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fellowship and friendship with other Christians shouldn"t need to be organized or scheduled by the church leadership
I said in the second paragraph that I wasn't against church sponsored singles outings or studies. My point was that I don't see why people feel like these events need to be scheduled by the church in order to mingle and make friends. I am actually trying to say that single Christians who attend a church regularly should show some iniative and start befriending others and organizing get togethers with those that interest them. Too often I witness members doing nothing to reach out to others and be the warm and welcoming person who puts others at ease and complaining for years that churches aren't meeting their needs. I think if people came to church with a more giving attitude there would be less need for scheduled singles ministries.I really don't know what you're arguing against, here... Why is it wrong for someone in church leadership to say there should be a time scheduled for members in certain demographics to meet and fellowship together?
You're dancing around the point I'm making, now.Where did I or anyone else say the primary role of the church should be to help singles find mates?
I said in the second paragraph that I wasn't against church sponsored singles outings or studies. My point was that I don't see why people feel like these events need to be scheduled by the church in order to mingle and make friends. I am actually trying to say that single Christians who attend a church regularly should show some iniative and start befriending others and organizing get togethers with those that interest them. Too often I witness members doing nothing to reach out to others and be the warm and welcoming person who puts others at ease and complaining for years that churches aren't meeting their needs. I think if people came to church with a more giving attitude there would be less need for scheduled singles ministries.
Ministry is one thing. Using church as a dating service without primary concern being to worship the Most High God is completely another.
You're dancing around the point I'm making, now.
And to keep from getting caught up in an argument because of my stated opinion, I'm out.
Okay goodAh, OK... I get you. I think that's a valid point. I've noticed that most Christian singles are somewhat introverted and just walking up to a stranger and introducing yourself(even though they've seen them in church a dozen times) is extremely daunting and even walking into a room where singles were scheduled to meet can be very intimidating.
The church's role is to pastor God's flock and grow them in Christ. Do you think the primary function of the church in the first century was to help lonely singles find husbands/wives? Something tells me Paul would balk at the very idea.
Ministry is one thing. Using church as a dating service without primary concern being to worship the Most High God is completely another.
I'll reply one more time and then I'm done.Yeah, I think I just have to echo that no one was suggesting that the church should be literally helping single people find mates or even that the church's primary function is to do so. But I do think there is a place for helping people who are walking in singleness because there are challenges that come with it, especially within our cultural context.
See my post to Paulie.I took the point that you were making as being worship should be the primary focus of the church, and I agree.
What I didn't understand was your insinuation that anyone had argued otherwise. And I didn't take it as an argument, but rather a discussion. Sorry if you were offended somehow.
I'll reply one more time and then I'm done.
For those who are so upset about what I've said, I was addressing the OP where he said, "I find that the church isn't playing much of a role in bringing people together, or providing those opportunities." That is what I was addressing and some took offense to it for whatever reason. I was not insinuating that anyone else has said that. Reading comprehension goes a long way, folks.
Oh, dear. It was not a sarcastic cheap shot for goodness' sake. I really meant that it helps to actually read what I'm responding to, but whatever.lol it doesn't have anything to do with reading comprehension, but if sarcastic cheap shots make you feel better about things, that's fine. To draw out of that sentence from the OP that he means that the church should be pairing people together is a little bit of a leap even.
Anyways, I think it's a good topic of discussion--what the church's role should be as far as single people go. Don't be so triggered just because people push back on you a little bit. For me personally, I am all about nuance when it comes to any discussion, so I'm often going to be pushing back a bit if the pendulum seems to have swung too far one way or the other. It's nothing personal.
Oh, dear. It was not a sarcastic cheap shot for goodness' sake. I really meant that it helps to actually read what I'm responding to, but whatever.
I can tell everyone is in an argumentative mood and are getting their panties in a twist because I dared to say I don't think the church's role should be to matchmake. But I suppose it's easier to personally attack rather than try to understand the point that is being made. Not to sound rude, but you have a habit of doing that, Paul.
My bark is worse than my bite.No I actually agree with you on the matchmaking thing. But "reading comprehension goes a long way" is not a comment intended to make friends lol. You have to admit that. And I am one not to take the easy way out of a discussion. I even said in my post that it's not personal, right? There was no personal attack. I just pointed out something that didn't seem entirely kind.
I think the OP was looking for feedback and suggestions on how to meet other young Christians. We should try to focus on that.
My bark is worse than my bite.
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