grudges against the churches

[*Zion*]

I don't go to church, I am a part of the church.  Requirement: being adopted into the family of God by being born again.  I don't always enjoy fellowship with the collection of believers I am in community with.  But the bible tells me not to forsake the gathering of believers; and I do actually love these people, despite their personal judgements of me. 

 

Do you think in the last closing hours we have on this earth that there will be a building standing that will be allowed to bear the name 'church'?  We will stand out because we will be a light shining in this dark world.  How do we become that light?  By condemning each other?  For if we do condemn the church, we are condemning the body of Christ - each other, to be absolutely clear.  No, we must speak the truth in love.  The truth is that Jesus Christ is Lord.  Sometimes we want to take over lordship of our lives, because the truth can be hard to deal with.  But God isn't going to crumble into a heap of self-pity if we don't agree with Him - He is perfect truth and that is never going to change.

[alphaparticle]

I suspect what is missing out on the notion that we can 'go it alone' is just the reality about our nature. In the NT everyone belonged to a physical communal gathering, that I can tell. Jesus gathered people. Paul went around starting these, everyone gathered around in a physical way. We are weaker alone. I know that is true for myself and it's a fact about the vast majority of people that we are influenced by the social groups we are a part of. Having people around us who share our views challenges us to not only keep at it but to move forward.

[Guest AFlameOfFire]

Bopeep write... Going to a restaurant and going to Church are two different things.(Snip)

 

They both serve a meal though, but only at one of them can you become the meal (I think) lol

[missmuffet]

I don't go to church, I am a part of the church.  Requirement: being adopted into the family of God by being born again.  I don't always enjoy fellowship with the collection of believers I am in community with.  But the bible tells me not to forsake the gathering of believers; and I do actually love these people, despite their personal judgements of me. 

 

Do you think in the last closing hours we have on this earth that there will be a building standing that will be allowed to bear the name 'church'?  We will stand out because we will be a light shining in this dark world.  How do we become that light?  By condemning each other?  For if we do condemn the church, we are condemning the body of Christ - each other, to be absolutely clear.  No, we must speak the truth in love.  The truth is that Jesus Christ is Lord.  Sometimes we want to take over lordship of our lives, because the truth can be hard to deal with.  But God isn't going to crumble into a heap of self-pity if we don't agree with Him - He is perfect truth and that is never going to change.

Amen to that Zion.I am a part of the Church too.You can not confine God to four walls.

[GoldenEagle]

Stirring again.

 

There are many people who seem to have grudges against the churches out there. Some of them go beyond condemning a single church and translate their issues to all churches. It is this group Im asking about. For those who condemn all churches based on things they were offended by, what is the appropriate response? What should those who are offended do? 

 

Love them. Encourage them. Pray for them.

When someone is hurt it is my experience that only God can mend a broken heart.

I would say that things that are broken should be handled with care. Sometimes a gentle, kind word is a lot more effective than shouting.

 

Just my 2 cents...

[Qnts2]

 

 

 

Love them. Encourage them. Pray for them.

When someone is hurt it is my experience that only God can mend a broken heart.

I would say that things that are broken should be handled with care. Sometimes a gentle, kind word is a lot more effective than shouting.

 

Just my 2 cents...

 

 

Well put.

 

Almost all Christians have been thru a rough patch with a church or individual Christians. Some of these experiences have been dramatic and painful, and healing takes time.

 

I believe one of the toughest things to learn to do is to forgive a person or group who have truly wronged you. If they were absolutely wrong, and show no repentance for what they have done, what must a Christian do? That kind of thing, ufortunately, can cause a person to become trapped by their hurt from the injustice. How does a person get passed that? I have found, myself, that it is by forgiving, and by forgiving, the most basic of things would be to not hold an account against the person or group. To learn to hope for the best for the person, and not to desire that apology, or payment, or God's judgement against the wrong doer. Is that easy? No. But, it does cause us to become free as the hurt holds us captive. Do wrongdoers deserve forgiveness? Of course not. But I do not know of anything which is closer to what Jesus did for us then to forgive when a person does not deserve it, and when they may never repent or change.

[Guest AFlameOfFire]

I was always curious what Alexander Coppersmith did to Paul that he didnt say the "Lord forgive him" but rather "The Lord repay him" anyone know?

[Guest Butero]

I suspect what is missing out on the notion that we can 'go it alone' is just the reality about our nature. In the NT everyone belonged to a physical communal gathering, that I can tell. Jesus gathered people. Paul went around starting these, everyone gathered around in a physical way. We are weaker alone. I know that is true for myself and it's a fact about the vast majority of people that we are influenced by the social groups we are a part of. Having people around us who share our views challenges us to not only keep at it but to move forward.

Maybe that is why there are so many people at WB that don't have a local church family?  They aren't able to go it alone, so they find fellowship here.

[Guest AFlameOfFire]

I suspect what is missing out on the notion that we can 'go it alone' is just the reality about our nature. In the NT everyone belonged to a physical communal gathering, that I can tell. Jesus gathered people. Paul went around starting these, everyone gathered around in a physical way. We are weaker alone. I know that is true for myself and it's a fact about the vast majority of people that we are influenced by the social groups we are a part of. Having people around us who share our views challenges us to not only keep at it but to move forward.

Maybe that is why there are so many people at WB that don't have a local church family?  They aren't able to go it alone, so they find fellowship here.

There are actually many on various online forums throughout the internet that don't. And sure don't look like they don't desire fellowship, but are probably looking for more then rubbing knees on the pews with the Likes of Fred (who is passed out and snoring during the pastors sermon). That type stuff.

Sometimes you can show up to sit on the pew and feel less a participant in the body of Christ then you might online. Same with sermons, I can browse a thousand people at my fingertips and find the one I so agree with faster (online) then being somewhat stuck with only one teacher who might think he has a grasp on everything (by himself, for you) then recognizing the fact we have ten thousand instructors in Christ and no examples of a one man show in any (except for when used as an bad example). Like in Diotrephes.

[LookingForAnswers]

 

 

 

 

 

Stirring again.

 

Yeah I noticed that too.  Considering my last and unfortunately memorable response to those who were anti-church, I promise not to do a repeat performance.

 

I'm glad you brought it up Jade cause I was seeing the same thing but decided not to respond...but here is an opportunity.

 

I think people need to understand that we are not meant to be in isolation no matter how holy we may think it 'feels'...it is really not about our feelings...it is about

what scripture teaches us concerning church..not a building...but the Body of Christ and the assembling of ourselves together in His name.

 

I 'll just kind of wait and see and again, glad you brought it up.

 

 

I am not part of a church because it makes me feel holy not to be, I long for a true body of believers, but I have not found one.  I have found judgement and no love at all.  There is nothing I want more than to belong again

 

 

 

Ummm...I'm not sure I understand your response...referring to the part I underlined...I think you may have left a word out or something, but, if you didn't, then I really do not understand

 

Would you please explain?  Thanks

 

 

Sorry, I guess that was worded in an awkward way.  I was referring to this comment..."no matter how holy we may think it 'feels'"  What I was trying to say is that going it alone has not made me feel holy, it has made me sad and lonely.  But I will admit I have become very jaded by my experiences with churches and right now I am probably more discerning about where to go that I need to be.  But I could never again attend a church that puts it's focus on what goes on inside the walls instead of outside. Every church should have a published annual budget, and I always look at that and see where the bulk of the money goes, then you know where the heart of the church lies.