the friendly christian

[c9786h]

Just a note to all the millions of christians in the US and especially in Florida. If you don't welcome new people to your church your not a christian. Especially if you are the pastor. If your waiting for 100 new young couples with 1.7 children
you better just welcome and accept anyone who shows up.75% of churches I have been too are cold as ice.

 

[miamited]

Hi c9786h

Some of that 'coldness' may have to do with the size of the fellowship. My experience has been that the many, many small fellowships are often more open towards visitors because they 'see' them. The larger mega churches, if you're not willing to step out and introduce yourself and talk to people, then everyone's likely just going to file in and file out and they don't 'see' you because there are so many people and most people in that size congregation don't know or recognize 'who' are 'new' people.

I go to a fairly large denomination and sometimes I see someone that I think is a new person and introduce myself and they tell me, "Oh, we've been coming here for 2 years now."

BTW you need to work on 'your' and 'you're'

God bless,
Ted

 

[WIP]

Hi c9786h

Some of that 'coldness' may have to do with the size of the fellowship. My experience has been that the many, many small fellowships are often more open towards visitors because they 'see' them. The larger mega churches, if you're not willing to step out and introduce yourself and talk to people, then everyone's likely just going to file in and file out and they don't 'see' you because there are so many people and most people in that size congregation don't know or recognize 'who' are 'new' people.

I go to a fairly large denomination and sometimes I see someone that I think is a new person and introduce myself and they tell me, "Oh, we've been coming here for 2 years now."

BTW you need to work on 'your' and 'you're'

God bless,
Ted

I think you've made some good points here. Think about the value of small town living. Everyone knows everyone so no matter where you go, you run into people you are familiar with. In a large city, you don't get this except in your own neighborhood so you might feel like a stranger wherever you go.

 

[for_his_glory]

There is a church in the small town we used to live in. There were some teens who liked to dress in Goth back in the day when the style was popular that wanted to start going to church as they were trying to seek God. They were greeted at the door and told to leave as they would have been a bad influence on their youth. They ended up coming to the church we attended and became Spiritually born again Christians that very day.

I also remember when I lived in San Antonio TX years ago I attended John Hagee's church before his mega church was built. It was the first time there and I always want to meet the Pastor of a new to me church before I leave, but the elders would not allow me to approach him as they said he does not talk to his congregation. Never went back.

There are good churches and bad churches and I haven't found one where I live that I am comfortable going to yet.

 

[Edward]

I think the church age is over and churches are coming to an end. It already is not church as usual. There is a lot of division between churches where it wasn't before also.

It's prolly purposful. We are the church ourselves now. The temple of the Holy Spirit. And if the rapture were to happen, I think that churches in any corporate form will be totally gone. And Bibles will be unavailabale real quick after that. So, better buy a case or two of Bibles to leave behind in a Raptured out care box for your family or those previously lukewarm but now sizzling hot Beliievers which will need them.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

If you don't welcome new people to your church your not a christian.

It isn't just non-Christians who are unfriendly in churches. It seems many Christians just go to church to check the 'I went to church like I'm supposed to' box and that makes them cold and distant. If they're not particularly interested or excited about their church they won't be zealous to build it's numbers.

 

[Free]

I think the church age is over and churches are coming to an end. It already is not church as usual. There is a lot of division between churches where it wasn't before also.

It's prolly purposful. We are the church ourselves now. The temple of the Holy Spirit.

There is no such thing as "we are the churches ourselves," and the "church age" will not be over until Christ returns. The church will always remain the church as Christians are called to always gather together. Doing church or the Christian walk on one's own is utterly foreign to Scripture.

What's needed is God's judgement on the churches, to separate the wheat from the chaff, the cultural "Christians" from the true believers.

 

[Edward]

There is no such thing as "we are the churches ourselves," and the "church age" will not be over until Christ returns. The church will always remain the church as Christians are called to always gather together. Doing church or the Christian walk on one's own is utterly foreign to Scripture.

You are being very short sighted IMO. Whoever said, on ones own?

What's needed is God's judgement on the churches, to separate the wheat from the chaff, the cultural "Christians" from the true believers.

This is probably what is taking place right now.

 

[WIP]

Remember, this forum is not a debate forum.

 

[miamited]

What's needed is God's judgement on the churches, to separate the wheat from the chaff, the cultural "Christians" from the true believers.

HI Free

Don't worry, that's coming. According to Peter, these are the days of God's patience. He has done all that is necessary that some might be saved and now waits as the harvest comes in. But once the harvest is complete, which will be on the day of Jesus' return to take those who are his to the Father, God will separate the wheat from the chaff. Be careful though about being too anxious for the cleansing. There may yet be loved ones of your own family who may yet take advantage of these days of our Creator's patience.

This day is described for us in the great Revelation of Jesus Christ, chapter 14 vs 14.

God bless,
Ted