What is your reason for going to church?

[santikos]

i still attend a church and had to consider the reason i go.. i questioned my reason and intentions. i came to the conclusion that i could care less what the "pastor" has to say ( that is why i love to usher outside in the parking lot), i dont go for the music (my God is more worthy than having to wait for sunday to praise him), nor do i care for any ministries within the church. with that being said i came to the conclusion that i go for 2 reasons.
1. keep the peace with my wife.
2. get together with some of the guys and just fellowship.

what are your reasons?

[shawn]

I go because I want my children to grow up in the church.

[WhiteWings]

I go because I want my children to grow up in the church.

Not for yourself? If so why you kids need to go.

@santikos: My last church visit was 20 years ago.

[shawn]

I go because I want my children to grow up in the church.

Not for yourself? If so why you kids need to go.

@santikos: My last church visit was 20 years ago.

I want my children to have some form of organized Bible learning and to be socialized with Christian childen.  I do my own Bible study.  I'm not sure I totally get this whole anti-church movement in UR circles.

[WhiteWings]

Shawn, I didn't visit church before I heard of UR. So my "20 year" remark had nothing to do with doniminations.
That said I can understand why people left church. For me personally the ET doctrine is a gigantic insult of Father. So I can understand people don't want to listen to those insults. (in church)

[shawn]

Shawn, I didn't visit church before I heard of UR. So my "20 year" remark had nothing to do with doniminations.
That said I can understand why people left church. For me personally the ET doctrine is a gigantic insult of Father. So I can understand people don't want to listen to those insults. (in church)

I rarely hear about hell in church.  When I do it's vague...some sort of eternal seperation.  I'm not going to agree with everything my church believes.  That doesn't mean I want my children to grow up without a formal Bible training.  Just my thought on the matter.  For those that decided to leave the church more power to them.  I just don't want that imposed  on me.

[onlytruth]

Hi Shawn...I just finished 5 days at a family bible camp,the camp was great ,kids enjoyed the outside but I wouldn't let them inside.The pastor was so welcoming but at the end of every sermon he HAD TO put in "but what side are you on?Everyone would leave frightened and intimidated.My wife and I couldn't beleive this could happen everytime,my sister was in tears! people sat on steps and asked what kind of God do we serve?!
there was no peace in the entire camp ,I asked God give me oppurtunity to speak with him...He did,I could not reach him he was cold and self righteous
I would never let my children be influenced by this,I teach my children when they have questions I don't cram religion on them, it has to come from their hearts.Bible stories are great but if they are feared into making a "decision for christ" it is not love compelling them
blessings :icon_king:

[shawn]

Hi Shawn...I just finished 5 days at a family bible camp,the camp was great ,kids enjoyed the outside but I wouldn't let them inside.The pastor was so welcoming but at the end of every sermon he HAD TO put in "but what side are you on?Everyone would leave frightened and intimidated.My wife and I couldn't beleive this could happen everytime,my sister was in tears! people sat on steps and asked what kind of God do we serve?!
there was no peace in the entire camp ,I asked God give me oppurtunity to speak with him...He did,I could not reach him he was cold and self righteous
I would never let my children be influenced by this,I teach my children when they have questions I don't cram religion on them, it has to come from their hearts.Bible stories are great but if they are feared into making a "decision for christ" it is not love compelling them
blessings :icon_king:

I wouldn't expose my children to that either.  I think most of us can agree on that.

[Pierac]

I go to Church to make my wife happy!  :Peck:

This is what I go through every Sunday.... !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys4Nx0rNlAM

Watch the whole video! It's scary how close they are to the reality of the Church today! :sigh:


Paul

[Lefein]

I go to serve.

[Pierac]

I go to serve.

Coffee or tea?


Paul

[Shadow]

I'm sorry I can't go to a church unless it's for a funeral or special occasion, I can't pretend...the reason

When I questioned the doctrine of ET, I was told that they spread the gospel because they don't know who God has chosen to save, that was very telling as it told me that they are dishonest in their presentation of the gospel...I'm still trying to get over this as it shattered my trust in God

For them to claim that God loves us all according to their beliefs is a CRUEL CALLOUS LIE

I'm grateful I did research and came across Tentmaker and other sites, otherwise I don't know what I would have done

[santikos]

Pierac, sorry you have to go through that torture everyweek. i have about 1 more week of ushering in the parking lot them i have to enter the chambers and feel the pain you go through once again. :footmouth:
2 weeks ago we had a guest speaker who "mike tysoned" everyone ( layed everyone out on the ground with his hands). thank God for that event i was enjoying the 100+degree san antonio weather outside in the lot.

[onlytruth]

peirac...I've been there! that was great!

[Lefein]

Peirac: If serving coffee or tea shows the excellence of God through me; would you like sugar with that? :)

Remember children, the church is a mission field too.  Who is more blind than those who are blind and don't even know they are?  We are the body of Jesus, the great physician.  We should be his hands, even if we must be dipped in mud and spit; to be put on the eyes of the religious and blind to open them to the light of God.  We must first and foremost do this through, and especially through being active, and excellent Christians, willing to sacrifice comfort, to be a people who will be known by our fruit, and therefore be trustworthy sources as we minister Truth and True Gospel in the harlot church system.

This is why I serve, and go to church. :)

[Pierac]

Peirac: If serving coffee or tea shows the excellence of God through me; would you like sugar with that? :)

Remember children, the church is a mission field too.  Who is more blind than those who are blind and don't even know they are?  We are the body of Jesus, the great physician.  We should be his hands, even if we must be dipped in mud and spit; to be put on the eyes of the religious and blind to open them to the light of God.  We must first and foremost do this through, and especially through being active, and excellent Christians, willing to sacrifice comfort, to be a people who will be known by our fruit, and therefore be trustworthy sources as we minister Truth and True Gospel in the harlot church system.

This is why I serve, and go to church. :)

No my dear friend, the church is not a mission field!  The Church is the body of God's Christ!

I apologize if I hurt your feelings during a forum post misunderstanding... I was just pointing out there is no serving by just...  attending a church service.

Paul

[Lefein]

You did not hurt my feelings, you merely pointed out a semantic that I must have need to clarify.  But to be bold...The church (the term that is now accepted to mean the building)...IS, a mission field.  And I will be bold to say also, that if you are only attending (pew sitting) then that would explain a greater deal of why you aren't getting anything out of it other than frustration.

There are things to do at church, ways to serve, ways to participate outside of the sanctuary.  The church I'm visiting is going to make apple butter to sell, by which it will fund its missionary travel this year.  I plan on serving by helping to make it.

The Church is indeed the body of Christ, true.  But we have a harlot system that is called "going to church" now, and the only way to make any progress in fixing it, is from the inside out, not the outside in.  Christ didn't change us from the outside in, and he won't change his body from the outside in. 

To serve is to show fruit, to show fruit is to bear a blameless, and believable witness.  It is only by being a witness to the Christians who have been swept up by the doctrine of ET, and other traditions, that we will be an effective means of changing the church system into The Church.

Hence, I go to serve, to be a tool that Christ can use to change the church from the inside out: Not to "attend".

[Quaesitor]

You did not hurt my feelings, you merely pointed out a semantic that I must have need to clarify.  But to be bold...The church (the term that is now accepted to mean the building)...IS, a mission field.  And I will be bold to say also, that if you are only attending (pew sitting) then that would explain a greater deal of why you aren't getting anything out of it other than frustration.

There are things to do at church, ways to serve, ways to participate outside of the sanctuary.  The church I'm visiting is going to make apple butter to sell, by which it will fund its missionary travel this year.  I plan on serving by helping to make it.

The Church is indeed the body of Christ, true.  But we have a harlot system that is called "going to church" now, and the only way to make any progress in fixing it, is from the inside out, not the outside in.  Christ didn't change us from the outside in, and he won't change his body from the outside in. 

To serve is to show fruit, to show fruit is to bear a blameless, and believable witness.  It is only by being a witness to the Christians who have been swept up by the doctrine of ET, and other traditions, that we will be an effective means of changing the church system into The Church.

Hence, I go to serve, to be a tool that Christ can use to change the church from the inside out: Not to "attend".

:thumbsup:

Same here.
But I understand there is a season for everything and for everyone.
For now, God didn't ask me to leave but sure asked me to serve where I am.
If God ever ask me to leave this community, I will.

[jabcat]

Really good thoughts guys, some things to think about.

Passed by the building where I go sometimes with my wife (that's why I go, along with because my son goes and plays in the band), and was actually quite agitated when I saw the sign out front;

it was something like, "Remember, hell is really uncool".  Frustrating.  But I believe I heard God impress to me, "I'm going to take care of it".  We're to "charge these things and teach".  So we do our little parts, He ensures the outcomes.  :thumbsup:

[Lefein]

That impression gives me hope friend.

[Quaesitor]

Really good thoughts guys, some things to think about.

Passed by the building where I go sometimes with my wife (that's why I go, along with because my son goes and plays in the band), and was actually quite agitated when I saw the sign out front;

it was something like, "Remember, hell is really uncool".  Frustrating.  But I believe I heard God impress to me, "I'm going to take care of it".  We're to "charge these things and teach".  So we do our little parts, He ensures the outcomes.  :thumbsup:

Even in these moments there's a power in us called the flesh who'd like to go there and smash that sign but we have to let the Father go on with His plan.(not like we can do much to prevent Him from doing it anyway...haha)

Sometime I just wonder why this is happening, why has God let the truth be hidden for so long and why it is still hidden to those who have been blinded?

Why is the Church so weak and carnal?

In all these things, I have to believe its part of God's purpose of the ages.

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: I haven't gone regularly in well over a decade. My focus was always to WORSHIP with other believers. From the beginning I was an "outcast" as He showed me no rapture the way they were carnally teaching it, and in my zeal without knowledge I shared this with EVERYONE, LOL. Discovered the left foot of fellowship more than a few times; learned to be led of Lord what and when to share, that way.

Now, if I go, it is because HE has told me to go to a particular place for a particular reason or person or both. It is very difficult to balance this with children. When I have more time, I'll share my thoughts on why I think we have missed Him on this, as a whole. Blessings....

[shawn]

Peirac: If serving coffee or tea shows the excellence of God through me; would you like sugar with that? :)

Remember children, the church is a mission field too.  Who is more blind than those who are blind and don't even know they are?  We are the body of Jesus, the great physician.  We should be his hands, even if we must be dipped in mud and spit; to be put on the eyes of the religious and blind to open them to the light of God.  We must first and foremost do this through, and especially through being active, and excellent Christians, willing to sacrifice comfort, to be a people who will be known by our fruit, and therefore be trustworthy sources as we minister Truth and True Gospel in the harlot church system.

This is why I serve, and go to church. :)

No my dear friend, the church is not a mission field!  The Church is the body of God's Christ!

I apologize if I hurt your feelings during a forum post misunderstanding... I was just pointing out there is no serving by just...  attending a church service.

Paul

Those in church are not necessarily THEE church.  I think the church walls can contain a mission field as significant as any.

[shawn]

You did not hurt my feelings, you merely pointed out a semantic that I must have need to clarify.  But to be bold...The church (the term that is now accepted to mean the building)...IS, a mission field.  And I will be bold to say also, that if you are only attending (pew sitting) then that would explain a greater deal of why you aren't getting anything out of it other than frustration.

There are things to do at church, ways to serve, ways to participate outside of the sanctuary.  The church I'm visiting is going to make apple butter to sell, by which it will fund its missionary travel this year.  I plan on serving by helping to make it.

The Church is indeed the body of Christ, true.  But we have a harlot system that is called "going to church" now, and the only way to make any progress in fixing it, is from the inside out, not the outside in.  Christ didn't change us from the outside in, and he won't change his body from the outside in. 

To serve is to show fruit, to show fruit is to bear a blameless, and believable witness.  It is only by being a witness to the Christians who have been swept up by the doctrine of ET, and other traditions, that we will be an effective means of changing the church system into The Church.

Hence, I go to serve, to be a tool that Christ can use to change the church from the inside out: Not to "attend".

Well said.  Of course when you bring the "UR heresy" into the church building it will be met from a frown from the pastor.  It wouldn't surprise me if you made you feel very unwelcome in their service.

[WhiteWings]

@santikos: My last church visit was 20 years ago.

Seems I currently go to church almost daily; TentMaker is a church too....

ἐκκλησία
ekklēsia
Thayer Definition:
1) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly
1a) an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating
1b) the assembly of the Israelites
1c) any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance, tumultuously
1d) in a Christian sense
1d1) an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting
1d2) a company of Christian, or of those who, hoping for eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, observe their own religious rites, hold their own religious meetings, and manage their own affairs, according to regulations prescribed for the body for order's sake
1d3) those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are united into one body
1d4) the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth
1d5) the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heaven
Part of Speech: noun feminine
A Related Word by Thayer's/Strong's Number: from a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564
Citing in TDNT: 3:501, 394