How has this country gotten so far away from it's founding that Sunday is just as busy as any of the other 6 days a week for business, a day for pre-game football shows, and sleeping in. I even know someone who every week attends a Catholic Mass (I don't think we should hold that against her though), and yet wants to remove God from everything but her Sunday morning mass (almost called it a service, whoops, Catholics have Mass lol). If you attend church every week, send your child to a private Catholic school, why wouldn't you want God to play a more impactful role in your everyday life?
Now I understand the atheists I work with being all scardy-cat like cause they don't believe God exists, yet, but these are current church goers that are getting all bent outta shape.
It's weird, weekly church goer, believes in the Bible, yet, is okay with abortion, yet, "Thou shall not kill." is plainly written in the Bible which they claim to believe. And I know sometimes people screw up and they make a mistake, but oops, I didn't know this abortion would kill someone just doesn't fly with me too well.
But why would someone literally run from God? Could it be they're not willing to make the drive? Could it be they know someone weird in a church already? Or is it they're not willing to face up to the fact there's someone who's more capable, more powerful, more forgiving, and more loving than they are?
I don't know, why do you run?
I admit that I tend to run from churches, but not necessarily from God. I was raised Southern Baptist, and I was driven away from the church when they started telling me to hate X Group of people. I've been to several churches since, and it always comes down to the same thing, for me:
ReplyDelete"You need to condemn X."
"You need to look down upon X."
"X people are sinners."
"X people are wrong."
These messages greatly contradict all of the love and forgiveness that can be found in the Bible. I attempt to carry the same understanding and patience with everyone, as though they were really my brothers and sisters. This is why I'm closest to a Universalist, by denomination.
Usually, when I go to church, a pastor will try to breed segregation between me and those who are not like me. I don't agree with that mentality, and I don't want to be that type of person. I think that God wants me to be honest, genuine, forgiving, patient, and loving to those around me, regardless of their own beliefs and vices. That is my personal relationship with God, and it is no more or less enhanced by attending church.
As you've mentioned, there are many people who go to church every Sunday to just "go through the motions" and they don't really think about it beyond that day. I am not one of those people.
This does not mean that I'm against churches in general, though. I think they bring a great sense of community for some, and otherwise guide those who aren't sure about how to read and understand the scriptures in the Bible. I just personally don't agree with the interpretations set forth by most churches I've attended. It's good for some, but it just isn't right for me.
Well in regards to your comment: equation 1 X = sin, equation 2 X = sin, equation 3 X = all, equation 4 X = some.
ReplyDeleteIn which case your comment about those 4 items contradicting the love and forgiveness taught in the Bible is negated. The Bible even calls EVERYONE evil (specifically Jesus in Matthew 7:11).
And Church is something all Bible believing people should do according to Hebrews 10:24-25, where it says we should not stop gathering as believers, and we need to continue to gather to encourage each other until the day of the Lord coming.
You refer to the Pastor breeding segregation between you and those who "are not like you". Could that be because you're not the reflection of Jesus you're called to be. We've all been given the example of a life to live (being the life of Jesus) however none of us will ever live up to is as He was the only one who could live the perfect life, all we can do is the best we can. We accomplish that by constantly refining ourselves. When we realize we're in sin we have to do all we can to remove ourselves from that sin. Sin in some churches is called a mistake, or an error. Simple definition of sin, an action or thought that goes against God's written word.
I think the biggest thing that hurts me in your comment, is that you feel that a Pastor would do that, and you equate a bad experience or two with all Pastors. Fortunately, I know a Pastor that truly loves and cares for his church members, volunteers, and staff, and loves them where they're at. He is also willing to help someone get to the next level, provided they're ready to get to the next level. He'll never try to forcefully pull you to that level, however if you reach out for assistance to getting there, he will meet you to help you up to the next level.
I guess that's the major advantage I have by being only involved in a strict Bible based church, not one with rules and doctrine that predates Moses lol.