White Rabbitt Posted January 15, 2017 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 7 Topic Count: 13 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 219 Content Per Day: 0.06 Reputation: 190 Days Won: 0 Joined: 02/28/2014 Status: Offline Birthday: 07/31/1950 Share Posted January 15, 2017 Once upon a time there was a church organization. They did some things right. They did some things wrong. But they ran a smooth ship with all their rules. Then one day along came a spider. He was noticed right away. Some people screamed in horror. Others said, it's only a spider. The spider built a web. Then the spider woke up in the morning and the web was gone. Someone tore it down during the night. The spider knew not what to do. The problem seems that the cleaning crew swept through during the night and cleaned up everything given to them on their list. But the spider was left behind. He thought that maybe he was in the wrong church. They looked good from the outside, but he saw problems on the inside. If you were this spider, what would you do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran C Posted January 15, 2017 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 6 Topic Count: 2 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 337 Content Per Day: 0.13 Reputation: 214 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/11/2017 Status: Offline Share Posted January 15, 2017 What I'd do would depend on who the spider is. It seems he's someone who came in and really didn't belong in this church. Or he went into a little corner somewhere and just hid out there till he was discovered. So what you're asking is, should we stay in a church where we feel we do not belong? Is this correct? Fran Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Rabbitt Posted January 15, 2017 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 7 Topic Count: 13 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 219 Content Per Day: 0.06 Reputation: 190 Days Won: 0 Joined: 02/28/2014 Status: Offline Birthday: 07/31/1950 Author Share Posted January 15, 2017 1 minute ago, Fran C said: What I'd do would depend on who the spider is. It seems he's someone who came in and really didn't belong in this church. Or he went into a little corner somewhere and just hid out there till he was discovered. So what you're asking is, should we stay in a church where we feel we do not belong? Is this correct? Fran That's one way of looking at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willa Posted January 15, 2017 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 68 Topic Count: 185 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 14,204 Content Per Day: 3.35 Reputation: 16,629 Days Won: 30 Joined: 08/14/2012 Status: Offline Share Posted January 15, 2017 A confusing analogy. A non member (spider) had his home destroyed by a church. The event could be reported to the pastor and elders, and if nothing in done to correct the problem a complaint could be make to the overseeing or parent organization. I would also go for family counseling at another church which counsels with Scripture. Problems within a church should be handled by leadership unless they are part of the problem. If there is no parent organization, find another church. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran C Posted January 15, 2017 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 6 Topic Count: 2 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 337 Content Per Day: 0.13 Reputation: 214 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/11/2017 Status: Offline Share Posted January 15, 2017 2 minutes ago, Fran C said: What I'd do would depend on who the spider is. It seems he's someone who came in and really didn't belong in this church. Or he went into a little corner somewhere and just hid out there till he was discovered. So what you're asking is, should we stay in a church where we feel we do not belong? Is this correct? Fran If this is the case, I'd go to a different church. If I lived in a town where I could choose my church, I'd choose the one I felt most comfortable in; first in what was taught, and also I'd like to feel comfortable with the other members. I've been to churches where I did not agree with major, fundamental doctrine, and I had to filter a lot or not listen. This is not good or what the Lord would want. I find it disconcerting that not all churches teach the same doctrine, but this is where we are not, so I'd just do the best I could. Fran Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Rabbitt Posted January 15, 2017 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 7 Topic Count: 13 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 219 Content Per Day: 0.06 Reputation: 190 Days Won: 0 Joined: 02/28/2014 Status: Offline Birthday: 07/31/1950 Author Share Posted January 15, 2017 3 minutes ago, Fran C said: If this is the case, I'd go to a different church. If I lived in a town where I could choose my church, I'd choose the one I felt most comfortable in; first in what was taught, and also I'd like to feel comfortable with the other members. I've been to churches where I did not agree with major, fundamental doctrine, and I had to filter a lot or not listen. This is not good or what the Lord would want. I find it disconcerting that not all churches teach the same doctrine, but this is where we are not, so I'd just do the best I could. Fran No where in the Op does it say the spider built his web in a corner. Maybe he built it right out in the open, maybe on the altar, maybe on the cross on the wall. Maybe people were offended for different reasons. Maybe people were afraid to do anything themselves. Maybe they waited until the spider was not around and destroyed his web. Maybe his web does not represent his home. Maybe it represents the doctrine he believes, or maybe it represents his character, who he is as a person. Maybe there are other spiders who feel intimidated by the new spider. How can we make decisions without knowing the whole story. Maybe it's just easier to destroy the web and hope the spider goes away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran C Posted January 15, 2017 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 6 Topic Count: 2 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 337 Content Per Day: 0.13 Reputation: 214 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/11/2017 Status: Offline Share Posted January 15, 2017 3 minutes ago, Yowm said: Sounds like an imperfect Church...the best kind. A pastor once said: Even if you find the perfect church, the moment YOU enter it, it won't be perfect anymore! Loved it!! I can attest to the fact that there is no perfect church. I just think a person has to agree with at least 80% of the doctrine taught or they'll have a difficult time there. Fran Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran C Posted January 15, 2017 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 6 Topic Count: 2 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 337 Content Per Day: 0.13 Reputation: 214 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/11/2017 Status: Offline Share Posted January 15, 2017 5 minutes ago, White Rabbitt said: No where in the Op does it say the spider built his web in a corner. Maybe he built it right out in the open, maybe on the altar, maybe on the cross on the wall. Maybe people were offended for different reasons. Maybe people were afraid to do anything themselves. Maybe they waited until the spider was not around and destroyed his web. Maybe his web does not represent his home. Maybe it represents the doctrine he believes, or maybe it represents his character, who he is as a person. Maybe there are other spiders who feel intimidated by the new spider. How can we make decisions without knowing the whole story. Maybe it's just easier to destroy the web and hope the spider goes away. The web was destroyed so they didn't want the spider there. I did state that I'd want to feel comfortable with other members. And they with me... For instance, if people were offended, as you say, then why should I stay there? Ditto for the doctrine - I did bring this up also. The only reason to stay would be this idea that maybe I could change something. I gave that up years ago. Churches only change if the pastor changes. Fran Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran C Posted January 15, 2017 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 6 Topic Count: 2 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 337 Content Per Day: 0.13 Reputation: 214 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/11/2017 Status: Offline Share Posted January 15, 2017 Just now, Yowm said: We need to learn to get along despite our imperfections. If we don't agree with the doctrine that may be a basis for leaving, depending on how major the doctrinal points are. Exactly. We won't ever agree on everything. But at least the basics, right? I've been in Catholic churches and if the priest is talking about Jesus or commenting on the reading, I'm okay. If they start with confession, my heart starts to beat fast. I couldn't hear that all the time. That would be something major for me. But I love my Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ! Then again some persons leave for silly reasons - they don't like the asst. pastor, they don't like the new music director, etc. Fran Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ezra Posted January 15, 2017 Group: Royal Member Followers: 16 Topic Count: 134 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 8,142 Content Per Day: 2.37 Reputation: 6,612 Days Won: 20 Joined: 11/02/2014 Status: Offline Share Posted January 15, 2017 37 minutes ago, White Rabbitt said: If you were this spider, what would you do? Hope that someone did not come along and get rid of the spider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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