I am not super religious or anything. There are times well alot of times I dont want to go to church. Like this sunday I fought to go or not. I ended going. Why dont I want to go. I feel have better things to do. To me church is not the most interesting thing. I tell myself I need to go. Usually I feel better after church is over. I feel like I have been cleaned of all my sins that I have done over the course of the week. Also I have a hard time sitting there listening. I have a hard time sitting and listening to basically anything.
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I rather have a bad day in the woods then a good day at work
Then I would find another church. I loved the one I went to. He peached the Wordin love. Diffently not boring. I left feeling encouraged and challenged. Church should not be a chore. I can't wait to go back.
Chuck7
DH, it sounds to me like you should look for a new church. Your church experience should be encouraging, uplifting, and filled with the Word of God and great worship.
Find one that fits your style better, but yet still preaches the Word in truth.
Going to church should be the best part of our week.
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πνεύμα γ*μισα
"Error never shows itself in its naked reality in order not to be discovered. On the contrary, it dresses elegantly, so that the unwary may be led to believe that it is more truthful than truth itself."
-Irenaeus of Lyon
I felt that way my entire life up until I was 33. My grandfather was a preacher, and I would sometimes go 2 or 3 times a week by force most of the time.
And until I was ready to give a commitment to God, I kept feeling that way. I always made deals with God, and that doesn't work. I tried to make the scripture mean one thing when deep in my heart, I knew what it meant.
Then one day, I started praying. It was the day my wife left. Everyday for 3 years (probably skipped a few), I told God, no matter what, if he had to hit me in the head with a 2X4, I needed something in my life, and needed hope. Well, he did just that. I didn't see it at the time, but he broke me down until I got it.
I got it finally. I made, my last deal with him. I promised he would be my God no matter what, I would strive in life to live my life by his commands. Just take away my feeling of hopelessness. Now. I require Church. I am a spiritual mess if I miss a Sunday. I really require Wednesday night pray also. I need the congragation. They are my family.
I am not saying this is a picture of your life. Just telling you my experiences. I figured out it wasn't about having a good time in this life, but striving to make it to that perfect life after I die.
Now. I require Church. I am a spiritual mess if I miss a Sunday. I really require Wednesday night pray also. I need the congragation. They are my family.
Great story BC. That's the way I feel also. I don't live week to week off of church services, but they are encouraging to me and I think they are critical to one maintaining a good spirit in Christ. It's good to be around other Christian people and pray for them and with them. Like you said, they are family.
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πνεύμα γ*μισα
"Error never shows itself in its naked reality in order not to be discovered. On the contrary, it dresses elegantly, so that the unwary may be led to believe that it is more truthful than truth itself."
-Irenaeus of Lyon
I have noticed that in my own life when I wane, it is because I lack desire.
As I have matured spiritually, my greatest deisre to go to Church is because I love God and want to be obedient to keeping his first commandment.My primary reason is to obtain the sacrament of the Lord's supper and focus on his sacrifice for me. Then, going to church and learning to love God more then blesses me so I can keep the second commandment given in Matthew--to love my neighbor.
If it were meI would 1) Get on bended knee each day and ask God for a greater capacity to learn to love him and keep his commandments.
2) Search, ask and look for opportunities to serve others. Find ways to learn to love your neighbor. Once you get lost in the service of others, you won't focus so much on yourself. You will notice your desire to be a better person and love God and fellow man increases. A great man once said, "Empathy during our own agony is a portion of divinity." That certainly reminds me of Jesus in Gethsemane, Calvary and in the Garden for all of us.I think it is good advice that i should do the same.
Good luck in obtaining that greater desire we all need, myself included.
Porter.
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"The Lord commands us to be peacemakers. This is more than peace keeping. Peacemaking is an active thing that requires much greater effort at making peace happen rather than just keeping ones peace."
I grew up in NY. My first dealing with the Catholic church didn't go so well. The Sunday school nuns were intimidating, mean and would crack their faces if they smiled.
The Priests had such heavy spanish accents that I had no idea what they were saying.
The services were held in the cafeteria at the Catholic school. we had only folding metal chairs and had to kneel on the tile floor.
Only certain services were held in the actual church (good luck finding a seat). Any other church was just too far for me to walk.
Frankly, it was horrible. Eventually, it became rare for me to go. I learned to pray, and read the bible in a quiet room in the house on my own.
Still to this day I go on Sunday's only. The experience is much better but I guess I went so long doing it on my own that my comfort level still resides with quietly reading and praying on my own
The experience is much better but I guess I went so long doing it on my own that my comfort level still resides with quietly reading and praying on my own
Include your Wife and Daughter, Danny!
Matt.18:19-20
[19] Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
[20] For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
Hey Reb,
We (the wife and daughters) go together on Sundays. I enjoy that with them. We discuss our faith quite often at home also
Both of my daughters are very active in multiple sportstherefore we do not attend Wednesday mass.
It's when I need a little more that I read by myself. Just something I've always done and am comfortable with. My parents never went to church when i was growing up. I always went on my own
Funny, evenon Sunday atmass, I don't sing (out loud) and all responses are very low.
So i think since I was on my own in this (as far as my immediate family goes) its what i am comfortable with
I felt that way my entire life up until I was 33. My grandfather was a preacher, and I would sometimes go 2 or 3 times a week by force most of the time.
And until I was ready to give a commitment to God, I kept feeling that way. I always made deals with God, and that doesn't work. I tried to make the scripture mean one thing when deep in my heart, I knew what it meant.
Then one day, I started praying. It was the day my wife left. Everyday for 3 years (probably skipped a few), I told God, no matter what, if he had to hit me in the head with a 2X4, I needed something in my life, and needed hope. Well, he did just that. I didn't see it at the time, but he broke me down until I got it.
I got it finally. I made, my last deal with him. I promised he would be my God no matter what, I would strive in life to live my life by his commands. Just take away my feeling of hopelessness. Now. I require Church. I am a spiritual mess if I miss a Sunday. I really require Wednesday night pray also. I need the congragation. They are my family.
I am not saying this is a picture of your life. Just telling you my experiences. I figured out it wasn't about having a good time in this life, but striving to make it to that perfect life after I die.
I understand and admireyour devotion to your church... however, your spiritual life should NOT be dependent upon attendance on any given day.
This is where its' easy for Pastors to manipulate new converts into believing that they can't maintain a spiritual walk, without the congregation or the comfort they may appear to be. We should NOT be going to church to "re-charge" our spiritual batteries, that should be done DAILY.We attend to Worship together, 1st....and to pray forothers, 2nd.
On another congregational note:the so-called "prohecies" that I've heard over a 10 yr or so period, VERY few ever came about, most didn't..and when folks gather together in an assembly to 'hear" the Word of God,what happens during that assembly has GRAVE concequences, if things are spoken during a prophetic message aren't of God.... yet being heard by believers...
I also have DEEP roots in the "church", and respect what it's true intended purpose is....but thats' FAAAAAR from what the church is today. Case in point: we have Missionaries around the world who solely depend upon their Denominations for support...correct? Now, if Jesus said to "GO", why is the total sum of most churchs "support" to these Missionaries, a fragment of the overall churchs' budget? Jesus did NOT say "build it and they will come"... thats' mans' garbage... in fact, the onlyChurch I see Paul, Peter, John, Luke, Timothy,et.al. attending is in folks homes...and the $$ collected was collected for the POOR, not the salaries of those called to preach...in fact, Paul said for the Elders/Pastors NOT to be a financial burden upon the flock. ALL we see today as "church" is NOT what the 1st Christians were taught, in respects to what $$ was collected, and for what purpose it was to be used. King Solomon built Davids' Temple for God... 'cuz God demanded a Temple in the Old Testament...nowhere in the New Testament do I see where Jesus tells us to emmulate that deed... can anyone ? in fact, he says the BODY is the temple...not a multi-million dollar bldg, with a staff of 10 pastors, Sorry...this is MAN'S way. do we need churchs'.........absolutely...we need a place to WORSHIP our Lord, 'en mass, as we should...however, Jesus didn't have Gold jewelry, nor was His robe made of the finest linens... yet, look @ the top officials and see whether they are as "humble" in their attire.Of course, this is a generalization, and NOT indicitive of all "churchs".. I know a few old country preachers who haven't compromised Gods' will, for their own......
Too much politics and human agendas in most churchs I see...
Peace, to all that need it...
wrong to think this way
