Trapped as a Methodist

[ChrisLockhart]

You have two legs right? Walk. I walk to my church 3-6 times a week and back.

Depending, of course, on where you live. Where I used to live, when I was a teenager, the closest church was about 3 miles away, and then about 10 miles to the next one, and the after that all the other churches were at least 20 miles away. That's a long walk.

 

[Texas Lynn]

Lefty Lynn

I'm a left handed conservative.

 

[alaurie]

I can sympathize with you, JesusFreakOkie... I'm not sure of your age, but I know what it's like to grow up in a church you feel trapped in. Mine was for opposite reasons - the very small town Baptist church I grew up in had a very legalistic minister during my jr. high and high school years. If you're planning to go to college, that's a great time to explore other denominations and learn about their beliefs. My dad's advice to me at that time was to go ahead and try other churches, but to use discernment in examining how their teachings measure up to scripture.

If you ever get a chance to get out there and 'church shop', you'll find that many denominations vary a great deal from congregation to congregation ...you may actually find a Methodist church that's what you're looking for. I was very happy in a Baptist church several years ago in the town I was living in at the time. Keep in mind, though, if you're the type to analyze things closely, you'll always find theological stances in every church that vary from what you feel scripture teaches. You won't find a perfect church this side of heaven since you're not going to find perfect humans this side of heaven The be all, end all questions are "does the church lift up the grace of Christ in a scriptural manner?" and "are you growing in Christ?"

Be like a wise Berean

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Acts 17:10 That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the synagogue. 11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul and Silas, to see if they were really teaching the truth. 12 As a result, many Jews believed, as did some of the prominent Greek women and many men.

BTW, the reason I said, "Trapped" in a Methodist Church, is because my mom works at a Methodist Church, and I don't have the resources to go drive to a different one.

 

[JesusFreakOkie]

Thanks, ALaurie! Yes, when I go to college, I'm going to check out some other churches.

Linnis, that wasn't really a wise comment.....I live fifteen miles from the nearest town, thirty + from an actual good church.

And to sinner/Saved, yes we must witness to others, but that doesn't mean we have to have an "open mind" to accept their belief as well, but to teach them of Christ.

I don't think that in the end, it will matter whether or not there's a pre-trib or a mid-trib or if the earth was actually created in 6 days, or whatever, but that we accept Jesus as Savior. That is what I look for in ANY church (and have found in the one I am in,) I am just trying to find a church where I can spiritually grow more.

 

[JesusFreakOkie]

BTW, to Texas Lynn, I noticed the scripture in your signature, and it is one of my FAVS!! John 16:33

 

[sinner/SAVED]

And to sinner/Saved, yes we must witness to others, but that doesn't mean we have to have an "open mind" to accept their belief as well, but to teach them of Christ.

The "open minds" part in the Igniting ministries slogan does not mean that we accept all beliefs. It means that we accept all human beings. All fellow sinners.

 

[Celticflower]

sinner/Saved beat me to the punch again. I was gonna say the same thing.

 

[Linnis]

Thanks, ALaurie! Yes, when I go to college, I'm going to check out some other churches.

Linnis, that wasn't really a wise comment.....I live fifteen miles from the nearest town, thirty + from an actual good church.

And to sinner/Saved, yes we must witness to others, but that doesn't mean we have to have an "open mind" to accept their belief as well, but to teach them of Christ.

I don't think that in the end, it will matter whether or not there's a pre-trib or a mid-trib or if the earth was actually created in 6 days, or whatever, but that we accept Jesus as Savior. That is what I look for in ANY church (and have found in the one I am in,) I am just trying to find a church where I can spiritually grow more.

Wise or not I think you are coming up with excuses for not attending a different church. I like in a rural area and neither my husband or I drive. When I was seeking out churches, I called around, most have vans or buses that pick people up to cannot drive or get a drive to the church, have you thought of that? Don't you have any friends with a car, who'd be willing to take you?

Once you've tried all means of going to a "good" church and still can't get to it, than say your stuck, otherwise it's your own lazyness which is stopping you and nothing else.

 

[JesusFreakOkie]

I don't want to reveal my age, but let's just say, I'm not old enough for a driver's license yet.

All of my friends live thirty minutes away from me, so I can't travel to their house at 7 am every Sunday so they can take me, and the churches I'm interested in either don't go out to my house or don't even have buses or vans.

I ASSURE YOU it's not by any laziness of mine!!

 

[flywithchrist06]

Then pray about it...if you feel like you need to go to a different church...pray about it..ask God to..I dunno...put you where you would be most useful to him, to be able to live for him, if for some reason you can't do that in that church then I'm sure you'd be able to go to a different church somehow...its not immpossible...but do you think there might be a reason you're "trapped as a Methodist" for now?

 

[WiredSpirit]

Wise or not I think you are coming up with excuses for not attending a different church. I like in a rural area and neither my husband or I drive. When I was seeking out churches, I called around, most have vans or buses that pick people up to cannot drive or get a drive to the church, have you thought of that? Don't you have any friends with a car, who'd be willing to take you?

Once you've tried all means of going to a "good" church and still can't get to it, than say your stuck, otherwise it's your own lazyness which is stopping you and nothing else.

Its just impossible to get rid of all the conservatives. I know, been there and done that. You can keep trying though.

 

[JesusFreakOkie]

My church is CONSERVATIVE!!

 

[JesusFreakOkie]

Good point, flywithchrist06....

 

[flywithchrist06]

thanks