I don't like going to church...anymore

Why can't you go to another?

Yeah..I am slightly confused..why can't you leave the church or go to another?


But on another note - you will find things you are not happy with and people who aren't perfect in every church...no one is perfect. Only He is. If everyone stopped going to church because of imperfections,there would be no church.

Focus on the good things about your church...I suspect once you do this, you will begin to find more and more good things....Oh..and a thought - if you do keep finding bad things, well just keep in mind that they will not change if everyone who is unhappy with those things leaves...

Although - if you are really unhappy with this church, perhaps it really is a good idea to try out some other ones now...

I would have this discussion with the pastor and take in his counsel. He might be able to guide you in the issue.

Elle_For_Short said:

OKay I used to love going to church, but with so much that has happened I have become disillusioned. I go, I have my ministry, but people who talk behind your back, or when people are wrong and look like martyrs and you end up being the big jerk when you were right, how can I make church enjoyable again. My whole family has ministries there, and I have two important one. I left one and want to leave the other one just because there is no enthusiasm or joy. This is just not me whining, its happened to many others there, and now they don't go to church at all, or just sit and do nothing. I didn;t think I would be one of them...ever. Help! and please pray for me and my church. BY the way I cannot leave the church and go to another, although sometimes it would be great.

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church used to be about the Lord, now it's about the drama

AncientEnchanter said:

church used to be about the Lord, now it's about the drama

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Brilliant.

I don't go to church anymore.

It's not because I don't believe either. It's because of the drama and politics involved.

I'd rather not be in high school again.

The AncientEnchanter speaks truth. This is what church is. Church is about God, giving Him glory, and coming before Him. Church is about meeting with Christ. Regardless of what people think and say we must go to church solely for the Lord, and the fellowship that comes along with that will be an outflow. It's hard to shut people out, but you do not go to church for them.

Also, you don't do ministry for the joy of doing it. John Piper, in Desiring God, stated it along this line. We should be joyful in serving the Lord merely because we are commended too. If we are not thrilled by doing ministry then we must seek the Lord's forgiveness. Serving Him from deadness is a disgrace to Him. He wants us to minister, but, He asks that we do it joyfully. The problem is is that we don't see not being joyful as a rebellion against a Biblical command of what God loves, that being a cheerful giver, among other passages. We have to confess it and look for His help and guidance. We know what is right.

^^amen to Lyle's post!

many people, even some of my friends, are discouraged from church due to how the people act, church shouldnt be about the people it's about going and listening to God's word and getting closer to Him. it doesnt' matter if the members are a bunch of drama queens and kings, or are stuck up and unfriendly...You have one friend in church and that is the Lord Jesus Christ..it is His house. and although I agree the believers who enter His house should be kinder and exhibit His qualities, the truth is many won't simply because church has become a burden to them and it's a shame. They think of it as a routine..get up go to church, come back home go to work monday and so on. Church day should be the special day that you go to praise the one who died for our sins so that we may be ABLE to live as we do today, and have the ability to go to church. There should be joy in that alone, knowing that because Of Jesus, we are able to go to church and worship and not either be damned to eternal hellfire or still under bondage of the Law. isn't that a joyous thought ?

I would discuss this with a trusted church member and also pray about it.

Praying for you!

You say you can't leave the church well o.k. The first thing I would suggest is you go straight to the Senior Pastor and voice your frustrations. If he doesn't listen or seems to put you on the back burner what is that telling you about the leadership of the church? Then I think your decision would be much easier.

People are people and I have scarcely come across a church that doesn't have at least one deep problem among many members. If people are not being Christlike it is actually a picture of a spiritual condition rather than a physical annoyance. Jesus states a natural order of addressing these problems in Matthew. We speak to the person first, second we bring another with us, third we bring it before the church leaders.

Since the church is the functioning and living body of Christ the idea of bailing when we don't feel our needs being met should not only bring us to the point as to why we attend church but also who we are as Christians. Christians cannot bail out on the body of Christ. it is that simple. The choices of churches were actually subjected to church bodies in the New Testament. Where there are two Christians there is church. Paul closes Colossians with this statement, "Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house" (Col. 4:14; NASB).

We have many 'churches' today because there is much controversy, ignorance, and pride that pumps through the veins of this body. The unity that it was originally designed for does still exist, but it has suffered a painful blow over the past 200 years. The church itself remains the same regardless of what we call the building in modern days. The idea of Christianity as a buffet line is more of a heresy than truth. It's wrong, simply put. Much of the New Testament is about problem solving and getting along in the body of Christ and its functioning. I think we should be very careful about leaving a church except for doctrinal problems that cannot be held lightly.

Everything we do will stand before the judgment of God. We have to remember if we leave a church simply because we don't like it, we think it is sick, or whatever the reason may be, we will be accountable. We cannot take the abandoning of any part of the body of Christ lightly at all. Christianity is very serious stuff.


As far as a big pool of teaching. This is a good thing. But if you are always looking to expand the pool it will never be big enough, and never ever use this as the sole grounds of leaving any church. There are a vast amount of teachings you can get outside of church. There are more teachings then are hours in a lifetime. Insight for Living; Living on the Edge; Back to the Bible; Moment of Truth; Stand to Reason; These are all very good resources for the most part and can be accessed from anywhere. Good social ministries are Family Life Today and Focus on the Family, among others.

Always put what the Bible says before what people say. Study it daily and learn it. Everything you need for life and godliness are in it.

I used to attend a massive church (Saddlebrook) maybe you know of it. I don't know where in California you may be but I also was not enjoying the worship there and have quit the church completely. I just pray on my own. I don't want to sway you but do we really need a church anymore? My church "friends" threw me under the bus. it's along story. I think you and God together are all you need. It may change,you may find a safe spot in a new church. i hope you do if you feel you need that.
I was getting ready to move and I all of the sudden was not important to my vhurch anymore. I found them unreal there. Ah now I have stayed,now I see who they are. They wore masks of fakeness.

What these guys are saying is true, but I'll argue that if you are that uncomfortable/unhappy with the situation at your church that seeking out a better fit for you would be a good idea. I wouldn't consider it "giving up" or taking the easy way out at all.

Church is most certainly about God, but if you are so distracted by the drama and politics that unfortunately plague so many churches out there, you can't worship and praise Him properly. In my own experience, churches like these leech the life out of the service and wind up with its remaining members falling into that routine CC was describing. They also rarely get new attendees, never mind actual members.

To me, if you are so unhappy with the drama and politics in your current church, it seems a better choice to explore other options than to simply stop attending church. Again speaking from experience, once you find a church with a truly loving, Christ-like community, you will feel more at home in the church itself, and be able to look forward to going as you should, and be able to focus on the message and praising God.

In my experiences, church is often just a huge social club. Leave a church and your contacts often die out, often over night.

Is an amusing thing, really.