Good Sunday Morning

[Rollo Tamasi]

Good Sunday morning to you all.
I hope you are getting ready to go to church.
No?
I am surprised to find so many people on the forum that do not go to church.
To me, it's the thing to do.
If I don't like one church, then I go to another.
But I keep going.

Are you a churchless Christian?
Yes, I know, you watch Frederick Price on Sunday mornings, that's your church.
You read the Bible and your devotionals, that's your church, I know.
You pray to Jesus every day, that's your church.
The forum right here is my church, yes, I know.

But are there reasons you don't go to a church in your community?
Let's hear from you.
Give us your reasons for not going to church and give us who do go to church a chance to change your minds.
Thank you.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Yes, I know, you watch Frederick Price on Sunday mornings, that's your church.

Uh, yeah, right.

 

[Gary]

Good Sunday morning to you all.
I hope you are getting ready to go to church.
No?
I am surprised to find so many people on the forum that do not go to church.
To me, it's the thing to do.
If I don't like one church, then I go to another.
But I keep going.

Yes, I'm surprised too. When I first started coming to forums like these, nonchurch goers were afraid to speak up for fear of being chastised. Many now realize they're not alone in their "Lone Ranger" approach to the Gospel and are slowly making themselves known.

Things are looking up.

Are you a churchless Christian?
Yes, I know, you watch Frederick Price on Sunday mornings, that's your church.
You read the Bible and your devotionals, that's your church, I know.
You pray to Jesus every day, that's your church.
The forum right here is my church, yes, I know.

This is mockery. It's not good.

But are there reasons you don't go to a church in your community?
Let's hear from you.
Give us your reasons for not going to church and give us who do go to church a chance to change your minds.
Thank you.

Even though I don't personally attend church, I find there is no merit in trying to dissuade someone else from attending. That's just how I feel.

My decision not to attend is a personal one. A conviction that I try not to push on others.

.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

The bad thing about on-line forums is they attract people who aren't in church because they're arrogant, bullish, and blindly opinionated, and churches don't like 'em. This is the only place these bullies can find an audience. Even though were not allowed to openly discern the spirits in this forum there's a lot of discernment going on nonetheless.

Not necessarily directed at the last poster.
Who couldn't love a face like that?

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

See, we're already coming together on this. :yes

 

[Jethro Bodine]

See, we're already coming together on this. :yes

We have to, or else we're dead, right?

 

[Gary]

The bad thing about on-line forums is they attract people who aren't in church because they're arrogant, bullish, and blindly opinionated, and churches don't like 'em. This is the only place these bullies can find an audience. Even though were not allowed to openly discern the spirits in this forum there's a lot of discernment going on nonetheless.

Not necessarily directed at the last poster.
Who couldn't love a face like that?

I feel so cheap and unclean.

Like a bar rag that's been replaced with a Bounty paper towel.
.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I feel so cheap and unclean.

.

Can a monkey feel anything less? But you know you're one of the good guys, right?

Going to get ready to go to church for the first time in three years. I'm full of anticipation and terror all at the same time.

View attachment 5077
Welcome to our church. Please sign the registry.....and let an usher know what time you go to bed at night.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Are you a churchless Christian?
Yes, I know, you watch Frederick Price on Sunday mornings, that's your church.
You read the Bible and your devotionals, that's your church, I know.
You pray to Jesus every day, that's your church.
The forum right here is my church, yes, I know.
This is mockery. It's not good.

Why is it mockery?
If this is someone's church, why be ashamed of it.
The OP is presenting a case for going to a church in your community and the chance to convince someone why they should do it.
If a person has "personal" reasons for not attending a local church, then that is an issue.
If a person chooses not to share that reason, fine, but I said nothing that is a mockery.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I get more out of this forum than most churches I've attended. But I know that's no excuse to not attend a brick and mortar church.

As for my church visiting experience today....

On the way to church, I shook my fist and uttered words not found in the Bible at the driver who was sure he got to the four way stop before I did. Turned out it was the pastor of this church. He got even, though. The communion wine was real wine and I got a DUI on the way home from church.

But seriously, it was a nice Community type church. I was encouraged when I saw the Mandolin, then the acoustic guitar, then the banjo just before they started the music service. Afterwards, they all broke up into small groups to discuss the sermon (the reason I visited this church). One of the pastors of the church led the discussion. Somewhere along the line it seemed he felt the need to make the point that their church--(fill in the blank) Church--believes in OSAS. He said it in a way that seemed to stress that it's not up for discussion. I didn't even go there.

 

[Gary]

I didn't even go there.

The question is: Will you go there again?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

The question is: Will you go there again?

Prolly not. I honestly think it's a 'we believe what we believe, and we believe it's the truth, and we're not interested in changing our beliefs, even if you have compelling Biblical proof to the contrary' kind of situation.

I like the open discussion concept after the sermon, and I decided that before I would come back to indulge those I would get with the leadership of the church privately and see if they would allow honest, polite, non-confrontational discussion of differing views. I'm guessing not.

I think I'll be examining my charismatic roots from here out.

 

[reba]

Good Sunday morning to you all.
I hope you are getting ready to go to church.
No?

But are there reasons you don't go to a church in your community?
Let's hear from you.
Give us your reasons for not going to church and give us who do go to church a chance to change your minds.
Thank you.

I would love to go to church...
our area
LDS not going there
SDA nope
drunk preacher holy roller nope
RCC no
community church... nope

Maybe if my DH was a christian he would accept going 'over the mountain' to church... so i am here and very thankful for here

 

[reba]

Prolly not. I honestly think it's a 'we believe what we believe, and we believe it's the truth, and we're not interested in changing our beliefs, even if you have compelling Biblical proof to the contrary' kind of situation.

I think I'll be examining my charismatic roots from here out.

I disagree Jethro.. I know i am not the same Christian i was 40 years ago...

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I disagree Jethro.. I know i am not the same Christian i was 40 years ago...

I was talking about this particular church I visited this morning. I honestly don't think they're interested in hearing about --let alone being persuaded to--anything other than what they already believe and teach.

Speaking generally, I wish pastors/teachers were willing to give space to the possibility of not being the same Christian they were forty years ago.

Edit: Oh, I think I see what you're disagreeing with now. You really think they might entertain doctrine they don't presently believe in?

 

[Deborah13]

Good Sunday morning to you all.
I hope you are getting ready to go to church.
No?
I am surprised to find so many people on the forum that do not go to church.
To me, it's the thing to do.
If I don't like one church, then I go to another.
But I keep going.

Are you a churchless Christian?
Yes, I know, you watch Frederick Price on Sunday mornings, that's your church.
You read the Bible and your devotionals, that's your church, I know.
You pray to Jesus every day, that's your church.
The forum right here is my church, yes, I know.

But are there reasons you don't go to a church in your community?
Let's hear from you.
Give us your reasons for not going to church and give us who do go to church a chance to change your minds.
Thank you.

imo
Maybe you would get a better response if you made a convincing argument as to why it's a good thing to attend a church, rather than condemning those who don't.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

...DH...

Ouch!

 

[Jethro Bodine]

imo
Maybe you would get a better response if you made a convincing argument as to why it's a good thing to attend a church, rather than condemning those who don't.

Even though Rollo would just as soon shoot you as look at you , I think he can do that.

 

[Deborah13]

Even though Rollo would just as soon shoot you as look at you , I think he can do that.

He'd have to find me first. I have camo and a forest. :wink

 

[TOG]

But are there reasons you don't go to a church in your community?
Let's hear from you.
Give us your reasons for not going to church and give us who do go to church a chance to change your minds.
Thank you.

In my opinion, there are two and only two valid reasons to go to church or any other religious meeting.

1. To get something
2. To give something

There are many things people get out of going to church, such as teaching, fellowship, prayer and many others. There are also many things people can give at church (besides money), such as teaching (if you're the pastor), prayer (if you're in the prayer group), you can lead the worship and many other things. Basically, you can be either on the giving or receiving end of anything the church has to offer. But what if you've stopped getting anything out of church and aren't given any opportunity to give anything (except money, of course), and aren't allowed to have any kind of ministry in the church? If that's the case (as it is for me) going to church is a waste of time.

The TOG​