About Going To Church....

[JCISGD]

hi Song, while i empathise with you and am struggling to stay in fellowship myself, i would like to share thoughts with you that also apply to me.

God has shown me in the past that when we leave a church, it is Satan who defeated us and not the other way around. I dont mean we should stick it out in a Jesus denying cult, but if we were led to a church and we began with high hopes and promises of scripture, then we need remember "greater is He that is in us than he(Satan) that is in the world"(and sometimes gets into our churches to wreck them).

I once left my non christian friends at a party (I was sober) as we had an arguement over their behaviour, but driving home God challenged me about who was greater, so i prayed and went back and ended up sleeping in my car. In the morning it was discovered that my prayers had probably saved their lives as they were playing with dynamite but the wick that was too short would not light and in their drunken drug hazed state they were all too close.

When i remember to pray for the Holy Spirit to go before me and to be with me in power, i have a totally different experience of church. I dont leave it for others to pray down the power of God, what if they forgot? Besides we have the same authority as they do, and God loves to answer our prayers for the Holy Spirit and power in every situation.

Its only takes ONE praying christian to bring God into any situation, and although things may not change overnight, they will change and more importantly so will we.

Im off to church in about 10 mins to put my own words into practice.

God bless, and keep the faith.

Arthur.

[OneLight]

Remember one thing, whether you are assembled with other believers or alone, worship comes from the heart. We are gathered together to exhort, encourage and stir each other in love and good works. If you cannot find an assembly, then do so with everyone all the time. God will direct your paths if you trust in Him with all your heart.

[traveller]

Remember one thing, whether you are assembled with other believers or alone, worship comes from the heart. We are gathered together to exhort, encourage and stir each other in love and good works. If you cannot find an assembly, then do so with everyone all the time. God will direct your paths if you trust in Him with all your heart.

Well said.

[MorningGlory]

Remember one thing, whether you are assembled with other believers or alone, worship comes from the heart. We are gathered together to exhort, encourage and stir each other in love and good works. If you cannot find an assembly, then do so with everyone all the time. God will direct your paths if you trust in Him with all your heart.

[Smalcald]

Sometimes the expectations are too high.

Its just a bunch of people who get together to worship God and celebrate the things He told us to celebrate; baptism, communion, hearing of the Gospel. Those people are just as sinful as we are and so you have all of the problems that brings.

I would just make sure that they are grounded in the Gospel and scripture. None of them are perfect that is for sure but sometimes when we start moving around we become continually unsatisfied, this is true for life in general and it is something to be careful of.

[OneLight]

Sometimes the expectations are too high.

Its just a bunch of people who get together to worship God and celebrate the things He told us to celebrate; baptism, communion, hearing of the Gospel. Those people are just as sinful as we are and so you have all of the problems that brings.

I would just make sure that they are grounded in the Gospel and scripture. None of them are perfect that is for sure but sometimes when we start moving around we become continually unsatisfied, this is true for life in general and it is something to be careful of.

When we read about assembling together, we find this only in one place.

Hebrews 10:19-25

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

We read that we are to draw near "with a true heart in full assurance of faith", being forgiven of our sins through repentance. Because of this we are able to stimulate, or stir up, love and good works in others, exhorting and encouraging each other. How we do this is through Him and the gifts He has bestowed on us, including sharing His word.

When we look at the people and not God, we will always be discouraged because we are imperfect. Making Him the center of your times in church you will be blessed almost everywhere you go, as long as they also seek God in all truth.

[rickrussell]

It was very evident in the churches I attended that putting God first was not on their agenda :

Edited December 17, 2010 by rickrussell

[sunnier]

What's OSAS?

[enoob57]

What's OSAS?

onced saved always saved

[Smalcald]

I touched on this subject in my introduction thread and wish to pose it here.

I have not been to church in years, although I am saved. Now don't get me wrong, I want to go to church, I just can not seem to find one where I can sense God is there. Is that my fault ? I will not waste my time in one of those kinds of churches, it only brings me down big time spiritually.

Now I know His Holy word says to not forsaske the assembling together, but, I think it's a sign of the end times that I can not find one that uplifts me. And I don't think that is selfish at all. When you truly worship God in spirit, He will lift you.

It was very evident in the churches I attended that putting God first was not on their agenda : buying BMWs with the tithing money for the pastor, using it as a stage for their children who want to go into the recording industry, not witnessing, not feeding the poor, caring more about bakes sales, etc.....

I know I am sinning by not attending church. I have asked God for forgivenes. But just how long will God have patience on me regarding this ? Is He angry with me ? Am I grieving Him ? Is He disappointed in me ?

Edited for spelleen airers.

You are not alone. I haven't been able to find a good church to attend for a long time. If I could overlook some things, there are a few churches I might be able to attend?

1 An Independent Pentecostal Congregation that is 70 miles away, and it is not practical to join a church that far away.

2 A United Pentecostal Church, but the problem there is I don't agree with them on key issues such as the trinity, the idea you have to speak in tongues to be saved, and baptised in water in the name of Jesus. I do however agree with them on holiness doctrines.

3 An Independent Baptist Church that I like because of their King James Only position and holy living positions, but I disagree with on OSAS and their beliefs with regard to gifts of the Spirit.

4 An Independent Pentecostal Congregation where the Pastor seemed to be in the ministry for money, and was willing to shift positions to gain members.

5 A Pentecostal Holiness Church where I agree with them on most issues except their view of sanctification and the fact they do not take the hard nosed holiness stand they once did. They also use new Bible translations, and use of the King James Bible is a must.

6 An Independent Baptist Church where it is all about the Pastor. They do stand for the King James Bible and are strict with regard to clothes line issues, which is a plus, but I don't agree with them about OSAS and the gifts of the Spirit.

These are the churches I could possibly go to if I could get past the differences of opinion or in the case of the first church, the distance, but they are all serious doctrinal matters. The most ideal of the churches is the first one. I agree with them on most doctrinal issues, the King James Bible, and most areas dealing with Christian morality. If I lived in Charlotte I would probably join that church, but in my area, there is no church I am in agreement with.

If someone is looking for a liberal church with a "come as you are" sign, that uses new Bible translations and holds to OSAS, they are easy to find. If you are looking for a holiness church that is trinitarian and where they believe in the gifts of the Spirit, that is another story.

Yeah the only one we can really go to is about 75 miles away. I think it might be a compromise worth doing.

We floated around for some years always belonging to the one that is at a distance but never found a home locally and we really looked. Anyway I was thinking well if this is where the Truth is being preached and proclaimed then 75 miles is not that far. I mean people around the globe die for the luxury of assembling together secretly as a Church and I won't drive a little?

We don't go every Sunday but we contribute weekly. We try to go at least monthly and to receive communion which they have every Sunday anyway. So no its not perfect but I feel much better since just making a decision and doing it. There are also advantages to being a ways away....

So