Too old to be here?

[Arrabon]

I so appreciate all your comments.

For me, my heart belongs to God and I do my best to express that the older I get.

[missmuffet]

I am not too old to be here. As long as I can get on the computer and have breath 

[walla299]

58 minutes ago, other one said:

Personally I really don't care how people dress going to church.   I personally don't go to church to see God.   He's with me all day long every day and I converse with him both verbally and spiritually most of the day every day.

Church is more of a gathering of followers and we meat to be with each other and discuss things and learn from each other, and help each other.   A church is just a building and if you find Jesus there it's because we bring him with us when we go.   As for music, it should be what the people of the church want in the services.  And I can enjoy all kinds of music if it's not really loud.   My hearing aids can actually create pain in certain circumstances, but I grew up on Rock Music and listen to it most of the time at home.

But I also love hymns, unfortunately 25 years of smoking 35 ago kind of messed up my singing.   Whatever music is used it should be where people can sing along and get the spiritual uplift that music gives.  If you don't like the music then do the earplug thing and read your bible while singing is in progress. (Yes I do this some Sundays). 

All I can say is amen.

I don't have hearing aids yet, but years of loud machinery to include jet engines have given me some hearing loss. Tinnitus can be unforgiving of loud music so when I visit a new church I bring some bright orange foam ear plugs.

One thing I have not found in the USA (except for one very small denomination) is Psalm singing along with hymns. Found a lot of psalm singing churches in the UK and in Germany, and I rather miss that.

 

[Kelly2363]

28 minutes ago, Arrabon said:

I so appreciate all your comments.

For me, my heart belongs to God and I do my best to express that the older I get.

 

I was blessed by this OP brother, and thought severally to post a comment - And now seeing your last post I feel led to share,

One time when I was just a year in the Lord I visited a city to find a friend because I needed his advise. As I walked down the street he lived on, the Spirit caught my attention, and turning I found myself looking at a small chapel building set just back between the other buildings. I knew that the Lord wanted me to take note of it. When I arrived at my friends house just further down the road I was told that he was away and would not be back for another week. So because of the witness of the Spirit I booked myself into a small hotel along the same street. The next morning was Good Friday and I walked down the street after breakfast and stood in front of the small chapel. Within a few moments a group of people who I had no knowledge of began to gather and I realised that they were members of the church. My wife to be was among them and they were assembling to go into the city to preach the gospel. So I went with them. 

That Sunday I attended their assembly and found myself sitting next to an elderly brother in a suit. His name was Joseph Green. He was in his nineties and he was wearing a suit and tie and polished shoes and a starched white shirt. I found myself turning to the side repeatedly to look at his face because there was something about him that was focused and single minded. After the meeting I asked who he was and I was told that he was the last living member who had founded the church in 1946. He and several others purchased a piece of land that was made available when a German bomb destroyed two of the houses in the street and killed the occupants. And so in hope Jospeh and the brethren bought the land and dug foundations for a church by hand and laid the pipe work. The foundation not only occupied the then chapel building but twice more was hidden under the earth as a vision of future growth. 

I stayed in that City for seven years and during that time the hidden foundation was uncovered and a church building three times the size of the chapel was constructed. On its opening it was full. Joseph went to be with the Lord just a few weeks later. But I have never forgot him or his example of having a heart only for God. Reading your opening comment made me remember Joseph Green a faithful and singular minded man who knew only the need to keep his eyes on the Lord.

 

[Arrabon]

1 hour ago, walla299 said:

One thing I have not found in the USA (except for one very small denomination) is Psalm singing along with hymns. Found a lot of psalm singing churches in the UK and in Germany, and I rather miss that.

That's what I was talking about. There has been a change or shift in the spirit of the people in this country' the last 20 years or so, just by observation and experience.

I would never try to be critical or ever dissuade church attendance.

It's just that to some of us older believers, things that shouldn't be are becoming so blatantly obvious yo us, it can't be ignored anymore, and God says for those of us who are aware of it, we are to be "APOLOGISTS, defenders, and contenders for the faith in a kind and loving way , but also in a direct, and understanding way about it too.

 

God bless all of you in Godly love and true kindness.

[teddyv]

Music and dress are a cultural matter and as it changes that will always leave us pining for the old days. I grew up on the Psalter Hymnal and organ, and while I love the old songs to this day, the execution could be a bit dreary. Being from the Dutch Reformed tradition, we were pretty notorious for very understated services (to downright depressing) - at least in the period my parents grew up. 

[Ray12614]

17 hours ago, Marathoner said:

Those shiny shoes would last all of ten minutes in a place where sandstorms and howling winds claim everything. 

The Lord said to the Pharisees, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also." (Matthew 23:25-26 NKJV)

The farmer works hard in the field; do not begrudge him of his labor, for others eat the fruit of his labor. 

A portion of Paul's sermon from the 17th chapter of Acts: 

Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:

TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.

Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things." (Acts 17:22-25 NKJV)

A story.

There was a time when I was destitute, wandering here and there, engaging in humble work so I might eat another day. I had a mind to visit a church building where I hoped brethren of like mind and faith gathered so I might share in the joy of their company and fellowship. I managed to secure the means to leave that place of howling winds and sandstorms where I labored for the sake of another, making the journey to the closest town in a borrowed car, having done my best to make myself presentable given the circumstances. 

It wasn't enough. Those who gathered in the grand structures regarded me with disdain and disgust: there was neither joy nor love in their midst. I shook their dust off of my feet and moved along.

And so I looked for the most non-descript and unassuming church building in that place, which I found tucked away off the main drag. You wouldn't know the tiny church building existed unless you were specifically looking for that place. I opened the door and stepped inside, and was greeted warmly by those who gathered within. Some were dressed in fancy clothes and others were not, and each one approached me with a hug and a handshake. They didn't care what I looked like on the outside; they were only concerned with what was inside. There was joy and love in their midst. 

There is a generation that curses its father,
And does not bless its mother.
There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes,
Yet is not washed from its filthiness.
There is a generation—oh, how lofty are their eyes!
And their eyelids are lifted up.
There is a generation whose teeth are like swords,
And whose fangs are like knives,
To devour the poor from off the earth,
And the needy from among men. 
(Proverbs 30:11-14 NKJV)

Focus upon the inside of the cup, not its exterior.  

Sounds like an authentic, alive NT church to me. Much like my church.

Many times it really is about our attitude also. Before we founded my church, we were wanderers looking for a church where we could stay and make our church home, and happened to land in an denominational church for a year. One gentleman said to me 'Are you enjoying this religion?' in a not so complimentary way to the church. I said to him: "to you this is an religious experience only; to me this is the house of God where I can worship, be encouraged, prayed for, help others, and enjoy being together with the people of God". Eventually, we left that church due to doctrinal issues with the denomination, but to this day we are friends with many sweet brothers and sisters still attending that church.

In my opinion; It all is about your attitude of heart, respect for God's house, and receptiveness to the Spirit of God working in and through you and others, wherever you are assembling.

Grace and Peace . . . ray . . . 

[Starise]

15 hours ago, Marathoner said:

Surely we all agree that modesty of attire is called for whenever possible, but that's not an issue touched upon here.

You must have missed my post. I did touch on it because I guess that's where I draw the line. Could be men or women. You may falsely assume we all know better. I would have to disagree after some of the things I have seen in church. I won't go into more detail than I already have, which was probably too much detail to make that point.

Two things were mentioned in the OP. Dress and music. Even though the post mentions " Too Old To Be Here". @Arrabon you may feel old but you seem very young at heart to me. My guess is you wanted thoughts on the subjects which I did my best to provide from my vantage point. 

Each church has their own rules with many churches having no dress code at all. This seems to work for many churches because most of the members  can be trusted. In fact my particular church expressly says to "come as you are" which isn't as common in my denomination, and we do have people showing up in shorts and tennis shoes while others are dressed well. No one seems to be judging anyone else. I realize there are some people who would not go to church if a strict dress code were placed on them which is why I believe many pastors have let those rules down. Better to have them come comfortable and maybe hear the gospel that not have them come at all.

For every idea or rule though, there is always an abuser or two. Maybe someone so naive as not to really grok what goes over the top. If a church says "come as you are" technically people could show up nude. I guess some form of rules should apply past common sense for some people. Just my .000002.

[BibleStudent100]

12 hours ago, Kelly2363 said:

That Sunday I attended their assembly and found myself sitting next to an elderly brother in a suit. His name was Joseph Green

Great story!  So nice to hear about people who extend themselves for the Lord!

[Dennis1209]

Just some musings and thoughts about collective worship [church] and dress. 

The establishment of the church for the first three centuries, was not brick and mortar structures. Service and worship was conducted in private homes, underground churches if you will. As we all know, there was great persecutions of Christians under the oppressive Roman empire until Constantine. Would they have worn their Sunday [Saturday] best, and stuck out like sore thumbs back then? 

Presently in America, we are blessed with freedom of religion, and can collectively congregate and worship the Lord. We are seeing rapid changes in that today. Christian persecution is escalating in earnest globally, and here in America. 

Our government(s), under the auspice of a stated pandemic, have focused on closure and control of Christian churches. Why does a collective house of worship want or need a 501 3C? Government officials have stated Christians are the problem; we are a basket of deplorables, and have been labeled 'domestic terrorists'. Christian's are hate mongers spewing hate speech; non-inclusive; intolerant and a danger to society. 

Ecclesiastes 1:9 (KJV) The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

We are fast approaching the day, even here in America, where the church will be driven underground once again. Once again Christians will be slaughtered for their faith and testimony of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Just as under Rome, the Crusades and Inquisitions; true Christians will be tortured and murdered for their faith.

To be brief, think about what this Pope Francis is spouting, organizing and doing; the leader of the globes largest "religion." It's all beginning to come together and making sense now. 

I seriously doubt the faithful will be wearing their 'Sunday best', again sticking out like a sore thumb for the slaughter? I suspect this will even start sometime prior to the official start of the Tribulation. 

We shall shortly see?