Practicing Christianity Without Attending Church?

[samuelg1]

12 hours ago, Neighbor said:

Not me. (Q: Why would anyone be seeking out  people unhappy with churches?) I love not one but three local bodies of Christ for the compassion of the membership, the active working by individuals there in living the word glorifying Christ in all that they do. If I have a problem with churches it is that I cannot manage to attend all three that I presently associate with  at the same time. I am up early this AM to see if the one that I missed this week has now posted their service online yet, so  that I can keep up. It may not get posted until Tuesday.

Fortunately for me each  does have archives of their services, prayer lists and notices of opportunity to participate in helping and just fellowshipping  with one another.

 

Well yes of course, the moment you ( or I  ) attend. As Spurgeon is quoted as stating; The day we find the perfect church, it becomes imperfect by our joining with it.

Churches are jealous and covetous with their congregations locally. All three churches I have attended with some regularity have rebuked their congregations for a lack of loyalty. In other words, these pastors expect their congregations to attend their church exclusively. I don't believe the Bible commands or requires this. More egotistical nonsense from the local pastors. 

When these so-called pastors continue to preach from a place of ego and worldly ambition instead of from the Bible, it makes me not want to engage with them. 

[Neighbor]

25 minutes ago, samuelg1 said:

Churches are jealous and covetous with their congregations locally. All three churches I have attended with some regularity have rebuked their congregations for a lack of loyalty

Funny ( odd), we call ourselves "double dippers" those of us that attend and participate at more than one church body. We are welcomed at each as such, one church has even opened up on Thursday evenings just to accommodate us with a third full identical service the same as the two on Sunday. Actually I am a triple dipper; but one is my "away church" for when I am away to a second home, for my wife's sake. We are encouraged by the elders to  if called  go be part of establishing yet more  local bodies of Christ nearby and far away so that many may hear and be called to  our Lord by the Holy Spirit. The one church has established four new bodies this year.

 I don't know if there is one I like better than another, all worship my Lord Jesus, all help one another, all share the gospel of Jesus with an unsaved world. each fills my need, each provides opportunity for me to serve my Lord and savior. God has called me to each one. all I can say, is our cup runneth over with love from the body of Christ.

 

 

[LadyKay]

11 hours ago, Justin Adams said:

Most like to deck their places with pagan evergreens.

I like Christmas trees. 

[missmuffet]

14 hours ago, samuelg1 said:

I've heard and read the standard suggestion: go find a new church, God will lead you to the right one.

I'm going to tell you my real world experience. EVERY SINGLE CHURCH I've attended is severely compromised. There really is no such thing as a church which teaches sound Christian doctrine anymore. If they do so, they are only emphasizing the elements which are politically correct these days, in essence, twisting and distorting Christianity to the point of non-recognizability. In effect, most every last church is preaching heretical Christianity though lies of omission rather than commission, and this is typically a best case scenario. Either way, it is deception and therefore heresy. 

I've made multiple attempts to address and correct some of the more severe problems at my current church. It has led to arguments already and I can tell that any more attempts to address problems would lead to a lot of friction and pushback. The destiny of the church is clear: it is being debased by people with their own political agenda and they are all fully backed by all of the pastors. It is a lost cause.

I am totally fine being a Christian who carefully sources secondary sources, books, podcasts in addition to reading (or listening to) the Bible. I am tired of pastors saying stupid things which aren't taught by the Bible. It is making me angry and causing me stress. 

Who else is practicing the same?

You do not have to attend a Church. It is not a salvation issue. But you must stay in a close relationship with God. Read your Bible everyday and get to know Him. Pray everyday to maintain that relationship. Give your life to God and let Him have control of your life. Have faith and trust. 

[Behold]

On 12/9/2019 at 3:57 AM, samuelg1 said:

I've heard and read the standard suggestion: go find a new church, God will lead you to the right one.

I'm going to tell you my real world experience. EVERY SINGLE CHURCH I've attended is severely compromised. There really is no such thing as a church which teaches sound Christian doctrine anymore. If they do so, they are only emphasizing the elements which are politically correct these days, in essence, twisting and distorting Christianity to the point of non-recognizability. In effect, most every last church is preaching heretical Christianity though lies of omission rather than commission, and this is typically a best case scenario. Either way, it is deception and therefore heresy. 

I've made multiple attempts to address and correct some of the more severe problems at my current church. It has led to arguments already and I can tell that any more attempts to address problems would lead to a lot of friction and pushback. The destiny of the church is clear: it is being debased by people with their own political agenda and they are all fully backed by all of the pastors. It is a lost cause.

I am totally fine being a Christian who carefully sources secondary sources, books, podcasts in addition to reading (or listening to) the Bible. I am tired of pastors saying stupid things which aren't taught by the Bible. It is making me angry and causing me stress. 

Who else is practicing the same?

Jesus said that he will be in the midst of "any 2" who are gathered together for him, or are believing (as touching) anything that is a need.

As some have stated on this Thread already, there are groups that gather.   And that is absolutely "assembling together".

We are assembling together right HERE IN MY POST, when we find common heart connection, common theology connection, with each other on a forum like this one.

I know what a LIVE crowd is.  I know what it means to stand and give out the Gospel or lead them in worship.  But i also know the effectiveness of direct GRACE teaching on forums like this one to hungry Christians who want more of God, more of the word, and want to be lifted up by the Grace and Truth of Jesus, who Himself is both.

Many believers are inches from total commitment to Christ, and i want to push you that last FOOT/METER.  I want you to get in the GAME.   You are already one of the team, but, not everyone on the team is on the field carrying the ball or running around the Track.   So many want to do it.  So many want to go on that mission trip, or teach that Sunday school class, or offer themselves in some capacity to God, literally in life.   And its fear that keeps you down.  Fear of failure. Fear of what others will think.  Fear that you might not do a good job.....  But HEY LISTEN........not doing a good job is not the prob....the prob is doing nothing at all.

Listen, never-mind the end result.   You leave the end result to GOD.   And God leaves the job at hand to any who will step up to the plate and SWING AT THE FENCE.   Thats you.  THAT YOU.   Start swinging.  Find a way.  Start with doing one good deed a day for anyone and do this for a month, a year, a lifetime..   Let that become a discipline.  Show God you will STICK with the small discipline and He will show you why you will be SO glad you simple tried.  God never ignores  EFFORT laced with Truth.

The Best Christian Ability :

1. AVAILABILITY

2. DEPENDABILITY.

Not success.  Never that. Its not how big your building is...Its how many other buildings were built by others who heard you teach.    Jesus taught in a 30 mile round trip, more or less, yet the IMPACT of His Words changed everything for the last 6000 yrs, regarding the entire universe.

God and YOU is the Majority.  You dont need 10,000.  You just need to be determined and do the best you can.   God does the rest.

I write, but God teaches.   I witness but God saves.    It does not matter if im any good at it.....all that matters is that i take what i have, and give it away, use if for God's Glory....make what i have AVAILABLE to everyone.   From there, God does the real work., the meaningful work.....what really CHANGES and SOLVES.

Does God have all of you?   If not, then when you get up tomorrow, let this be the first day you gave Him all of you, and do it from now on.   YOU DECIDE THIS.   He is waiting.

Let me show you what God did today.   Im in the gym. Im using the "overhead press" machine.  Ive got my ear plugs in.  So, this man walks over to me again, 2nd time he's ever spoken to me, again for no reason, and  he again wants to know more about me.  He seems to feel, (as far as i can tell), that he knows me......I seem familiar.......He's drawn to me, Saint.   He's about 70, he's not in great health, limps, has balance issues., but he's trying to stay alive.  Suddenly he just tells me about "i had this lawyer friend, who just died...he just unexpectedly died"... And i said.  "yes, when our time is up, its up".. 'Yeah, you are right about that"..   So, why is this 70 year old stranger, finding me in a gym full of people to tell ME about his friend's death?   ITs because He is closing in on it himself, and he is afraid.  So, i have the answer.  And why am i showing you this?   Well maybe on Thursday when i see Fred Shivers again, i can try to talk to him about "after death"......  but maybe, just maybe, God wanted me to have this experience just so i could tell YOU what happens, when you are just available..... and thinking about all this as you should be, all the time.

So, as i was saying.... you can Fail, and God can make your failure into His Success.

"well done good and faithful servant" is for those who just TRY.   It does not matter if you succeed or get it right, or get it perfect.  Its the trying that matters to God.

Maybe you dont realize this, but Grace is the end result of a Seed.    In all cases.   It started with the seed of God in Mary.  The Cross was the end result of that seed.   The Cross is now the seed for all of humanity to come and believe and be BORN (again).     All seeds produce BIRTH.  All seeds produce a Harvest.   God Planted Jesus as the Seed of Grace, and now billions have been born again from this SEED.

Everything is a seed.  for good, or for not.   And all you are, is a seed planter for God.   So, plant some seeds, saint.   Plant and God will water.  Plant and God will water.   You are the seeder, God is the REST.

God leaves the effort to you, and you leave the results to God.

A good deed, is a seed.    Do some everyday.

What is Preaching but telling people about the Cross and then showing them how to live a life that is pleasing to God.

What is soul winning except allowing the love of God you share to be the seed that ignites a person's heart TOWARD GOD IN FAITH.

It is the best practice to find a bible believing church, that is not cultish, (theologically speaking), and serve there, and have your kids there, all the time.  That this experience of being with real believers, lifting up Jesus, feasting on the LIGHT.   This is so very needful.    And if you can't find this locally, then find it on TV, on Radio, and here, and on other Christian forums.   

Stay immersed in hearing and thinking about God and Christ and all of this........  They are many ways to do this.  All are Legit.  The more the better, because the more you do, the more you become.

Edited December 10, 2019 by Behold

[Marilyn C]

14 hours ago, samuelg1 said:

I've heard and read the standard suggestion: go find a new church, God will lead you to the right one.

I'm going to tell you my real world experience. EVERY SINGLE CHURCH I've attended is severely compromised. There really is no such thing as a church which teaches sound Christian doctrine anymore. If they do so, they are only emphasizing the elements which are politically correct these days, in essence, twisting and distorting Christianity to the point of non-recognizability. In effect, most every last church is preaching heretical Christianity though lies of omission rather than commission, and this is typically a best case scenario. Either way, it is deception and therefore heresy. 

I've made multiple attempts to address and correct some of the more severe problems at my current church. It has led to arguments already and I can tell that any more attempts to address problems would lead to a lot of friction and pushback. The destiny of the church is clear: it is being debased by people with their own political agenda and they are all fully backed by all of the pastors. It is a lost cause.

I am totally fine being a Christian who carefully sources secondary sources, books, podcasts in addition to reading (or listening to) the Bible. I am tired of pastors saying stupid things which aren't taught by the Bible. It is making me angry and causing me stress. 

Who else is practicing the same?

Hi samuelg1,

The church, ekklesia. the called out ones, (from Israel and the nations) is.......BELIEVERS.

The model of the meeting in a building run by a religious organisation with a lecture type sermon, is only of the last few centuries. Instead of looking to man`s system why not reach out to another and get to know each other, and later share, study & pray. Do that with another and over time you will have the fellowship we all need.

praying, Marilyn.

[Dennis1209]

14 hours ago, samuelg1 said:

I've heard and read the standard suggestion: go find a new church, God will lead you to the right one.

I'm going to tell you my real world experience. EVERY SINGLE CHURCH I've attended is severely compromised. There really is no such thing as a church which teaches sound Christian doctrine anymore. If they do so, they are only emphasizing the elements which are politically correct these days, in essence, twisting and distorting Christianity to the point of non-recognizability. In effect, most every last church is preaching heretical Christianity though lies of omission rather than commission, and this is typically a best case scenario. Either way, it is deception and therefore heresy. 

I've made multiple attempts to address and correct some of the more severe problems at my current church. It has led to arguments already and I can tell that any more attempts to address problems would lead to a lot of friction and pushback. The destiny of the church is clear: it is being debased by people with their own political agenda and they are all fully backed by all of the pastors. It is a lost cause.

I am totally fine being a Christian who carefully sources secondary sources, books, podcasts in addition to reading (or listening to) the Bible. I am tired of pastors saying stupid things which aren't taught by the Bible. It is making me angry and causing me stress. 

Who else is practicing the same?

Hello Samuel,

I don't know but, by the tone of your post, you sound angry? Some good things have been mentioned above about the perfect church, there are no perfect churches until Christ comes back. Satan never misses an opportunity to miss a church service either and stands at the door to deceive and devour whom he can.

Samuel, if you've read and know your Bible, you know these things are coming and are to be expected and are now here; and growing worse and worse by the day. Political correctness, the governments, evil, socialists and the one world order crowd is controlling and influencing the churches, instead of the other way around. 

I can't speak for your situation or geographical area but; there are still plenty of Bible believing, Gospel preaching Christian churches out there that will welcome you with open arms. You may have to do some asking around and internet searches of the denomination you're seeking; and reading their statement of faith and church covenants, etc. You may even have to drive a distance to another location to find one, but they are out there! The standard sure worked for me with some prayer and careful listening to that little whisper in my ear.

Luke 18:8 (KJV) I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Here in the US and at the present and globally, yes you can, there's still plenty of those faithful churches out there! Attending and belonging to a Bible believing Christian church doesn't save anyone as you're well aware. But it's the collective bride of Christ coming together with all things in common; worshiping, singing and praising our Father and Lord and Savior. Where two or three are gathered in His name, He is in the midst [Mt. 18:20]. 

Through time, labor, love, tithes and offerings collectively, we impact our communities and people [God is in the people business] for the Gospel and Kingdom of God. We support missionaries bringing the Gospel to people locally and globally and help the poor and needy of our local communities. We Christians can also have moments of doubts, sickness, trials and troubles; we encourage and uplift one another in the faith.

I pray and encourage you not to throw your hands up and give up. Seek and you shall find.

[samuelg1]

Thank you for your thoughtful words, Dennis. My car is a bit older and am not keen on testing it's long range abilities! I tend to get tired after a lengthy drive, so I might not even enjoy a service I had to drive a significant distance to, even if If found it ideal. 

[samuelg1]

I don't know why it took me so long to realize it, but the "pastors" at my morning church at least are not really pastors. As a matter of fact, I have absolutely no idea what their qualifications are, or what their training consists of. 

Aside from the lead pastor, the staff at modern churches now consist of the following:

1. babysitters aka youth worship leaders, K to 12.

2. event planners and coordinators who serve in largely a para-professional capacity: creating flyers, setting dates, arranging for logistics: food, drinks, a/v setup and other simple tasks.

3. entertainers and a/v tech: local musicians, almost always in their 20's, many hoping to score big with a hit christian album on iTunes or on youtube. Volunteer tech responsible for sound mixing, lighting etc. 

4. pseudo-theologians who may or may not have a graduate degree in theology, but they stayed at a holiday inn express. Kidding. Maybe they took theology courses. Maybe they didn't. But they're delivering sermons! Woopee!!

5. volunteers from the congregation who serve as greeters, groundskeepers, parking lot attendants, etc. 

I mean seriously, even the lead pastor is beginning to say some incredibly stupid things, as are assistant "pastors." They're so lost they don't know if they're coming or going. 

The point being, they've been so dumbed down by whatever they're reading or watching in media, their brains are scrambled eggs. 
 

I have no guilt whatsoever treating church functions strictly as social events for the local community, because that's all they really are. So much of biblical teaching has been stripped away, it's not really worship in any meaningful sense. 

"Haalloween" celebrations at church: really?!? "Tree lighting ceremonies" at church: really? "Multi-cultural" celebrations at church: really?!? Why?!? The last item on the agenda is teaching from the Bible. 

 

Edited December 10, 2019 by samuelg1

[Scott Free]

On 12/9/2019 at 3:57 AM, samuelg1 said:

I'm going to tell you my real world experience. EVERY SINGLE CHURCH

When the Great Persecution is suddenly thrown over us after the fall of the U.S. we will be in our element. Wealth, prosperity and luxury are toxic to our churches. We will be forced to wash our hands of the world. Maybe then we will stop smearing our garments.