| Do You Attend Church? |
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Rose
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 Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 2:15 pm Post subject: Do You Attend Church? |
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Pure Essence
Joined: Mar 17, 2004
Posts: 2869
Location: Canada Ontario
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I consider myself a Christian, but don't attend church.
Up until about 12 years ago, I attended church on a regular basis. Then, I left the church I was attending. I have gone to church maybe four times in the last 12 years. I can't say that I'll never go back to church, it is just that I don't believe not going to church makes you any less of a Christian. Do you attend church or worship services?
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quietvictimsvr
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 12:58 am Post subject: Going To Church |
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TenderHeart
Joined: Jan 07, 2005
Posts: 56
Location: Kalispell, Montana
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Hi Rose,
At this time I am going to church only by hit and miss, because of Whooping Cough and a twice broken rib from coughing so hard. As strange as it sounds, I feel I have experienced spiritual abuse at the hands of a pastor. It took me 10 years, to start trusting in a pastor or a church family again.
I would like to know if others have experienced "spiritual abuse." This pastor was not in favor of my going to counseling, because it was "worldly." He was also against my separating from an abusive husband, because a wife's role was to take the abuse and stay with her husband. I was also not to take antidepressants or asthma medications if my husband did not want me to. At that time I was taking an antidepressant, Lithium to stop strong up and down moods, as well as Anbien in order to sleep. I had to go to a friend who was a nurse at a doctor's office and she gave me my asthma medications from the samples of salesman. The only name I can put to this treatment is spiritual abuse.
I believe a person can be a Christian and not go to church, however I also believe we do need the lift of being among other Christians and the support they give us. It has taken me 11 years to trust other Christians or a church family again. There are bad apples in every profession and that also is true of pastors.
Merriam  |
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quantum
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| Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:26 am Post subject: |
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Official member
Joined: May 27, 2007
Posts: 30
Location: U.K.
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I don't really like the ritual associated with formal church services but do sympathise with Christian ideals.I do believe in God as a creator, though not the personal God of most Christians. For me God is the power that created the universe and life. In my work as a scientist I study the structure of space time and matter and am constantly impressed with the ways in which mathematics helps reveal the ways in which the world works. There is no emotion in mathematics and I think that I would feel disappointed and overwhelmed if the power that created this vast edifice took a personal interest in my trivial activities!
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Dave
When you can tunnel, the whole multiverse becomes your oyster! |
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Rose
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| Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 6:00 pm Post subject: |
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Pure Essence
Joined: Mar 17, 2004
Posts: 2869
Location: Canada Ontario
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angelicalmist
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| Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 7:20 pm Post subject: |
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Honorary Crew
Joined: Mar 07, 2007
Posts: 104
Location: Salinas, Puerto Rico
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| I use to go to church in a regular basis when I was a little kid until I hit 18, that I left to the Middle-east and there are churches there, but I found myself not understanding a word from the priests there, because they have a different accent than us, and it was hard for me to go back to church, still me been there..... Since I've been here, back in Puerto Rico, it made it harder for me to return to church and specially since the priest in command in our town his just interested in the money we can give..... I really don't like it, because he takes the time to ask about money when is the time to hear the word of God, and the time to give the news or announcements for the week he should use it for that..... And besides, the church is changing their way of thinking way too much, what should we believe????? We keep asking ourselves what is belivable now, that is just confusing to hear the word of the Lord, in this times..... |
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Smitty
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| Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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Mr. Winkle
Joined: May 27, 2006
Posts: 138
Location: Bellbrook, Ohio
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I have always attended church and have been very involved it its life and ministry. A few years ago my home church went through a very emotional parting due to different views on leadership. It was very hard and for a while I sisted going to any new church. My family and friends were there.
I have a deep faith in God and I have no trouble with my relationship while not attending a church. I can relate with God anywhere, anytime. But, it is only through joined community that we can increase our knowledge and understanding of God and Jesus Christ, bettering our relationships with each other and around the globe.
You can lay on a bed of grass, but can it truley comfort you? You can smell a flower but can it give you sacrement and the Lord's blessings?
You can wade in the water, but can it baptise you in the in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost?
It is true there are people in any church that can leave you cold and bitter by how they act around or toward you and this may cause you to resist attending anywhere. I wish you would reconsider for those of you who do not attend or rarely attend.
Try taking a spiritual journey and travel around to different churches without the guise of passing judgement. Just ask God to guide you and let yourself be open to His word through other voices.
I am now attending a totally different church. Not knowing anyone has been difficult. But I am being fed Spiritually and that has motivated me into becoming involved. My past hurts are gone. New growth has begun.
I know I get long winded, but How can I be a believer in God and not express to you about an important part to a growing relationship with God?
Smitty (:-j |
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Smitty
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| Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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Mr. Winkle
Joined: May 27, 2006
Posts: 138
Location: Bellbrook, Ohio
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Excuse me. I just need to bring this up.
Quantum, you said, "There is no emotion in mathematics and I think that I would feel disappointed and overwhelmed if the power that created this vast edifice took a personal interest in my trivial activities!"
No emotion in mathematics? No emotion!? How many things in our world's history have been discovered through the use of mathematics?
It might become just a proof of theory afterwards but the initial discovery of a problem or situation is exhilerating.
Ask any father about their excitement when their child first counted to ten. Why then wouldn't our supreme father be just as excited over your accomplishments.
Smitty (:-j |
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quantum
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| Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:18 am Post subject: |
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Official member
Joined: May 27, 2007
Posts: 30
Location: U.K.
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| Smitty wrote: |
Excuse me. I just need to bring this up.
Quantum, you said, "There is no emotion in mathematics and I think that I would feel disappointed and overwhelmed if the power that created this vast edifice took a personal interest in my trivial activities!"
No emotion in mathematics? No emotion!? How many things in our world's history have been discovered through the use of mathematics?
It might become just a proof of theory afterwards but the initial discovery of a problem or situation is exhilerating.
Ask any father about their excitement when their child first counted to ten. Why then wouldn't our supreme father be just as excited over your accomplishments.
Smitty (:-j |
Smitty, I think that you are confusing science and discovery with mathematics. It is true that discovering new theorems can be exciting for the pure mathematician or applying mathematical theorems to real world phenomenon can be exciting for the scientist or applied mathematician. My point is that mathematics exists as a cold hard logical structure. Applying it in science can be creative, like painting a picture, but in this analogy the artist's paint would be analagous to the mathematics. There is no emotion in paint...or is there? 
Although God created the world in a way that conforms with mathematical principles, I suggest that any emotion would be in the act of creation. I think that God created the Universe to evolve according to certain principles which we mortals are slowely discovering. For God to intervene in any way after starting the process would break the laws that govern this evolution and interfere with the free will that distinguishes us from Laplacian automatons. I believe that it is this vital free will requirement that allows evil to develop in the world.
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Dave
When you can tunnel, the whole multiverse becomes your oyster! |
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pebbles
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| Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 4:49 am Post subject: Going to Church |
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Boy Genius
Joined: Dec 01, 2005
Posts: 133
Location: Massachusetts
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I have been going to church all my life and feel I am a better person for it. Not better than you because I go but better for myself because of my need to fill a spiritual emptiness in my life. True, there are ups and downs in religion just as there are in government, science or any other aspect of life but as with each up and down new discoveries lead to new and exciting developments.
Even Christ said, as scripture reads, "render to Ceasar what is Ceasar's and to God what is God's." I am by no means a holy roller and realize I need much improvement to satisfy myself spiritually but I feel attending weekly services and prayer gives me the strength needed to handle anything that life has to offer. God , prayer, love, family and my beliefs has seen me through one war and has helped me through many individual crises. Yes, I am a Soldier of God and would lay down my life for anyone that I Love. Blessings, Peace and Love Always, Paul.  |
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Smitty
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| Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 5:00 am Post subject: |
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Mr. Winkle
Joined: May 27, 2006
Posts: 138
Location: Bellbrook, Ohio
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Quantum, maybe it is our interpretation on how God is viewed that causes differences in our belief or non belief in an overall creator of the universe.
Do you see Christians veiwing God as supreme creator with shape or form? To see God in the physical form would go well beyond our ability to understand in truth, that is why we believe that part of the reason God sent us His Son, Jesus was to give us something physical to grasp. Man has a hard time beliving in something that cannot be seen or physically proven to exist. It is all about faith.
You believe in God as creator but do not feel that since the overall creation of things that God no longer intervenes, because that would disrupt the free will and evolution of things as we know and understand thus far. Hmmm. Could it be that God really does not intervene, because he had already created everything. Yet, Jesus did exist, not to intervene but to bring to light God's reason for our own existance and what HIS will for us is. But, it is only through our free will that we chose to accept that.
We have so much to learn, and with each new discovery, whether it be achieved by hand or mathematics or through faith, emotions will be felt.
Isn't it amazing how a a simple question like, "Do you go to church?" can evolve into much deeper revelations. ahh, the wonders of the universe. Thank God we're a part of it.
Smitty (:-j |
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quantum
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| Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:40 am Post subject: |
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Official member
Joined: May 27, 2007
Posts: 30
Location: U.K.
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Smitty, I can accept that Jesus came to provide some concrete point of contact and as you say he did not necessarily break any physical laws. I think that nowadays we are more familiar with objects that are not directly perceptible with our senses, particularly sub-atomic phenomenon. Also in string theory matter is taken to exist in higher dimensional spaces which can be handled with mathematics and can to some extent be visualised. With training, maybe some perception of the creator may actually be possible now, though religious mystics have of course, long claimed to achieve this through meditation.
Yes, I do think that God created everything and would know that the indeterminism built in to his physical laws through quantum theory would inevitably lead to evil in the world, and that the creatures that evolved would initially have difficulty recognising his nature. He could therefore have planned for Jesus at the creation. Other religions which view Jesus as a prophet, also seem viable to me, and highlight different facets of the basic spiritual drive within us.
I am very happy to join with you in thanking God that we are a part of this wonderful creation! 
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Dave
When you can tunnel, the whole multiverse becomes your oyster! |
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Guest
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| Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 5:43 am Post subject: |
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Joined: Aug 06, 2005
Posts: -521
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THIS is one of my pet topics. And since so many others are taking the leap to speak about religion I will set aside my preference to not speak of it, for now.
I have a long religious path filled with disappointments. Not in God but in the organized religions that espouse Him.
A former athiest friend of mine once asked me this question:
Did God create man in His image or did man create God in man's image?
I liked the question and pondered it for a few minutes and answered him with this:
I believe God created man in God's own image.
Then man invented religion. With religion man can morph God into whatever type of god the man might be in need of, at the moment.
And then, in his own eyes, man is the god of God.
Jim Jones in Guyana
The middle ages where people were slaughtered for religious differences
The jihads that are going on against America today
These are all religious wars beign waged in the name of someones GOD. I wonder how many of these warriors ever stop to think how He feels when His children hide behnd His name to kill his other children.
My young neighbor and I were both out tending to our yard areas at the same time one day last week. He asked me if I attend church? I used to run from this question but these days it has become a favorite.
In a soft voice and a gentle heart I answered him: I try not to. I go to God. He and I had a wonderful convesation about the Bible and prophecies and scriptures. He is a Sunday School Teacher and each week I inquire as to what's his lesson going to be on.
In my experience, organized religions want too much control of my life. Church works for some people. For those people I would never encourage them to abandon what's working for them. by the same token, not attending regular church works for me. So I don't allow anyone to make me feel diminished because I find a different path to my Saviour.
My knees bend. My heart breaks in repentence. My soul sings a new song of forgiveness and acceptance. My Spirituality is no less because I am able to find it outside the walls of an edifice, outside the walls of a physical building.
Organized religions are for those who need the strength of others who are like minded. I've been on my own emotionally since I was 12 years old and on my own physically, since I was 16. I know how and where to find my strength. In Him and He is accessable to me no matter where the two of us are in the universes.
And of my former athiest friend? He is a former athiest because after his father died and the family was gathered together after the funeral, his little 3 year old daughter was missing so every one turned out to look for her outside the house. He heard her voice and followed it to her and just as he was about to her she came running out from an area of bushes in the back yard. He asked his little girl who was she talking to and she said, Grandpa. Grandpa had just been buried. So now he believes in God but just can't figure out where God fits.
As a friend I can listen, or I can try to give him the answers I want him to believe in or I can trust that the God who gave my friend a reason to believe will also give him the next answer as well, in His own good time.
And just for the record, I think there's a lot of emotion in mathmatics! But that is an UNscientific response.
Whew! Gotta come up for air
TTFN |
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quantum
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| Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 8:27 am Post subject: |
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Official member
Joined: May 27, 2007
Posts: 30
Location: U.K.
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| AprilFlowers wrote: |
And just for the record, I think there's a lot of emotion in mathmatics! But that is an UNscientific response.
TTFN |
Ouch...My wife does that to me as well! 
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Dave
When you can tunnel, the whole multiverse becomes your oyster! |
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writeinvest
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| Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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Promising member
Joined: Jan 04, 2007
Posts: 21
Location: Australia
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I attend church weekly. I love to fellowship with other Christians on God's Holy day, which He instituted at creation as a time for communion with Him and a time of rest from the everydays hastles and stresses of the working week. It is such a blessing.
I especially love singing praises, and have been involved in choir and now often help with worship leading.
I find that worshiping God brings peace and joy and a feeling of closeness to Him.
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Debra Lohrere, author of ´How to Research Investment Properties´, 'Christian Investing and Money Management´, 'Peace, Prophecy and False Fire' and '10 Commandments and 666 Prophecy'. |
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Sheri1969
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| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 3:56 am Post subject: |
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Women of Faith
Joined: Nov 30, 2005
Posts: 298
Location: Ontario Canada
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I do not believe that in order to be a TRUE Christian, one MUST attend churches. For me, I have not been in a church for longer than a couple of weeks in over 5 years. First of all, I don't have a vehicle and must rely on buses. Secondly, the churches I did call would not find me a ride. Third, I have a lot of medical issues that keep me home/ill so I cannot go out. Fourth and most important, I found I learn more staying at home and writing my own Bible studies which I also share with Christians In Recovery and often times send to a minister in Africa who has requested my help.
I worship better on my own than in a church as well. I play piano so I can play both hymns and current praise and worship songs as well as the old ones.
No, I believe sometimes God has one home for a reason and I think it is to let the person realize just how much God does want us to rely simply on Him. That is what I have learned by staying home from church.
Sheri1969
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Sheri Liegh Adams
Jesus Never Fails! |
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