going to churches

Yuh got me there, sorry.

Why? What is wrong with it? Can God not use you in both places? Can you not serve God in both places? Are thy opposing each other doctrinely or something? How can it be wrong?

Good for You. You serve God ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE He leads you!

BTW! Remember! If GOD is in both p[laces and you are His child YOU are Welcome where your Father is. Now when HE is not there is when it is wrong to go.

yep, in fact, i think it'd be pretty good, sort of encourage fellow Christians to interact despite of different churches and denominations; but some people would rather like to stay in one church, so they can devote more concentration on a particular church service they're doing.

Although I couldn't find anything in the Bible specifically forbidding this,  it can't be for the best.

1 Corinthians 1:10 indicates that we should be " joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement." (NKJ)

Now if we are talking about 2 churches whose doctrines are based on different interpretations of scripture, then how can one be in the same mind and in the same judgement as both.

However, even if both churches teach the exact same thing, it can lead to bad habits.  For example,  the pastor of one church says something that you happen to not like, so you go to the other church untill that pastor says something that you happen to not like, and so on.

I feel that God would not lead someone to regularly attend more than one church.  If someone has to go to two churchs to get what they need, then maybe neither church is right for them, or maybe they're not doing their part. 

These are just my thoughts.  I am not accusing anybody of anything.  Ultimately,  this choice is between you and God.

um, your concern is understandable, but that's exactly one reason that leads to bickering among Christians from different churches. oh well, not everything is perfect. As you said, it's between you and God.

Although I couldn't find anything in the Bible specifically forbidding this,  it can't be for the best.

1 Corinthians 1:10 indicates that we should be " joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement." (NKJ)

Now if we are talking about 2 churches whose doctrines are based on different interpretations of scripture, then how can one be in the same mind and in the same judgement as both.

However, even if both churches teach the exact same thing, it can lead to bad habits.  For example,  the pastor of one church says something that you happen to not like, so you go to the other church untill that pastor says something that you happen to not like, and so on.

I feel that God would not lead someone to regularly attend more than one church.  If someone has to go to two churchs to get what they need, then maybe neither church is right for them, or maybe they're not doing their part. 

These are just my thoughts.  I am not accusing anybody of anything.  Ultimately,  this choice is between you and God.

The verse you have quoted has to do with the Body of Christ not different Church buildings, or even denominations. Whether or not you are a member of the Body of Christ has to do with what you do with Jesus, not what Church you go to.

You need also ask yourself: Why am I going to Church? Am I going to worship God? If you are going to a Church where that is not allowed, I agree you are in the wrong place.

Am I going to learn? Well if you are not being taught what the Word of God says, you are in the wrong place also.

Am I going to contribute? Well again, if you are going where you cannot contribute, you are in the wrong place.

By contribute, I do not mean preach, teach, or even sing, although we contribute in all those ways, and many many more.

But whether we realize it or not we also contribute by our presence alone.

You say, you cannot find anything in the Bible forbidding this. You are right. And if you do, throw that Bible away, it has been tampered with.

You will not find God in a Church where His Children are not welcome.

If God leads you there, do you dare NOT go? I think the key here is JESUS!
He is the way, the Truth, and the Light, and the Life, and ALL there is to and for the Christian. Does the Church teach Jesus and Him crucified? Is Jesus exalted as Lord of Lords and King of Kings???

This is why we are told in: 2 Timothy 2:15: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

When we have done our study and are rooted and grounded we need have no fear of deceit.

Ephesians 4:14: "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"

Well a person has to be comitted to their church, You can't church hop, does not show commitment to church, i mean you can't go tithing to different churches all the time, but, if you are not being fed in one church then find another one that will feed you, but most ppl i have spoken to and pastors including my dad say that church hopping is not good, example, in our church on our music team one of the guitar players was going to another church on a snday night and doing the music there and it was causing probs with our church, like spiritually and stuff, so it all comes down to comittment, and I know that Jesus is everywhere but we have to be faithful to the church that you picked to fellowship in.

Well, for as much as it disagrees with alot of people, I feel that you should be perfectly at ease stepping foot into any Christian building of worship. THE CHURCH is not a building, you cannot tithe to one group without tithing to THE CHURCH. If anyone worries that you might be spending time with people who will influence you in differing ideas about what scripture says, then I guess that we shouldn't have Christian fellowship, because no matter what church building anyone goes to, we all have differing opinions on what exactly it is that scripture says and teaches. This doesn't mean that you should ever overlook blatant disregard for clear teachings of scripture, but that in some areas none of us will ever see eye to eye until we are all set right by God.

Going to different Churches can actually help both congregations, in that people who get out amongst others can bring back fresh ideas and ways to get every Christian involved and really set them on fire for God. If you just shut yourself off from the rest of the world, then you miss out on so many opportunities to grow, and so many opportunities to touch people.

For example, anybody watch the catholic world youth gathering? Did you see those teens just lit up and dancing and singing out praises to God? Yeah! Wow, it almost looked like a "protestant" gathering! *laughs* For so long, the catholic Church did not seem to want to encorporate any new means of outreach, something that even newer music could accomplish, in drawing younger folks in. But, to see what could happen when they opened themselves up and really reached out, it was amazing. There is always a time for quiet reverence, but it is good that they seem to know now that there is also a time for lifting up your hands in praise and singing songs that send your heart soaring with messages of love for God.

Sometimes, spending time with other congregations is just what the Body needs to revitalize it's parts.

Originally posted by Jenna
Sometimes, spending time with other congregations is just what the Body needs to revitalize it's parts.

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completely in agreement with you.

Yes. Me too. DEFINITELY!

Hey Sharky,

Just look around you. God created the heavens and the earth.
And he did so in great diversity!! No two leaves are alike. No two beans are alike (I checked this with pinto beans, and human bein's lol).

Why would it be that God would desire you to stifle your desire to worship him diversely?

I went to two churches, too. I went to the Catholic church for the discipline, the dogma and the predictability. I went to the Church of Religious Science for the non-denominational worship, for the diversity in fellowship, for the happy get-togethers, for the joyful singing of praise to God, and for the kindness and caring of the minister and his wife, who were there for my family when my granddaughter passed away at the age of 3.

I feel that because I went to 2 different churches, I was able to manifoldly expand my focus on God and manifoldly enrich the life he gave me.

I found it real, real easy to say thanks be to God.

Patty

Originally posted by Gerry
The verse you have quoted has to do with the Body of Christ not different Church buildings, or even denominations. Whether or not you are a member of the Body of Christ has to do with what you do with Jesus, not what Church you go to.

You need also ask yourself: Why am I going to Church? Am I going to worship God? If you are going to a Church where that is not allowed, I agree you are in the wrong place.

Am I going to learn? Well if you are not being taught what the Word of God says, you are in the wrong place also.

Am I going to contribute? Well again, if you are going where you cannot contribute, you are in the wrong place.

By contribute, I do not mean preach, teach, or even sing, although we contribute in all those ways, and many many more.

But whether we realize it or not we also contribute by our presence alone.

You say, you cannot find anything in the Bible forbidding this. You are right. And if you do, throw that Bible away, it has been tampered with.

You will not find God in a Church where His Children are not welcome.

If God leads you there, do you dare NOT go? I think the key here is JESUS!
He is the way, the Truth, and the Light, and the Life, and ALL there is to and for the Christian. Does the Church teach Jesus and Him crucified? Is Jesus exalted as Lord of Lords and King of Kings???

This is why we are told in: 2 Timothy 2:15: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

When we have done our study and are rooted and grounded we need have no fear of deceit.

Ephesians 4:14: "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"

Click to expand...

 

Gerry,

Many kudos to you for these words.  How could finer words have been spoken?  I can't figure it out.


Great job!! Great post!!

 

Patty

Jesus is Sweet!

1 Corinthians 1:10 indicates that we should be " joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement." (NKJ)


This has nothing to do with what church you go to but everything to do with contentions within that church. 

Having said that, I believe it also apllies to the body of Christ as a whole.  However, since this statement is made to Corinthians in light of specific information Paul had concerning contentions present in that church,  is there any reason why the application to the actual church isn't valid?

Now if I am to assume that the only valid application is to the entire body of Christ, i.e. all believers,  then what of denominations?- specifically, those whose have differing ideas about what constitutes salvation.