Believe in God, but not the church?

[2funny2c]

Hokie, at some point, arguing becomes pointless and you have to remember that with some people you are just "casting pearls before swine".

They dont want to have an honest dialogue. They just want to incite you and yell "aha!" when you respond to them. That way they can further justify there own sinful and disobedient walks instead of looking inward they lash outward. At some level, I think they feel convicted and guilty about their sin and display signs of bitterness and aggression.

Hokie, move on and just pray for them. I am more concerned about the people who "claim" to be Christians on this thread that refuse to go to church for a plethora of "excuses". They ARE excuses because there is no VALID reason according to scripture why a Christian shouldnt be in church.

I just hope when judgement day arrives that God will recognize them as His children. That is my hope and prayer

 

[hokiefan33]

Clearly you are fascinated by what I do behind closed doors. Hence your interest in making a private love life a public one.

I wouldn't say "fascinated." There's other words I'd use to describe my feelings about it, but "fascinated" sure ain't one of them.

 

[RickinNYC]

Hokie, at some point, arguing becomes pointless and you have to remember that with some people you are just "casting pearls before swine".

They dont want to have an honest dialogue. They just want to incite you and yell "aha!" when you respond to them. That way they can further justify there own sinful and disobedient walks instead of looking inward they lash outward. At some level, I think they feel convicted and guilty about their sin and display signs of bitterness and aggression.

Hokie, move on and just pray for them. I am more concerned about the people who "claim" to be Christians on this thread that refuse to go to church for a plethora of "excuses". They ARE excuses because there is no VALID reason according to scripture why a Christian shouldnt be in church.

I just hope when judgement day arrives that God will recognize them as His children. That is my hope and prayer

Whatever you do, please do NOT pray for me. Both of you.

 

[hokiefan33]

Hokie, at some point, arguing becomes pointless and you have to remember that with some people you are just "casting pearls before swine".

They dont want to have an honest dialogue. They just want to incite you and yell "aha!" when you respond to them. That way they can further justify there own sinful and disobedient walks instead of looking inward they lash outward. At some level, I think they feel convicted and guilty about their sin and display signs of bitterness and aggression.

Hokie, move on and just pray for them. I am more concerned about the people who "claim" to be Christians on this thread that refuse to go to church for a plethora of "excuses". They ARE excuses because there is no VALID reason according to scripture why a Christian shouldnt be in church.

I just hope when judgement day arrives that God will recognize them as His children. That is my hope and prayer

Believe me, I know all about them. No offense, but I've been on here a little longer, or at least posted more. Sometimes it just makes me mad, but you're right, the arguments go nowhere. I will continue to pray for them.

 

[RickinNYC]

I wouldn't say "fascinated." There's other words I'd use to describe my feelings about it, but "fascinated" sure ain't one of them.

I can only imagine what those words are. You've posted some in the past, why stop now?

 

[hokiefan33]

Whatever you do, please do NOT pray for me. Both of you.

I have to, Rick, I just can't help myself.

 

[RickinNYC]

I have to, Rick, I just can't help myself.

Then you should pray for yourself first, for those nasty hate filled evil words you were thinking a moment ago that you referred to in an earlier post.

Nice.

 

[hokiefan33]

Then you should pray for yourself first, for those nasty hate filled evil words you were thinking a moment ago that you referred to in an earlier post.

Nice.

What words? Did I say something I am unaware of?

 

[mickeyfan2]

I'd still like to know whether Hokie would invite and welcome my partner and I to his church as his personal guests.

I would and I would bring my cousin and his SO along too.

 

[rockin_rep]

I haven't read the entire thread but hope to later.

However, to me its all about Relationship (with Christ) and not Religion.

 

[2funny2c]

I haven't read the entire thread but hope to later.

However, to me its all about Relationship (with Christ) and not Religion.

You got it half right.

2 greatest commandments. Love God. Love People

the 2 go hand in hand. We show our love to God by serving one another within the Body of Christ.

Dont believe that lie the enemy is telling you that its OK to be a Christian and not be in a Church.

 

[Tasha+Scott]

What words? Did I say something I am unaware of?

You have said some pretty hate-filled things in the past that many of us remember. It is pretty hard to think of you as this wonderful Christian after reading some of that. My advice is that you really should pray for yourself and your own shortcomings and biases before praying for others and passing judgements upon them. You deal with yourself and let God deal w/them.

And for the record, if not going to church is the worst thing that I have done lately then I think I am doing okay! I can't tell you the number of people I know that attend church b/c they think it will automatically give them a first class ticket into Heaven. I happen to know that the only way into Heaven is by believing in Jesus, not just listening (or in many cases simply showing up--listening not necessarily being a requirement!) to a man preach for an hour. I think you should definitely pray for those that attend church for that reason!

Now please continue arguing w/those less perfect than you. I have to take care of my dd and do other more productive things w/my time so I'm officially done with this thread!

 

[RickinNYC]

You got it half right.

2 greatest commandments. Love God. Love People

the 2 go hand in hand. We show our love to God by serving one another within the Body of Christ.

Dont believe that lie the enemy is telling you that its OK to be a Christian and not be in a Church.

Wow, even Hokiefan has a little more tact than that. ENEMY? So anyone that feels you can believe in and love God but do not have to go to church is the enemy?

That's patently ridiculous and offensive.

 

[2funny2c]

Wow, even Hokiefan has a little more tact than that. ENEMY? So anyone that feels you can believe in and love God but do not have to go to church is the enemy?

That's patently ridiculous and offensive.

The enemy of Christ and his church is Satan.

 

[2funny2c]

You have said some pretty hate-filled things in the past that many of us remember. It is pretty hard to think of you as this wonderful Christian after reading some of that. My advice is that you really should pray for yourself and your own shortcomings and biases before praying for others and passing judgements upon them. You deal with yourself and let God deal w/them.

And for the record, if not going to church is the worst thing that I have done lately then I think I am doing okay! I can't tell you the number of people I know that attend church b/c they think it will automatically give them a first class ticket into Heaven. I happen to know that the only way into Heaven is by believing in Jesus, not just listening (or in many cases simply showing up--listening not necessarily being a requirement!) to a man preach for an hour. I think you should definitely pray for those that attend church for that reason!

Now please continue arguing w/those less perfect than you. I have to take care of my dd and do other more productive things w/my time so I'm officially done with this thread!

Even the demons believe in Jesus. Just believing does not pave the way to heaven.

 

[RickinNYC]

The enemy of Christ and his church is Satan.

So, using your line of thinking, anyone that doesn't feel you have to go to church to worship God is the enemy. And the enemy is Satan, so anyone here on the DIS that believes in and loves God, but doesn't go to church is Satan.

Folks, I'm not making this stuff up!

 

[brerrabbit]

Our individual walks with God and Christ are just that individual walks. You and only you can accept Jesus Christ as your savior. Some will do that outside a church, others within a church. I think that the key for anyone is that they have to be seeking God to begin with. Within my church we are aware that there are many different types of people in the world and each has particular likes and dislikes. In an effort to accomidate the many needs of people we have worship services that are more relaxed, more traditional and contemporary. We will be starting a Country Gospel gathering once a week in January and the atmosphere will be laid back with Country Music, dancing and a weekly message given by the Pastor of our church who will also be a part of the House Band. We have numerous and varied Sunday school classes, bible study classes and as a whole the church participates in numerous Mission Activities. We deliver over 200 Christmas Baskets each year with food, and toys for families in our community that need help. We have built a self contained medical lab in a storage container and sent it to the Tsunami victims to help with medical care. We have built a school and about five houses in Mexico in conjunction with a group called Builders Without Borders. Also in conjunction with that group we have made several trips to Mississippi to help with recovery from Hurricane Katrina. And on of our greatest programs is that each week we take up a "God Box" offering that our Pastor takes and just does something nice for someone each week. He has helped cancer patients receiving treatment at MD Anderson in Houston, stuggling families and families of soildiers injured in Iraq to travel to the Washington DC area to see their loved ones. The point is that we understand not everyone seeking God is looking for a cookie cutter setting of only a worship service. You can be a part of our church by participating in any one of these ministries or heck if you have a cause you support you can talk to the church trustees and propose the start of new ministries.

Praising God, accepting Jesus Christ as your savior and walking the walk by doing good things for your fellow man are all forms of worship. At my church you can do any or all these things and be a part of a church.

And to you Rick, and Joe, you are welcome at my church anytime you happen to be in Texas, and I can assure you you would be accepted without reservations. We love to have visitors and accept them all because not a one of us, my Pastor included claims to be for one minute without sin.

 

[RickinNYC]

Our individual walks with God and Christ are just that individual walks. You and only you can accept Jesus Christ as your savior. Some will do that outside a church, others within a church. I think that the key for anyone is that they have to be seeking God to begin with. Within my church we are aware that there are many different types of people in the world and each has particular likes and dislikes. In an effort to accomidate the many needs of people we have worship services that are more relaxed, more traditional and contemporary. We will be starting a Country Gospel gathering once a week in January and the atmosphere will be laid back with Country Music, dancing and a weekly message given by the Pastor of our church who will also be a part of the House Band. We have numerous and varied Sunday school classes, bible study classes and as a whole the church participates in numerous Mission Activities. We deliver over 200 Christmas Baskets each year with food, and toys for families in our community that need help. We have built a self contained medical lab in a storage container and sent it to the Tsunami victims to help with medical care. We have built a school and about five houses in Mexico in conjunction with a group called Builders Without Borders. Also in conjunction with that group we have made several trips to Mississippi to help with recovery from Hurricane Katrina. And on of our greatest programs is that each week we take up a "God Box" offering that our Pastor takes and just does something nice for someone each week. He has helped cancer patients receiving treatment at MD Anderson in Houston, stuggling families and families of soildiers injured in Iraq to travel to the Washington DC area to see their loved ones. The point is that we understand not everyone seeking God is looking for a cookie cutter setting of only a worship service. You can be a part of our church by participating in any one of these ministries or heck if you have a cause you support you can talk to the church trustees and propose the start of new ministries.

Praising God, accepting Jesus Christ as your savior and walking the walk by doing good things for your fellow man are all forms of worship. At my church you can do any or all these things and be a part of a church.

And to you Rick, and Joe, you are welcome at my church anytime you happen to be in Texas, and I can assure you you would be accepted without reservations. We love to have visitors and accept them all because not a one of us, my Pastor included claims to be for one minute without sin.

BrerRabbit, if I were in TX, I'd be glad to go!

 

[2funny2c]

So, using your line of thinking, anyone that doesn't feel you have to go to church to worship God is the enemy. And the enemy is Satan, so anyone here on the DIS that believes in and loves God, but doesn't go to church is Satan.

Folks, I'm not making this stuff up!

This is a waste of my time but here goes. The enemy i was referring to and Christians will recognize this is Satan. When i say dont believe the lies the enemy is telling you. I am referring to Satan as the enemy. Satan will fill your head with all these lies like "its ok to be a christian and not go to church", "the church is full of hypocrites", etc.

I did not say that anyone here on DIS that doesnt go to church and is a Christian is the enemy. You words not mine.

No, my friend, you are making alot of this up because that is not what I said.

 

[jekajekalynn]

Really Is it a secret, I am very good about keeping secrets

They're gonna beat the love of Jesus into 'em. lol