Go to Church?

[MusicLover123]

Hey!

I am thinking of going to church again, mainly for fellowship as I lack that but desire to have. But, I feel theological differences are a big thing for me in the back of my head. Maybe making it too big of an issue. The Pastor is a nice guy, and there are nice people there, but I feel I would not enjoy being in the minority (hell, for example.)

If you were in my position, what would you do, and why?

[Ross]

Each at their appointed time: I have been away from church for 5 years and have only just gone there again because my wife attends! I don't attend for self gain but as a silent witness! If anyone asks me about my new life I will answer: otherwise I just have reminders of how much my change is done by God not me.
So try to live a quiet life and have need of no one. 1 Thess 4;11

[marie glen]

I'm with Ross on this one.. If I were to go to church, wanting fellowship, I would likely remain mostly silent about UR.. unless asked why am I so danged happy and peaceful! As I think the whoLe truth makes us very very happy and blessed.. :cloud9:

I guess I would pray for discernment (often) so I could plainly see the difference between my wanting to share and the Lord's saying someone is ready to hear UR shared...

I've been with the Lord for almost 40 years. I'm actually used to being around folks and kmbms (keeping my big mouth shut :laughing7: ) usually that is.. "To every thing there is a season" - the gospel shared too early, or UR shared too early can do more harm than good.. Even when the ground is fertile, a lot of times it's just a quick seed planted.. Over water it, and it rots in the ground.. the seed that is.

If we go to church in the spirit of the Lord.. It's easy to love the people.

When I first go to a church, I can hear and sense the Lord.. in the preaching.. in the songs, in the greetings.. Then after a while, the people seem to take center stage - it's my own fault.. When I first go it's like my sight is focused above the pastor and the people, aka, with Jesus and the Spirit of God.. Then later, as the people become more familiar, sight of the above seems to dissipate..

Or so far this has been my experience. And then coward that I am, I fade away.. (don't go back). But that's me.. I have a problem I think w/ authority figures. Still? at age 62? oh dear. But! Like with everyone else, I cut myself some slack! I let myself be happy in the Lord!

Even when I'm not doing anything, life seems very hectic! I sometimes think if things ever slow down I may find myself in a church body.. As long as I am strong enough not to conform! (Phew, all that babbling, and that is the point I wanted to make! I must have needed to rant a bit..)
:Peace2: If you feel like going.. I'd go! And love and smile and if you be the giver (Spirit flowing/love).. it doesn't matter what anyone else is like.. At least for a visit or a few.. :gsmile: :Pray:

[marie glen]

P.S. - actually.. I was just thinking, after I added the :Pray: emoji.. that the internet is likely(?) a far more dangerous place than the churches.. There's some strange 'christian' even UR/CU ideas out there (far more than accuracy? :Pray: :Pray: :Pray: )
..there's a time coming lies will be even stronger than they are now..(? we know that's true ...including 'hell' and the hate it sows? green emoji.. ..but He wins! Resurrection! ALL things made new!

I don't know if I could sit in the pew though if the pastor was preaching hell or eternal torment, etc.. But then, if I got up and walked out quietly.. that may strengthen someone else to not believe in such..

[Phoebes Daughter]

Hi,

I do feel torn between wanting to be part of a church community, whilst feeling that I wouldn't fit....as I can't share the belief that our Saviour is limited in power and purpose.

And as Marie glen said, there is a time and a season for speaking the word.

I do attend the very occasional church service and pray in my heart for all the precious folk, with all their stories, their struggles....
I'm sure most of them can't actually conceive of a miserable eternity for beloved family members who fail to 'believe' ......I'd say cognitive dissonance kicks in.
I'm not sure that a vast majority of church goers reallly dig hard, but try their best to live a good life.
Yet, the truly Good News would answer all their anxieties...which surely must linger in their hearts.

I went to a church service this week....and had a smile as scriptures regarding the 'saviour of the world' were spoken.
The pastor focused on the joy of living with the Lord in your life, and at a meeting where not everyone was a church member, he reached out to those who were attracted to Christ, but not sure, were not 'Christian' ....not with threats, but with warm assurance of the joy life with the Lord could bring.

I'm tempted to approach him and ask if there is a place in his church for someone like me.
🙂

[MusicLover123]

Thank you for the testimonies so far. Enjoy reading each of your life experiences.

The Pastor is a nice guy, and he kind of knows about my position from a bit back this year. I feel he wants me to go to church, and the opposing views will assumably go away. At the same time, he seemed a bit more open (not sure how much) compared to some things I've read on here. In fact, I was planning to try to do their you leader thing, but he denied that at the time. Probably because not completely on board with all of the beliefs (not much though; mainly trinity and hell.)

I'm tempted to approach him and ask if there is a place in his church for someone like me.
🙂

There is, though! The back door!  :LH:

I don't know if I could sit in the pew though if the pastor was preaching hell or eternal torment, etc.. But then, if I got up and walked out quietly.. that may strengthen someone else to not believe in such..

Strengthen someone for leaving? Maybe, but they probably would have to understand your intention for doing so. "Are they an idiot, are they going to the bathroom with constipation?"

Each at their appointed time: I have been away from church for 5 years and have only just gone there again because my wife attends! I don't attend for self gain but as a silent witness! If anyone asks me about my new life I will answer: otherwise I just have reminders of how much my change is done by God not me.
So try to live a quiet life and have need of no one. 1 Thess 4;11

I am fine doing things by myself for the most part. Not independent with everything, though. Ironically, I need to have people in my life, don't want to be a hermit for all of it. But yes, I try to credit God with all the changes in my life.

[Ross]

No problemo having people in our life: sharing experiences and encouraging each other is great! Good sharing can clarify stuff. From that sharing we can learn.
Doctrinal stuff gets interesting: I.M.O that's where the real belief sorts out the way we truly think about our own destiny!
Varied opinions can cause deep riffs even war.
Christ said not to call anyone teacher: Paul went away for a couple of years before being there to teach.
I.M.O fellowship should be uplifting and mutual encouragement: if not then it is not true!

[GodIsLove]

I'm torn between going and not as well.

I know what you all think of Catholicism (and I agree with a lot of the criticism especially the history and the reliance on a hierarchy, corruption etc), however, I have attended many churches of different denominations and end up always going back to catholic ones.. There's a small Catholic Church that we attend sometimes, the priest is great, it's full of young families, and the sermons/homilies usually focus on how to live everyday life connected to God and his will. There's no talk of hell.

[MusicLover123]

I'm torn between going and not as well.

I know what you all think of Catholicism (and I agree with a lot of the criticism especially the history and the reliance on a hierarchy, corruption etc), however, I have attended many churches of different denominations and end up always going back to catholic ones.. There's a small Catholic Church that we attend sometimes, the priest is great, it's full of young families, and the sermons/homilies usually focus on how to live everyday life connected to God and his will. There's no talk of hell.

I mean, I recently graduated from a Catholic school, so I have experiences with some stuff. I feel the community and relationship is greater than most other denominations, despite the difference in doctrine. Never been a big fan of some rituals though.

[marie glen]

I don't know if I could sit in the pew though if the pastor was preaching hell or eternal torment, etc.. But then, if I got up and walked out quietly.. that may strengthen someone else to not believe in such..

Strengthen someone for leaving? Maybe, but they probably would have to understand your intention for doing so. "Are they an idiot, are they going to the bathroom with constipation?"

    :Chinscratch: I was in church once and someone got up and left when the guest speaker asked for money... It was quite obvious why the person left..

If I left when the pastor was mentioning hell - and didn't come back, someone else not fully sold on the whole 'hell' idea, might realize not every believer is (convinced of hell, etc)

[marie glen]

I'm torn between going and not as well.

I know what you all think of Catholicism (and I agree with a lot of the criticism especially the history and the reliance on a hierarchy, corruption etc), however, I have attended many churches of different denominations and end up always going back to catholic ones.. There's a small Catholic Church that we attend sometimes, the priest is great, it's full of young families, and the sermons/homilies usually focus on how to live everyday life connected to God and his will. There's no talk of hell.

Regardless of how the enemy has used the faith.. both Catholicism and Protestantism - after all "bloody Mary" was a Protestant.. Doesn't mean (to me, anyway) that the Lord isn't involved.. calling.. leading.. guiding.. saving.. I like how Catholicism seems to present and picture "family".. I don't know.. there's lots of things about the Catholic I very much like.. We are to "judge nothing before its time".. The Catholicism and Protestanism in Europe during Medieval times was not the faith.. but was politics and non-christian disputes of long standing.. imo, anyway :gsmile:

..."There's no talk of hell."  :banana:

I mean, I recently graduated from a Catholic school, so I have experiences with some stuff. I feel the community and relationship is greater than most other denominations, despite the difference in doctrine. Never been a big fan of some rituals though.

    :iagree: