Go away, your not welcome here ;) (or somthing like that)

[jpcedotal]

Xeno

God is love, and our faith is (should be) that we are loved and desired by God. Any church would be very fortunate to have you attend. God never calls us to condemn, only to give thanks to Him. Christ turned no-one away, ever.

Then again, I'm not Christ, and there's such a thing on CF as an ignore function. I've found it to be vital for my survival here.

 

[jpcedotal]

I'd be more than happy for you to turn up.

me too....I will even point out the single girls for you

 

[Criada]

You would be very welcome in our church

 

[seashale76]

True story for you: A lady in my church was married to a life-long avowed atheist who had no intention of ever becoming a Christian, but went to church with her regularly to support her (she didn't make him or push him to believe). He was never pressured to to convert by our priest or anyone else and he was welcome at all parish related events, book club, etc. Of course, Orthodoxy is sacramental, so he could not partake of our sacraments (which wasn't an issue for him as he was an atheist). He eventually became a Christian. Orthodoxy sees the Church as a hospital for sinners where we partake of the medicine of immortality, which is the cure for what ails us. ALL are welcome to come and see what we're about. How long you come and see is up to you.

 

[Xeno32]

Xeno32, what church did you go to?

Methodist Church, or the one I'm planning on going too. Since my dad is a methodist

Xeno

God is love, and our faith is (should be) that we are loved and desired by God. Any church would be very fortunate to have you attend. God never calls us to condemn, only to give thanks to Him. Christ turned no-one away, ever.

Then again, I'm not Christ, and there's such a thing on CF as an ignore function. I've found it to be vital for my survival here.

Thanks for pointing that out, I'll keep it in mind, but I don't think such drastic measures should be taken just yet

me too....I will even point out the single girls for you

I'll be honest, this made me smile =p Since its ironic that girls scare the living daylights out of me.. I blame it on my two sisters for inability to behave/function normally around them

True story for you: A lady in my church was married to a life-long avowed atheist who had no intention of ever becoming a Christian, but went to church with her regularly to support her (she didn't make him or push him to believe). He was never pressured to to convert by our priest or anyone else and he was welcome at all parish related events, book club, etc. Of course, Orthodoxy is sacramental, so he could not partake of our sacraments (which wasn't an issue for him as he was an atheist). He eventually became a Christian. Orthodoxy sees the Church as a hospital for sinners where we partake of the medicine of immortality, which is the cure for what ails us. ALL are welcome to come and see what we're about. How long you come and see is up to you.

Thanks for sharing this.

 

[silence_dogood]

And for the record, I never, once stated I want to be a Christian.

Then what is the point of your going to church?

Or did any of the nonsense you pointed out in your first post.

Well, at least I'm glad you were able to admit that it's nonsense.

 

[Xeno32]

Then what is the point of your going to church?

To meet new people.

 

[silence_dogood]

To meet new people.

And, again, you're exploiting what people consider to be a sacred occasion for your own ends.

 

[Xeno32]

And, again, you're exploiting what people consider to be a sacred occasion for your own ends.

Fine, I wont go.

 

[silence_dogood]

Fine, I wont go.

That's a very grown up decision, Xeno.

You shouldn't go unless you're going for the right reasons and unless you're able to behave respectfully.

 

[Xeno32]

That's a very grown up decision, Xeno.

You shouldn't go unless you're going for the right reasons and unless you're able to behave respectfully.

Just out of curiosity, define respectfully for me. I get the feeling, you think all non believers lack common sense, and don't know how to conduct themselves. Or that's what I'm reading between the lines.

We have a sense of right and wrong. We are also human you know

Because I can guess with what you mean by "right reasons". But you lost me with your second reason. Behaving respectfully.

 

[silence_dogood]

Just out of curiosity, define respectfully for me. I get the feeling, you think all non believers lack common sense, and don't know how to conduct themselves. Or that's what I'm reading between the lines.

We have a sense of right and wrong. We are also human you know

Because I can guess with what you mean by "right reasons". But you lost me with your second reason. Behaving respectfully.

We've already been over this.

 

[Xeno32]

Then, what churches do follow the correct Biblical guidelines?

 

[Xeno32]

I just want to say to thank you to all who took part in this. It made me think.

Maybe I'll go to church, with the goal to learn about Christ.

I spoke with my stepmom last night, discussing this very topic, and she recommend I go to Alpha. That's coming up at their church. Since its a place where I can ask all my the questions I want.

I think I will attend this.

 

[razeontherock]

So consider this:

in Scripture, the Holy Ghost "rubbed off" of powerful men of God onto people that walked by, or even merely heard them preach.

The guy you're trying to figure out says if that happens in my Church it's heresy.

What more do you need? You could read my brief testimony in my profile. I could tell you he and I are the same age, which normally might indicate similar amounts of experience but in this case I don't think so. He's surely not showing any love here, right? I turned down the opportunity to be ordained over 20 years ago, feeling the organization that would've ordained me was infiltrated by a carnival, "party" spirit. Maybe they were, but the reason I made that decision was because I listened to someone proclaiming they were an apostle. He was a false apostle! But the point here is, I'm not given to brash displays of the flesh as my reason for being involved in Church; quite the opposite. And I knew enough to be ordained quite some time back, and didn't stop learning.

If you want to avoid Church, your reason would be God might actually rub off on you, you're never the same again, and glad for it. Not that somebody who likes to argue is working through his issues in a chat room.

 

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[jpcedotal]

I hope to see you in church...any Christian church.

 

[DesertJoe]

Actually,The word church in English is Anglisized from the German "Kirchen",but what is referred to was the word "Ekklesia" (Greek for "called out ones").This is found in Matthew 16:18. The "Ekklesia" is not a social gathering,or an outlet,nor is it defined as a building,but it is a gathering of those who Jesus called out.I would personally not go to a meeting of Atheists because I am not an atheist.Is it okay for a non believer to visit a meeting of the "Ekklesia"? Absolutely.Ask questions about what we believe & why we believe.Our mission in this world is to bring the good news of Jesus Christ.The real idea,though,is we are to go out & seek those being saved (sorry if that sounds a little Calvinistic).Just remember the meeting of the "Ekklesia" is not a social forum or a debate society. God bless you