right or wrong

[diakonos777]

Hi I'm not new here but I never post anything because I am shy and I'm afraid of the backlash that I could get here. Anyways a queston that I have is this. My husband and I were just debating this and and I thought it would be great to have you all tell me what you think. I wanted to put it in contrversioal but I couldn't. So here goes....My husband is the son of a Lutheran pastor and was brought up to go to church every Sunday and I was also brought up that way as well at least by my mom. After my husband and I have gotten married I have become lazy in going to church (not that I believe any less than him) but his point is that he doesnt believe people who say they believe and are just to lazy to devote one hour out of the week to God. And he compares their "beliefs" to a sin that a normal person would commit like adultary. He says that if he has committed adultary and has asked Jesus for forgiviness and after repenting is it considered a sin??? He has come to the piont of some people not wanting to hear the word of God, they would much rather hear themselves and not some boring man up on an alter telling them what not to do. And I have come to the point that just becuase I dont go to church all the time, doesnt mean I dont believe any less than him. For example I do read the Bible, I pray, and I do spend a lot of my time a lot of scriptures out on this website.

So am I being lazy in the eyes of God?

[Bolts]

Blessings to you diakonos777,

Faith and relationship with the Lord is a response of the heart. God and God alone knows our heart. The bible tells us that it is from the heart that we believe and are justified and it is with the mouth that we confess and are saved Romans 10:10. The Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thought, 1 Chronicle 28:9

I can't blame your partner for wanting you to go to church with him - most husbands would want that. If he's worried about your salvation and relationship with God than, maybe you could find some way of easing his mind

[nebula]

Well, I'm among those few who would question whether time at church is actually time to God or time to an institution.

But that's a different discussion.

Anyway, what I would like to ask you is why you are not going to church every week. Is it really that you are just lazy? Or is there some other reason? Say - you don't have any friends there? Services seem lifeless to you? Tired of the same routine week after week? (I grew up in a Lutheran Church - so I know how each week is the same program over and over and over and over and . . . .) Don't feel like you are actually connecting with God at the service? Not getting fed by the sermons?

I could be wrong - but if your heart is to seek God, why would you not want to go to church . . . unless you were feeling like you can't seek God there, like it is stagnant?

Jsut my guess.

[Gerioke]

Home fellowiship meetings are a good way to meet with other christians and getting in valuable prayer time. Felowship is food for your spirit. Church is a gathering of christians.

[elkieDannsa' Air An Drochaid]

We are told in the Bible to not forsake the gathering togther as some have the custom of. I think that answers it by Gods Word.

But, I love my church in many ways, learning, sharing, fellowship, worship and to be there when I can. So, I am wondering why, (of course ya don't have to tell me, -but, ask of yourselves why) also, that you aren't wanting to go there. Have the two of you prayed together for a home church that you would both feel is your church family and love to go see.

Also, much more than an hour a week is for God, of course, as you say with prayer and personal study. But, yes we are also to meet together to be there for others and to be encouraged by others in coporate worship, as it is referred to. To have a home church where you can involve yourself in finding your gifts and helping others as well as having the prayer, teachings , friendships and obey Gods telling us to do this, because it is for us, we do need that. It is important to Christian growth in many ways.

Hope you and your hubby can agree on a worship place together. (definately the comp does not substitute for going to church)

Family should see each other, that includes church family.

blessings,

elkie

[diakonos777]

Well I guess I"ll "defend" myself? After some thinking the only two reasons I guess that I don't always go to church is that

1) I work nights and I find it hard to get up anytime before noon on any day

2) I've been going to church all my life and yes sometimes it's over and over

ok 3) some of the people there are very judgemental considering the fact that the pastor is my father in law so its not the pastor I have a problem with its some of the people in the congergation. When my hubby and I got married they all thought right away that I was pregnant and we had to cuz we were both very young.(It's been two years almost and if I'm pregnant than wow what a long pregnancy) I guess none of them seemed to think it was because we loved eachother. wow go figure I just learned something about myself. huh well what do you know. Thanks for making me think Nebula.

So anyways I guess its a combo of all those things. We could find another church but I do love my father in law and the way he preaches he is a very smart and wise man. So I wouldnt feel comfortable in any other church.

And I really dont think I believe any less than my husband does. I strongly believe in Jesus and what the bible teaches.

[shepherdsgrace]

Hi THere,

Just want you to know that I understand about the working at night and cannot get up in the morning. My husband has worked nights for several years now. We just feel grateful that he has a job! But Sunday morning is unreal. For a long time we tried to keep it up. But eventually we had to go to just attending church on Sunday nights. I miss Sunday mornings. In fact I miss mornings period! But there are times when things just do not work out the easiest!

[Guest candy5]

I completely understand not wanting to wake up in the mornings for service( i work late every night and i'm young so that's just a bad combination) and i also understand how going could feel repetative and very much like a chore( i HAD to go to church every sunday until i moved out). But one thing to consider is going to church isnt just for UR spiritual growth it's for the other members of the church as well...we are the body of Christ and each person contributes his or her talents and gifts to further the body....it's not just about u. It's about fellowship and accountability, helping each other grow. I did have a point when i started typing but now i've forgotten it...so just something to consider

[elkieDannsa' Air An Drochaid]

I hope you understand I and I don't think anyone else is judging you. So, no need to be "defending " yourself. We all need to talk about things in our life and this is a good place for it in some ways. What ever you do is between you and GOd -not me and GOd. It always was and always is between you and GOd.

WHy not pray for those people who are spiteful to you? You will see them as JEsus does and prehaps react more as HE would, too. Praying for those who are spiteful in our lives is a Godly and changing thing.

The Love of CHrist in us broadens and deepens.

This helps us and them.

HIS LOVE gives because it has to because love loves.

It also forgives. It will help you to forgive these people.

Maybe you can make some of the meetings to be a companion to your hubby sometimes at church. Since you want to be at your Father in laws church and would not choose another.

blessings,

elkie

[nebula]

Thanks for making me think Nebula.

You're welcome!

Well, now that you've thought about what the real problem is, maybe you can share this with your husband so that the two of you can work out together a solution?

I mean, if he can understand that you are not just "lazy" and need to be wacked over the head to go to church, but that you have hurts and physical exhaustion and actual tangeable obstacles, maybe he can actually help you with these needs.