http://www.christianforums.com The forum for people looking for a church. en Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:27:34 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.christianforums.com/style/misc/rss.jpg http://www.christianforums.com http://www.christianforums.com/t7419301/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:58:21 GMT Hello, My name is Sarah, and I am having a crisis of faith in my Church. Basically, the Church I joined is nothing like the Church I currently belong to, and I am really heart heavy because of it. When I first joined my Church ten years ago I loved the fact that it was a Church for the... Hello, My name is Sarah, and I am having a crisis of faith in my Church.
Basically, the Church I joined is nothing like the Church I currently belong to, and I am really heart heavy because of it.

When I first joined my Church ten years ago I loved the fact that it was a Church for the "sinners", "new Chirstians", and the "just curious". This Church was founded by people who wanted to get away from the old steeple and stain glass windows. They wanted to be "approachable" Christians, and I have strived to be like that myself ever since.

The thing is, some time between when the original pastor had to step down because of family problems, and the last pastor we had decided to take a job in the regional office, our directives changed. The Church has quite seriously become an "Us Four and No More" Church. There are four or five individuals who pretty much dictate what happens in the Church and any suggestion made by others are either gently shot down, or blithly ignored.

The worst part about it is that several years ago we moved into a "rough neighborhood" hoping to reach people who don't have a lot of hope. When these people took control though they discouraged a lot of our outreach programs, or changed them to be so structured that even people in our Church don't want to go.
For example, we started a "Movie Night" to create a safe social enviroment for people to come to. The Ministry was just barely off the ground when it was dictated that we should show only "approved" Christian movies. Just so you know what I'm talking about, The Little Mermaid and Lord of the Rings are not approved. Unremarkably, attendance dropped off when we started showing movies nobody recognized like Pinapple Express and Faith Like Potatoes.

Myself and several others have become frustrated because we had seen this Church going in a different direction. Despite the fact we have been vocal about our disapointment these people refuse to change.

Though I hate to do it my friends and I have pretty much decided to leave. There are several Churches my friends and I have been thinking about, but I kind of resent having to leave. I feel sad that the Church that I loved was taken over and turned into the thing that we were trying to get away from in the first place.

Question: Do you think I am being unreasonable in wanting to leave? Should I have more faith that things will get better? or should I just let go and start over in a new Church? ]]> Looking for a Church freak_conformist http://www.christianforums.com/t7419301/ http://www.christianforums.com/t7418402/ Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:48:38 GMT I know people like Lutherans, Catholics insist on a lot of doctrinal instruction, answering questions, believing a catechism, is there anywheres you can just go get baptised, what you believe is between you and God, no questioning? I'm knowledgeable about the Bible, but my conclusions are a bit unorthodox, not terribly. It has to do with the nature of the trinity among other things, so I do not want to answer lots of questions, 'Do you accept Jesus Christ as your personal saviour?' etc., I am not anything close to unitarian, I do believe in the definite importance of the Bible as a holy book. My problem is a desire to be baptized without lying to someone about what I think. Who does this some type of revivalist or baptist?
]]> Looking for a Church nathanielfirst http://www.christianforums.com/t7418402/ http://www.christianforums.com/t7418005/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:34:46 GMT Hi
I am looking for a place were i can fellowship with others that put Jesus first. Every church i have gone to in my area all do the same thing. All forums i go to all do the same thing. I am looking for a group who love God first and don't just copy and paste scripture without meaning or wisdom in their own words.

There has to be a place online that drinks the Holy Spirit and soaks in Him some place. Fellowshiping should be Spirit filled and powerful, not just a bunch of people copying and pasting scriptures as though they are trying to out do the other person.

Sorry if i sound hard here, but I am not meaning to. i just want the old way of fellowshipping with others. People who get excited over God and Jesus, people who know the Power of Spirit.

Is it me or has the world become a world of robots. Does anyone get hot for God these days.

If anyone knows a place were people are not living in fear of speaking in Spirit and love Jesus lets me know in a PM.

Fellowship is everything ! ]]> Looking for a Church T Man http://www.christianforums.com/t7418005/ http://www.christianforums.com/t7415376/ Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:30:22 GMT Hello,

For most of my life my parent's never took me to Church, my father didn't want us to go, and so my mother never took us. Then when I moved out on my own, I joined my grandmother's Church. (I was also Baptized there). However I don't know if i'm a presbyterian. I just know that that's where they go and I join them every know and then.

I would like a direct relationship with God. I'm quite conservative, in more ways than one. I believe that Jesus Christ is not God incarnate, but God's firstborn son. Jesus is Lord and Savior; God of this earth; creator of all in heaven and earth as directed by God the Father.

Could anyone give me some pointers, or at least places to research?

Thanks;
Emily ]]> Looking for a Church hoperemains http://www.christianforums.com/t7415376/ http://www.christianforums.com/t7414445/ Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:58:01 GMT I was going through the forum looking at the statements of faith of different Christian groups and denominations

some did not have one, but it looks like the forums are quite new and they haven't established them yet.

I was looking for a Quaker forum but there doesn't seem to be one.

There wasn't one for charismatic evangelicals either - not quite described by any of these groups.

nor for family community churches - I suppose they would classify as free non-denominational churches or pentecostal/house church

nor for emerging church movement ]]> Looking for a Church starrycc http://www.christianforums.com/t7414445/ http://www.christianforums.com/t7412366/ Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:42:42 GMT I've been searching for a church recently, having never been to one before. I've now been to three, and the first two weren't bad but I just didn't seem to click with them much. However the last one I went to I immensley enjoyed it, and it offers everything of what I am looking for in a church.

However my Christian Union friends have said how you should go to many churches to experience them all and get a feel of them, but I feel so at home already in the one I went to, and I feel I don't want to miss things from it, but another part of me feels I should go to a couple more to see what they're like.

So should I go to other churches or is it just as good to stay where I am if I am very happy there? ]]> Looking for a Church Becca91 http://www.christianforums.com/t7412366/