Should you have FUN at Church?

[Ed Raby]

So Yardstick are you saying that friendship cannot be attained with any person in authority. Are you saying that I cannot be friends with my parents, teachers, coaches, pastors, governmental figures, or friends with anyone who disciplines and rules over me. My Dad disciplines me and is my father just like God is, but me and my dad do hang out and we have a blast. Yes there are times were we have serious discussions and meaningful talks, but my dad is my friend. It is the same with God. God disciplines me and tells me when I am wrong and yes he has complete authority over me, and we have serious times together, but we still have fun together in my opinion. God is a true friend to me. Part of any friendship is love, if you love God and your not his friend then what are you to him. You can't be a son because I truly believe that your father is a friend. So what are You to God?

A true friend is someone you love and loves you back. That applies to God. A true friend is someone who you trust. That applies to God. A true friend is someone who is always there for you. That applies to God. A true friend is willing to listen to you. That applies to God. A true friend tells you when you are wrong. That applies to God. I could go on and on. So if God has all these traits of a true friend and still isn't are friend again I ask you what is he then? The great thing about God is even though we are not a perfect friend to him he continues to want and be are friend.

 

[LightSeaker]

referring to your friendship with your children and grand children is a bit misleading. I've experienced plenty of real life examples of parents being their children's buddies, and it certainly doesn't help out the child much. While having fun with your children is an aspect of parenthood it should not be the largest aspect of your relationship. If it were, you'd be doing your children an injustice.

The word "buddy" is not the word used. The word "friend" is.


.

 

[wayseer]

First of all again I will state this. Those who think Chruch cannot be fun just must not enjoy life. Yes I agree that seriousness is very important when it comes to Worship. And Yes I have said fun or entertainment should not be the main goal. However to say that a Church who has fun doesn't understand the SERIOUSNESS of the matter would in my mind be very wrong. We all know or at least I hope we all know that the most important thing is to have a personal relationship with God. So here is my question. If you consider yourself a friend of God which I certainly hope you do. My question comes from the idea of being a friend of God. When you hang out with a friend or friends do you have fun with them or do you just become very sad, depressed, and serious. I would say when I hang out with my friends I try to have fun. So I do the same with God. God is my friend and yes although it is important to be serious at times, such as friends have serious conversations, I also think it is very important to have fun with our Lord as well. Yes Even at Church.

These are two types of Christians who attend Church they are not the only types, but this is an example I am trying to make.

Type 1- People who take themselves way to serious. They come in with a sad look on their face and their nice suit and tie, or dress. They sit down and they look more depressed then ever. They yell at kids who are laughing, and judge those who not dress with their SUNDAY BEST. Then they get up during Sunday School class, or prayer time and talk about all the miserable things that happen in their life this week and how they need to be in prayer. Then after Church they are almost un-approachable because they are just in such a depressed mood that talking to them will only make you depressed.

Type 2- These are the people who come in with a smile and greet everyone. They have problems in their life to, but they choose to put those aside because they are in the presence of the Lord today. They look nice but they don't dress like it is a funeral. They are on Fire for God praising and worshiping in complete entusiasm. Then after Church they are the nicest people to everyone and engage in healthy fellowship.

Now you tell me which type is having fun and enjoying themselves at Church. Then tell me if the type of person that is having fun is out of line or is making FUN the MAIN goal

God Bless

There is something to be said for the Anglican tradition. We enter church, say a brief good morning to the attendants and take our seat in silent prayer. No one has to pretend to be anything else. After church we have morning tea - which is fun.

 

[Lupinus]

There is nothing wrong with having fun at church, I know I do every Sunday. However, that should not be our motivation to go and it seems that is a trap more and more people are falling into.

What is important in a Church is the message being true and biblical, having fun is secondary and should work within those boundaries. Sadly, it rarely happens that way.

 

[Zebra1552]

Those quotes are not referring to God being your buddy. It's talking about a friend at court. The inner circle in a Kings court.

Maybe it would be clearer if I said that God is not my buddy. He is my father. I can have fun with my father, hopefully I am close with my father. But the point of my relationship with my father isn't to have fun or hang out. My father should be raising me, and I should be listening to him. Calling God buddy rings to much of bringing God down to be equal with humans. Which is arrogant at best.

God became flesh specifically so He could relate with us and die for our sins. Why ignore this and act like He is our master? Jesus Himself, who is God, said he no longer calls us slaves but friends in John 15.