Church people

[angels4u]

Hi everybody,

I'm struggling with some of those questions and wonder if the church lost its power?

I see so many people people playing church and being so different outside the church.

So often I hear the preachers finding interesting things to do to attract the people to church.

The way some people dress is often disrespectful for the Lord, some teenagers are becoming song leaders in very short skirts so you wonder where the attention from the congregation goes.....to God?

Maybe its just me......

How pure are our motives to go to church and wanting to worship?

I know its problaly me and I know it shouldn't be what I like to see in a church but I should asked what can my part be??

But I find it can become very frustrating...

Angels

[ted]

Hi Angel.

You raise some very valid points here.

Some churches are so loose with their standards that it's hard to tell the difference between them and the world.

Short skirts, bad manners, backbiting, rumors, and many other faults can ruin a Godly congregation. We have become so informal when it comes to the Lord's house that the message we send is one of lackluster spotted confusion.

I believe the church should be the example of what God is in the community. This is where we show the world what the Bible means by separation. A lack of standards shows only that we are willing to compromise to gain the worlds favor. And money.

More later.

t.

[Trinity]

Church is to political

[Guest Thomas I believe]

Angels, Its not you trust me ! Many churches are being undone by the world. I have seen the dress code in churches become very lax in the last few years. I feel a church should have some guidlines for dress. Also there are clicks that i have witnessed in a few churches over the years and i think they exist but not in all. I used to belong to a church wherein the richer people(financially) would kinda hang together. Any division in any church if to excess will undo a church quickly. We must all toegther , pray together, worship together, Praise God together, study together. If those basic elements are not present it can cause discord as we all know. Churchs have boards and commissions nowdays and to be quite frank , that can be harmful too. Church is about God and church is anywhere two or more gather. I have seen to many churches plumitt into chaos due to inner strife in the leadership which funnels down to the congregation. As far as trusting people, that comes with time. If someone talks the talk we really need to see the walk to know there heart is pure and true. Well thats my thoughts !

In His Peace, Michael

Edited November 2, 2004 by Thomas I beleive

[angels4u]

Hi Ted,

Thank you for responding,

We live about 1 hour from all the churches where I would like to go.

We used to go to town to church for years.

After driving often twice on Sundays and going on Wednesday to bible study, we decided to go to a church closer to home where we went before we went to town to church. We didn't really agree with the doctrine either, but I did like the church.

We live in a small village and the closest church is about 15 minutes driving and that's not too bad.

the problem is that when I started working on Sundays (season work) we stopped going to church.

I know I want to go back again because the Lord wants us to go. (command)

The problem is my husband will in NO WAY go again to church if we have to drive 1 hour to get there and I don't really enjoy going to that little church with maybe 8 members. There is nobody you have to be accountable for. And there is nobody I feel I can trust if I need to talk to somebody.

I know there is no perfect church---but I don't know where I'm going anymore, I don't want to drive that distant (1 hour) by myself all the time so I decided to go closer with my husband ....we didn't go yet.

I love the Lord and want more of Him, but am I getting slack in my motive of not wanting to go to church? I can't even feel free to worship in that church to worship the way I want to. The people are very nice but also very judgemental.

I long for the heavenly church ----and my soul thirst for pure worship.

Am I the only one who thinks like that?

Angels

[angels4u]

Thank you Michael for responding also:

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who is experiencing this, it looks like the church has become too worldy or is it that we forsake our first love?

And without being all one in the Spirit (you are so right) how can we worship the Lord in one accord?

How many Christians are really obeying the Lords command to love one another-its a biggie and not always easy to do.

But if we fail as a church I can't see how God can be pleased with us and all we end up doing is putting up a show?????? Is that a bad thing to say?

I never thought I would ever feel like this...

Angels

[seraph]

I attend a non-denominational, Spirit-led, Bible-fed church... I very blessed through the working of God through my church.

It's not just you, angels4u... of course no church is perfect, but many churches have severe problems! I had found my current church after wishing to leave my former church... I needed more than what I was getting there and I was frustrated with those who seemed to be ignoring the second part of 1 John 3:18- Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

We should be sure we are in the place God has led us, and if we are not, ask Him to guide us where He does want us.

[Guest Thomas I believe]

We should be sure we are in the place God has led us, and if we are not, ask Him to guide us where He does want us.

Amen Seraph !!

[angels4u]

Seraph---now the question remains how can I solve my problem, the Lord knows my heart and what I would like to do, but what does He wants me to do?

Oh dear its so difficult......... I wish I lived closer to alot of churches.

I feel selfish too ... I had to raise this question here because it has been on my heart for far too long!

Angels

[traveller]

Angels, I am so sorry you are not happy at your church. That can be so disheartening. Have you vsited all of them close to you?

Ok, have you talked with the pastor? Are there others in your church that feel the same way? If so, form a prayer group. And speaking of groups, have you considered home groups to suppliment your church time? Most importantly, pray about it and for it. If it's dry for you, then it's dry for others. Remember the story of Rizpah. One person can make a big difference. Pray to tear down the strongholds. Pray to bring about a refreshing annointing of the Holy Spirit. Pray for a divine intervention in the course of your church.

I will pray for your church too.