How to convince them...

[JesseRaymondBassett]

Hello,
I have had a difficult time in the past convincing my family and church brethren and sisters that I do not want to attend church. Presently I attend two churches.... one of which I brought my whole family (mother's side) to Christ through. The other church I found on my own. I am feeling led by the Holy Spirit to not be attending a Church every Sunday... preferably at all. So this leads to my questions:

1.) How can I convince my family and church group that I feel led by the Spirit to leave the church in the material sense?

2.) How can I worship our maker and have fellowship with other believers and not go to a church building?



HELP... I am in a tight spot....

--Jesse

 

[christandisrael]

Hello,
I have had a difficult time in the past convincing my family and church brethren and sisters that I do not want to attend church. Presently I attend two churches.... one of which I brought my whole family (mother's side) to Christ through. The other church I found on my own. I am feeling led by the Holy Spirit to not be attending a Church every Sunday... preferably at all. So this leads to my questions:

1.) How can I convince my family and church group that I feel led by the Spirit to leave the church in the material sense?

2.) How can I worship our maker and have fellowship with other believers and not go to a church building?



HELP... I am in a tight spot....

--Jesse

Simply pray. But since you are an adult, you can simple tell them. I know that I don't need to go over what is a fellowship. It is a good idea to leave. You may be the kind that doesn't want to offend anyone. Well, they just have to accept it. What you are looking for is more than a building church and the spiritual house that the Christians are supposed to meet in. Pray that you'll find it. Love.

 

[Count]

1.) How can I convince my family and church group that I feel led by the Spirit to leave the church in the material sense?

2.) How can I worship our maker and have fellowship with other believers and not go to a church building?



HELP... I am in a tight spot....

--Jesse

You won't! I think (maybe I'm wrong) you haven't convinced yourself yet, if you are really led by the Spirit to leave the church.

You know something, if you are not really led by the Spirit to leave the church, you'd better stay where you are. It is more 'dangerous' while outside church, if you are not told by Him to leave. But if you are told by Him to leave, you don't have to convince anyone for your (His) decisions.

As for the second question, if you are really told by Him to leave, why are you worried since it's Him who told you to leave? Focus on Him, rest in Him, and He will show you eventually. (Be prepeared, it may takes even years. Are you ready to stay for a long time without 'going to church' ? )

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

True true.

I wrote my own perspectives aboutwhen our whole church did what you are describing... if you want to take a peek, please do...

www.enginecreations.com/unseenchurch

My own favourite quotes regarding wy my hurch went unchurched are;

Mathew 19v21ish: The story of the rich man. Essentially Jesus told him to give up everything in order to obey God... so i replace Rich Man with Rich Church and apply Jesus advice to EVERYTHING - meetings, leaders, jargon, dualism...

1 Peter 2v9: the priesthood of all believers.

Also about being IN the world but not OF it. Can't find the pasage though!

Essentially, leaving the dying zombie-corpse of the church is a prophetic act, one done because of Jesus and the World. And so I wouldnt seek to convert those who remain (who God may even have called to remain). Know your own reasons and gain strength from th odd verse here and there, but I wouldnt seek to proof-text. We seek church with the world because of christs love and in recognition that maybe th church has lost its christ and the world is finding him!

peace out

 

[TheAJKMan]

I too would urge caution in this decision. Not becuase I necessarily think it is a wrong one, just that I would urge you to be sure that it IS the right one for you. SHould you be convinced that it is, tell whom you feel led to tell, tell no-one else. And then leave. You have no need to explain yourself to anyone. Here's a thought, Jesus had 12 disciples that he called out of their usual lives and had intenese fellowship/teaching with them. Yet even He had need of withdrawing from His "church" to have time alone with His Abba Father. This may just be God calling you out to have a time alone with Him that He can teach and inculcate certain things/values in you vbefore sending you back into that most dangerous of battlefields.

TheAJKMan

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

Hey Jesse. Not sure if I'll be banned for what I've pulled recently around these parts... if I am, do keep in touch. MSN me when u see me or Email... we havent caught each other online yet when practical... so emailing may help this along the way!

See you soon if u sill wat some chat. Laters. Flan.

 

[Rick Otto]

Just be a good example/witness.
Don't try to to do the Holy Spirit's job.

We can be victimized by our own presumptions.

 

[JesseRaymondBassett]

Hey Jesse. Not sure if I'll be banned for what I've pulled recently around these parts... if I am, do keep in touch. MSN me when u see me or Email... we havent caught each other online yet when practical... so emailing may help this along the way!

See you soon if u sill wat some chat. Laters. Flan.

Send me an IM sometime Flan. You know my number (so to speak).

 

[TheAJKMan]

We can be victimized by our own presumptions.

More like they'll jump up and bite you in the rear. But you made a good point Fland, this is one of those situations that one must really let go and let God. Also remember patience.

TheAJKMan

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

Indeedily doodily doo.... why the riot shield AJ?

 

[TheAJKMan]

Indeedily doodily doo.... why the riot shield AJ?

Well, all to often I've been stoned or flamed by fellow brothers and sisters in Christ for opening my mouth, or asking the akward and difficult questions. Or for disagreeing with them, especially those in leadership positions THat's the reason for the helmet WITH faceguard as well *ng*

TheAJKMan

 

[JesseRaymondBassett]

Well either way they are accepting the fact I want to find God my own way. However I still have mom to work with. She wants me to go to Church once a month for communion. Perhaps that is not too much to ask...

 

[New_Wineskin]

Well either way they are accepting the fact I want to find God my own way. However I still have mom to work with. She wants me to go to Church once a month for communion. Perhaps that is not too much to ask...

I would say that it *is* too much to ask depending on the reason *why* she wants that of you . One could say that those certain Jews wanting the Gentiles to be circumcized wasn't too much to ask ( certainly not for the females as they weren't on the list ) . But , Paul was adamant about it . In for an inch - in for a mile .

How does *your* "going to church" or *your* having "communion" affect *her* in any way ?

However , it is your call . You could look at it as doing her a favor to cash in on later . In the future , you could ask her to do things holding the once a month thing hostage if she doesn't comply . Just a thought .

 

[JesseRaymondBassett]

I would say that it *is* too much to ask depending on the reason *why* she wants that of you . One could say that those certain Jews wanting the Gentiles to be circumcized wasn't too much to ask ( certainly not for the females as they weren't on the list ) . But , Paul was adamant about it . In for an inch - in for a mile .

How does *your* "going to church" or *your* having "communion" affect *her* in any way ?

However , it is your call . You could look at it as doing her a favor to cash in on later . In the future , you could ask her to do things holding the once a month thing hostage if she doesn't comply . Just a thought .

Well said post wineskin. It made me think. I dont know why she wants me to go church for communion. She claims its because I dont have enough social stuff in my life, which I disagree with.....

 

[Tink]

If the Holy Spirit told you to leave, going for communion isn't advisable.

 

[New_Wineskin]

Well said post wineskin. It made me think. I dont know why she wants me to go church for communion. She claims its because I dont have enough social stuff in my life, which I disagree with.....

Yeah . That's just it ... church does not equal "social stuff" ( in most groups , anyway as usually only one person does most of the speaking and everyone faces that one person ) . Nor does communion equal "social stuff" . If she wantyed you to have more social stuff , she could invite you to dinner with a few other people . In that way , you would have a real chance with interaction .

 

[JesseRaymondBassett]

What really makes me wonder is why she thinks I don't have enough social interaction but at the same time says I need more of it... ???

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

I'm with Jesus, smash down the Temple!!!

But I can't be bothered to rebuild it in 3 days time... I'll be down the pub

 

[JesseRaymondBassett]

I'm with Jesus, smash down the Temple!!!

But I can't be bothered to rebuild it in 3 days time... I'll be down the pub

So how should I talk to mum about this?

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

LOL. Sorry mate, I was on a run!

My tuppence would be this; talk to her about why she values your participation in a Communion meal meeting.

I suggest this because ideas of socialness are out of place in such a setting, as social gatherings can be far more meaningful in and of themselves.... communion is primarily a personal response to God and a call to right wrongs between people, not for a good natter!

If holyspirit is teaching you of more implicit ways of God then communion too becomes implicit. If she cannot grasp this, no amount of reasoning will ever convince her. For some people they never see beyond a label they wish to apply to people like us, nor are they able to understand something from our perspective. But love and acceptance should always be, regardless of sympathy!

You may wish to ask someone about Fowlers Stages of Faith.... they helped me get a better grasp on why some people (particularly christians) never seem to change or see something from another point of view.