Organized Christian Groups...

[Galadriel]

Hey all,
Well, I went to my college's Bible group this past Thursday, and it was okay. I notice something though, and I have noticed this at the last youthgroup I was at also a couple of years back with my friend.

Well, there always seems to be a few, or even many that are very "praise the Lord!" with a cheerful attitude and a big smile and not that there is anything wrong with this, please I am not saying there is at all, but this just grates on me. They are just so cheerful and 'God is good' (not that he isn't, he most certainly is) but these people are just bursting with all this erm, "God/Jesus-ness" and I cannot relate at all. I am Christian, but this seems to me to be how a lot of Christians act in my experience in person, and they are so nice and kind like its a ploy to get you in with them. I know this sounds really odd coming from a fellow Christian, but I have noticed this, and I am probably doing a bad job explaining. It almost seems as though a lot of these people aren't in touch with the secular world, and don't know/deal with it a lot. I mean, this is the impression that I get from them. I feel as though I cannot relate to these people, and I wonder if they just have something I do not, or if I am missing something, or what. I cannot figure it out, and it has perplexed me for a very many years. Why are the "typical" Christians like aliens to me? Why do they act so different? I think part of it may be that I am very quiet, and reserved, and it takes me quite awhile to get comfortable and at ease.

 

[desi]

I have seen such people too. I think they are just more outgoing and energetic than the rest of us, sort of like cheerleaders who apply their enthusiasm to God.

 

[OldBadfish]

Ditto, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[bargab]

Hi Galadriel. . .

I am wondering what it is about these people that eerks you the wrong way.

I know exactly what you're talking about, especially when I not feeling all chipper and all. I begin to think these people are just making this hype up, like their fake or something. Most of the time I let it go, but sometimes I get focused on these people more than my own experience of worship before God, you know?

 

[Galadriel]

I don't know why it grates on me, I think its just cause I haven't had a very happy time of it, and these people are so happy and into it that it kinda makes me mad some, like why can't I be like that? I know what you mean about it seeming kinda fake like.

 

[repentandbelieve]

Try not to be too overconcious of what you are seeing others. After you become better acqainted with them you will be able to discern how sincere their enthusiasm for the Lord is.

 

[seangoh]

Galadriel,
I know EXACTLY what you're thinking and how you feel because i was and am in your shoes. It's good to hear that my school christian group is not the only group acting like that in this part of the world.
I would say that they have made it a custom to say such things on and off especially to one another. And these incidents have helped me by motivating me to grow more as i want to develop this attitude in my heart always, not necessarily to say it out loud always.

 

[Galadriel]

Galadriel,
I know EXACTLY what you're thinking and how you feel because i was and am in your shoes. It's good to hear that my school christian group is not the only group acting like that in this part of the world.
I would say that they have made it a custom to say such things on and off especially to one another. And these incidents have helped me by motivating me to grow more as i want to develop this attitude in my heart always, not necessarily to say it out loud always.

You feel this way too!!? Good!! Then I am not nuts, lol. It bugs me, and yeah maybe it is a custom they have made to just say those things. I don't know, it irks me though, it sounds fakeish to me. Or maybe they are just very happy people?

 

[seangoh]

You feel this way too!!? Good!! Then I am not nuts, lol. It bugs me, and yeah maybe it is a custom they have made to just say those things. I don't know, it irks me though, it sounds fakeish to me. Or maybe they are just very happy people?

Yeah they may sound fakeish, but that makes me want to grow more spiritually and with a better knowledge of God. The friends i have love to sing songs too. They've invited me to have a jam session with them now and then but never invited me to a bible study session. I'd like to take the christian "walk" as a race(Heb 12:1) with other christian bros and sis. We are all heading for the finishing line but i'd want to be the Christian God wants me to be, to be diligent in my bible study and obedience in my daily life. I want to be among the first few who reach that finishing line if ever there was. So let's don't dwell too much on those people, but let's work out our own salvation with fear and trembling(phil 2:12). We have our own lives to take care of and get right. I'm running fast...are you?

 

[Brooke]

I feel like that, too!
When I go to church, the lady who sings ends her songs with an attitude of almost spiritual ecstasy. It's hard to explain, but it makes me feel real uncomfy. I wish I felt this good about the Lord, would solve quite a few problems... Watching them, it makes me wonder whether I'm being truly sincere. Gah!

 

[Galadriel]

I feel like that, too!
When I go to church, the lady who sings ends her songs with an attitude of almost spiritual ecstasy. It's hard to explain, but it makes me feel real uncomfy. I wish I felt this good about the Lord, would solve quite a few problems... Watching them, it makes me wonder whether I'm being truly sincere. Gah!

Heh, I know what you mean, this girl at the retreat I went to a few months back, when they sung songs, she always kinda went on a solo fling during the song, but I guess she's just different. Its always irked me tho why THEY have that and I do not. I don't feel comfortable with people who are like that anyways.

 

[Follower of Christ]

yeah, we all just have different personalities.

I think its good that we do or maybe we'd all be like me and NO ONE wants that

 

[Galadriel]

yeah, we all just have different personalities.

I think its good that we do or maybe we'd all be like me and NO ONE wants that

Silly, you have a GREAT personality, just ah, gotta steer clear of those mudflinging threads.

 

[carnation]

Galadriel, actually I can relate to how u feel as well. I believe I would feel uneasy and uncomfortable but I believe that different people have different ways of displaying love and worship to God. I feel that what is impt is that we choose to display our affection and respect/love/worship to God in a way that makes us feel comfortable. What matters is the heart, right? I am also rather a quiet worshipper in the sense that sometimes if I ever do follow the way your friends talk and act, I don't think I would be myself and I won't be that happy. But of course, it's great to see such great enthusiasm being shown by them. It is indeed encouraging and good! I think what matters is that we are comfortable with ourselves and most impt God!

 

[Sunbeam]

They are in every church and all over the AM religious radio channels. The good thing is that they aren't against you. I think they are too nervous and are pushing their emotions, but they aren't harmful to me. I refuse to be like that. Let them be uncomfortable with that if they will. I believe God wants us sober as well as peaceful and joyful and to respond appropiately towards each moment and not to push idealistically in zeal without knowledge. They will not develop their gut feelings that way either because they are ignoring the sober qualities God gave them and pushing with nervousness. They do this to channel their nervous energy into keeping a positive mindset, instead of controlling themselves physically in the first place and nullifying their nervousness. They are still nervous as anything. You ought to be uncomfortable. I don't personally get alot of lifting out of repeatedly saying Praise Jesus over and over again for a long time unless I am directing the thought to actual specific things and saying this in a normal nonpushy tone or speaking in tonuges in private in which my tonuges do not have a nervous vibe to them but in fact, they eliminate the nervous vibes I may have. I will not criticize them to their face, or judge their salvation, but it does come across as snobbish to me. Because they seem to only gravitate to give super friendly signals to those that do the same. Those type christians used to make me feel as if I was doing something wrong before though. Before I was given understanding. Not just them, but the ones who when they pray they are hyperventilating and pushing their breathing deep on purpose instead of gently praying with reason and genuine belief and faith in what they are praying with love and also saying they are sorry and being honest about where they feel they have unbelief so that they can work on that to then go back to prayer with more genuine belief. Until I realized that was force too. And the ones who go hang at the front of the church crying loudly all the time with Please God do this and that. Do this Do this. That's demanding and obnoxious to think that to say that repeatedly for any prayer especially without any conditions or reasons that are valid on their part for their prayer. They are often using demanding language but because they are so upset no one will correct them or it is not appropiate to correct them because people do not have that kind of trustful relationship with them. I hadn't. I thought that they were spiritual. No, when people say to God do this, do that, do it and are going off about everything across their minds for a long time that is completely careless prayer. If it was a specific situation in which they had done all they could and then they are asking for assistance and intervention and are making a petition that is different. But that is not what I am talking about. It is something they do all the time with things that are within their control as well that they ask God to do. When I started to mature as a christian, I saw these things differently. I still have alot of maturing to do, but I will not change my mind about these things. I refuse to be intimidated by these people. This is how they were taught to be and they are trying to be good. I think the only thing you can do is set an example to not be like that and absolutely refuse to be guilty. You are the stronger force because you are not forcing anything and they are. I don't have to force a smile or kindness, and it will start to make them think why they are.

 

[Sunbeam]

I think the only thing you can do is set an example to not be like that and absolutely refuse to be guilty.
----------
I meant feel guilty.

 

[ZoneChaos]

Part ofit may be that people worship in different ways.. and feel comfortable in diferent ways in how they express love and adoration toward God.

The Bible is filled with different ways to worship and pray to God.

One thing to be ware of is this: Is the worship, or better yet, the timing of the worship a distraction?

Many times I have been to services where these things happen, and for the rest of the members of that church, they are used to it, and it inspires them, but it only distracts me. In that case, I find elsewhere to worship.

And there have been times in my church that people are more out spoken and open during worship, even during the message, which is not distracting to them, but it is to me and others of my church. In that case, it isn't of God, because the distraction is there.

God wants you to worship Him, and you need to find the best way to do that that is both Biblical, and at the saem time comfortable.

 

[wonder111]

I am more like a "closet" praying person. I like the peaceful calm sense of worship. I have felt very uncomfortable when it's loud and over done, I can see how for some people it would work. But not for me, I love the church I go to because there is alot of silent prayer. I like it quiet

 

[PlanN2WalkONwata]

Hey all,
Well, I went to my college's Bible group this past Thursday, and it was okay. I notice something though, and I have noticed this at the last youthgroup I was at also a couple of years back with my friend.

Well, there always seems to be a few, or even many that are very "praise the Lord!" with a cheerful attitude and a big smile and not that there is anything wrong with this, please I am not saying there is at all, but this just grates on me. They are just so cheerful and 'God is good' (not that he isn't, he most certainly is) but these people are just bursting with all this erm, "God/Jesus-ness" and I cannot relate at all. I am Christian, but this seems to me to be how a lot of Christians act in my experience in person, and they are so nice and kind like its a ploy to get you in with them. I know this sounds really odd coming from a fellow Christian, but I have noticed this, and I am probably doing a bad job explaining. It almost seems as though a lot of these people aren't in touch with the secular world, and don't know/deal with it a lot. I mean, this is the impression that I get from them. I feel as though I cannot relate to these people, and I wonder if they just have something I do not, or if I am missing something, or what. I cannot figure it out, and it has perplexed me for a very many years. Why are the "typical" Christians like aliens to me? Why do they act so different? I think part of it may be that I am very quiet, and reserved, and it takes me quite awhile to get comfortable and at ease.

There could be two different reasons... 1. It's fake... I'm sorry... but a lot of people do act different when they're around a lot of other "Christians" that are watching them... so they all act fake... but the day after they're not the same... or 2... They could be really mature in Christ... this has happened in my life... God has become your whole world... instead of having to make time for God... you are sooo involved with God it seems you have to make time for other stuff... No matter what you're doing... you start thinking of God... it doesn't matter if you're walking down the street... you're gonna see the different people walking and think.. Man... soo many people just really need to be shown Jesus' love... or... Doing dishes... all you can think of is making sure it is done to the best of your ability so that you may be not only more Christlike... but a blessing to others... some people are one way.. some are another... But I definitely hope it's the second...