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Not going to Church???
- Thread starter Salty
- Start date
Then what are people not getting from church? If they are Saved and telling that, then are they being disciples … frankly what does that even mean? I see people that I speak with who are disappointed by church. Now don’t be defensive because I’m point out things, comments ppl say… like same old, same old routines week after week … if they are born again then just what are they looking for?
Hebrews 10:25. '... Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.'
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Both
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How so?
Dave G
Well-Known Member
" Being saved and not going to church is like being married and not going home".
Reading or hearing things like this, I'm often reminded of what is said here:
" Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; ( for he [is] faithful that promised; )
24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
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." ( Hebrews 10:23-25 ).
I also understand where comments like this may come from...
A desire to influence people to obey what the Lord commands us to do.
However...
According to what I see in the above passage from Hebrews, "going to church" should be the act of God's people ( a saved, born again and baptized group who all know Christ as Lord and Saviour ) assembling together for a purpose...to mutually edify one another in the faith and to provoke each other to love and to good works.
Is this thread about doing that, or is it about advocating the modern, traditional concept of "going to church"?
Reading or hearing things like this, I'm often reminded of what is said here:
" Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; ( for he [is] faithful that promised; )
24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
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." ( Hebrews 10:23-25 ).
I also understand where comments like this may come from...
A desire to influence people to obey what the Lord commands us to do.
However...
According to what I see in the above passage from Hebrews, "going to church" should be the act of God's people ( a saved, born again and baptized group who all know Christ as Lord and Saviour ) assembling together for a purpose...to mutually edify one another in the faith and to provoke each other to love and to good works.
Is this thread about doing that, or is it about advocating the modern, traditional concept of "going to church"?
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Yeah. Finding a good church is problematic in many areas.
Dave G
Well-Known Member
The only reason that I ask, is because I see a big difference between how it's done today ( at least traditionally ) and how it was done in the early churches that we see in Acts and the epistles.
There, believers met in their own houses and the money that nowadays goes towards maintaining a commonly-owned building ( and especially and paying for a full- or part-time staff ), was spent meeting the needs of the poor among them and doing good works...like giving to the poor of this world.
There, the time was spent gathering together and sharing the Scriptures, being taught the things of God by those the Lord gave that gift of teaching to, declaring doctrine, singing hymns and otherwise following the prompting of the Holy Spirit within them to do what He had them to do.
What I see traditionally, I would almost characterize as not that overly much different than going to a professional baseball game and watching the players do what they're paid to do, while the rest of the people sit and watch.
My friends, I firmly believe that that is not how it's to be among us...
Which is why I stopped "going to church" years ago, and I now assemble together with my brothers and sisters in Christ as the occasion presents itself.
There, believers met in their own houses and the money that nowadays goes towards maintaining a commonly-owned building ( and especially and paying for a full- or part-time staff ), was spent meeting the needs of the poor among them and doing good works...like giving to the poor of this world.
There, the time was spent gathering together and sharing the Scriptures, being taught the things of God by those the Lord gave that gift of teaching to, declaring doctrine, singing hymns and otherwise following the prompting of the Holy Spirit within them to do what He had them to do.
What I see traditionally, I would almost characterize as not that overly much different than going to a professional baseball game and watching the players do what they're paid to do, while the rest of the people sit and watch.
My friends, I firmly believe that that is not how it's to be among us...
Which is why I stopped "going to church" years ago, and I now assemble together with my brothers and sisters in Christ as the occasion presents itself.
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Again why must you find a good church? Indeed, just what are the characteristics of a good church?
I was raised up in a RCC and they counted it as a mortal sin not to go to a RCC. They made you feel guilty, and threaten you that you were going to hell with out going. Indeed you could understand why people shunned it so.
Fast forwarding a bit and going on Sunday,Wednesday etc became a routine and I got bored. Could I not study at home, could I not meet people throughout the week who encouraged genuine Christianity? It just becomes, “Same old same old routine”… I could take nature walks or go to the beach and sense Gods presence. And now with my wife’s passing I view life as all to short and fleeting. Would have been better to spend the time enjoying life together? Today I think so. Does that make me a bad Christian?
The more I speak to others on the internet, the more I am floored with others who have no access to Godly churches. It's eye-opening.
Silverhair
Well-Known Member
The churches in my area are running toward woke ideology or watering the gospel to the point it is not the gospel any more.
My wife and I have listened to online churches for the last few years. It would be nice to have the church family again but we will have to be content with what we have.
easternstar
Active Member
Excellent! Exactly!The only reason that I ask, is because I see a big difference between how it's done today ( at least traditionally ) and how it was done in the early churches that we see in Acts and the epistles.
There, believers met in their own houses and the money that nowadays goes towards maintaining a commonly-owned building ( and especially and paying for a full- or part-time staff ), was spent meeting the needs of the poor among them and doing good works...like giving to the poor of this world.
There, the time was spent gathering together and sharing the Scriptures, being taught the things of God by those the Lord gave that gift of teaching to, declaring doctrine, singing hymns and otherwise following the prompting of the Holy Spirit within them to do what He had them to do.
What I see traditionally, I would almost characterize as not that overly much different than going to a professional baseball game and watching the players do what they're paid to do, while the rest of the people sit and watch.
My friends, I firmly believe that that is not how it's to be among us...
Which is why I stopped "going to church" years ago, and I now assemble together with my brothers and sisters in Christ as the occasion presents itself.
Absolutely… I agree! There is no spirit in it. Instead, go to the beach or the sunny mountains with your family… God is there. He created Nature for us to enjoy.
Scarlett, you will have to explain to me what is meant by Godly churches cause I’ve yet to experience it. Not here in NJ anyway. Very disappointed. Perhaps it’s a regional thing but they don’t stimulate me to even want to go.
Ben1445
Well-Known Member
I read that maybe differently than you meant it. Maybe not.
Same old routine week after week- (are we supposed to switch Gods weekly? Is there a different Bible we should change to? Are we going to be wowed by the show or to continue to grow in grace? What sort of changes do we need to put into church?)
If you are born again, you should know what you are looking for. It shouldn’t be searching as if in the dark.
Philippians 3:13-15
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Christians continue in what they have begun. Paul said he hadn’t “arrived” but rather had more to do to attain the mark of achievement that Christ had set.
There is always room to grow closer to God. Always knowledge of Christ to be gained.
Phil. 3:1
The repetition of the same teachings is safe for believers.
Peter said desire the sincere milk of the word to grow.
I love a good steak. I think it would have to be life a threatening health condition for me to give up milk. (Cookies don’t dunk in steak very well)
Hebrews talks about moving on from the basic doctrines. But Jesus said remember Him. Remember the cross and His body broken for us, His blood shed for us, His life given for us.
Having begun in faith, we continue in faith. Salvation is not a shelf trophy. It is a call to action. It is the beginning of getting to know your Saviour. It is the start of an eternal friendship.
The more time I spend with people I love, the more time I love to spend with them.
Time with God, in study personally, in church in fellowship, it is never enough.
Ben1445
Well-Known Member
When was the last time you invited someone from your church into your home for fellowship? Is church really just an activity for people now. Like kids sports? “We have to do this and I can’t wait till it’s over?”
The time to enjoy each other is not only at home or on vacation. It is at our churches.
Are we so self centered at churches now that going to church is not appealing because it is not self serving?
The time to enjoy each other is not only at home or on vacation. It is at our churches.
Are we so self centered at churches now that going to church is not appealing because it is not self serving?
You should be with God all the time, you should find joy in his company. However when my wife died I recognized I had been denying her time and company. She was also a child of God and she deserved more of my time, I fooled myself to believe that I had all the time in the world with her and she would be OK by herself while I did my thing with work, with town meetings, with church all the things that took me away from her company. Now all I want is to make up for that lost time and I believe the Lord understands that, after all he gave us each other to Love and enjoy.
We each only have the time on this earth that he gives us. I believe he wants us to be joyful with the time we have so go out and take your wife to breakfast.
Ben1445
Well-Known Member
Lost time is hard to recover. I am sorry for your loss. I wish there was something I could do for you.
I will do that.
easternstar
Active Member
Unfortunately, the churches I've been a member of, as an adult, have not seemed to care to have anyhting to do with me away from the church, and some not much to do with me at the church!
Those weren’t churches. They were gathering places. I’m thinking, it should have been like a close family and they should have taken an interest in discipleship for you so you could go further in your walk with the Lord. I’m truly sorry you had to experience this. It would have been better for you to go to a Quaker meeting house, sat quiet and mediated on the Lord, his presence in your daily life.
My brother has Mennonite friends who seem to have it together in their lives… they do church very differently… unfortunately they are in Pennsylvania which is a long commute.
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