Dilemma

[unworthy.sinner]

Late last year, I had stopped attending church services as a result of a number of issues in my life - this mainly centred around a number of long term problems that had had been affecting me and my current standing before God. I had lost joy, did not feel loved, had questions over obedience, was questioning whether some of the conceptions I held over theological matters were actually right or not, and have been lonely after 11 years of no real friendships etc.

At the present time, I have been considering re-attending services, but have a number of concerns that I would like some feedback on.

Reasons not to:

Not walking in obedience - There are a number of things happening in my life that I believe to be displeasing to the Lord, according to Scripture

Don't want to be a "hypocrite" - Do not want to bring dishonour on the Lord by association

Don't want to treat the blood of Christ as a cheap thing

Reasons to:

I am now in a position where I feel I can offer praise and worship in truth (I won't be mouthing empty words that don't come from the heart)

I know that I need the Lord, and do wish to share in the remembrance of His sacrifice for sin as exhorted in Scripture

I do know that what He has done has changed my life, even if it has not been a bed of roses, and I have felt unfulfilled.

The church that I had previously been attending services at, and which I would envisage re-attending, is a theologically conservative, bible-based one, and have previously disfellowshipped attendees for matters of disobedience.

[EricH]

Moved from Worthy Welcome to Looking for Advise

[Marnie]

Go to church, there's always room for one more hypocrite. Besides, how can you be a hypocrite if you are being obedient to the Word of G-d? Don't over-think the issue, act on it. If you don't, I guarantee you'll talk yourself OUT of ever going back.

[Ddavid from NC]

If you are willing to submit to discipleship you attend. If you want to be beyond reproach and avoid critic, you will stay home or be a hypocrit. So it comes down to submission, humility, and meekness. You don't wash up before taking a bath. You recognize you need a bath and get in the shower. Right? The Devil is the accuser of the brethren and will use whatever trick of false humility or pride to keep you out. Get in church before you rationalize your backslidden condition as helpless and become a statistic. I've been there and done that.

[vicki-aka-bebe]

Well to me we should all attend a good truth teaching and preaching bible ... washed in the blood of Jesus church... and regardless of how we feel .. we should go and be with other christians that are praiseing and worshipping the Lord... cause when we do that he is in our mist and when he is in our mist .... things happen... you might not feel this or that way but Jesus can change that in a moment of time... that is one reason i think u should be in church ... satan would love us to talk ourselfs out of fellowship and praising the Lord cause he cant be long in there when there is praising of the Lord going on....

God bless sister vicki

[Trusting Jesus]

Fellowship is important. I can guarantee you that there isn't one person in any church any where who isn't dealing with on sin or another. You say that you have questions over obedience and some theological issues. Well, the Bible is your guide.

I wonder if the question is more that it is easier to choose living with whatever you sin is, or repenting from it and following what you know God wants. Whether you attend church or not, God sees your sin. Just something to think about.

<>< ><>

Nathele

[mikhail7]

If you are willing to submit to discipleship you attend. If you want to be beyond reproach and avoid critic, you will stay home or be a hypocrit. So it comes down to submission, humility, and meekness. You don't wash up before taking a bath. You recognize you need a bath and get in the shower. Right? The Devil is the accuser of the brethren and will use whatever trick of false humility or pride to keep you out. Get in church before you rationalize your backslidden condition as helpless and become a statistic. I've been there and done that.

Amen and Hallelueah. Go for it!

[Guest Greg Davies]

Go to church. You're not a hypocrite. If you don't feel loved at the church you go to, find another, but remember, conviction is good; condemnation is bad.

Greg.

[Rest is a weapon]

Knowing who you are 'in Christ' is key. How you see yourself at this time is not how god sees you. You are hidden in Christ and God can only see you that way. Pure clean, washed by Jesus blood. You are not a sinner anymore but are instead are a saint that struggles with sin (like we all do). Keeping short accounts and asking for forgiveness is a strategy to keep right with god. Not as a strategy to sin effectively but as a way to keep your heart clean.You may think "but I have been over this sin so many times." Don't worry, so have we all. It can take a while to wear down some bad habits but victory is yours for the taking.

Satan loves to lie and speak into our minds lies to try and make us feel unworthy. And it's not much more of a trick for him to try and make us think they are our own thoughts. When you hear the 'negative mind talk' (I can't go to church I'm just not ready...blah blah blah). Take the thoughts like that captive and use your authority (christ gave you when you became a christian) to shutdown the attacks and call in the angels god will send to protect you. But you have to pray it out.

Go to church find some friends in a homegroup maybe. A chord of three strands is not easily broken. That verse in the bible is meant to say 'Don't try and do it on your own'.

Lord bring some christians accross his path that you have to hook up with him and graft this saint back into the body. Show him in what ever way you wish Lord, how happy you are that he is responding to the call you've been making to his heart. Satan, your assignments to affect this man in anyway, through thoughts, other individuals or how ever, are now cancelled in Jesus name. Lord dispatch those angels to surround, protect and speak into his mind all the great things you made him to be, as you draw him toward his destiny in you. Thanks Jesus, you are the best. Amen

[Rest is a weapon]

P.S. It may be time to change that name friend