Visited a church today

[jasonc]

View attachment 7436
This better?

youth pastor there.

 

[Obadiah]

...If we are at home, are we lukewarm?

eddif

Doesn't have to be this way, but sadly that's how it usually turns out. Or worse, we turn cold and bitter rather than just lukewarm. Some people can find alternatives to being involved in a church that keep them on fire, but these are truly few and far between. There is good reason we are told not to "forsake the fellowship of the saints." And in today's world the most common place to find that fellowship is among people in churches.

Sad also is the plight of those who work in the service of the church. For them the responsibility of the job takes away from the fellowship and worship, so it can be very difficult even though they are in church every Sunday or even every day!

 

[JLB]

Only time I ever walked out of a church service (in protest that is) was when I was still a fairly new member and one Sunday without warning they announced that they had fired the pastor. And the reason I had joined was precisely because this gifted man was such a good pastor. Really wasn't trying to make a scene, I just couldn't stand what they had done and just wanted to quietly leave and not come back again. Then as I walked out I remembered I had ridden my motorcycle that day. It's a Harley with loud pipes. As it turned out (so I'm told) they had just started a quiet prayer when I happened to fire up the bike. Even though I did it as quietly as possible, I'm told everyone in the church heard it and new exactly why I had left. Then they could hear it all the way down the highway for about a mile! My friend there told me it had been a perfect statement!

Just recently found out they just fired the pastor that replaced the first one too. He used to preach the best sermons I've ever heard! And they kicked out a youth director a while back as well. Until recently I'd worked there in a paid position as a sound engineer for several years until they asked me to leave one day too. (Because I couldn't pull stunts to satisfy the old people like making "The Revelation Song" with it's strong electric guitar sound like the Gaithers singing the traditional hymn "Amazing grace".) They sure have built up a reputation for firing everyone who works there. Well, I'd only gone back because it was a paid job and I really just looked at them as my employer anyway, not my church. And they are the only employer that ever asked me to leave in all my life! Ya know, lately I've been considering just joining the ranks of those of you here who have sworn off going to any church at all. I think that's probably a bad idea, and I don't think it's Biblical, but it's the way I feel lately.

Maybe a break, for a season, to just seek God and be still, and listen to His perspective, might be a good idea for you.

There has been several mighty men of God, that He separated unto Himself for a season.....

Paul spent 14 years alone with Him.
Moses, Enoch, Elijah...not to mention John the Baptist.

Be at peace brother, God is with you in this season of disappointment.


JLB

 

[JohnDB]

All this reminds me of a story. Back in my college days I moved in with my uncle to go to college. I lived in a little town called Clay which was a suburb of a suburb of a suburb... Aka the country. They had a lil first babtist church and I thought I might go. So it was hot that summer and the Church had no AC. The pews were bare and hard if not for some really thick cushions someone made for the pews.

Sure enough a cute girl sat in front of me in a lightweight dress and between all the standing and sitting I noticed that the young lady's dress had gotten itself into a wedge. So the next time we stood I reached forward (to help her out in a neighborly fashion) and tugged at the hem. Well that upset her so much she slapped me.

Next Sunday I went again but I brought a new friend with me named Jimbeaux. We thought a lot alike in so many ways. But as fate would have it the same girl in another summer lightweight dress was right in front of us. Jimbeaux thought the same as I the previous Sunday and before I could stop him he helped the girl out...but since I knew it would upset her I tried to put it back...

 

[Obadiah]

Shame. Oh the SHAME of it!

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

You're gutsy. I would have stayed through just about anything till the end, unless they passed out Kool Aid or something.

But then it would have been too late.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

He must of been having an out of body experience.


Yes. I really did.
But also the Spirit was definitely confirming my feeling that there's nothing here.


I've done that far too many times. I don't waste the time anymore. When I know it's wrong, I'm out. I've done this before. Prayer time is a good time to slip out--everyone's eyes are closed.


I would't expect anything less from you.


Being carried out by the ushers does not count.


Definitely the music. It was loud crashy music in a room with lousy acoustics. But it was more than that. The worship came across as fake and forced. YUCK! I hate that.


This is actually what I needed to hear right now. I was thoroughly bummed out by the experience. Thank you.


Next time I will squirm like I have to go, then they won't find it strange that I'm leaving the sanctuary.


Crappy, loud music. Howling and whistling and obnoxious clapping. Not howling like an animal but the woot-woot kind. Sorry, but I find those things to be a totally inappropriate response to a genuine encounter with God. They are obnoxious for me, and that's enough for me personally to not be around that.

Bottom line.....I did not sense this was a place where God was going to meet me.

I like rolling in the aisles and drooling from the mouth.
That's my type of service.

 

[reba]

Yup Granny Alexander was like that also...

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Yup Granny Alexander was like that also...

This granny Alexander?

 

[reba]

nope G Alexander was not that sweet looking... She was a real person i remember from about 1954

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

nope G Alexander was not that sweet looking... She was a real person i remember from about 1954

Pen-ta-cos-tal
You, dear lady, are derailing this thread.

 

[reba]

 

[Jethro Bodine]

But then it would have been too late.

No. You can always dash into the jungle and hide when no one's looking.