Believe in God, but not the church?

[jekajekalynn]

Yes to God, no to organized religion (church)

Amen! lol

I'm the same way. Infact I remember something my college Sociology Prof said once "Churches are NOT doing their job in society these days, if they were their would be NO BODY hungry in the city of Detroit."

I just don't like how commercial the majority of churches have gotten. Kinda like that one episode of the Simpsons when Mr. Burns 'bought' the Springfield church.

 

[DVC Jen]

many gay friends and family members and they are not abominations they are wonderful fellow human beings just as deserving of being on this earth and just as deserving of God's love as heterosexuals. I don't believe they made a choice, I believe God, made them that way. so I clearly and doggedly disagree with most religions on this topic.

That is another reason I have problems with so many organized religons.

I could have written that myself.

 

[jekajekalynn]

I like Church but some "churchie people" make me sick

You don't like the Church Lady?! "Who could it be...who could it be...... SATAN!!?!"

 

[CheshireVal]

I grew up going to church and I consider myself a Christian, but I haven't been to church since I graduated from high school.

I always found the people in churches to be sort of hypocritical, and never found any of the ones I visited to be a particularly loving place. I don't feel like I need to go to church regularly to be religious or spiritual. I'm comfortable with my relationship with God.

However, when I have kids, I would like them to have the experience of growing up in church, going to Sunday School, being baptized, taking communion, etc. So... when I do have a child, I'll start looking for a church again.

 

[2funny2c]

I agree with this and Alan's thoughts on page 1.

I don't *believe* in the "church". I believe in God. Church is where I go to be with fellow believers and to study God's Word with them. I can and do study on my own but I like discussing with others also. I believe the Bible teaches us to assemble ourselves together.
I have chosen a church that is not about material things or what you own, drive or wear. I've been in churches like that. They are a turn-off.
My church better teach on Biblical principle and nothing else. Don;'t try to feed me from someone's opinion or lastest book. I want scripture--real meat!

I find this thread very sad, actually. Sad to think churches have failed many. A church isn't the only responsible party but I think we've gotten off track.
Am I the only one reading this thinking of the 7 seven churches spoken of in Revelation? I am sure, as Christians we have grieved the Holy Spirit through our actions as churches.

I think the sad part of this thread is that people who claim to be Christian think its OK not to go to church.

Hebrews 10:25:
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

We are designed by God for community. We are not meant to be alone. "Iron sharpens iron". If you claim to be a Christian you are commanded over and over to serve one another with the gifts God gave you. God didnt give us our spiritual gift for our benefit but the benefit of others. You are commanded over and over again to encourage one another. The 2 greatest commandments are Love God, Love one another. You cant fulfill these commandments by worshiping alone and never being in fellowship with other believers.

Is the church perfect? No. Are the people perfect in church? No.

To have an authentic Christian walk, one must be in fellowship with other Christians. Jesus had 12 and an inner circle of 4. Jesus, the Son of God, recognized the need for community. Look at the early church found in Acts 2.

I believe that if you are a Christian then you need to be in Church.

 

[Wishing on a star]

You don't like the Church Lady?! "Who could it be...who could it be...... SATAN!!?!"

My thoughts exactly!!!! ROFLMBO!!!!


"Now, isn't that... speciallllll..."


Ohhhh I needed this laugh this morning!!!!

 

[DVC Jen]

I believe that if you are a Christian then you need to be in Church.

And you have every right to believe that. I believe that if being a part of an organized religon is such a downer for you that you begin to do things and witness things that are not so Christian it is time for you to seperate yourself from that and find another way to share Gods love and the gifts he bestowed on you...this is exactly what happened with me.

There are so many ways one can serve God without being a part of an organized religon. What about volunteer work...soup kitchens, hospitals, nursing homes.. schools.

Like I said in my initial post to this thread.. I teach in the same church I was a member of for a few years. Because of the hypocrisy of the church I no long attend services there. I do however feel God brought me there because HE gave me a gift.. and that is the ability to love, nurture and teach young children. AND.. God knows me well enough to know that the love and affection I get from my students is an amazing gift for me.

God works in mysterious and vast ways..and he doesn't work through us all or reach us all the same way.

 

[jekajekalynn]

My thoughts exactly!!!! ROFLMBO!!!!


"Now, isn't that... speciallllll..."


Ohhhh I needed this laugh this morning!!!!

Now lets all do our superior dance!

 

[jekajekalynn]

And you have every right to believe that. I believe that if being a part of an organized religon is such a downer for you that you begin to do things and witness things that are not so Christian it is time for you to seperate yourself from that and find another way to share Gods love and the gifts he bestowed on you...this is exactly what happened with me.

There are so many ways one can serve God without being a part of an organized religon. What about volunteer work...soup kitchens, hospitals, nursing homes.. schools.

Like I said in my initial post to this thread.. I teach in the same church I was a member of for a few years. Because of the hypocrisy of the church I no long attend services there. I do however feel God brought me there because HE gave me a gift.. and that is the ability to love, nurture and teach young children. AND.. God knows me well enough to know that the love and affection I get from my students is an amazing gift for me.

God works in mysterious and vast ways..and he doesn't work through us all or reach us all the same way.

Exactly!!

Besides, God loves me , so I could give a rats behind about what others opinion of my worshiping practices are.

 

[katedrew94]

If I thought that church was actually all about God then maybe I would go, but to me, the churches I have been to spend too much time on political agendas that I don't agree with, so I stay away. I can't reconcile believing in just some of the things that a particular church subscribes to, so I choose to worship on my own.

I'm sure that there are some churches that aren't like this but I sure haven't been able to find them. And I have been to a LOT of churches.

Good thing that the Bible defines churches in terms of people, and not as a building.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

yes. My kids go to Sunday school and enjoy it, but I do not attend church unless its for kids functions.

 

[phlufster]

As a child I was taken to a different church every month it seemed. We moved around alot and my parents were constantly trying to find a church that fit for us. It wasn't until 7th grade that we finally found a church and stuck with it for about 10 years. When I was 22 I got married in that church and when I was 23 and getting divorced (a whole different long story!) I was treated as an outcast and frequently gossiped about. The last straw was when a woman I had never seen before in my life came up to me in the grocery store and started telling me how sorry she was for me and knew all these details about my life adn my divorce. I asked her who she was adn how she knew all these things and she informed me tha tit was form the "prayer chain" (in my opinion, nothing can spread gossip faster than a prayer chain) Now, know the purpose of the prayer chain and I know that there are ones out there that are used as they are meant to be used, however, this one was not.
I am know 28 and getting remarried (in one month at Disney!!) ndn we are on a commitee with a friend of mine from high school, who is now a pastor, to start a new church. The paphlet from our new church states that we are a church for people that have given up on church but haven't given up on God.
Jocelyn

 

[hokiefan33]

Ditto here except I'm Southern Baptist. I'm of the belief that a group of Christians can serve the Lord more effectively than one alone. Jesus himself ordained the church. I don't always agree with everything or everyone at our church, but then again, it's not about me. It's about serving & loving God first & others second. I believe I can be best equipped to do that by regular study & fellowship with other believers. Our pastors have been ordained by God to lead us. They will be held to a higher standard. I trust their leadership.

I find it interesting what Jesus did re: church (synagogue) attendance:

Luke 4

14Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
16He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom.

That's my 2 cents.

Exactly. Well said. I think we try to make church about us and our feelings, rather than about our worship of God. That's why you see a lot of excuses about why people don't go. "I don't think...", "too many conflicts", "self-righteous, judgmental people", etc... It's not about them, it's about you and your worship of God. And He does believe it is important for us to gather together. And also, like has been said earlier on this post, I think a lot of reasons why people don't go is b/c church can often be very convicting and step on people's toes, and a lot of people would rather not hear how they ought to be living, so they say "church isn't for me."

 

[hokiefan33]

I agree with this and Alan's thoughts on page 1.

I don't *believe* in the "church". I believe in God. Church is where I go to be with fellow believers and to study God's Word with them. I can and do study on my own but I like discussing with others also. I believe the Bible teaches us to assemble ourselves together.
I have chosen a church that is not about material things or what you own, drive or wear. I've been in churches like that. They are a turn-off.
My church better teach on Biblical principle and nothing else. Don;'t try to feed me from someone's opinion or lastest book. I want scripture--real meat!

I find this thread very sad, actually. Sad to think churches have failed many. A church isn't the only responsible party but I think we've gotten off track.
Am I the only one reading this thinking of the 7 seven churches spoken of in Revelation? I am sure, as Christians we have grieved the Holy Spirit through our actions as churches.

Agreed, and well said.

 

[hokiefan33]

I think the sad part of this thread is that people who claim to be Christian think its OK not to go to church.

Hebrews 10:25:
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

We are designed by God for community. We are not meant to be alone. "Iron sharpens iron". If you claim to be a Christian you are commanded over and over to serve one another with the gifts God gave you. God didnt give us our spiritual gift for our benefit but the benefit of others. You are commanded over and over again to encourage one another. The 2 greatest commandments are Love God, Love one another. You cant fulfill these commandments by worshiping alone and never being in fellowship with other believers.

Is the church perfect? No. Are the people perfect in church? No.

To have an authentic Christian walk, one must be in fellowship with other Christians. Jesus had 12 and an inner circle of 4. Jesus, the Son of God, recognized the need for community. Look at the early church found in Acts 2.

I believe that if you are a Christian then you need to be in Church.

Amen. Finally someone said it. Now let's see what happens...

 

[Aidensmom]

The paphlet from our new church states that we are a church for people that have given up on church but haven't given up on God.
Jocelyn

That's the mission of the churches I have attended too! And after reading this thread, I am so thankful that they exist. I have never heard political messages or some of the other peeves expressed here when I have been in my church.

 

[hokiefan33]

I believe that if being a part of an organized religon is such a downer for you that you begin to do things and witness things that are not so Christian it is time for you to seperate yourself from that and find another way to share Gods love and the gifts he bestowed on you...this is exactly what happened with me.

As humans, and as we are ALL sinners, we have NO way to completely separate ourselves from "things that are not so Christian." They will exist both within "the church" and outside the church as well. Further, how you react to those things is entirely within our discretion. If we see things being done that are un-Christian, it doesn't mean we must also do them, otherwise you acknowledge you have no control over your actions, and that they are brought about by the actions of others. But since we know that isn't true, it is up to us to act in the most Christian manner possible, not just to continue running away from what we perceive the problem to be. A lot of times the problem lies with the runner, and not what they're running from.

 

[DVC Jen]

As humans, and as we are ALL sinners, we have NO way to completely separate ourselves from "things that are not so Christian." They will exist both within "the church" and outside the church as well. Further, how you react to those things is entirely within our discretion. If we see things being done that are un-Christian, it doesn't mean we must also do them, otherwise you acknowledge you have no control over your actions, and that they are brought about by the actions of others. But since we know that isn't true, it is up to us to act in the most Christian manner possible, not just to continue running away from what we perceive the problem to be. A lot of times the problem lies with the runner, and not what they're running from.

and there are those times when we know we can not change the world. we can merely change the enviornment we and our children are in... so we cut our losses and leave.

I respect your opinion and the fact that I will not change it. Therefore I am willing to agree on the simple fact that we disagree on this subject.

 

[Disney Doll]

I do believe in God and base my beliefs on the Catholic religion.

There are some things about the "Church"...the human entity...that I disagree with. I disagree with some of the decisions my Chruch leaders have made, and I agree wholeheartedly with others. I try to attend Mass faithfully and stick to the teachings of the Church as much as I can, but God knows, I am not perfect.

Since I believe that God doesn't expect us to be perfect, I am OK with not being perfect. I try reaaly hard to live a good life, be kind, do the right thing.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

I do believe in God and base my beliefs on the Catholic religion.

There are some things about the "Church"...the human entity...that I disagree with. I disagree with some of the decisions my Chruch leaders have made, and I agree wholeheartedly with others. I try to attend Mass faithfully and stick to the teachings of the Church as much as I can, but God knows, I am not perfect.

Since I believe that God doesn't expect us to be perfect, I am OK with not being perfect. I try reaaly hard to live a good life, be kind, do the right thing.

Disney Doll, this is exactly how I feel. We are practicing Catholics, kids go to catholic school, we go to mass every Sunday, usually I go to the weekly school mass too. However, there are certain things that I don't agree with 100%. I know I'm not the perfect Catholic, that's for sure (I don't go to confession as much as I should for one) but I try to do my best and in my mind God's okay with me not being perfect.