Anyone else frustrated by the churches?

If you're discontent as far as the whole western church system goes, you can always find some like-minded Christians in the area and meet once a week for bible study, discussion and edification. On top of that you can be democratic as to how to spend "church" donations (though you won't be able to claim them on your taxes, as a side warning). This method is getting increasingly popular. However, don't forget your brothers and sisters in the various denominations and let only the Master judge his servants.

Christianity, like humanity, is social.

039 said:

If you're discontent as far as the whole western church system goes, you can always find some like-minded Christians in the area and meet once a week for bible study, discussion and edification. On top of that you can be democratic as to how to spend "church" donations (though you won't be able to claim them on your taxes, as a side warning). This method is getting increasingly popular. However, don't forget your brothers and sisters in the various denominations and let only the Master judge his servants.

Christianity, like humanity, is social.

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I like how you said that....


and my thoughts: churches are made up of people.... imperfect, like myself, and I enjoy the support and followship.

This is the 'little white church on the hill' I attend... pic taken in the fall....
God bless you
Mickey

The church is a building that
You go to but Christ is the HEAD
of the CHURCH and that He is in charge
Of the chruch. I love my church a Southern
Baptist church as I love the fellowshipping there
Used to nearly leave my church but now
Really love it a lot!

I am not sure what happened - thought I posted the picture ....
This is the pic of my church.....small, but a nice place to go....
God's peace,
Mickey

Picking a church is a thing to be decided carefully. If you lived in Canada or germany I could recommend you a church. If you live in the austin texas area I can recommend you some awesome churches.

So yeah, we'd have to know where you live

I am a new Christian still trying to learn everything I can. But I have been blessed to be in the Houston area where we have many wonderful churches. I attend Lakewood Church, watch it on tv if you can!
I do believe that you should find a church because we are called to fellowship with one another. But many churches are too involved in "religion" and not a relationship with God!
You know when we get to heaven God is not going to have a section for each religion! But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't attend a church. Pray about it and let the Holy Spirit guide you.

Yes. Can I make a suggestion, though? You might try looking for churches that can help you with your own thinking -- that for all you could tell could be talking to you, alone.

This can be tough to tell if you're just going to one-a-week. Often midweek fellowship groups are much better at helping you figure this out. They help you find out what the members are like, too.

Often the reason why this or that theology is tarred & feathered is simply because someone was hurt by a church with that theology. It's the way people think. But it's no reason to reject the other church or the theology, even. People lump together their bad experiences and make more out of them than is real. So just avoid doing the same, and you're one step ahead of 'em!

I'm quoting the theology of my church to say it: there isn't one true church, but a lot of churches of Christ with stuff to fix. We're all broken people looking for a healer; all beggars saying where we found bread. So maybe if you could find a church where people like you are getting healed, or getting bread. It seems to me that would work better than looking at how the church treats completely different theologies. There're so many reasons people split out their theologies; some reasons just won't be good.

Even the Lord had something to say to the seven churches.... In that same spirit He will give you eyes to see the spirit of each church that you walk through, He will guide you to gather up the gems there and show you what is dross.

You will meet individuals everywhere who have been inspired by the Lord. They have walked with the LOrd and learned beautiful truths and when they share them, you will have the Lord acknowledge these things in your heart as truth. You will find scriptural support and by faith you will prayerful ask the Lord to teach you all things regarding the matter.

Follow the Lord, He may lead you through many churches so that you may learn the message they have gathered. Do not believe that they can lock the door on the whole truth, saying this is the truth, we have it and you can only be saved if you come in and be with us. Believe that NOT... The Lord is bigger than just a message or one theology. He can not be contained within any demonination, no matter how hard they try to prove that they are the one true church. God will continue to lead you through them all, if you but listen to his voice. You have much to learn about the gathering of the believers, each of them with a different flavor, a different spirit, and a different understanding. Some good, some off, and all of it needs to be taken to the Lord and the Holy Scriptures to see if it is in line. Fear not, where this leads you, for with God in charge, you will be on an adventure of life time.

As more scriptures come alive in your life, so also will the choice of believers with which you wish to fellowship with become more important. It may be that for a while you will need to understand the spirit in which a christian is to live, then another time it is more important to understand certain truths that change the course of your faith, but have faith it is the Lord who wants you to learn and experience these things. It is a benefit for yourself and those around you.

God will take you through the history of the faiths, how an inpiration started a new congregation, a new demoniation, and when the leader died, the hardening to the spot started. They are like flag poles in the course of history, showing how by faith men were moved forward, and by lack of faith they could go no further.

May you be blessed with the rare gift of discernment, and strength to continue where few tread in the walk in the Way. It truly is a narrow path, and very few can go with just the Lord alone.

Rion said:

In light of this, I've been trying to find a new church as mine is.. just a mess. Yet looking on here at the different faiths has hindered me more than helped. So many groups seem to hate each other, it's depressing.

Am I the only one who doesn't see one subset of our faith as heretics and evil? Seems like we spend more time fighting between ourselves than spreading the word, and I've even gotten caught up in it at times.

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Whatever church you enter, I'm led to pass on the best advice I've ever received for your role in that church. If you do this in a small church it could be led to humbly clean itself up, following your example. I've done it once. It takes a long time to serve people this way, but it's worth it to see God work on His people:

Rion-

You need to find an authentic bible believing church who do practice what they preach and thus really love God. I didn't say there was a perfect church but there are many quote "christian churches" who act just like the world and arn't christ like at all. Plus, they may be a social club and their priorities are backwards. Get away from this counterfeit junk!

You need one who truly shows the love of God which is unconditional - its described in 1 Corinthians 13. And do have the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives - they are transparent christians because they allow the Holy Spirit to shine through them. I go to a church where corporately (as a whole) they act like it. Plus, its inspirational and uplifting spiritually. You should feel spiritually charged with the Holy Spirit after attending not drained out.

There will always be bad apples somewhere - but its good to have very few instead of half the church. If its half the church its time to dash to the door.