I was just wondering what type of church, if any, you all attend. I grew up Baptist but was always kind of turned off by the church's "cocky, we're right and everyone else is wrong" attitude. I currently live in Atlanta, so there are a lot of churches to chose from. However, I am a little tentative to attend church because I'm afraid their beliefs will not match up with my UR views. We have unitarian universalist churches here, but I'm not aware of any Christian Universalist churches.
Unlikely you'll find a church that does not preach death.
There are very few in the nation.
I think it was Jabcat, one of the moderators here on this forum, who posted a link that listed some fellowships state-by-state.
Maybe here can post it again when he reads this.
It seems that the Lord has us pretty well spaced out, in our own separate Nazareth, where He can mature us by His Spirit without spot or blemish.
John 1:46; And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good be out of Nazareth?" Philip is saying to him, "Come and see!"
I go to a Baptist church, because so far it is the closest church I have found that feels like an inclusive family. I almost decided to stop going to church altogether, but I know that I need the fellowship of other Christians who love and care about me.
Despite the fact that they believe in mainstream Christian concepts, it really is a lovely church with many very loving people in it. I lost sight of that for a while (idiot!). I quietly try to live out the all-inclusive love of Jesus while not trying to cause arguments over doctrines. I do speak my mind in discussion groups, but I just don't rant and rave about it all the time. I'm happy knowing God will eventually save everyone, even if they don't know it yet.
I don't go to church. I did for awhile but it started to get to me, week after week of sitting and listening to things that know are not true. So I just stopped going. I didn't see the point in it.
I do, sometimes, wish that there was a place where I could find the same king "fellowship" that exists in many Christian congregations, but I just can't get past having to sit there and listen to lies in order to have that.
There is a Christian Universalist church about an hour or so away from me, but I have not gone to check it out yet, though I am thinking about it.
Quote from: junkbunny on February 01, 2010, 12:48:41 AM
I go to a Baptist church, because so far it is the closest church I have found that feels like an inclusive family. I almost decided to stop going to church altogether, but I know that I need the fellowship of other Christians who love and care about me.
Despite the fact that they believe in mainstream Christian concepts, it really is a lovely church with many very loving people in it. I lost sight of that for a while (idiot!). I quietly try to live out the all-inclusive love of Jesus while not trying to cause arguments over doctrines. I do speak my mind in discussion groups, but I just don't rant and rave about it all the time. I'm happy knowing God will eventually save everyone, even if they don't know it yet.
I like the sound of this, if that's where God is keeping your right now. Sounds like you have some "separation" ("come out of her, my people") spiritually and with wisdom/knowledge, but don't judge them and can love and fellowship with them. God called me out, but He may work with us in different ways. I still attend some with my wife, but today it was really bothering me. Sitting listening to the "professional on the stage", with us all sitting there in rows likes frogs on a log, I thought of James (reFormer's) statement of "Jesus wants His body back" :bigGrin:.
Hey David. I've seen that list somewhere, but it wasn't me that posted it (or of it was, I don't remember doing it :mblush:). I don't remember who, was it Martin maybe? Anyway, I'll do some checking and see what I can find. :thumbsup:
Kind and gracious as always. Thanks James!
http://urstation.com/churches.html
http://www.christianuniversalist.org/community.html
That's it Chris!
You 'da man!
Thank YOU, David. And thanks Chris. I was coming back to post that I hadn't been able to find it. The place I thought might be was evangelical universalist, but I see it's Christian Universalist. Good deal :thumbsup:
Thank You Holy Father.
Psalm 25:
4 Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
5 Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
Thank You Holy Father.
Quote from: Beloved Servant on February 01, 2010, 03:58:14 AM
That's it Chris!
You 'da man!
:laughing7: <--- you know why right? :grin: :grin: :grin:
:thumbsup:
yes! oops!
I'm still laughing about it.
I don't attend a church at the moment. I have had a hard time finding a church I can 'fit into' in the smaller town I live in that isn't full of hypocracy and people trying to tell me that God loves me, but if I don't follow every word that the bible says I'm going to hell in a handbasket. Almost get the feeling like they're waiting for the opportunity to point a finger at me to tell me that I'm doing wrong according to THEIR doctrine and that God's gonna 'get me'.
Another thing I have found I have a tough time with is having someone (the preacher) tell me how to live better and have a better chance of getting into heaven as per HIS interpretation of the bible.
(I grew up in a Calvanist church aassociated with the Anabaptist movement... it was Mennonite Bretheren)
I attend the church in the wilderness...
Quote from: Syndicated on February 01, 2010, 09:43:36 AM
[hypocrites tell me] I'm going to hell in a handbasket.
You have some kind of problem with handbaskets? :laughing7:
Hello,
This is a great question, especially when there is stark separation of belief
in the family (i.e. my wife and I are in two completely different worlds
on this). One of my wife's hugest sticking points against me is that I won't
go to church, thus am a complete failure as a spiritual "head of the household".
My grandchildren enjoy church, and she says I'm going to have to explain
why I don't go to church. It's an interesting dilemma.
Long story short, when I presented my personal findings of UR over 2 years ago, she went bezerk. That among a few huge points have estranged us,
I am ashamed to say to the point of entering dissolution currently.
Add a huge one to my already miserable failure to God. Anyway -
Some really great points here.
1. "Fellowship" with other Christians despite the difference can be healthy
to some extent, as long as the level of connection can somehow be
limited to genuine non-pretentious personal interest and a type of
neighborly book of Acts love to one another and no more. In reality
however, many churches (definitely the system which I invested years in)
is sin-sniffing, and eternal hell fetished. I've considered finding a
fellowship just for that ... but
2. ... as Chris shares, I too can't just sit there and accept listening to
an ambiguous, condemning "gospel" fed by "non-denominational"
brainwashed cliches. The eternal fate of EVERYONE God ever created
hangs in the balance and it's profoundly frustrating to see everyone
who propogates ET not back it up in their life with the equivalent sense
of urgency or concern for real people as that doctine warrants.
Welcome to the fold.
God is good!
I won't go to church here is why
2 years ago, I went to a christian councilor because I was troubled about the fate of unbelievers, and she basically told me that God has preplanned in advance who he was going to save before the dawn of time, and the only reason they preach the gospel is because they don't know who God has chosen beforehand, it was for the first time that I saw that churches are built on a foundation of pure lies, and this whole life is nothing but a cruel farce and utter sham
Which means that they are being totally dishonest, when they say God loves all and has a plan for your life, besides they are all so rapture orientated and I no longer find the thought of people being wisked away, not to give a toss about anything or anybody in the least appealing, in fact I find it totally repugnant and selfish
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRUJrjUGGfg&feature=related
Quote from: Shadow on February 01, 2010, 11:13:55 PM
and she basically told me that God has preplanned in advance who he was going to save before the dawn of time, and the only reason they preach the gospel is because they don't know who God has chosen beforehand
So if they somehow do not reach on of Gods chosen elect it can only mean two things:
a] God predictions where wrong an elected person goes to hell.
b] The elect person that gets to heaven is a pagan.
Somehow I think that's not what she means. But still that's the outcome...
Quote from: WhiteWings on February 01, 2010, 11:36:15 PM
So if they somehow do not reach on of Gods chosen elect it can only mean two things:
a] God predictions where wrong an elected person goes to hell.
b] The elect person that gets to heaven is a pagan.
Somehow I think that's not what she means. But still that's the outcome...
Exactly, but the point is that preachers stand boldly up on their pulpits and declare that God loves all people, whereas if they believe what I was told, their whole ministry is based on lies and deception in order to get converts
The total irony...they claim that God did not create us as robots and we have free will...however when a person becomes like myself and starts asking serious questions that they don't like or can't answer...then they either dodge the question or give me an answer like the one I quoted above
Temperance brethren.
God is not mad at anyone, and neither should we be.
The time is coming, when the Lord commands, when we will march around the walls and they will come down — with a shout!
Shadow,
You always speak 'in the negative' about yourself.
"I don't see that."
"I don't understand this."
Etc.
Very few grasp every concept in the Bible. But at least you spot flaws and contradictions in the teachings of men. I think that's a huge first step that many pew warmers are unable to make...
So PM Martuin now and ask him to change your nickname into Dawn :bgdance:
Quote from: jabcat on February 01, 2010, 08:31:14 PM
Quote from: Syndicated on February 01, 2010, 09:43:36 AM
[hypocrites tell me] I'm going to hell in a handbasket.
You have some kind of problem with handbaskets? :laughing7:
LOL Actually I find them to be quite pretty when they're all done up with ribbons and flowers...
:icon_flower:
Exactly!
Steeples, stained glass, mosaics and flying buttresses.
Images used to replace faith in the Lord our God.
But, the graven images are the worst.
The ones that carve into our minds, exalting themselves before and over Christ.
I really feel I want to share this with anyone who might be reading:
You will probably never find a church that fits what you believe entirely. Christian faith varies from one person to another, so it would be nearly impossible to find a group of believers who agree on everything about the faith.
I spent many months last year being VERY anti-church. What did this achieve in the end? I began to resent people who didn't see my view. I'm not saying all those who are not in church are like this, I'm just saying this is how it was for me. In my struggle to find the truth, I began to emotionally reject people who didn't see things the same way I do. I think it is important to recognise what is truth, but I do NOT think it is good to reject and resent others because their view is different. This is not the way of the Jesus I know.
You can go to a church and not agree with everything they preach, and you can discuss it with your friends. I don't believe you should go to church solely to GET. You should also go to church to GIVE, to be Jesus' hands and feet and give love to those in need. When you remove yourself from a community, you take away everything you had to give to them. You take away the potential for God to use you to help others. Church isn't only about going and getting taught about Jesus from a preacher up on the altar. It's about fellowship, about sharing life, about sharing love. It's not all about getting... it is just as much about giving.
I go to a Baptist church that has arminian views so it's not as tough as going to a calvanist church, but still. All the people there believe in hell. I don't. I struggled with that for ages and wanted to reject all of them. But that's not love. Now, I'm okay with it. I can love them, knowing that even if they don't know the full truth of God, they know some of it and I can help to show them. And God will reconcile them, all of them. Something that really helps me is asking myself "Lord, what can I give to my church today?" before I go to church, rather than saying "Lord, please give me a new church".
I realise there are churches out there that preach hellfire fervently, I guess I am blessed in that my church does not do that. I think it's good to avoid the churches that are not loving. Argh, I'm stuffing up the point I'm trying to make (I am never good at this sort of thing). My point is, don't reject church entirely on the basis that people there believe in hell. If your church community loves you and you love them, stay with them and share your life with them. You don't have to agree with everything they say. If hellfire is a frequent and important topic in your church, then go find one that has more of an emphasis on inclusive love.
Hope I'm not stepping on anyone's toes. I'm not sure I made as much sense as I wanted to..
You could always try out a Catholic Church, as long as you follow the creed of Early Christianity. They are not so in your face, and most of them are pretty liberal about universalism. Just stay away from the Hardcore Catholics. They can be pretty nasty.
http://theschoolofchrist.org/articles/no-fellowship-no-problem.html (http://theschoolofchrist.org/articles/no-fellowship-no-problem.html)
Yes - I have to agree with your comments about trying to fit in with those "churches" who do not accept UR. UR is a very important part of God's plan for mankind and those who do not concur with it - IMHO are missing the whole concept of God's nature and His capacity. This invariably puts you at odds with those that do not believe to such an extent that you will find very little that can be discussed in any serious way. I wonder if this loneness can be solved? We now have the technology to write, Skype, phone and even to travel short distances. Could we be closer than we think to finding fellowship? Just some thoughts.
Johnny