24), serve one another (Galatians 5:13), instruct one another (Romans 15:14), honor one another (Romans 12:10), and be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32).
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| Church or ??
Posted: 1/16/2006 8:48:53 AM | another good reason for going to church is to experience friendship with other Christians. We need friends in order to be well balanced . Also, in church we discover opportunities to serve and be served. we learn to apply what is taught out of God's word and then we learn to extend it to others outside the church.
Also, in church we share in the successes and failures of others and learn how the Lord has worked in the lives of other people. In this we are encouraged. Remember, God did not make us to be alone. We need the friendship of other believers.
church ,that is where you can hear the word of God explained and applied to your life, see how God works in people's lives, and experience the friendship of others.
You don't want to attend a Church, ok, start a little group get together in your house. Invite some people over and have a Bible study and pray for one another. There are lots of possibilities. **********************************************************************That`s the only decent thing you`ve said and your attitade ia why I don`t like going. 
I'm not quite Sure What or why you think there was an adittude. You asked for suggestions and several were given. What kind of answer were you really looking for?
Did you ever Think of the posibility That God was leading you to start a home fellowship. Maybe God was leading you in that direction. Because the Church You were attending was lacking in an area. Maybe God was leading you to serve. Other people that also felt left out | |
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Posted: 1/16/2006 9:00:32 AM | | There is a home group starting for this reason. Finding others who would be in the same mindframe is difficult because of the scattering that has been done. Looking into gathering them back would be a worthwhile thing to do. There are very many who are Christians but are too sensitive for mainstream | |
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Posted: 1/22/2006 11:02:12 PM | Remember, God did not make us to be alone. We need the friendship of other believers.
*********************************************************************II n Solomon`s Song of Song it says to place your tent amongst the other tents of the under shepards. In a footnote it`s said to refer to those you know to be true to His Word, whether that be people alive today or with those of undeniable reputations who have gone on before.
So wouldn`t it make sence that if time is spent with say Spurgion or Oswald Chambers or G Campbell Morgan or H A Ironside etc. that that`s far better time spent? It does make a person accountable and maybe even more than in a mainstream church.
I admit it`s not as good as human company but I think it`s more benificiel.
Just something to think about.
Also the only reference to Jesus attending church was that it was His habit to do so. I don`t think He was a regular attender at any one synogogue. | |
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Posted: 1/22/2006 11:36:53 PM | | I also want to apologise for the anger and friction from the last discussion about this, It is rather a tug-of-war topic. Peace!!! | |
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Posted: 1/22/2006 11:46:00 PM | | The beliefs and words are meaningless in the abstract, alone in your own world. What matters is fellowship, your relationship with other people. The church and your particular congregation need not be perfect, in fact the less so, the better. All of the religious study and devotion are for enabling us to serve each other. By standing aloof from the community because you prefer your religion to be better practiced than they appear to do, you miss the whole point entirely. Try standing next to your neighbor in a place of worship and that is where you will be living the word of God. Alone apart from people you avoid the challenge of putting your beliefs into action. Looking down on others as lesser believers, lesser Christians and lesser men is contrary to the basic idea. What do you lose by walking down from your high place of judgment to be among the people below? | |
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Posted: 1/22/2006 11:57:36 PM | I t`s never the people that i object to . I don`t think you understand what the problem is. It`s the teachings that I object to sitting thro.
I don`t consider myself to be in a higher place where I can look down on others in judgement. You don`t hear me judgeing you do you.? But you know I`m gonna get creamed with judgement for bringing this up. | |
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Posted: 1/23/2006 7:42:35 AM | | It takes patience to sit through a bad movie, and there is no point in it. I agree with you there. I didn't understand. Sorry about that. | |
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Posted: 1/23/2006 8:01:50 AM | you're in good company key. christ never hung out in houses of worship preferring to take his ministry to the street amongst the poor, the prostitutes, the lepers, the outcasts and other disenfranchised people. i believe the notion that 'god is in every blade of grass' comes from the gnostic bible or some books of the holy scriptures that early church fathers excluded because it worked against developing a congregation, and therefore less tithe (10% from many ppl adds up - the early church became ba$tardized by financial concerns early in its history).
and while fellowship with other christians is nice, christ only had a support group of 13 and actually taught that loving only your friends isnt good enough ('for even scoundrels can do that' - matthew/sermon on the mount), you must love your enemies (disreputable ppl), which you invariably wont find in houses of worship. so in order to act (re: the Acts of the Apostles) on your faith you must take it to the street. preaching to the choir or preaching to the converted is insufficient, you must act on your faith as christ taught.
m. scott peck who wrote 'the road less travelled' and 'people of the lie' theorized in ppl of the lie that you will find a disproportionate amount of malignant narcissists (people who commit evil acts) in houses of worship where they can hide there sin because their life is one of pretentiousness. so you can always try to convert them but i believe they would be the toughest nut to crack bc they already think that they are more righteous than you or I.
I've had the good fortune of visiting many houses of worship from many different faiths and found that outside my little non-demoninational gospel chapel at the end of my street when i was a kid, the only really honest, loving services i attended were at a mennonite church in winnipeg that had been donated to them by the United church.
you'll have more spiritual fulfillment in the soup kitchen, no need to attend services. | |
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| Church or ??
Posted: 1/29/2006 9:35:05 AM | | 2weird, that is a very interesting thought about narcissists "hiding out" in the Church. I have seen some very questionable types involved in the Church and have often wondered why they bothered. | |
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