Confused and a little lonely

[LunaLee]

My family and I went to the same church for about, oh, maybe 5 or 6 years. I had lots of friends there, and I'm homeschooled so my friends at church were very precious to me. Then things started to change. The church hired a new youth pastor, and things started to go downhill. The church couldn't pay for the new addition they were building (I think because of the large paycheck they were handing this new youth pastor) and people started to leave. Also, I was in the youth group, and the youth pastor seemed focused on doing expensive things like ski trips, beach overnighters, lock-ins every month , just generally fun, self-centered stuff. No serving, no worshiping, none of the things I thought a youth group should do for others.The church was obviously split, one half agreeing with the youth pastor, the other against. The members of this church were border-line hateful toward the ones that left, blaming them for the problems with debt and splitting the church.
So, we left. That was about 3 years ago. We found a new church, we love it dearly. But my dad has barely and companions, the kids who are my brother's age (who's 11 yrs. old) are generally . . ."bad" kids, they're very rowdy and misbehave, and me, well, I have maybe two or three teens who I consider friends, but not like my old friends.
What should we do? Should we leave this church and find another, or just stay put? And were we ever right in leaving our old, first church???
Advice would be appreciated greatly. I know I'm probably boring you, but thanks for reading it anyways

 

[rogsr]

You're not boring anyone. That's why we come here, to help people through things, it's fellowship.

It's really probably best not to worry about what has already taken place. Start to concentrate on what is open to you now. As you get a little older you can take the lead and begin influencing other young people in their walk with Christ. Doing community service is very important, and it's the churches that stray from that to do those self-centered things that you were talking about that end up crumbling. Jesus didn't die to teach us to go on ski trips, he died to show us how to serve each other. Does your new church do things like that? If so, then get really involved. If not, then work on starting something service oriented. Either way you are blessed and walking the narrow road.

Good luck and God bless

 

[LunaLee]

Thanks a bunch, rogsr, I feel a lot better. You're right, I sould concentrate on now, not back then (bad habit I suppose) The youth group at my current church is just getting started (a very slow start but it's a start nontheless!) and the kids my age are just learning the stuff I heard years ago.
Hey, now that I think of it, maybe God was equipping me to help in this new youth group, since I've done all this before. "All things work for the good", right?
Thanks again, your words were very helpful.

Jesus didn't die to teach us to go on ski trips

That's good, almost profound I like it, it would make a good signature, lol.

 

[rogsr]

Hey, now that I think of it, maybe God was equipping me to help in this new youth group, since I've done all this before.

I was thinking the same thing when I read your original post.

All things do work out for the good in the long run. Don't ever forget that we can only see the here and now, but God can see the big picture. That is why we have to trust God.

 

[rainbowprism]

I was very impressed with your maturity for a young lady your age...you realize that the center of any youth group should be Christ. I think you will serve as a wonderful example and potential leader for your new church.. Don't worry bout the "growing pains" of being the new person, everyone went through it at some point!

 

[Rafael]

That's good advice I second from rogsr. If you can say what you said about the Christian works, then you have an understanding about God that is very important for the last days, as the visible Church will beome more and more like the selfish harlot riding the beast in Revelations. We are created by God unto good works and deeds, yet there are so many Churches falling into this ski-club spirituality.
Perhaps you can get into the ear of some elders and stimulate, by your prayers and some Bible study, them to do more visitations and community services. We are supposed to be letting our lights shine so that the world sees our good deeds and gives glory to God for His economy of love and giving. But this is not the reputation the visible Church has. I guess that even if it did do more good work the world and its media would manage to not notice, but from just a Christian perspective I see we could have much more impact on our communities if focus and money were spent helping the hungry, naked, lonely, homeless, and sick in each town and city accross this nation and world. It's a battle the Church seems to have lost, but the Lord will make it and all things right.
I hope you will be blessed whereever you go and continue to grow and serve God - making His name a praise to others.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

HEBREWS 10:24 And let us consider one another how to stimulate and
provoke one another to love an, GOOD DEEDS and noble activities. 25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of
some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see
the day approaching.

1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

 

[TheMainException]

If you don't believe what your church is doing is right, then you were right in leaving. If you find that you don't fit in with your new church because the kids aren't like you and could be a bad example for your brother, then I again suggest that you leave. But only if you find it totally necessary because if you leave too many churches you could end up being a church hopper that doesn't know where to settle in and it could just be a habit.