"Going to church"

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Permalink Reply by Drew Jarrod on November 27, 2008 at 4:49pm

I understand much of this and live something similar in my life. I don't attend traditional churches... until we find one that isn't just tradition "we've always done it this way, so we don't need to change" neither me or my family have been attending. But no one seems to understand this around where we live, so we do the best we can on our own. Getting guidence directly from God as much as possible... which really is the best way. 1st hand.

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Permalink Reply by Todd Hilton on November 27, 2008 at 5:38pm

I too can understand the overarching concerns voiced here. I have had my share of disenchantment with established religion. However, I believe in serving in the role of spiritual head of my household, I must vigorously seek out a Sunday worship experience for my family. No matter the pain that I personally have encountered, my children approach worship in a totally different frame of reference. Where I see political maneuvering and posing, they see only the fellowship that is born in innocence. Oh, to be able to go back to that stage of existence. Until 4 weeks ago I was a casual Sunday morning worshiper. It all came to a head one Sunday morning when my 7 year old son comes running down stairs and all but begs me to take him to church. And you know what? I failed. I came up with a pretty logical sounding, but yet lame excuse to stay home. What truth did i just model to this child? The "church" has hurt me in the past, and I chose to run. I justified this time by busying myself and "Doing" things that felt right. But nothing ever replaced the fellowship that I had once experienced. Sunday morning worship, in and of itself, is not all there is to living life as a Christian. But, as for me in my family, I desire for it to be the foundation builder that will hopefully serve my children well as they encounter life.

Every man must choose a direction to lead his family. Whatever format that he chooses, he must remain resolute in his mission to offer them consistency of focus and commitment to the true message. Wherever the battle, be strong and remember the ones that follow in our footsteps.

Firmly in HIS grip,
Todd Hilton

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Siemens on December 2, 2008 at 10:37pm

Drew,
Yours is yet another reply validating my current quest / search for something beyond my recent church experiences. This place on my journey feels like a go between from the familiar to the unknown. There is a conflicted nature about it that causes me to wonder about my motives, my wisdom, my faith. There are voices that warn me about "falling away", "being decieved", etc. In the past, I would have succombed and forced myself back into the mainstream of my faith community. But, this time for some reason, I have found it more compelling to seek another path; to take the road less traveled, and follow the sound of a different drummer. Your reply and others like it are received as God's signs that I am on the right road. In fact, finding this online community has been an answer to my groaping prayers, a handgrip to my free falling experience as I let go of something familiar in order to grasp something as yet unknown but very much believed in. If you ever saw "The Matrix", this is just like Neo's experience when after late night hours secretly hacking away at night to make a connection with something he knew not of, finally, he makes the connection with Morphias which begins his new journey into a world he had only sensed but never seen. My growing connections with others like you have confirmed that I can trust myself. That God is in this scary pursuit of something I cannot even put into words. And so I stay in the moment and live in quiet expectation of his leading. Must go now. But, I welcome your continued contacts.

Jeff
Drew Jarrod said:

I understand much of this and live something similar in my life. I don't attend traditional churches... until we find one that isn't just tradition "we've always done it this way, so we don't need to change" neither me or my family have been attending. But no one seems to understand this around where we live, so we do the best we can on our own. Getting guidence directly from God as much as possible... which really is the best way. 1st hand.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Wold on January 4, 2009 at 10:47am

Going to church is OK as long as it is not your destination. Church in America has seemingly become its own idol. Most peopole are so focused on serving church, that they forget to spend time with God. And what I have learned is that while most people in church speak of a personal relationship with God, few actually take the time to nurture one. Don't feel guilty for putting God first. That's what He wants. As for me, I try to worship God every day no matter what I am doing. I don't think putting God in a Sunday morning box is what He is after. All that being said, we do need fellowship with like-minded individuals to give as a reality check now and then and offer guidance and support. The hard part is finding like-minded individuals. I am glad to have found some here on RH.net.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Siemens on January 5, 2009 at 10:33pm

Eric,
Thanks for your words. They speak my unworded utterances and deep yearnings.


Eric Wold said:

Going to church is OK as long as it is not your destination. Church in America has seemingly become its own idol. Most peopole are so focused on serving church, that they forget to spend time with God. And what I have learned is that while most people in church speak of a personal relationship with God, few actually take the time to nurture one. Don't feel guilty for putting God first. That's what He wants. As for me, I try to worship God every day no matter what I am doing. I don't think putting God in a Sunday morning box is what He is after. All that being said, we do need fellowship with like-minded individuals to give as a reality check now and then and offer guidance and support. The hard part is finding like-minded individuals. I am glad to have found some here on RH.net.

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Permalink Reply by Gary Taylor on January 8, 2009 at 10:26am

Eric, I like your perspective. In fact, was about to make a comment, but you expressed mine quite well. Rare. Our current church is ideal for my wife and me at this stage. I've pastored and eldered and chairmaned and pew sat the whole spectrum of large to small. Now we're in a chapel in our RV resort. No history, no denomination, pastor's not paid, and we support six missionaries. Most attendees have started out as standard Christian wanderers, but this has given us fresh pallets to paint new pictures of what it is like to walk with God. Still, as you indicate, fellowship of like heart is still too rare. Thus, these RHnet forums. These phrases made an imprint (and I've just spent two days filling out apps for sub teaching at "Christian" schools where dominant pastors and rigid belief structures unwrap truths few see):

>Going to church is OK as long as it is not your destination. Church in America has seemingly become its own idol. Most peopole are so focused on serving church, that they forget to spend time with God.

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Permalink Reply by David on January 14, 2009 at 5:27pm

I really do understand the trap of ritual, & how dry of an “exercise” it can become. I also have ADD and have a difficult time sitting through a Sunday Service, not to mention one where the music isn’t too stellar. I’d much rather be outside, & often alone ... & I’ve served as a missionary & as a pastor :o) Throughout the years, I’ve run the gamut from being very involved to being very cynical & wanting to “revamp the whole thing.” I too want a church that is authentic.

BUT throughout this experience, I’ve also learned that not everything is broken. I’ve learned that there’s more beneath the skin of my local congregation than what I see & hear in a service. The old proverb stands true: Don’t throw the baby out with the bath-water. Have some churches missed the point? Sure. Have they all? No way, & neither has our Lord since He established it. He designed His Church to function locally as well as globally (in all different shapes, forms, & fashions). My advice after a lot of my own soul-searching is not to take it lightly either; but rather to “do all these things without leaving the others undone” (Mat 23:23). I can seek both an intimate personal walk with God without neglecting the support, fellowship, cooperative work for the Kingdom, & foundation for my children that my local congregation provides. They are symbiotic in nature. God designed it that way. And when it comes to my children, I will take the lead yes, but I can use all the help I can get. Remember, it’s not without reason that Scripture says not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. I'm part of a body. It's hard for one leg to walk alone. And that goes for local support as well as those you find on the net. We can both congregate and be on the move together – at least that’s what I try to do with those I lead.

I wish you nothing but the best, and I pray you find from the Lord what you’re seeking.
… & I hope I didn’t sound too preachy … only fervent for a faithful brother in the Lord.

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