Not since I was a wee tike.

I was raised Catholic. After becoming an adult, observing hypocrisy within the church and questioning these problems, I have not attended regularly.

The church, in my opinion, has strayed far from it's founding principles.

quote:

Originally posted by Otto Pilot:
I spend many a Sunday (as well as other days) on the road making revenue where keeping such a schedule is simply an impossibility.

When I am home, most Sundays are spent out in the grandest cathedral of them all, the mountains and valleys of the West.

I got a great deal of Sunday schooling and studying when I was young that set me down a solid, if not doctrinaire path. I feel that God hears me when I talk, and always knows where to find me when a message needs to be sent.

I assume on the road also means "in the air".

I am sure God knows each of us personally, and loves each of us completely. I am also sure He hears our thoughts and prayers, even silent prayers. Sometimes I wonder if we listen to Him when he is trying to help us.

quote:

Originally posted by 10-7 leo:
The church, in my opinion, has strayed far from it's founding principles.

So has the country...
But I'm not giving up on either.

Church attendance is WAY down.
Not just in the US, it's even worse in Europe.
It can be said that Europe used to be a Christian continent.

Before long, Europe will be majority Muslim. That's when things will get interesting, world wide. The "era of tolerance" will be over. People will have to either surrender to Islamification and sharia or fight.

Critics of Germany's open-door immigration policy are warning that the recent surge in Germany's Muslim population — which surpassed six million in 2016 for the first time — has already changed the face of the country forever.

Mass migration is fast-tracking the rise of Islam in Germany, as evidenced by the proliferation of no-go zones, Sharia courts, polygamy, child marriages and honor violence. Mass migration has also been responsible for social chaos, including jihadist attacks, a migrant rape epidemic, a public health crisis, rising crime and a rush by German citizens to purchase weapons for self-defense — and even to abandon Germany altogether.

The German government has not said how it plans to integrate millions of additional Muslims into German society. The price for reversing Germany's demographic decline appears to be the further Islamization of Germany under the guise of multiculturalism.

quote:

Originally posted by Scoutmaster:
...
Sometimes I wonder if we listen to Him when he is trying to help us.

Sure enough asking for guidance and hearing/liking/following the answer can be two completely different things.

To a previous post, I believe "Mormons" are indeed Christians - it's in the name of their church.

I attend every Sunday and it does trump most activities within my control. It's that important to me and my family. It's not to be seen of men, but to renew my faith in Christ and to take the Sacrament.

I too am concerned about the lack of church attendance - I believe it's indicative of overall apathy toward organized religion.

For those of you who feel you don't need a brick and mortar church, please keep looking. It's out there.

I believe in God. I no longer believe in the Catholic church.

If I miss, it is generally early in the year with my son's baseball schedule.

We found a great church near us that is relaxed and driven by the membership to make More and Stronger believers in Christ. We try to do this by serving the community and believing.
We adopted a Title 1 school in the area and bring resources to that community of children and their parents.
I am on a serve team (mow church grass 1st weekend of month) there and there are many others serve teams, that make the sunday service possible.
As a result everyone knows somebody there and it makes the church a church family.
Additionally at our church there are bible study groups that are key to learning and growing in the study of the bible and its application in life.
We really enjoy our church, which also has a great kids ministry, which is key for us that our children be brought up in church and they also are learning to serve as well.

HK Ag

Yes - both wife & I. We are very involved in Bible studies and fellowship activities.

Accepted Christ as Lord & Savior 40 years ago.

The Lord has seen us through some trying times.

Yes, both my wife and I attend a small (300-350 people in Sunday's morning service)Independent Baptist Church.

I was raised by my Mom and grandparents in Church, but just didn't believe. My disbelief was made even more certain by my Army service and my years first as a young police officer then as a career prosecutor.

Took a looooong time for me to decide to trust Jesus as my Lord and Savior and I was a few days short of my 50th birthday when I did.

I think part of the reason I finally came to Christ was that I realized all of my dislike and complaints about Christianity was the result of what Christians or so-called Christians had done or were doing.

When I stopped looking at what turned out to be a relatively few people and looked at Jesus Christ, my perspective changed, dramatically.

Been there a few months short of 20 years and have taught adult Sunday School for 17, stopping only when I got cancer and couldn't talk very well.

Hope to return to teaching in a few months.

Bob

I attend regularly. I grew up in a family that went to church regularly up until I was in my later teens. Through my twenties I kind of drifted in an out. I started going back regularly on my own as a single man when I was around 29 years old.

Now I take part in several services a month, either leading prayer, reading from Scripture, or helping serve the Lord's Table. Some of these things, like leading prayer, puts me quite a bit out of my comfort zone.

It is easy to drift away and I have to admit that there are too many Sundays where I find myself having to force myself to go to an extent. It is so easy to want to sleep in or put it off until next Sunday. However, I always find myself glad that I went. I think it is very important to meet with, fellowship with, and study God's word with other Christians.

I am sad for those who let the hypocrisy of man prevent them from going to church and ultimately having a deeper relationship with God. We are all hypocrites on one level or another, God is not. Far too many people allow the actions of others to have an effect on their relationship with God. I saw it happen to my own father. Personally, I think in a lot of cases we are all too often guilty of rationalizing why we shouldn't do the things we know we ought to do. We are looking to please ourselves rather than our Heavenly Father. I know I'm guilty of it. The key is to never stop fighting that temptation. Being around other Christians and constantly refocusing on Christ helps tremendously.

We attend church every other week during the colder months. I work every other weekend, so that's the only way I can attend services. During the summer, I'm generally on the lake or out hiking on the weekends.

I find a closeness to God in the outdoors as easily as in a church full of people. Maybe easier.

9AM Mass, every Sunday. Grandson (11 yrs old) & I serve every 3rd Sunday. Very few Catholics in our town, at 70, I'm still serving. Hard for me to kneel & get up these days.

4th Commandment: Remember the Lords Day, keep it holy. The 10 Commandments are very important to me, solid footing to live by.

I am embarrassed to say I do not.

quote:

Originally posted by Sigfest:
I am embarrassed to say I do not.

I don't understand this remark.

The wife and I used to attend every service. We got involved in a church group and different ministries and became very disenchanted with so many aspects of corporate worship. We were in a "seeker friendly" church and it's just not for us. We discovered that since we're not needy that the people there don't get us. We've been looking for a deeper, more meaningful relationship and not just going through the motions. The church is so much like AA and we just didn't need that. We didn't fit.

I voted "No".

quote:

Originally posted by Sigfest:
I am embarrassed to say I do not.

Yeah Sigfest, nothing to be embarrassed about.
To each his own. No one should be judging.
Hell, the grandkids are what got me back to church.

I do not . No explanation needed .

We attend Latin (1962 version) mass every Sunday.

quote:

Originally posted by 4x5:
Yep, 3 hours every Sunday. I teach Sunday School to the 14-15 year olds for one of those hours.

Same. Although i teach Elders Quorum.