Do You Hop From Church To Church ?

[Heavenbound983]

Ye Jesus does say come as you are, but then do you continue on as you are? If so I would really question the sincerity of the person, like do they really want to change, and are they really opening their heart to accept that they are indeed a sinner in need of a saviour! or are they just going just so they can say that they went to church?

Does it matter? If they don't go to church, Jesus will have a harder time reaching them. How can we fault ANYONE'S reason for going to church??

 

[Vic C.]

if they don't go to church, Jesus will have a harder time reaching them.

Wow, now we have Jesus in a box too. First-hand experience shows me that if the Lord wants someone, NOTHING can stop Him! I was saved and hadn't gone to a church in years!

This passage is related directly to the issue of salvation:

Mat 19:25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

NOTHING is difficult for the LORD. :angel:

 

[Rick W]

Well, attending church doesn't make you a christian.
I can stand in a garage for 6 months and not become a Ferrari.


But attend church to learn more about Him, who He is and what He came to say. It's all about Christ anyway.
Told a friend of mine, "I'm looking for the perfect church". He replied, "When you find it don't go in. It won't be perfect anymore."
:-?

:-D

 

[Vic C.]

Well, attending church doesn't make you a christian.
I can stand in a garage for 6 months and not become a Ferrari.


But attend church to learn more about Him, who He is and what He came to say. It's all about Christ anyway.
Told a friend of mine, "I'm looking for the perfect church". He replied, "When you find it don't go in. It won't be perfect anymore."
:-?

:-D

LOL Rick, I heard it this way:

Person 1- I'd join you church, except there's too many hypocrites.

Person 2- Good, that's one less hypocrite then.

 

[muppy]

Told a friend of mine, "I'm looking for the perfect church". He replied, "When you find it don't go in. It won't be perfect anymore."

*L* So true, The thought made me : too :D

Good Morning!

I wanted to join in this thread because I find myself in perhaps a unique position wherein this topic is concerned. I am a member of a church, the one where I know God divinely placed me to serve and worship Him, its my Home, the parishioners are like my extended family, Im so blessed to be there! But, (you knew there had to be a but coming right?) :wink: But, even with my attendance each and every Sunday and being the member of a small group womens Bible study there, I craved more solid food than the milk I was being fed by the Senior Pastor of that church. I had occasion to attend another church in my area for a Wednesday evening Bible study service. Its a Calvary Chapel founded church called Maranatha Chapel pastored by Ray Bentley.

It is a HUGE church, my home one is not small by any means (approx 800 regular attendees over 4 services, 1 Saturday night and 3 on Sunday) but Maranatha has a sanctuary which holds 3000 people! On Wednesday nights its not full but still hundreds of people are present for worship and Bible study. The music is fantastic. Pastor Bentley is a wonderful pastor and teacher of the word of God. Many of you know they go through the Bible beginning to end and I needed that! So (this is where I may ruffle feathers here Im not sure) I consider myself to really belong to both churches. PLC is my Home church, I am a professed and active member there.

Maranatha I attend as regularly as I can on Wednesday nights and Ive also attended some excellent conferences there as well as the training for the Christian Life and Witness course so as to be prepared to volunteer at the Billy Graham Mission San Diego that occured a few years back here etc. I was baptized as an infant, but since I became saved at the age of 40 (am 49 now) I really wanted to reaffirm that now as a born again believer. So I went to the ocean last summer when Maranatha was having a baptism and got dunked in the ocean, a 2nd baptism.

My home church acknowledged my infant baptism. But it was something important for me to do, much like making a public profession of accepting Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior was. But I don't know if my situation is common or what you all as the body of Christ would think about someone like myself feeling called to and in some ways belong to 2 different churches. PLC is ELCA Lutheran Word Alone branch by the way.

Anyway, anyone elses thoughts about what Ive typed i'd appreciate. I know at both I worship the Risen Lord who I Love with all my heart mind soul and strength. Perhaps i just need more spiritual food than I can receive at one church, but my hunger isn't down at all for it! I love that actually!

love and blessings to all, muppy~

 

[Heavenbound983]

Wow, now we have Jesus in a box too. First-hand experience shows me that if the Lord wants someone, NOTHING can stop Him! I was saved and hadn't gone to a church in years!

This passage is related directly to the issue of salvation:

Mat 19:25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

NOTHING is difficult for the LORD. :angel:

But there's no sense undoing His work by unnecessary judgement.

I'm not saying that salvation can't come any number of ways...but when someone desires a spiritual life, God help me if I tell him to go somewhere else!!! :o

 

[Vic C.]

But there's no sense undoing His work by unnecessary judgement.

I'm not saying that salvation can't come any number of ways...but when someone desires a spiritual life, God help me if I tell him to go somewhere else!!! :o

I have little clue as to what you're trying to say here. Do you take a stand on anything righteous or are we just blowing in the winds of feel good doctrine here?

I personally would have no problem suggesting someone leave for a better place if they are not being fed properly.

2 Tim 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2 Tim 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

 

[ThreeInOne]

Exactly, Because I have found that alot of times when the pastor is speaking on something and it really convicts your heart because that person might be doing the very thing that he is speaking on. So that person will take offense to it and move from that church and then becomes a grasshopper because their not hearing anything that is making them feel good therefore they hop from church to church! I've known people like this.

When I first got saved and I was so excited and I faithfully went to church as much as possible. Couldn't get enough. After a while, I started noticing things, questioning things about what was being taught at the church. I learned they didn't really like when you asked too many questions. One day when the pastor started to preach about losing your salvation. That was the day I left and never looked back.
I didn't know that much, being a new Christian and all but I knew that what he spoke that day couldn't be true. And that topic was something way too important to just let slide.
Without them at least believing in that, the rest of what they taught didn't have a leg to stand on.
This really damaged my Christian walk. I was disappointed (in man, not God) and did not want to find another church. I told myself I'm going to have my own little personal relationship with Christ at home - period.
It took me over a decade later to set foot in a church again. I had really felt that I had been missing out but by this time, I was married -- to a non-Christian (which I don't recommend) and before you knew it, we had kids. I wanted them to know Jesus the way I know Him so I told them things but never did they see a church. After a while, this started to really bother me spiritually. The place we lived had 99% Catholic churches. I didn't even know one single Christian in that neighborhood. I couldn't find a bible believing church to even go to...unless I went a little out of my neighborhood into dangerous gang-type of areas.
I kept in touch with my sisters and some other saved friends so that did help and I still tried to learn things but not to the degree I should have been.

My spouse finally got saved and about 2 years later, my children.
A couple years or so later, we moved. I met a wonderful Christian, found out where they went to church and decided to go there. I told myself I'd give it at least 6 months to find out if it was sound or not. That was most important to me. Well, it's been 2 years now and I'm still there. I can ask my pastor ANYTHING and get an answer. And if he doesn't know, he's not pompus enough to make up an answer. He will simply tell me he does not know.
It's taken a long time to finally find a church I believe teaches sound doctrine but it was worth the wait. These days there's nothing I want to do more than spend my time learning God's Word and witness for Him. I simply can't get enough of my Lord Jesus. He is truly my everything.
I don't plan on leaving my church unless for reasons such as a move, or their teachings getting watered down to a liberal-based type of teaching. If that happens, I will find a new church. I don't ever want to be out of church again or out of fellowship with other Christians. I've paid a price for that and now I wish I could get that time back yet, God has been able to use that part of my testimony for others so really, I wouldn't change a thing.
I'm much stronger now and even though people, including pastors may disappoint us, Jesus never will and that's where my focus is; on Jesus.

 

[ThreeInOne]

Does it matter? If they don't go to church, Jesus will have a harder time reaching them. How can we fault ANYONE'S reason for going to church??

Jesus reached me while working at an alcohol beverage company! He didn't reach me at church and I was a regular church-goer! Nothing is too "hard" for Jesus.


If someone is going to church JUST TO GO TO CHURCH - to say that they went, then are they doing it for the right reasons? Maybe they think that'll somehow get them into heaven. As if it's a requirement or something...but if it's not truly in their heart to be there, who are they really kidding anyway..??...God??? Don't think so.
I think that's worse than someone just plain old avoiding going to church altogether. God already knows the heart of every person.

 

[Heavenbound983]

I have little clue as to what you're trying to say here. Do you take a stand on anything righteous or are we just blowing in the winds of feel good doctrine here?

Oh, I'm sorry, Vic C. You're right, I stand for nothing righteous. Silly me.

All I am 'trying to say' is that too much of what I've heard on this thread sounds like a load of judgemental crud in place of letting God himself decide and promoting any outlet that He has created (ie, letting people go to church freely). Example from just the last post or two...it has been said that avoiding church is better than going just to say you went. I think that's bullpuckey.

God wants us to HELP Him bring people to faith...not wait for Him to do it all.

 

[republitive]

Oh, I'm sorry, Vic C. You're right, I stand for nothing righteous. Silly me.

All I am 'trying to say' is that too much of what I've heard on this thread sounds like a load of judgemental crud in place of letting God himself decide and promoting any outlet that He has created (ie, letting people go to church freely). Example from just the last post or two...it has been said that avoiding church is better than going just to say you went. I think that's bullpuckey.

God wants us to HELP Him bring people to faith...not wait for Him to do it all.

I think that is the exact same thing. You go to church and get nothing out of it, or you stay home and get nothing out of it.

 

[Heavenbound983]

I think that is the exact same thing. You go to church and get nothing out of it, or you stay home and get nothing out of it.

So what do we care whether they go to church or not, then? Why should we limit them? Perhaps they will hear a sermon or prayer that will make something in their head go 'click'. How can we tell God, "Hey, these people are going to church when we think they shouldn't...please find another way to save them if You wish..."

I think that doing so, and judging people's reasons for being spiritual, is the worst form of pride.

 

[jgredline]

God wants us to HELP Him bring people to faith...not wait for Him to do it all.

Heaven
What gives you the impression that God needs you, or I, or anyone?

 

[Heavenbound983]

Heaven
What gives you the impression that God needs you, or I, or anyone?

I'm sorry...I've asked you to refrain from responding to me. Please respect that request.

 

[sisterchristian]

I'm sorry...I've asked you to refrain from responding to me. Please respect that request.

OK than I'll ask you...... Heaven, what gives you the impression that God needs you or I, or anyone?

 

[Heavenbound983]

OK than I'll ask you...... Heaven, what gives you the impression that God needs you or I, or anyone?

:-D

Does God need us? No. But he does use us as tools, just like he used any number of biblical figures.

I'm not going to be the one to break my Father's tools...I got into enough trouble when I lost my dad's hammer!

 

[sisterchristian]

:-D

Does God need us? No. But he does use us as tools, just like he used any number of biblical figures.

I'm not going to be the one to break my Father's tools...I got into enough trouble when I lost my dad's hammer!

No one is saying not to go to church, But people don't always get saved sitting in a church. There are people who have been saved in their own living room, now I do believe that once a person is saved it is important to get plugged into a BIBLE teaching church so that they can start to grow in their walk. But I know people that have been going to church every sunday for years and still are'nt saved! How do I know this? Because I see how they live Mon.- Friday and it aint very pretty! People are forever learning, but never coming to the knowledge! There's a song that says: I say on Sunday how much I want revival, than on Monday I can't even find my bible! Some people go to church once a week just so it looks good, and they can say "oh yeah I go to church" But than you see them on the sreet cursing up a storm, and doing the same old thing. NO FRUIT

 

[Heavenbound983]

I don't know where I've extolled church-going as the only path to salvation, but whatever. You asked whether I thought God needed us, and I responded that He uses us as tools. Obviously you are not denying that church is useful, since you believe it can help people 'grow in their walk.' So I guess we are in agreement, then?

 

[ThreeInOne]

Example from just the last post or two...it has been said that avoiding church is better than going just to say you went. I think that's bullpuckey.

If that's all you got out of my posts, I do apologize. I'm ALL FOR someone going to church.
My point was only that if they truly didn't want to be there but were just there for "looks" then is it really for the right reasons and are they actually getting anything out of going? Maybe they're doing it to please a parent or a spouse or maybe they even think it's pleasing to God. But as I said before, God knows the heart and he can't be tricked.

God can reach us anywhere, in church or out of church. That was all I was trying to say. As I said, He reached me while working for a alcohol beverage company and a few months later, I got saved in my bedroom at home. The church I was going to wasn't involved at all. However, who is the church? The people are, not a building. It was one of God's people who grabbed me by the collar. In other words, the church came to me.

 

[Heavenbound983]

My apologies...I was not trying to refute your entire argument but was instead using a snippet in conjunction with another poster's remarks.

I agree that church, whether it be a building or a congregation of souls, can be very important. But I still disagree with you on how or whether we should judge people's reasons for going. As you said, God knows the heart...let's let Him look at it without our interference.