remember the Sabbath Day
remember the Sabbath Day
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?"
In HIM I place my trust.
remember the Sabbath Day
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.
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.
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telaquapacky
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remember the Sabbath Day
Frederick wrote: 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.
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.
Look what the cat dragged in.
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LottomagicZ4941
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remember the Sabbath Day
A minister once said that he couldn't put a http://com4.runboard.com/blifetheuniver ... ainchat.t7
MagicZ4941A
MagicZ4941A
remember the Sabbath Day
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".
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Accountable
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remember the Sabbath Day
telaquapacky wrote: 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?
As a matter of fact, no. Assuming you're drawing a parallel, how many absenses does your church allow members before you excommunicate them?
remember the Sabbath Day
Accountable wrote: 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.
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.
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Accountable
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remember the Sabbath Day
Celtor wrote: 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.
Thanks for putting my feelings into words. It doesn't quite fit me perfectly, but very, very close.
Thanks for putting my feelings into words. It doesn't quite fit me perfectly, but very, very close.
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Accountable
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remember the Sabbath Day
Far Rider wrote: 1. We're all a work in progress, believer and non-believer.
Agreed
2. Local assemblies are a body in themselves, each having gifts to do and a work to perform, like any team if one does not do the job then another has to take up the slack.
Not sure I agree, fundamentally speaking. I'm not so sure we have a "job" to perform so much as a desire to join with others like us and tell others why we like being this way so much. Not sure that's really clear, but without a mandate to do something, there is no job, or mission. And since there are no works that will get you into heaven, I don't believe there is a mandate. That being said, I see no reason to assemble with people I don't agree with to do a job I don't agree exists.
If I am wrong about this point, then I am in 100% agreement with the rest and will have to deal with #2 myself.
Agreed
2. Local assemblies are a body in themselves, each having gifts to do and a work to perform, like any team if one does not do the job then another has to take up the slack.
Not sure I agree, fundamentally speaking. I'm not so sure we have a "job" to perform so much as a desire to join with others like us and tell others why we like being this way so much. Not sure that's really clear, but without a mandate to do something, there is no job, or mission. And since there are no works that will get you into heaven, I don't believe there is a mandate. That being said, I see no reason to assemble with people I don't agree with to do a job I don't agree exists.
If I am wrong about this point, then I am in 100% agreement with the rest and will have to deal with #2 myself.
remember the Sabbath Day
Far Rider wrote: One of the things that amazed me growing up is how often my father met the needs of others, in my opinion way above and beyond the call of our family of 10, we sacrificed and gave up, sometimes into our basic needs, because of the failure of the whole body to give. He never so much as rolled an eye, he just gave, and we always had enough.
This sounds like my father, though we were a family of 5...there are more stories than I can remember of how my father would give, my mother would fret, and then there would be a check in the mail that covered what he'd given. I was raised to believe that prayer is the cornerstone of faith, that we would never truly want for anything as long as we humbled ourselves and prayed and trusted and obeyed.
I grew up with really bad financial habits, needless to say, and my parents were too long at a very small (in all ways) church that had a worse habit of harboring malcontents and backstabbers in its midst.
I still remember and respect my parents' beliefs of my childhood. I saw it work too many times, but it has never fit me the same way as it did them. It's like inheriting a very fine, very well-made piece of furniture that is very symbolic but never matches anything in my life. Maybe that's my own failing, but the reality of many of today's churches is that too many people are filling self-proclaimed roles without even being a person of love. I served those kinds of people for years and was stabbed in the back and found that I could find more satisfaction in serving in other areas rather than inside or through a church body.
I'm thankful that my father has taken a new job as an associational missionary...he's out of the daily drama and can move into a different realm of service that doesn't wring him empty every day. It's easier on my mom too, who is in poor health and needs to be away from those who would demand too much.
I'm also thankful that I'm on the other side of the country from most of the people I have problems with and that I've found ways to serve others without it having to be related to religion.
This sounds like my father, though we were a family of 5...there are more stories than I can remember of how my father would give, my mother would fret, and then there would be a check in the mail that covered what he'd given. I was raised to believe that prayer is the cornerstone of faith, that we would never truly want for anything as long as we humbled ourselves and prayed and trusted and obeyed.
I grew up with really bad financial habits, needless to say, and my parents were too long at a very small (in all ways) church that had a worse habit of harboring malcontents and backstabbers in its midst.
I still remember and respect my parents' beliefs of my childhood. I saw it work too many times, but it has never fit me the same way as it did them. It's like inheriting a very fine, very well-made piece of furniture that is very symbolic but never matches anything in my life. Maybe that's my own failing, but the reality of many of today's churches is that too many people are filling self-proclaimed roles without even being a person of love. I served those kinds of people for years and was stabbed in the back and found that I could find more satisfaction in serving in other areas rather than inside or through a church body.
I'm thankful that my father has taken a new job as an associational missionary...he's out of the daily drama and can move into a different realm of service that doesn't wring him empty every day. It's easier on my mom too, who is in poor health and needs to be away from those who would demand too much.
I'm also thankful that I'm on the other side of the country from most of the people I have problems with and that I've found ways to serve others without it having to be related to religion.
remember the Sabbath Day
Far Rider:-6
I am in complete agreement with your list of 6. I couldn't have put it better.
Like you I believe that being part of a church assembly is important. You mentioned the body parts theory. All of us who are members of a Christian church are the body of Christ. Each of us may have a different task to do. My firm belief is that each member does have a task to do, and it is in line with their skills, strenghts etc.
It seems to me that as a member of an organized body of Christ we also get help and support from each other.
I have found nothing but a wonderful life within my chosen assembly. Of course there are always those who annoy you or whatever but part of our job is to try to overcome that problem. Perhaps sometimes it is their fault and perhaps sometimes it is my fault but it can usually be solved.
Shalom
Ted:-6
I am in complete agreement with your list of 6. I couldn't have put it better.
Like you I believe that being part of a church assembly is important. You mentioned the body parts theory. All of us who are members of a Christian church are the body of Christ. Each of us may have a different task to do. My firm belief is that each member does have a task to do, and it is in line with their skills, strenghts etc.
It seems to me that as a member of an organized body of Christ we also get help and support from each other.
I have found nothing but a wonderful life within my chosen assembly. Of course there are always those who annoy you or whatever but part of our job is to try to overcome that problem. Perhaps sometimes it is their fault and perhaps sometimes it is my fault but it can usually be solved.
Shalom
Ted:-6
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Accountable
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remember the Sabbath Day
Accountable wrote: [...] That being said, I see no reason to assemble with people I don't agree with to do a job I don't agree exists.
If I am wrong about this point, then I am in 100% agreement with the rest and will have to deal with #2 myself.
I thank God for this forum and it's members. The whole purpose in my view is to find people with differing opinions, yet a common goal of understanding. In this venue, we can freely and openly give our opinions and hold them up to the light for all to see. Then we, as a team, can examine them, point out flaws that need to be buffed out, and polish them to gleaming certainty.
This is the reason that everyone should assemble with others of similar yet differing views. Thanks, Far.
There must be a deeper, or at least more uncomfortable, reason for me not to go to church that I need to figure out. :driving: One more step on my journey!
If I am wrong about this point, then I am in 100% agreement with the rest and will have to deal with #2 myself.
I thank God for this forum and it's members. The whole purpose in my view is to find people with differing opinions, yet a common goal of understanding. In this venue, we can freely and openly give our opinions and hold them up to the light for all to see. Then we, as a team, can examine them, point out flaws that need to be buffed out, and polish them to gleaming certainty.
This is the reason that everyone should assemble with others of similar yet differing views. Thanks, Far.
There must be a deeper, or at least more uncomfortable, reason for me not to go to church that I need to figure out. :driving: One more step on my journey!
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Accountable
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remember the Sabbath Day
Far Rider wrote: hahahahah Bud you're pickin your seat wrong! When you test drive a church dont bother with the ones with hard wood pews!
:yh_rotfl Took me a second read on that one, Far.
:yh_rotfl Took me a second read on that one, Far.
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Accountable
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remember the Sabbath Day
Frederick wrote: 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?
Sorry Frederick, we get carried away sometimes.
Hey Guys, I'm startin' a new thread about childhood church experiences. Back to the thread at hand, I think Paul was most vocal about how Christians should behave. What does Acts say about mandatory assembly?
Sorry Frederick, we get carried away sometimes.
Hey Guys, I'm startin' a new thread about childhood church experiences. Back to the thread at hand, I think Paul was most vocal about how Christians should behave. What does Acts say about mandatory assembly?