For Those Who Attend A Church

[Marilyn C]

1 hour ago, Sower said:

 

 

You surprise me Marilyn. I consider you as a solid member here.
You admit to not going to Sunday services, and then pass judgement on those who do.
I go to Sunday services almost every week (same church) for about the last forty plus years.
And in the past, Sunday evenings also.
And Monday night visitation, sharing the good news.
Tuesday morning men's prayer breakfast.
And Wednesday night prayer and services.
Wednesday night youth/AWANAS.
Saturday men's workday and grounds, or construction.
Saturday men's widows/elderly home repair wheelchair ramps etc...
My wife is at the " public religious meeting"more often than I am,
teaching a class, and going to two classes, and ladies functions.
Our group of believers at church is actually more our family than our own blood families.
My wife and my self's  growth as believers can be attributed mostly to this body of believers.
I notice many on this forum do not attend church for various reasons.I understand.
And that's a loss for them, and a loss for the church body they would have been a part of, were they able.
And I also notice there is a lot of church bashing on a regular basis. That's sad.
I feel I have to defend our church/churches/assembly of believers  every month or so, here.
Our church is small, and NOT on TV. We support missionaries, send missionaries, start churches.
Not all churches are as represented on this forum. Still shouldn't use that as reason to forsake assembling as scripture says.
I do understand many here just can not make it to church because of health, immobility, financial, or a biblical body close, etc.
We got a neat church, with all the warts and wrinkles, problems and trials.
And  God has drawn my wife and I to be loyal members/part of this body.
If anything, we should be praying for the churches that are still trying to make a stand, holding on to the faith.
PS.
I would bet that not all, but the  vast majority of believers on this forum were probably saved in a church,
or through a church (body of assembled believers). It has worked for centuries.
Before the TV, internet, forums...............
 

Hi Sower,

Yes I have attended public meetings for about 60 years. I loved going to fellowship and also helping where my gifts took me. So I quite understand how you feel. I did have a chuckle when you quoted me `public religious meeting.` I do try to make a distinction now between that and the Body of Christ. Many people have the building and the public meeting so ingrained in their thinking that anything else is heresy. I`m glad you are not one of those.

I did say my comments to all those who were just lazing around as if it was a day off, if they didn`t go to the public meeting. It astounded me to think that people could treat the Lord and His Body like that.

If you told me a few years ago that I would not be going to the public meetings, I would have been shocked. But there you are, the Lord told me to make disciples and that is what I am doing, for I will be accountable to the Lord for that. And yes I was making them in the religious system, but due to health I can`t go to meetings and mentor others. I have CFS and thus now focus on mentoring a few and over the years they are now mentoring others.

I am quite aware that there are still small assemblies that function very well together, with meaningful relationships, and mentoring and teaching and helping others. Great, but the majority of man`s systems have gone the way of connecting to the world system.

BTW yes it has worked for centuries, BUT NOT with this tech savy generation. Also assembling together the scripture says in 2`s and 3`s also.

Sorry that I didn`t make myself clearer and may have offended yourself or anyone with a very good assembly. 

[Salvation67]

It was a simple question of what you do when you can't make it to church (it happens) my brothers and sisters, let's keep it helpful and encouraging not........... this 

[LadyKay]

9 hours ago, Marilyn C said:

I see a lot of selfish activity regarding your question, which just again reinforces my belief that just going TO a public religious meeting dulls the heart.

For me. On a Sunday that I miss. I do my regular daily Bible reading and prayer.  But since it is Sunday. I feel I should be doing something more. But I am unsure as to what.  I myself really enjoy going to church. I look forward to it. So when I miss, it means something has gone wrong with me. Sickness, snow, Jeep wont start. Something like that. I also have panic attacks that seem to hit me in the morning. I just freak out and feel too afraid to leave the house.  So anyway, I just wanted to know if other people do something more than what I do on a Sunday when they can't get to church. I question myself sometimes. Am I doing what I should be doing?  I ask myself this question. 

[-Pv-]

When you are well I hope each of you can return to a place where you can touch a person with a hug, a meal, warmth, a real human smile and sing a song.

Hebrews 10:24-25
"let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."

Matthew 18:19
“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.   For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

Ephesians 4:4
"There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;  one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all."

Colossians 1:15
"He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.   For  by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.   He  is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.   He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.   For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven."

-Pv-