remember the Sabbath Day

[Frederick]

Firstly, allow me to introduce myself. I am a Born Again Christian (practising Methodist). I live in Kent, United Kingdom, and I got onto this site by entering "Christian Discussion Groups" and pressing the search engine, so aren't you just the lucky one!! I don't really know what size font one is supposed to use, I normally use 10point, but what size 3 is I've no idea. As a testimonial to my faith, I am in the process of writing a personal observation/view/discussion concerning the Ten Commandments. I find one of the most pathetic excuses people come up with is "You don't have to go to church to be a Christian..." Without getting too heavy, what areas of of the Bible show this up to be a very weak argument? I found TRUE salvation an extremely powerful, profound and emotional experience. Anybody else "Found God?"

Hello and welcome to the Fg. Hope you stay and have fun.

[koan]

Welcome to the Garden.

Paula found Jesus behind her couch but she's not around much anymore...that could be why. (kind of an inside joke, sorry)

We haven't had a discussion on the Ten Commandments since I've been here. That sounds very interesting. I am not a Christian but I respect all religious faiths. Hope you have many stimulating discussions here.

[telaquapacky]

Originally Posted by Frederick

I find one of the most pathetic excuses people come up with is "You don't have to go to church to be a Christian..." Without getting too heavy, what areas of of the Bible show this up to be a very weak argument? I found TRUE salvation an extremely powerful, profound and emotional experience. Anybody else "Found God?"

Welcome, Frederick! I look forward to more of your posts.

Can one be on the soccer team and never show up for practice?

Of course, there's the old standby verse on the subject:

Hebrews 10:25
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

[LottomagicZ4941]

A minister once said that he couldn't put a <>< on his car because then he would have to drive better.

"Saints and sinners priest and thieves" Whitesnake.

Our Chruch has meetins on Thursdays as well as on Sunday.

Might actually make it to Chruch tomarrow. Definately want to make it to Church more as I have a kid who needs to be raized right.

Lotto
http://com4.runboard.com/blifetheuni...3.fmainchat.t7
MagicZ4941A

[lady cop]

lotto..."who needs to be raized right. " hey lotto, will you RAISE your child to shoot police officers? still waiting for an apology for that diatribe advocating shooting cops because i deleted your SPAM. try reading my thread "how to injure a police officer".

wow what an interesting subject...

the sabbath is saturday, not sunday, i dont keep the sabbath its under the law, romans 6-8 declares me free from the law.

i celebrate the resurrection each sunday (that im in church).

the n.t. parallel is to 'not forsake the assmblying of one another', no day specified.

[Accountable]

Originally Posted by telaquapacky

Can one be on the soccer team and never show up for practice?

As a matter of fact, no. Assuming you're drawing a parallel, how many absenses does your church allow members before you excommunicate them?

Originally Posted by Accountable

As a matter of fact, no. Assuming you're drawing a parallel, how many absenses does your church allow members before you excommunicate them?

hmmm well let me try it and see....ahahahahahaha!

[Celtor]

Originally Posted by Accountable

As a matter of fact, no. Assuming you're drawing a parallel, how many absenses does your church allow members before you excommunicate them?

Are there actually modern churches that kick people out of their membership for lack of attendance?

As the daughter of a Southern Baptist minister and a former Children's Ministry Director, I'd have to say that from the church's point of view that would be a really good business decision...it would give the church a better idea of how many people it needs to support, how much money would be coming in, how many bodies are available to do service, how much physical space it needs, etc. With a largely non-present membership it can be really difficult to actually grow, especially for smaller churches.

From the people point of view, though, it would be pretty hard-core to kick out those who never show up after joining or who only show for major religious holidays. People would claim that the church was not being accepting or tolerant or loving, etc.

Frankly I'm sick to death of "churches" and "church people". Spirituality is very important to me, but my faith and spirit has nothing to do with whether my butt is located on any particular pew (or even within the walls of a church, period) on any given day of the week. The more time I've spent serving, learning, and attending church, the more I've come to realize that most churches are not equipped to teach me, nor are most church people very nice people at all...at least from my perspective, which was usually in leadership or behind the scenes. It usually gets to the point where the personal agendas and politics completely overwhelmes any good that is actually being accomplished.

I've been much more relaxed and happy since I stopped going to church. That makes me somewhat sad, because it should not be that way.