quote:

Originally posted by Chris Anchor:
Nope The Creator is all around us, no need to go to a hall/church/house to worship him. I know what his words are, no need to hear someone tell me what his words are or mean. Chris

I go to very young (demographically, 20's through 40's) church that is growing like crazy with 3 campuses and a fourth planned. There isn't a Sunday that goes by where our lead Pastor reminds us that "this is just a building, YOU are the Church!"

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Anchor:
Nope The Creator is all around us, no need to go to a hall/church/house to worship him. I know what his words are, no need to hear someone tell me what his words are or mean. Chris

Again, it's not necessarily about religion. Why can't a church be about community? Let's say you're 70 and your wife just passed away. Can you not see the great comfort the fellowship of a church might be to someone who is lonely and hurting?

Despite all the cynicism about organized religion, there actually are good people in these churches, who really care about others. Of course there are exceptions. Of course there is charlatanism- false prophets out to make a profit. Of course. However, there is love and fellowship to be had and at the right time and under the right circumstances, even the stubbornest atheist might find comfort amongst such people.

You just don't know everything that this world holds for you, and you may find, someday, that a church can sustain you.

What's that you say? You don't believe in fairy tales? Well, neither do I. You don't believe that Jesus ascended to Heaven three days after dying on the cross? Well, neither do I.
And yet, look at what I am saying to you. Now, why would that be? Think about it.

Thanks para exactly on point!

Yes, I go every week that is possible. (sometimes I will live stream if one of us is sick) I also serve every Wednesday.

Nope. Maybe for a wedding now and then, and sometimes I get dragged by my in-laws. But I get nothing out of it.

quote:

Originally posted by hogarth:
Nope. Maybe for a wedding now and then, and sometimes I get dragged by my in-laws. But I get nothing out of it.

If my sacred service to GOD was all about what I get out of it, then I would feel the same as you. Fortunately, my sacred service to GOD is about HIS benefit to the vindication of HIS sovereignty. We serve GOD, not the other way around.

Something to think about.

H&K-Guy

Yes, I need the instruction, rebuke and encouragement now more than ever before. I've always been a struggling Christian. It's hard for me to believe without question, and harder for me to put my belief into action.

Without a physical, organized church, I would slip back into complacency and ambivalence.

quote:

Originally posted by arflattop:
It's hard for me to believe without question, and harder for me to put my belief into action.

To me, in terms of Christianity, it's cut and dried: either you do or you do not believe in the Immaculate Conception and Resurrection. If you believe, you are a Christian. If you do not believe, you are not a Christian.

And yes, applying those beliefs is the hard part. We are, after all, human.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by SgtGold:
Forgive me father for I am Jewish.

Yeah, I think that there might be enough of us here for a minyan.

Remember -- Jesus was a Jew, even though he had a Puerto Rican name.

For about 30 years I was active in church. Head usher, in charge of fund raising for a new church, was a counselor for the 100 Huntley Street ministry, headed up the counseling operation for that TV show. Had to give most of that up when I went back to grad school, and was working 50-60 hours a week.

I was "born again' while still a teenager, nearly 70 years ago.

We do not attend church here. Tried for quite a while to find one we liked. One with definite possibilities turned into a complaint session by the pastor about his family situation.

Others provided music that shook the walls, and music that lased longer than the sermons.

Got to be friends with a Jewish family about 40 years ago. Real pleasure to discuss religion with the woman who had studied comparative religion at the college level.

Kind of shocked her when she asked me who I thought would be in heaven. Told her that only Jews would be there. She asked how that was, and I explained that Jesus had said that when one accepted Christ as his personal savior that that person was adopted into the Jewish belief.
'
She looked it up, and agreed.

It is truly not the name on the church door that makes one a Christian. It is what is in one's heart.

quote:

Despite all the cynicism about organized religion, there actually are good people in these churches, who really care about others.

I am acquainted with such situations that occurred when we were stationed in upstate New York. Happened to people in our church. They had some really bad things happen to them. They were really hurting to the point that they had no food in the house. Several church members got together and IIRC, that family received nearly $800. It carried them over until things got better in the economy, etc.

Outside about 4 of us, nobody knew who contributed or how much. No need or desire to know. The recipient family asked who the contributors were, and were politely told it did not matter.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Anchor:
Nope The Creator is all around us, no need to go to a hall/church/house to worship him. I know what his words are, no need to hear someone tell me what his words are or mean. Chris

Again, it's not necessarily about religion. Why can't a church be about community? Let's say you're 70 and your wife just passed away. Can you not see the great comfort the fellowship of a church might be to someone who is lonely and hurting?

Despite all the cynicism about organized religion, there actually are good people in these churches, who really care about others. Of course there are exceptions. Of course there is charlatanism- false prophets out to make a profit. Of course. However, there is love and fellowship to be had and at the right time and under the right circumstances, even the stubbornest atheist might find comfort amongst such people.

You just don't know everything that this world holds for you, and you may find, someday, that a church can sustain you.

Exactly right. For some people it's all about community and a support system.

Some of my gay friends in the 90's used to go to the dance club every single Saturday night and dance their asses off until dawn.

Any guess what they called it? That's right: "Going to Church".

Community is where you find it.

Bruce

Yep, a sinner saved by grace from a loving God. Love my church family. Go as often as I can. Pastor and Music Director are two of my closest friends.

quote:

Originally posted by Scoutmaster:

quote:

Originally posted by PorterN:

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.

They put me out to pasture, I am the Cub Committee Chairman.

Scoutmaster, I'm sure you rock as the Cub Committee Chair.

PorterN, I assume they're are asleep by the time you share your timely video from LDS.org. It's no better in High Priest group..... velcro shoes and ailments are the club membership requirements to become a High Priest. . I'm happy to escape and work with the young men/women.

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
Funny you should post this. I'm not trying to hijack your thread, but I was thinking of posting a thread asking for what to buy to help me learn and understand the Bible and Gods will. What are good study guides and materials? I hope this makes sense. Thank you.

I would recommend the MacArthur Study Bible. It's nice having commentary available with cross references as you are reading through. I have the New King James but it also comes in other versions.

https://www.christianbook.com/...event=Bibles|1003692

quote:

Originally posted by SapperSteel:
I responded "Yes", which is true if you count Mormons as Christians.

Some don't -- hangups regarding our rejection of the Nicene Creed. But we believe in Jesus Christ as our savior, and we think of ourselves as Christians.

I love my mormon friends and family. Most I've met are truly wonderful people.
That said, there are MANY differences between Christian and Mormonism. The main difference is the Bible teaches one eternal God or monotheism. Mormonism teaches polytheism or an infinite number of gods and that you too can become god one day. "As we are, god once was and as god is, we may become".

Mrs and I used to go regularly. In fact, church is where we met. Time has passed, things have happened... we don't go regularly now.

It's easy some days to come up with reasons/excuses to not go. (Heck, our church offers FOUR services on Sundays now, it's grown so much!) Laziness, unfortunately, is not a good reason.

I need to get back to it.

quote:

Originally posted by tacfoley:

quote:

Originally posted by SgtGold:
Forgive me father for I am Jewish.

Me, too. But I don't need to ask anybody for forgiveness.

However, I DO go to church quite a lot, and living within 3/4hr drive in each direction of two of the most beautiful cathedrals in the UK, I am a great fan of church choral music. I went to school at one of the principal public schools here in England that was actually part of a great abbey, and got my love of ecclesiastical music from there and from the nearby Russian and Greek Orthodox cathedrals.

tac

"We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth, for surely there is no such splendour or beauty anywhere upon earth. We cannot describe it to you: only this we know, that G-d dwells there among men, and that their worship surpasses the worship of all other places. For we cannot forget that beauty".

The words of Vladimir's emmissaries sent in inquiry from Kiev for the purpose of helping to choose a national religion for the Rus.

I attended a Russian Orthodox church for a year. The sung liturgy really is beautiful and ancient. The bells peeling at Easter is transportive.

Spiritual, but not religious. I have been an irregular attendee. As a child, which was sloughed off. As a young adult at a Russian Orthodox church; later with the Methodists. Both of these were more oriented toward a straight worship of the Divine rather than the Apostolic Creed. Think of it as a freelance monotheism. Lastly at an Evangelical church. That was about 14 years ago. Since then I have left off attendance. I do consider that it is a benefit to attend, on the whole.

I have been fortunate to visit a masjid regularly; and sometimes a Ghudwara (Sikh Dharma).

While I have stayed away from organized religion as I feel that my relationship with God is a one on one not a group thing. I understand that many feel that they need the group to feel his presents, I don't as I feel him each and every moment. Now with that said I know many have found great support and comfort in their church and it's members. I'm a Freemason and as one I have one the largest support group with brothers thru out the world that I can rely on at any time as they can with me. That's my earthly support group. Chris

Am late to this discussion, but, I attend Church faithfully, every Sunday, at our local Mormon Church. Right now, I dont have a calling in the Church, am not a teacheror anything. Just attend Church and hope to maintain my sanity, given the serious health situation I find myself faced with.

Sometimes, I get pissed off by the attitudes of a lot of the Utah/Idaho/Arizona Mormons in our Congregation. Because I am Indian, a lot of them seem to consider me a second-class citizen, and the bitches just refuse to respond to my overtures of friendship. This is the only thing that gets me pissed of about Church.