What church do you go to?

[1Cor6:19-20]

I'm Baptist, are there any other baptists in here???

 

[Butterscotch]

Hey Everyone,

I am from a United Pentecostal Church in Perth. The United Pentecostal are an excellent church. Every service is exciting and there is always something going on. Where do you live Melissa and then maybe I can give you an adress to a church that you may like.

See yas, Emma/

 

[bigg]

I'm in the same boat as Melissa. Went to church for years... don't go now. And don't really know what to do. I feel a bit turned off by the new trend of big-expensive looking churches with huge sound systems. Why do churches have to revolve around this stuff? I would probably go if I found one that was simple without an emphasis on being fancy or having the latest in technology.

 

[bigg]

Alternatively - is it wrong if I don't go to church? This is a question that really puzzles me.

 

[Mustaphile]

Alternatively - is it wrong if I don't go to church? This is a question that really puzzles me.

I've been in your boat.

It's better to go and just concentrate on God and not worry too much about the people. Just think how forgiving God must be to love all those people that annoy you! If God can do it, then we should do our best to do so. Don't you think?

Try being experimental. Go to a different church each week. Eventually you will find one that has people in it, that you can relate to. They are all christians after all. Nothing much to be scared of.

 

[shout2thelord]

Alternatively - is it wrong if I don't go to church? This is a question that really puzzles me.

but keep looking church is important like the person above me said u will find somewhere with people u can relate to if u look at different churches. Big churches are good for people like me who are over sociable and loud and into that kind of music but small churches are not good for me due to the other things mentioned they soon want to kick me out but a smaller church would work for you well if u dont like the bigger style churches so im sure you will find somewhere, small churches can also be good for forming closer relationships and more opportunities to use your gifts

 

[Mustaphile]

but keep looking church is important like the person above me said u will find somewhere with people u can relate to if u look at different churches. Big churches are good for people like me who are over sociable and loud and into that kind of music but small churches are not good for me due to the other things mentioned they soon want to kick me out but a smaller church would work for you well if u dont like the bigger style churches so im sure you will find somewhere, small churches can also be good for forming closer relationships and more opportunities to use your gifts

I started in a big church. They even had a christian school, they has so many members. Then I was in some medium size churches. The big churches a bit impersonal for me. I did move right next door to the this little church one time, and it was such a blessing to go there. I fell in love with it. I used to be in charge of the video camera up the back, and I knew everyone in there by name. It was like a great big family. So check 'em all out. There is one out there just waiting for you to feel at home in.

 

[shout2thelord]

yeh if u find the right place for you, you will be happy and remember no church is perfect (just thought i would point this out as i have a friend who is dissapointed with church because there is always somethign wrong with each church. But this is normal all churches have strong and weak points)

 

[Marissa]

I'm in the same boat as Melissa. Went to church for years... don't go now. And don't really know what to do. I feel a bit turned off by the new trend of big-expensive looking churches with huge sound systems. Why do churches have to revolve around this stuff? I would probably go if I found one that was simple without an emphasis on being fancy or having the latest in technology.

In addition to what others said, try denominations outside of what you were raised in as well. Some of them won't work, but some of them will. Either way, just keep trying.

I went to a "show church" last week, so I just went somewhere different this week because it isn't what I'm looking for. Next week I'm going somewhere different again.

 

[Bevlina]

Alternatively - is it wrong if I don't go to church? This is a question that really puzzles me.

No way! I won't go to church! I fellowship with them at the supermarket everyday!

 

[Marissa]

Why won't you go to church Bevlina? I recall you mentioned once that you were treated badly at one, and that some AOG'ers didn't include you when they started a new church. I understand why you wouldn't go back to AOG. I've made that same decision. They seem nice one on one, but as a whole church it is the most unwelcoming denomination I've experienced. No matter which AOG I go to they are unfriendly if you haven't gone there since you were three years old. But why not other denominations? There are others with similiar views, or at least close enough that going for the fellowship would be doable.

Failing that, what supermarkets are good for fellowship? Just in case I'm completely wrong and there aren't any non-AOG churches that are acceptable and I'm stuck with nothing to do on a Sunday morning.

 

[Bevlina]

It was because I was treated badly by some that I don't go to church marissa.
Supermarkets are the best for fellowship! Hey! What's wrong with having a good old natter near the banana's? You seem to forget, I was a catholic...then a mormon. Becoming saved then going to an apostolic church to find nit picking females there isn't my way of wanting to go again.
I only put my head into the lion's mouth once...then RETREAT! Watch out for my dust!!

Oh...and the latest on that is the "nice" woman doesn't speak to me now because I didn't go to the new A.O.G. here...want me to tread in a snake pit marissa? You can't catch this old bird on chaff.

 

[Marissa]

It was because I was treated badly by some that I don't go to church marissa.
Supermarkets are the best for fellowship! Hey! What's wrong with having a good old natter near the banana's? You seem to forget, I was a catholic...then a mormon. Becoming saved then going to an apostolic church to find nit picking females there isn't my way of wanting to go again.
I only put my head into the lion's mouth once...then RETREAT! Watch out for my dust!!

heh, fair enough. I try to natter to people at the Bananas. And at the deli, and the frozen section, then at the checkout. It always seems to be a one sided conversation. Only one in ten talk back. Maybe it's coles. Maybe if I tried Woolies I'd have better luck.

And I didn't forget you were catholic, then a mormon. I didn't know. Are catholics nicer than AOG'ers? I don't know any catholics in rl. AOG must have been horrid after the mormons. Horrible theology, but some of the nicest people you can find. Very smart of the mormons actually. That alone would get converts.

Oh...and the latest on that is the "nice" woman doesn't speak to me now because I didn't go to the new A.O.G. here...want me to tread in a snake pit marissa? You can't catch this old bird on chaff.

*scratches head* Tread in a snake pit?

Hang on, didn't they not invite you? Why should you go to a church when they didn't invite you when it was set up? They were rude, and now they're complaining? *rolleyes* How typical.

 

[Bevlina]

hehehe.....yes marissa. I was a devout mormon! That was a fair while back now. When I left them, I turned my back on religion. Then I met an apostolic women who had me at the apostolic church. And, I liked it! The woman and her friend baptised me into the 'Body of Christ' using the bath. They prayed that I be baptised with the Holy Spirit. And, I began talking in a different language, quietly. In front of them. That was only a few years back. But, my catholic background was continually thrown at me by one of the women. And the fact that my Mum was a catholic.
I couldn't handle it and walked out. That gave room for verbal abuse. And, although I waited for them to pick me up to take me to church...they never bothered to turn up!
So I went to the A.O.G. And....I just want to forget it!!
If I go to any church...I go down to the catholics. Yes, they are nice here. Clicky, but nice people. I often help them raise funds for the church.
The new A.O.G. here is attended by the woman who verbally abused me, threw the catholic church up to me, came back to me with all niceties, then abused me again. This time she put me into hospital. Snake pit? That might be putting it mildly.
I have no church. And, I want no church. And....it appears that all the churches here have exhausted every avenue of gaining me into their ranks. I don't get their flyers in the mailbox anymore thank God.
I talk to them all, from every religion! But, the A.O.G. turned me off in the respect of indiscriminate 'prophecy', and talking in a foreign language without interpretation. To me, that was wrong. In fact, it shocked me.
I know talking in tongues is the most least of gifts. But, to me, it was the most precious gift I had ever received in my life. And, I respect it with awe. God allowed me to have this precious gift. And it stirs my spirit to hear people use it (if they have it FROM God) indiscriminately. I know people are ready to jump on me for stating that, but it's fact. I have to leave when I see them at those places carrying on in a jabber jabber nobody can understand. Yes, to me, it IS showing off. And, I often wonder if their gift IS from the Holy Spirit.

And yes...the mormons were far, BY FAR, nicer than the A.O.Gers.

 

[bigg]

That's very interesting Bevlina. What's wrong with having a Catholic background? I've never thought that could cause problems. As for the tongues thing - that has always made me quite uncomfortable and is one of the reasons I didn't like going to church. Mainly because I didn't have that gift and I would feel intimidated by people who did. And so the Mormons were nicer than the AOG's - ultimately I guess you have to remember that different denominations are like different religions. Hold on to your faith inside and don't let one or two individuals take that away from you.

 

[Marissa]

Ouch, Bev. One thing I can't stand about prostestants is how they get down on other denominations as though only we have any truth, and all of it at that. It's downright rude, and arrogant. It's also against what scripture teaches.

What's wrong with having a Catholic background? I've never thought that could cause problems.

Nothing. None of us are better than the rest because of our lives before we were saved. Even if Catholics aren't saved and she was sinning by going there, we all sinned before we were saved.

 

[Mustaphile]

I popped into an AoG (affiliated) church last Sunday and next Sunday I am going to the Uniting Church. As soon as I can hunt down my record of christening, I will be visiting the local Catholic church. They are all good places to come together in Christ. Some of them are a little jealous of membership, but I forgive them for that.

 

[Bevlina]

I was sent to a Catholic Convent High School by my parents when I was 11. I didn't want to go believe me! I'd never been christened so it didn't take long for the catholics to baptise me. But according to this woman, there were demons in me from the church!
Hey! I became lost after leaving the mormons all those years ago! Where to go from there huh? Took years before I actually knew about salvation. And, I became "saved" only about 7 years ago when I met those women. Saw both of them in the supermarket today...Oh boy...did I do some fast aisle changing!
Nevertheless. Today I remain churchless. I would never go back to the AOG. I would sooner go back to the mormons than go near the AOGers ever again.
I'll stay as I am. No more churches. And, I NEVER want to see people trying to get demons out of people again!

 

[Butterscotch]

It says in the bible that we must stay in fellowship. You need to be with people of 'like faith.' Otherwize the world will draw you further away. Dont get into a rut. We need to have people around us who believe the same as us. If you dont want to listen then fine, but it is biblical! And you cant try and change or blot out the word of God.

 

[Bevlina]

Yes...if I could find people who are stick to what the Bible states I'd go to their church.
And, as I am 40 years your senior I think I know more about things than you do honey.