How long has it been since you have gone to church and not felt an edge of hypocrisy from the people there? You know like when you walk in and you feel like you should not show any of your faults. How long since you have not had to hide something about yourself... b/c if they knew that... then you would not be able to be "in the cool club". We are all imperfect but why is it...when we walk into church we put on this wonderful fakeness to show everyone how perfect we are? We said the sinners prayer..... we are all sinners and we need saving.... yet no one ever wants to admit they actually sin. I am going to go out on a limb tonight and say my sins.... I have hatred in my heart for people who have hurt me. I am prideful. I am selfish. I am jealous. As you can tell I am not perfect. I NEED Jesus to be the perfection for me. I am not ashamed. I continue to read scriptures and pray for help in forgiving others, and of course for guidence.
How long has it been since you have heard a message that you think is idealistic but you know if there is the right pastor, the right people, openness, love, and acceptance of all people.... That your church morphs from being just a club that talks about Jesus to being a family who lives in Jesus.
I looked up on serveral different blogs and yahoo questions... why don't you go to church any more. It is really sad to see the answers.
Why don't you go to church anymore?
I'll tell you why I don't...some of the most selfish people I've ever met are in most of them.
Why don't you go to church anymore?
I'll tell you why I don't...some of the most selfish people I've ever met are in most of them.
I stopped going to church because I realized that religion is quite possibly the biggest producer of hypocrites and conflicts in the world.
I'm getting tired of the griping for money, but the poor people are always there first to give their money away. It's really funny to see.
Too many hypocrites and double faced people pretending they are good.
I stopped going originally because of the people, too. Now, I just don't believe anymore.
I personally got sick of a lot of the bigotry and selfishness. I got sick of a lot of these corrupt or distorted view on the world a lot organized churches were spouting. I then turned to Non-Denominational, because it focused more on one's relationship with God and Jesus not rituals or routines. I eventually moved out of religion as I questioned more and nothing seemed to satisfy my questing mind.
Because too few people "walk the talk" and it disgusts me to have to hear people talk about what good Christians they are after seeing them pursuing the spouse of another on Saturday.
They want hugging, kisses, meet and greet and want to live in your pocket. I don’t want to see empires. I want to see a difference. The world has major problems and I am yet to attend a church that even makes a difference in it’s own community.
Church made me so angry and I was finally done with it. They act like they have the answers but they don’t. They act like they care but they don’t. All show no go as they say. I am going back to my own personal relationship with God. I am done trying to fit into a church that never seems to accept me or my children.
One of the big failures that I see is that they are called toinclusivity yet time and time again are exclusive. It staggers me that we follow a man who entered into community with the most 'repulsive' people in his culture, yet most churches are unwilling to even consider such an act.
After years of church going I became frustrated by the way it has become institutionalised. It frustrates me that it has become so rigid and closed to change and fluidity. Jesus gives a radical call to follow him, the majority of churches have become too comfortable, they have become like clubs and they have lost the passion
I will never stop being a Christian because of my life experiences but that doesn’t mean you will see me in a church anytime soon. I have had too many bad experiences to go near that dog again. Can I suggest if it bites you … run. It’s a real mongrel when it gets a hold of you.
Those are just horrible to read. It makes me think dang is that how most people think of Christians. Luckily I cant be depressed. I went to church tonight and I heard such an inspirational message. A human church that could be as welcoming as God is.... is it possible? To be as forgiving and open to loving the ones that are imperfect but want to change for the better.... The come all, you will all be accepted, you will all be loved, faults and all church. (Right now the podcast isnt up but it will be sometime on monday 6/8. I really suggest you check it out. It was awesome! www.churchrelevant.com ) The song Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles came to my head while Bryan was preaching. It is like we are the sun that is coming to shine on the dark cold lonely lives. It has been years since it has been this way. Smiles will return to faces.
The Message 1 Peter 5: But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for— God has had it with the proud, But takes delight in just plain people. 6-7So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.
Wow ... you are asking these questions while still in your youth. You may not feel young everyday now ... but you are. You are seeking the real thing, the no phoney baloney "wear it" truth. That's great! You will probably be dynamite to the phoney type of living when your 50. The older or more mature you get ... the less tolerant you will be for a fake relationship with people and with Christ.
ReplyDeleteTrue, some people do go through the motions in church. Perhaps it is just what they were taught and don't know how to break out. But, we are all sinners and need a Savior and we need to be very gracious to those who are not comfortable being totally honest yet. Jesus knows why. We don't.
Anyway, it sounds like you are becoming a very safe person for others. You will probably find that others will talk to you more and more as they learn that it is safe and that you can be trusted. You will surely be used for the Kingdom being merciful and gracious in this world.
God bless.
NikonSniper Steve
Thank you for your comment on my devotion concerning Jehovah's Witness...WOW...that is a little creepy. I am so glad you responded to it.
ReplyDeleteThose are some serious justifications for not going to church! I think we've heard them all at one point or another (even coming from our own mouths).
ReplyDeleteI think part of the problem of many churches today (and please, please don't take this wrong) is actually the Sinner's Prayer. I know I said it a bazillion times and it didn't change one thing in me. I was still prideful, nasty, gossipy and grudge-holding (bitter, maybe?) My bottom line is really this; the Sinner's Prayer is not biblical. Jesus did not use it, nor did John the Baptist (Repent! For the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent!). The disciples didn't and neither did Paul, Timothy, Titus, James, Jude, etc.
So where did it come from? Honestly, I never thought about that until just now. (Great, now I have homework.) :)
Anyhow, what DOES change people is the regeneration of the heart after one repents, trusts that Christ paid the debt and then reads and obeys God's Word. God regenerates, not man. (Thereby making the Sinner's Prayer useless.)
I spent years in churches an unsaved Christian. I was even Superintendent of Sunday School at our last church. Then we didn't go for seven years. But, when I got saved it was because the mirror of the law (Exodus 20) was thrust in my face and I became aware of my sin. And it pointed to Jesus because there was no way we could keep those laws. (And breaking just one meant we broke them all and thereby making us worthy of judgment and condemnation.)
There are a lot of reasons that people don't go to church and that is because they are not saved. In fact, most people who call themselves Christians, aren't. And I fit that to a T. I've been in churches where there were more unsaved people than there were saved. How sad is that?
Ok, I've probably rambled on enough. I don't normally comment, much less comment a pageful. There was just something about your post that struck me and I had to speak up. I'm glad you brought it up!
:)