What do you want from your church?

More meat and less fluff.

I am so tired of the "show". What I mean by that is all of the extras.

In my church, the services last for 1.5 to 2 hours, 30-45 minutes of which is preaching and congregational singing. The rest is "show". To give a little context to what I mean......we have a huge choir (larger than most average congregations) accompanied by a piano, organ, and a large orchestra all blaring at you from multiple giant speakers.

Sorry for the rant.

I guess it's time for me to find a not-so-grandiose, into-the-word church.

 

What do I want from the church?
I want the church to teach and practice only those things authorized by the new testament of Jesus Christ.

 

What do I want from my church?
Not to be a "worldly" church. In other word ...a church that doesnt conform to what the world says "is acceptable worship". So many churches nowadays are giving into the pressures of what some people want to see and not what God has given command to us(the church)to do. God has commanded us to be witnesses and examples to the people of this world. So in my opinion...God is being programmed and slowly "showed the door" by more and more churches. The "revelation" churches are coming to be right under our very noses.
and praise God that right now Im a member of a very devoted, small church that so far hasnt even thought of compromising its morals. Praise be the name of Jesus !!!!

 

I prefer the old hymns but do like 'some' of the new praise songs. Our Minister of Music (who is older than ME) uses more of the new praise songs but most of the time it's a brand new one (for us) and no one knows the tune. The words are printed in the bulletin but not the notes.

I'd rather sing more of the old songs and add one new one here and there... BUT .... we are a church of 972 and many of them are quite young so I understand.

Bringing in the Sheaves...
Diane

 

I expect the truth to be taught and true worship to be practiced. I certainly don't want a practice that was started by the Catholics around the year 666 to be practiced, namely instrumental music in worship. If it didn't exist until 633 years after the church was established, then how could it possibly be right?

Specifically, I want a church that:

(1) Believes in One God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (the 'Trinity')
(2) Believes in the infallibility of the Scriptures (and believes in the above because of them)
(3) Has a cappella singing (Col 3:16)
(4) Baptizes (immerses believers) FOR (in order to receive) the remission of sins (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21)
(5) Observes communion every first day of the week (Acts 20:7)
(6) Only passes the collection basket on the first day of the week (1 Cor 16:2)
(7) Observes communion with one loaf of unleavened bread, which is the communion of the Lord's body & one cup of unleavened wine, which cup is the New Testament in His blood and which liquid is the communion of His blood (All the accounts of the Lord's Supper put together with Exodus 12 due to it's being instituted on the first day of Unleavened Bread; also see 1 Cor 5:6-8)

[ April 20, 2003, 01:10 AM: Message edited by: SolaScriptura in 2003 ]

 

What do I want from my church?
Nothing. Church isn't about me, it's about God. I worship God there, not me and my wants. God is to be the focus, not me. No church should have to satisfy me, if they do they no longer satisfy God.

 

Singer doesn't have a church.
Denominations frustrate me....the divisions created by having
denominations frustrate me too. Yet I have had a most meaningful
conversion that has lasted nearly 30 yrs and drives me to promote
the simple gospel of Jesus Christ and the message of the cross.

Didn't realize there was anything wrong with instrumental music.
David praised God with stringed instruments ...(Psalms).
Music is one thing that has brought people together in my community.
I'm sure the churches will not unite because of it, but it gives a
good foundation for discussing and sharing our faith with each other.

I'm from the old school too (as Diane mentioned her likes)....and don't
know the tunes to alot of new praise songs which the younger ones like,
but that doesn't stop us from turning up our volume and getting on
with the likes of "When the Saints Go Marching In", "Do Lord", "I'll Fly
Away", "Will the Circle Be Unbroken", "Power in the Blood"....etc.

Those are done at Gospel Music Jams that the Lord is blessing in our
small towns in a two state area. I guess travelling missionaries don't
attend one church either.

Regular church attendance seems to have a 'locked in' effect upon me.

Singer

 

From Christ's Church, I want infallible truth and supernatural life. I want the true doctrine of Christ and the everlasting life he merited upon the throne of his Cross.

 

Did everyone notice that............?

"Christ's Church" he said.



Singer

 

"Christ's Church" he said.

Is it really so scandalous to assert that Christ would establish a visible Church to nourish and guide his sheep as he did with Israel under the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic Covenants?

Such a scandal points to the faithfulness and consistency of our Lord.

 

Is it really so scandalous to assert that Christ would establish a
visible Church to nourish and guide his sheep as he did with Israel
under the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic Covenants?
Such a scandal points to the faithfulness and consistency of our Lord.

Not scandalous if one is happy to be an exclusivist who gains pride
in assuming he is associated with something that only unlearned and
illiterate individuals would reject.

When did "Whosoever Will" die ?

 

"I want, I want". How about this: What effort are YOU making to insure that you get what you want from your church?

Are you sitting back and saying "I want" and not doing anything about it? Do you expect God to put it in your lap?

The church needs workers, not bench warmers. If you want bad enough, you'll get up and help make it happen.

 

Thanks wizofoz,

My experience of over 25 years of regular church attendance was
one of frustration. There was no room for growth and no one to
witness to. Same faces...same format.

With an "outside the church'' affiliation, I feel free and able to witness
to many without having a name pegged on me. There is a need for
churchs and their ministries and I hope someone agrees that there is
a need for someone to witness in the coffeeshops, during business
relations, with strangers etc.

My own twist involves music; both country and gospel and that puts me
in contact with many strangers of which many are in bars and lounges.
I've seen more positive reaction from those people than at any church
event over the past 25 years. It's a topic that they may not hear
anywhere else as they are basically unchurched people too.

We've lost four friends to death from this environment and I'm glad
that the Lord impressed upon me to witness to them all before they
were gone. I only wish I would have carried it further, but I'm quite
able to do that in the future.

Ask yourselves just what you would say to someone in five minutes
that would be meaningful. Would you just invite them to your church,
would you ignore the topic of christianity altogether, would you be
embarrassed to mention "Jesus Christ" in a bar, would you have the
intent for them to join a certain denomination or would you simply
be able to give them a basic hope in eternity without seeming critical.

More important, are you willing to be found doing the Lord's work
in a place of ill repute in the first place...? Or are you ashamed to bring
the gospel to the lost...? Would you only speak of Jesus Christ among
christians where you feel safe from slander from both those present
and your peers ?

Matthew 9:12 But when Jesus heard [that], he said unto them,
They that be whole need not a physician, but
they that are sick.

Taking the gospel to the needy,

Singer

 

Sorry, but everyone needs Church. To neglect being part of a local church is disobedience and is strongly rebuked in Heb. 10:22-39.

Christianity is not about long ranger theology but about being accountable to a Church. Most of the New Testaments letters were written to churches and not individuals. Christ established the Church to teach, exhort his children and one is in a dangerous spiritual condition in being separated from Christ flock. All churches have imperfections but some people are looking for the Church that can only be found in Heaven.

 

Not scandalous if one is happy to be an exclusivist who gains pride in assuming he is associated with something that only unlearned and illiterate individuals would reject.

I was unaware that stating a mystery of faith makes one prideful, exclusivist, and elitist.

Would you cast the same accusations against Peter when he declares: "Jesus is the one of whom the scripture says: 'the stone that you the builders despised turned out to be the most important of all.' Salvation is to be found through him alone; in all the world there is no one else whom God has given who can save us" (Acts 4:11-12)?

I suppose Peter is happy to be an exclusivist who gains pride in assuming he is associated with something that only unlearned and illiterate individuals would reject. Or perhaps not?

 

"Jesus is the one of whom the scripture says: 'the stone that you
the builders despised turned out to be themost important of all.'
Salvation is to be found through him alone; in all the world there is
no one else whom God has given who can save us" (Acts 4:11-12)?


It is good to see in print from one of the elite that Peter is not the
rock that is the "most important of all" . Those who address this
verse could hardly be swayed regardless.

Ah, but the mystery that Peter reveals is evident in his promotion
of "him alone". The way to salvation is not through a visible
Church afterall but by the " stone that you the builders despised."

The mystery of faith has been reavealed...His name is Jesus !!
The misery of faith has also been revealed.......perhaps.

Amen and Amen.

 

I like a Church that praises and worship God.Being thankful for supplying my every need,health,and strength.The pastor preaches the true Word of God.Preaches against sin,and teaches us how to live right.
I love the old hymns because there is anointing on them.You can feel the presence of God.The new songs are good,if you can understand what they are singing.
Christians that love one another,not jealous of one another.Church should be a place we love to go t.

God Bless.

 

Hello Sola:

Sounds like you might like Orthodoxy.



Cordially in Christ,

Brother Ed

[

 

Now -- what do I want from my particular rite?

1. More married priests.

2. More emphasis upon evangelism.

3. More involvement of the laity in functions, especially the pro-life group we have.

4. More tithing by members.

5. Another priest to help Fr. Michael, who is overworked and underpaid in my opinion.

6. And TWO Slavic American festivals a year. They are SUCH FUN!!

Cordially in Christ,

Brother Ed