Until believers read the Word for themselves, they will never be free. Hello, I have been a Methodist my entire life, and have been a happy blessed single for some time.
Worth area, nearly refuse to support single adults. The church I call home admitted to me, while I was volunteering in a singles program, they have a list of approximately over a thousand names of singles, although they did not know exactly what to do with them, therefore they were hanging on to them until such a time proposed itself.
I was stunned, but after thinking, it was because the people running the program were all married and could not relate to the ministry they were trying to help. The suggestions I made were quickly dismissed mainly because they did not fit in with the schedules of the married persons in charge of the program.
Again stunned. I am middle age, and church has 2 programs young singles and divorce care, but that is the extent of their services. Yet the church silently condemns bars, online dating, etc. As a Christian I am taught the church is for everyone. At this point I feel alone, I feel the church has abandoned me as a single woman.
Although if you are a mom, or a family with 2. Even to the point of bible studies. Multiple times offered during the day, multiple days during the week, which as a single woman I work and cannot attend those times. Ironically, it appears to an outsider that the reason for those times is because the church staff works during the day, although I could be wrong. In studying Paul, over the years it has been my understanding that he would have us to go to the people, where they are and not have the people come to us during work hours.
Can anyone provide any insight as to why churches are apparently obsessed with premade-families and not creating new Christian families? For far to long the corporate church buildings have taken the mantle away from the people in an effort to build co-dependency vs God — dependency.
Although I believe Covid is a political stunt, God may be shutting down or testing organized religion through it. God is Truth John , John , John By this we can know the current administration is of lies counter to truth. No Truth stressed … no offense made … pretty much a social club with no dependence on God.
Five years ago we cut TV but kept internet for business reasons. We read the Bible and God spoke truth to us as he reveals it Matthew God will bring like minded Christians to your circle. God Bless you. Dear Laura, churches have replaced Christ. They dictate the will of the church rather than the will of Christ. You need to leave church leaders, pastors and priests. Follow Christ and worship God alone.
Nobody even hardly preaches the Bible anymore let alone believes it. Hardly anybody has discernment. If you find a church somewhere, let me know. Then it would appear that my assessment of the Church as an entity, these days, is correct? To recap; I strongly distrust the Church, and for me? Churches are preaching the word of man over the Word. File under sad but true.
Ladies, check out ifgathering. Its out of Dallas, not a church but great resources for connecting with others. They are focused on the great commission and the Bible. In John the disciples finally realized that Jesus wanted nothing from them , and everything for them.
The reason attending church today is so problematic is that those in the pulpits need people to ask them questions to justify their existence. He that points to the one who sent him is the man of truth. God dependency has been replaced with Co-dependency. The one that wants more for me than from me has my support.
I like it mate, having much time with family during week end like sport and beach, visit friends and relatives instead of going to church are important.
Worship Service is a ritual. God is not worshipped by rituals but in spirit and truth. True religion is to help the poor stay away from sin. I quit going to church in Best decision ever!
Would not go back for a million dollars. I love God and walk closely with Him every day. My wife and I read the bible regularly. God is very active in our lives and has never asked us to go back. I was in leadership in several small to mid sized churches. They are all pretty much the same. A small group of well meaning, but under qualified, spiritually immature people trying to lead a larger group of people who are just putting in their time and remain unchanged for decades.
You will know them by their fruit. There is something God is doing when His people gathered together. There are something God is doing when His people get together, — you may miss it just sitting home. Our programs, and service orders, our different opinions about what H. And you will never be bored, you will run to be there, because there is God Him self.
May Lord bless you and lead you to His church. You have written that God passes His word to the pastor and pastor passes to people? Why do you say this? God speaks to people. He does not need an intermediate apart from Christ the high priest. Yes, fellowship is important but not in the cults ruled by a pastor. Pastor is the Antichrist. He has become the head of the church. Anti-christ seems a harsh word, they are fallible humans like all of us.
I think this is why you see pastors acting in a way you see as cultish: A selfish mistrust in God. The work of Christ keeps me going to church, not the church or pastor. Jesus is never a head of the church where pastor rules.
Pastor has banished a Holy Spirit, so that he will be the only teacher at the Worship Service. Scripture says that God is worshipped in spirit and truth but pastor teach that God is worshipped in the Worship Service where pastor rules. But fellows the 10 commandments. And then rest into internal life. I am replying to Jade Kennedy. The mission of the church is seldom stated on Sundays. There is one exception, though. When I have gone to the church there is always an implicit mission: to raise money.
Even though, many will say that it is not obligated in New Testament. God is still the same and His laws are still working this days as they did back then. We came to this world with nothing. You were created by God and HE sent you here with provision. But He is mentioning a 10th part of it. It gives Him permission to do His part in your finances. I know some people who manage their businesses and life by Biblical principles and being successful, as Word of God says.
May Lord bless you. Dear Olga, You are right when you write that God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and giving tithes is good. You are wrong though about whom believers should give their tithes. Money offerings can be given to the poor, but not to the pastors.
As Jesus said that if you provide to the poor and needy, you actually offer it to Christ. Apostles never taught to give money offerings to any individuals for them to distribute the money or use it as they wish.
Give your money directly to those who have a need, and by doing so you will show your love for God. Thank you Andrei for responding to my reply. But tithes and offerings are not the same things. God does not live in the temples and cults created by men.
Tithes were given to the high priest. You present pastor as a high priest but this is wrong. Pastor is of devil. He misleads people with his church doctrine. Well writren and done my friend. I began blogging recently and realized that many writers merely rework old ideas buut add vwry little of worth.
It is goin oon my list of details I need too emulate as a new blogger. Reader engagement and content quality are king. Boy, there have been some long comments here. Churches all seem to be leaning toward a socialist world view, which has never worked and has never served the church well.
When economic freedoms are stamped out, eventually religious freedom is stamped out as well. The greatest threat to American religious freedom is not socialism. America will never be socialist. That is a fallacy narrated by false prophets and power hungry politicians. The real threat to American religious freedom is fascism and ignorance.
You see, the American eagle must have both wings to fly- a left wing and a right wing. Without both, America cannot fly. It is only by loving and helping each other that Church Attendance will rise again, as well as our country. Fight the REAL enemy. The enemy that is truly anti-Christ. Love your comment about the American Eagle… Yes, we have to have an Eagle with both wings working together, and somehow our Eagle has been wounded and is not flying… It is limping along..
My tiny little AME church has not, and probably will not open. Breaks my heart, We may be a very small congregation, but it is a very loving and genuine congregation BUT: reality is painful. I truly miss going to church in the physical sense, and though I have tried zoom sessions I have trouble with my internet and getting it to do the Zoom thing.. I am a senior and computers are more frustrating that helpful to me, and I miss the one on one contact.
I am so sad to see what is happening in churches today, and I totally agree and would hope that we could continue loving each other and encourage even more love … Jesus seems to have gotten totally lost in the quagmire of this election. I do not call my self a Christian because of the horrible negataive connotation… I just say I am a follower of Jesus and try to do what i think Jesus would want me to do.
Sadly to say, but I totally disagree with your thinking that this country will never become a socialist or communist country. We can see the writing on the walls already. Cancel culture, education, freedom of speech, threats to our second amendment, and spreading the wealth — taking from you to give to others — which is a good thing when done voluntarily.
As far as church goes I am in a mess of confusion. Born and raised Catholic, left the church for reasons I felt appropriate. Religions have caused me a great deal of confusion and I that God will guide my way. I definitely agree, we are moving to socialism we need fellowship among human beings together to feel the spirit of God flowing. Stop preaching who you should vote for, left or right.
Church is no place for social engineering. Make church a safe place where politics and culture wars are tossed aside for spiritual love and devotion. To me, there are too many churches being infected with the woke virus and preaching the word of man instead of the Word, and I find that unappealing, at best. So no thank you, at least for now. We desperately need to move toward the facilitated group learning style that has been adopted nearly everywhere except the in little c churches.
You know, where the leader introduces the principles or content, which everyone then discusses in groups, and key learnings are presented back. Learning sticks much more this way. Pastor a position that is very hard to find in the New Testament without much acrobatics , and replace it with a pastor team. Church leaders, pastors and priests are not required.
They are harmful to believers. The question that remains for me is this…what do I do with my point of view? How can I help facilitate this change within the local church bodies?
Any insight would be welcomed. Thanks, Carey, for great, practical stuff we can use right now. Well put in this post. Keep the content coming.
Love it! Totally honest and engaging. I loved it! We, truly are in trouble as a local and universal church. The ways of doing. Sunday Worship has been changing for some time. Covid just brought it all forward. We will find new ways of engagement. Together, we move forward in Hope! Blessings to all! Many dedicated Christ-followers in my area are actively ostracized in this current political climate either by leadership or by the church members with influence.
Not exactly an incentive to come back week after week. In fact, I had coffee with a new friend recently and we back lament over what to do.
Let your pastor know how you feel, privately. And if their answer is unwelcoming, well then you have your answer. Hello Vikki, You need to fellowship with believers at public places, just as it was described in book of Acts.
Church is a private territory of a pastor, so he enforce his own rules. The only position in the church is elder, not pastor. Thank you! I live in a South Carolina, and often feel I am not even welcome in this State! I am frustrated, defeated, demoralized, and lost because I cannot see the Lord in church anymore.
That is how I got to your reply. I do not know where to turn, but am teetering on giving up on attending. Lyn, I also moved from Oh to SC. I find attending church a chore not a joy. Not fruitful, uplifting nor spiritually fed. Thanks, but no thanks. Hi Vikki, this will have to sink in, but Evangelical Christians are not Christians, but they are Evangelicals. Our Church community has Cell groups. There are others like myself, who has opened up to me about it and they eventually leave.
But I notice that people in Church buildings do try and make an effort with those they know, group clique, and I feel ignored. Is it selfish? I remind myself, to turn the other cheek. Hebrews cautions us to cherish and defend that which allowed us to grow, which is hands-on, togetherness in prayer and service to God.
Neither condemning nor condoning anyone who chooses to go or not go to church. Consider this, when Jesus was teaching the multitudes, where was He? In a building? No He was outside where anyone who passed by could hear his teaching and could stop and listen. Taking the Word out from behind closed doors reaches many many more people.
It is a California nonprofit religious Corporation with its principal offices in Sun Valley, California. How many of these corporations go into debt to buy? In the same way that families and friends meet today and still social distance Coronavirus, the Ekklesia can too. Probably to the poor in general too. They supported and supplied the Apostles in their homes. He commanded that they even give to the weak.
How can you take a paycheck for preaching and NOT be preaching for dirty money? With the right mindset? Make a pie chart and see. A stage built to broadcast professional actors to a large, passive audience, is a stumbling block to obeying scripture. Assemble as an Ekklesia as commanded and shown in scripture. Enough of these… Social Clubs, these love of dirty money Country Clubs. Yes, ekklesia is a right term.
Christ will indeed marry ekklesia. Church is a term rather introduced by Catholics. Church means a corporation or building.
Bruce, While I agree with much of what you wrote, there ARE good reasons to have a permanent structure to meet at. New wineskins for the always new and yet unchanging wine of the gospel. Are we flexible enough for where the Spirit is leading today? I pray we are. Whatever it takes, wherever we are. Some come to Jesus through gifted preachers, others through the acts of love done by a neighbor. Some, as Romans 1 suggests, just through creation, knowing the God who made it for us all is reaching out.
Dear Gary, Public places are good for fellowship and houses are good for breaking bread and prayers. For a long time I stopped going to Church because of all the reasons mentioned above, but I always felt guilty not supportingI the local Church. So I guess, I felt like a backslider. However, my faith in God does not change because I am saved, therefore the point I want to make is that meeting in a Church building is okay with me because times have changed, at least it leaves out the question of whose house are we meeting in this week?
Peoples houses have an odour, they have rules for you to follow like having no shoes etc, which is weird because I wear something on my feet at home. There are all sorts of reasons and at least in a Church building everyone is welcome and whether you fit in or not, you just have to accept it.
Fallen man, Lord please help us. Very clever rhetorical move with the title, but disingenuous all the same, which leads me to distrust the writer right out of the gate; however, since the writer asked if I had any ideas… Give up the Sunday service altogether. The Sunday service is a place where people can connect on a very superficial level.
Our Sunday service is a very far cry from the type of meeting that the writer of Hebrews is commenting on my thought is that if we could magically bring the writer of Hebrews to what passes for Christian community, he fall dead a second time. What is the reality of that statement when you keep on with business as usual?
How will you make that metaphor real again to the people? Is the body being equipped for ministry or is the ministry supplanting the body? If the body was equipped, then the body would fulfill its purpose. Volunteerism is not equipping people to do anything other than volunteering.
What if the most relational that we can be maxes out at 50 people Phillip Leiberman? Just stop with that. I teach for a living and so following your idea I should teach only for those students who fully engage during class? Maybe we should stop using that word until we all learn what it really means rather than what we think that it means?
Yes, Sunday worship services and all those weekly meetings managed by church leaders are not the church. They definitely have wrong I understanding of the church. I call it rather temples where they gather and pray. We all know that God does not live in temples build by human hands, who lives there then? My church is the believers with whom I fellowship.
I communicate with believers from Dubai, Nigeria and my mother in Russia, so this is my church. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Church is rather have a spiritual meaning rather than a meeting of few members of ICOC, Baptists or members of other organizations. The theology is not the issue with Nomad, but rather giving voice to people who have begun to question or have long been questioning not just the institution, but its hold on their lives.
Dear Matt: Many of your statements i found to be insightful and illuminate the Lead Articles counterproductive Ideas. Now we have to speak the Truth — and we shall Do So — using The Lord as a Perfect Example When Jesus Spoke to the unbelieving who did not know God and Godliness and lived without faith He addressed their Unbelief — their dysfunction from being Children of GOD — and were ignoring their spiritual heritage before they were born into mortality and the inherent call of God to Come unto Christ.
That ignorance and rejection by remaining in Darkness while Light was to be found by faith study repentance and service to God was a dysfunction. Please, for God Sake- reject that idea once and for all. NOR does the doctor become infected instantly by the mere act of the diagnosis or choice and administration of the medical remedy!
And There is EVIL — And we must rise to be greater than The Evil in intelligence, effort and steadfast enduring struggle for Light — line upon line; and precept upon precept. Here a little — and there a little. Until we both enter upon The Strait and Narrow Path — and hold to The Word of God with an steadfastness that does not waver, deviate or even give ear to the detractors- the vile and debased who mock God and Godliness.
Each and Every one who listens to those that Hate God and become embarrassed or ashamed of The Light will end up joining with the detractors; the mockers— and become soiled by ceasing to Hearken unto God. If I want to follow Christ, then I would do well to hearken to the ancient wisdom of Philippians He restrains himself and this to the point of death on a tree. Evangelism is, of course, crucial, but making disciples of new believers is commanded.
He has a very callous attitude toward the people of God i. Since churches seem to focus on getting people involved in various groups, or activities, or volunteering, does that mean those people are doing few, maybe even none, of those things?
Meanwhile, those same people are trying to be Christians in their jobs, trying to raise their children to love and fear God, and to be caring neighbors.
My church pastors are married, Scandinavian, and well into their 70s. They know exactly what ordinary church-goers experience in real life. Therefore they waste no time. They lead by example. They are janitors, mechanics, electricians, accountants, and chefs. And the congregation helps when they can. Hebrews 10 about forsake not the aseembling of yourselves together. The church is the body and each person provides a different function just like our physical bodies have arms ,legs, etc. Too many people make too many excuses for not attending church.
Society has regressed with the progression of electronics. We have become obsessed with non contact communication. Surely Hebrews is talking to those who are actually His people, not to a collective of people who gather in a building. The sheep hear His voice.
The sheep are his chosen. Yet in the church, all I see are goats. Not one is hearing His voice. They are all caught up in false beliefs, false followings, and false doctrines. Thank you Jessie for clarifying this. Jesus never said to build buildings, cathedrals, etc. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me ……… and another story when Joseph and Mary had to go back to Jerusalem after a days journey and only found Jesus three days later Luke and what did Jesus say?
He was surprised that they had no idea that he would be in his Fathers house, where else would he be? In Acts , it says that the sound of a violent wind filled the whole house where they were sitting. The House where they were sitting was the Temple!
Peter spoke of the Tomb of David as being there Acts In Acts , it says that three thousand people were baptized in response to the apostles preaching. These were ritual baths used by the worshipers to ceremonially cleanse themselves before entering the grounds of the Temple. These pools, which already symbolized the removal of the uncleanness of sin, and their proximity to where the crowds would have been gathered, gives further evidence to Pentecost happening in or around the southern stair entrance to the Temple grounds.
All this evidence overwhelmingly points to the events of Acts 2 taking place on or near the southern stair entrance to the Temple. Hundreds of thousands of God fearing Jews from all over the known world Acst were gathered to celebrate the Jewish Feast of Shavuot Leviticus At this ancient Jewish feast, God came in the form of tongues of fire and settled on the new believers.
All of this took place in the framework of Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled at this miraculous event and it all happened at the place God had his people build a place for Him to dwell! But it does say when three or more are gathered. When I watch church on television does not feel the same. I feel people not the building, makes the church but a screen is not the same as actuall people worshiping together in the presence of the Lord.
I think the reason many of us stopped attending, not stopped believing and serving, are because we feel trapped in the Church of Laodicea. We are the church. Not a building. Not a set of man made beliefs requiring our tithes to satisfy the selfish desires of the elders. Jesus himself rebuked the established religious system while He was present on this earth. My separation from a physical church made me realize how blind and naked I was. That is where the true church resides and with whom I will fellowship.
I wish you were either one or the other! So be earnest and repent. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
I believe that we are not just surrounded by the church of Laodicea. All the other churches in Revelation are with us too. Is your Christianity lukewarm? Is your Christianity corrupt? Is your Christianity loveless? Since God does not live in churches, the devil lives there and operate those churches. If you attend the church and think you worship God, think twice, you worship devil!
You just did not realize it. You must better meet at home with other believers, remembering Christ by eating bread and drinking wine. So much darkness. I pray directly to Christ. He loves you. If you come to Christ; he answers your prayers. Not everything written in the bible is Gods word..
I realized that regular fellowship includes the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That divine appointments were arranged by God when I kept my eyes open for them. Finally … that when my ears listened for the words of affirmation from above, they sound was so much sweeter than that from my fellow man. The review comments condemning the president were bit harsh as he has exhibited more pastoral initiative with his leadership than several of the mega church pastors I have witnessed here in Michigan.
The church of Matthew may be the only church that may end up being endorsed by the only ONE that matters. I will tell you why I stopped going to church! I went to a Bible church. After losing a child to a horrific accident, my ex- husband took up a grievance with me and blamed me. The church I attended knew he worked as an establishe airline company and knew he would be bringing in more of the monies than helping a grieving woman find a good job and supporting her in any way they can so I could get through through the divorce that he dicided was necessary.
Nobody in the church backed me…the one that tried to keep the divorce from happening…the one that stood resolute in faith and character. The church;h definitely became poisonous and I never attended one again after. I had to work 3 jobs to stay afloat, but then I crashed into deep depression. Nobody was there to help me. Nobody was there to save me from losing everything I had. And I found that the world outside of the church had more empathy than the people that attended church…that was very sad to me.
Melinda, It may be God allowed you to go through all you experienced simply to put you in the place to be God dependent and no longer Co dependent. It may sound harsh but that is exactly what He wants. Spouting ungodly crap! These groups likely are not serving their neighbors. Ironically, these small groups are even less likely than churches to be evangelistic.
People should not deceive themselves; a handful of Christian friends is not a substitute for a church family. Unfortunately, an increasing number of people have to work on Sundays. As a result, churches need to find ways to engage Christians with unconventional work schedules rather than shame them. Consider, how can a person be a fully engaged member of your church if they have to work many or most Sunday mornings? Be gracious, and thoughtfully consider how to navigate this new dynamic.
The world has changed. In the last decade, youth sports have risen to new popularity. In days past, leagues never scheduled games on Sundays. Today, Sundays are a popular choice for tournaments, games, and competitions. As a result, families find themselves having to choose between church attendance and sports.
For the spiritually immature or ambivalent, the choice is simple: sports. Youth sports are not the only new claim on Sunday mornings. It is safe to say, though, that family rhythms are shifting. If this is true, how is your church intentionally addressing this issue? How can you engage a family in spiritual growth that is committed to youth sports?
What initially attracted a person to the church may no longer connect with them. Sunday morning is not about entertaining the masses, but neither should it be boring. Evaluate who is sitting in the congregation and make sure leadership is planning a service that is engaging their attention.
For newcomers, ensure that your service keeps them in mind and engages them in a way that they want to come back. Youth and children are the future of the church and the present! We can judge these parents as spiritually immature.
But the reality is that they are spiritually immature. They are acting their spiritual age! We can resent that, or we can embrace and engage with them where they are. How are you doing with serving your children? Our faith is ultimately about transformation—from death to life, from glory to glory. People want to be engaged in a church where issues in their everyday life are addressed. Issues such as raising a family, marriage, parenting, illness, financial needs, and job stress are top-of-mind for many individuals.
Depending on where a person lives, this could be a reality; however, churches vary in their delivery, style, and leadership. In our post-Christian society, many views have become more nuanced. A long-time Christian may have doubts about a literal seven-day creation, or a literal world-wide flood.
If you have created an environment in your church intentionally or unintentionally where people cannot ask questions, doubt, or hold varying positions on non-salvation issues, people will leave your church.
I know this is a tricky subject. However, I am encouraging you to consider where you draw your lines. The impact of your positions on important things is hazarded by the force of your opposition to trivial matters.
The government, however, ought not single out and target Christian worship among others forms of gatherings in reinforcing these calls.
Nevertheless, this seems to be what is occurring, at least in the state of Kentucky with the recording of the license plates numbers of Easter day church-goers, requiring them to self-quarantine and Mendocino, Calif. Time will tell how these orders will pan out.
There are true threats to religious liberty in America. Generally applicable orders are not a threat to such a liberty. But the above-mentioned situations in Kentucky and California are unacceptable.
Christians should remain faithful to God and neighbor, even if the government is not. Truly for the Christian there is but one hiding place for the human soul, and that is in the grace of God through Jesus Christ. If you do not know Jesus and His power to save you for eternity, do not wait another day. Call on Him and find your rest in Him. Thanks for reading. Jeremy Breland is a farmer in Ruffin and a M. He can be reached at jbreland gmail. No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here.
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