So hurt & confused . . .

[caspden]

I do believe that Jesus is my Lord. I don't attend 'Church' because my experiences there have been less than positive and I once again am experiencing hurtful actions and selfishness from folks who profess to be 'Christian'. I don't get it. . . . . .and it really hurts and it makes me fight that old thinking - "if that's how a Christian is, then I will have no part of it?"

Please help me with this.

 

[Adstar]

I do believe that Jesus is my Lord. I don't attend 'Church' because my experiences there have been less than positive and I once again am experiencing hurtful actions and selfishness from folks who profess to be 'Christian'. I don't get it. . . . . .and it really hurts and it makes me fight that old thinking - "if that's how a Christian is, then I will have no part of it?"

Please help me with this.

Caspden

Your relationship and belief in Jesus should be independent of what happens in your church and what other "Christians" ? say or do. Human beings are faulty and often fail to live up to what they should. But God is above all that, Just because the messengers of faith are faulty does not mean the message is faulty. So live your faith between you and Jesus and do not be pulled down by the people around you. Remember God is not your pastor, preacher or the community. God is God. It does not matter if everyone in the world except you no longer believes, If God is real, And He is carry on believing in Him. Read about Jesus in the Bible and get to know His will.

Remember Noah? How everyone around him no longer cared about God. Noah did not loose his faith in God just because everyone else fell away from God. Noah was prepared to stand alone in the World because Noah knew that no matter how false the world became God was always going to remain true.



All Praise The Ancient Of Days

 

[Turquoise]

I do believe that Jesus is my Lord. I don't attend 'Church' because my experiences there have been less than positive and I once again am experiencing hurtful actions and selfishness from folks who profess to be 'Christian'. I don't get it. . . . . .and it really hurts and it makes me fight that old thinking - "if that's how a Christian is, then I will have no part of it?"

Please help me with this.

Yes it is awful how some Christians behave, some of the things I have heard and seen over the years has hurt me too.
Having a good relationship with Jesus is all that really matters.
As much as we get hurt, we can also hurt somebody else unintentionally, we are imperfect people, and by following the teachings of Jesus we will learn to deal with all of life's situations.
Please don't give up being a Christian, Jesus is a good friend to have.
Ive sent some blessings to you

 

[Jmie]

The two responses above would already have answered your problem. But I think it will help if i'll share to you the same experience. It's not that the members of my church are hurting me, but in some point, I felt that I would never want to go to church because of them. My worship to God was really affected. Lack of concern, no solidarity, idle talks, the church becoming stagnant, jealousy, and the list could go on. But I have decided to stay anyway because of my love for God. And now, our church is undergoing reorganization. I think what you have to do is just to pray for them, they could have hurt you unintentionally, you could also approach them regarding your concerns. Remember every member of the church is our brother and sister, and whether we like or not, we are gonna see them in heaven.

I will be praying for you.

 

[Shubunkin]

This has happened to all of us in some degree. I was pretty desolate with the choices in churches in earlier years, and I did not know how to discern yet. Reading the Bible helped me to understand what should be expected from a church. I prayed, and was led to my present church. Believe me, my present one has saved me just in the nick of time.

 

[heron]

You're seeing the same weaknesses and faults that God sees. He's not blind to what's going on in His people, but He is gradually working in them to correct it. Don't feel guilty when you notice... just be responsible with your observations.

I found that every place I've worked, there was always one co-worker who drove me insane, three people who annoyed me, and others that I enjoyed being with but didn't respect. I look at this ratio when I think about churches, and remind myself that the ratio will probably exist wherever I go.

It helps me to approach church with a stance of what God would want me to do while I'm there. I pray about who needs someone to talk to, who might secretly need prayer for healing or family problems or layoffs... that type of thing.

Doing that, my focus is on God's activity, rather than on wishing the people were more sensible and less hypocritical. It does help. And it gives me more understanding of what church can become.

 

[Shubunkin]

Again I say, look to the Bible and read what a Church should be. Don't accept "seconds" in this area. The Church is very valuable and important, and cannot go against the will of God.

 

[MadFingerPainter]

i just want you all to know that i appreciate this thread.

 

[AllTalkNoAction]

I do believe that Jesus is my Lord. I don't attend 'Church' because my experiences there have been less than positive . . .

Jesus has an answer for you, he's the good shepherd, he hears you bleating and that you don't want to follow the "hirelings" (John 10)

Much of what presents itself as "christianity" and "church" isn't actually . . .

A christian is someone who has received the Holy Spirit because “christ” or “messiah” means “anointed one” and the anointing is the Holy Spirit (Acts 10v38, Romans 8v9)
In the new testament it is known precisely when people receive the Holy Spirit !
They spoke in tongues (an unlearned prayer language whereby God ministers his love to your soul), and became changed peopel, instead of trying to be "christian" they had the nature of God, something better. It's the same today, PM me if you want to know more.

 

[hlaltimus]

I do believe that Jesus is my Lord. I don't attend 'Church' because my experiences there have been less than positive and I once again am experiencing hurtful actions and selfishness from folks who profess to be 'Christian'. I don't get it. . . . . .and it really hurts and it makes me fight that old thinking - "if that's how a Christian is, then I will have no part of it?"

Please help me with this.

Hi caspden, Solomon said long ago that there was, "Nothing new under the son", and it still holds true today. It was true centuries before the time of Solomon when Moses obeyed God's call to lead the captive Jews out of Egypt and towards the promised land. Of all of the unenviable, great historic leaders, Moses had to be way up at the top in this one. What a grumbling, discontent, fluctuating, treacherous, ungrateful and rebellious lot of followers poor old Moses had to cope with. I can see now why God granted Moses that miraculous "burning bush" experience just prior...He would need it! Moses' secret of endurance is found in Hebrews 11:27 - "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible." Moses had the choices of focusing upon either the people of God or the God of the people and Moses wisely chose the later. We are all very discouraging in the final analysis when viewed strictly as fallen human beings. Look more at the God of the people and forge on straight ahead through all that the enemy can throw at you. This enemy just loves to discourage us as a discouraged opponent is a defeatable one. You won't get discouraged if you are focused upon that perfect Shepherd rather than fixing your gaze upon some of His rag-tag flock. I am glad that He does let some rag-tag sheep into the fold or I suppose that I wouldn't be here either.

 

[heron]

i just want you all to know that i appreciate this thread.

There must be a deep story behind that statement.

Man's first purpose shown in the Bible was to reflect who God was, since he was made in God's image. We get stressed out about all sorts of spiritual efforts, but Adam existed to be like God, and commune with God.

Moses had the choices of focusing upon either the people of God or the God of the people

Good point!

he's the good shepherd, he hears you bleating and that you don't want to follow the "hirelings" (John 10)

(-: