Comments on: Why I Don’t Go to Church Anymore!

By: admin

admin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:46:26 +0000

I just love how God networks! So glaad you are here again Elisabeth.

By: Elisabeth

Elisabeth — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:45:53 +0000

It’s funny. The path God has my family and I on right now keeps bringing me back to you! I just finished this book last night after the urging of a dear friend. We were, what I call, hung-out-to-dry by the church that we had been very involved in for several years. This book really speaks to the heart of the issues we have faced and helps us to focus on the changes Jesus is making in us. I just googled to find others reviews of the book and came right back to your website!

Elisabeth

By: Teresa Smith

Teresa Smith — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:36:29 +0000

Wow, this totally was my life!! I have tried over and over again to explain to people why we are not going anywhere on Sunday morning anymore. Even after years of following Yahweh in His will we get folks ask us “Have you found a church yet?” GEESSHH Thank you for sharing this article form his book. You know I am going to share with with a few people!!

In Messiah,
Teresa/Navah

By: Stacey

Stacey — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:14:04 +0000

My heart truley goes out to everyone who has commented on this subject. I realize what a touchy subject it is and I myself have dealt with all the same issues. After years of attending a one church I moved to a home church. That didn’t go well so I started attending a new church, the church was great with God loving people and an understanding pastor with a true heart for God. The only problem was the church was small and before long I seemed to be doing church activities all the time. (I too attended church without my husband and felt like I needed to spend more time with him). I began to wear down and I didn’t have the heart to tell the pastor I was neglecting my husband and tired, so i left. I spent the next year and a half telling everyone I could “you don’t have to go to church to love Jesus”. I have a very good understanding about the Church being body of Christ. And I do still believe that. But my experience with being away from the church building where my church FAMILY was, was lonely. I didn’t have support to stay strong in Christ, there was nobody to help me walk through the trials when it seemed like Jesus was so far away. Please understand I never backslided or gave up on God I just didn’t have that support (remember you ladies that said your husbands didn’t go with you) you recieve from real Christian people.(This is why God says do not forsake the gathering together). When I got honest with myself and started asking God for direction in my life I ended up back at the loving church (building) I left. They treated me has if I never left, I can’t even say “real” family members have treated me with such unconditional love. We may not need the building but we do need the people, So if we don’t have a building where are we going to meet?
I just want to make a quick note here. Jesus taught at the temple (church) throughout his life, starting at twelve. The temple was and still should be a place(not a law) where born again believers get together because they want to praise God and Get strong in the teachings of God through the reading of scripture. Which is what Jesus did. Then go out and be a wittness for Jesus through your actions. I’ll leave you with this,
Most churches are just trying to do God’s work. Yes we must be wise in choosing a place of worship but let us not criticize brothers and sisters in Christ, it’s like talking about yourself, the body is one. IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT, LET US ALSO WALK IN THE SPIRIT. Gal. 5:25

By: Monica

Monica — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:21:23 +0000

I have totally gone through this exact same thing and I thank God for my personal relationship with Him. I love Him, His Praise is continually in my mouth. It is nice to see my feelings expressed so clearly and honestly from another believer. Praise the Lord!

By: Martin Watts

Martin Watts — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:42:27 +0000

Beautify! Might I add?

(Greek) episynagōgē (English)Assembling
Hebrews 10:25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…
The Greek word for “Assembling” is episynagōgē.

It has nothing to do with gathering in a place, but it means to gather in the faith- or more specifically, a complete collection, as in the Ecclessia or Church (the called out ones).

God builds a temple unto himself through the Spirit of himself- forming a complete collection of believers. Apostle Paul was directly speaking to the Jews who would go “under” grace, then turn around and go back under the Law of Sin and Death. He was encouraging them to gather together in the unity of the faith in Christ.

Preachers have used this scripture setting to encourage people not to miss “church”, but if you are a child of the Living God, then He has called you, and you will not miss being an integral part of the “Church”. Part of the complete collection of Saints of the Most High.

Enough said.

By: Alanna

Alanna — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:50:49 +0000

I would like to give a more thorough response at a later time, but for now, I just want to say that I plan on printing this and posting it at my church, at least in part (it’s a little long).

Thanks for posting, God bless!

By: Matthew

Matthew — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:21:34 +0000

It is no secret that many people have been hurt by a spirit of religion that is legalistic and caught up in man’s rule of law and judgements. Is this any reason to deny oneself and a group of fellow believers near you the body of one of its members? I have gone to many church buildings to worship and have fellowship over the years, (from a hotel conference room with twenty spirit filled worshipers to a megachurch with three thousand members) and the edification and exhortation of fellow believers is integral to God’s plan for the church.

I would encourage you to read the Pauline Epistles again, as they deal with many of the very problems you are seeing in the church today. The main thrust of most of Paul’s teaching is that Jesus is the main thing, but the exhortation and edification of the body of believers is only slightly less important! Additionally, we find in Joshua Chapter 7 that the sin and disobedience of -one man- can affect an entire body of believers. This is another reason we must encourage, correct, and sometimes even rebuke our fellow believers (with a spirit of meekness and not judgement as Paul states in Galatians 6:1-2). Turning away from problems in the modern church is certainly not the answer, Paul wrote many letters with the correction of the “church organization” in mind.

One of my good friends was told by his pastor at eight years of age that his sister would not have burned in a house fire if their family had been obedient to God. He is only just now accepting Christ’s healing and restoration after this deep wound caused by a “man of God”

The fact is, being part of a body of believers is hard work, but not a task that I believe we should shy away from because of fear or simply because it is difficult to find people we agree with 98% of the time. What of the many rewards that God has for us when we attend worship and sunday school and all the other organized church events that are not mentioned here in your post?

The main challenge is simply this: It is very dangerous, advocating that it is okay -not- to go to church, as there are none of us that have the ability to grow in Christ without help from our brothers and sisters. When we advocate not going to church we give the prideful impression to God and others that we don’t need the edification, encouragement, teaching, worship, corporate prayer, fellowship, and operation of spiritual gifts and many other blessings that God will provide to help us to move along a path from salvation to growth.

Be blessed!
Your friend in Christ.
Matthew Emch

By: (((((HUGS))))) sandi

(((((HUGS))))) sandi — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 05:55:38 +0000

I came over at Jacque’s link to religion or relationship. I found myself reading more and cannot leave without letting a HALLELUJAH escape my lips!!! We are attending a small homechurch now, but for a time we just churched at home as a family. When we left the church we were surprised to find that we actually GREW in faith, and that we also had the time to disciple our children and reach out to those in need around us. Of course we had many old church friends who would ask if we were even Christians anymore! This little post expresses my heart sooo very well!!!! *THANK YOU!* for sharing it! (((((HUGS))))) sandi

By: Sisterlisa

Sisterlisa — Sun, 03 May 2009 22:07:01 +0000

Robin, I have been on a serious journey lately and I thank you so much for this. As I was reading the Scriptures today the Lord brought to my mind about this post and my comments. So I came back to re-read everything. THANK YOU!

Jacque has been wonderful to me as well as I have sought to know the truth and I finally feel more free than ever before. Yes, I have read from the links and even printed some of it out for my husband to read. :O) We are on a wonderful journey and I value all prayers that can be sent up for us. ((Hugs))