I have recently reconnected with an old youth pastor and another guy who was a youth leader in the same group and they are saying that they are following Jesus outside the institutional "church".I am a member of a church but I haven't attended in awhile.I can't seem to find any place where I feel comfortable.
as a christian you should go cause you want to, not because you feel you have to... i use to go to church only because i felt obligated to... there are verses that talk about going to church... remember, the church is the people of God, not the building... though the building is where the people of God get together in his name. so its called the church in that sense.
if you cant fnd a "comfortable" church, just keep looking. you will find the one... dont expect to find a perfect church. there is no such thing. church is ran by people, and people are imperfect, thus so is the church.
also if you find the one, but later down the road the church runs into problems, dont leave the church. fix the problems...
God bless you, and I am sure God will find you a church :)
Read Hebrews 10:24-25 and Proverbs !8:1. Ryan , you need to be in fellowship because we need to be held accountable for our walk.
When we isolate our selves and study the word alone, we can start to develop some pretty twisted theories.
I have found that at the times when I have isolated myself, that I thought that I was alright in my walk because there was nobody there to challenge me on it. It is when we are in church and hear the word preached that we get convicted of our sins and we need our brothers and sisters to put us back on the straight and narrow path.
We need the fellowship and instruction in righteousness that comes from being a member of a Bible teaching church. Remember that there are no perfect churches because there are no perfect people. If someone tells you that the church is full of hypocrites, tell them there is always room for one more. LOL
Read Hebrews 10:24-25 and Proverbs !8:1. Ryan , you need to be in fellowship because we need to be held accountable for our walk.
When we isolate our selves and study the word alone, we can start to develop some pretty twisted theories.
I have found that at the times when I have isolated myself, that I thought that I was alright in my walk because there was nobody there to challenge me on it. It is when we are in church and hear the word preached that we get convicted of our sins and we need our brothers and sisters to put us back on the straight and narrow path.
We need the fellowship and instruction in righteousness that comes from being a member of a Bible teaching church. Remember that there are no perfect churches because there are no perfect people. If someone tells you that the church is full of hypocrites, tell them there is always room for one more. LOL
God's favor in your search,
Lydia
I dont mind any of these problems if I had them because what I ran into finding a church is giving the old push out the door before I got seated. I went to HS with the person controlling the whole I want to be first place and the idea of tolerating the same old but changed person I said no way this is not for me at all. I still have not beat the pavement of finding a church. I agree with you Lydia its just my own conflicts of things and it just doesnt suite me to deal with at the moment exspecially thinking I can change things when I cant do the changing alone...It has been going on way before me and that is there church too. It should have been taken care of years ago from what I get out of it. I went for a whole 2 Sundays. I will get back with you on finding one though I do agree with the isolation. Its not good at all....bluereyes
It says to not forsake the assembling of yourselves together,but what if you accomplish that oustside the "church".I am at a Christian friend's house having dinner tonight, I spent 4 hours Sunday with another Christian friend, and I will be having lunch next week with yet another Christian friend.
That fellowship is very important, but that is not the only reason to go to church. I think Lydia's other verse is important as well.
Proverbs
18:1
A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.
There are many other verses that apply as well. But let's put the most important ones together. What does it take to please God? Faith. For without faith it is impossible to please Him. So, what is faith?
Hebrews
11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
And how do we get it? For that we go to Romans.
10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
So how do we hear the word of God? Romans 10:14
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
There are so many reasons for going to church, but the main one that comes to mind is, to stay well grounded. We can get pretty far out there without that teaching.
Can't the Word,and fellowshipping with Christian friends keep us grounded?
1 John 2:27 As for you,the annointing which you recieved from Him abides in you,and you have no need for anyone to teach you;but as His annointing teaches you about all things,and is true and is not a lie,and just as it has taught you,you abide in Him
Your question is one that I asked myself not long ago. My church went through a split up and God showed me that it was time to leave. Since then, I went to the gathering of the other people that left, but still didn't feel moved. I think we need to go to church somewhere, but finding the right one is the key. I am searching.
There have been many times I have been to church and the pastor has given a sermon that I felt was aimed right at me. It is my opinion that if we take the responsibility of learning and discerning God's word ourself, we aren't getting the full effect.
Why is it that you don't attend church? Maybe you could try going with a friend to a different church. Maybe you would feel moved. Ask God for guidence on where to go. These are just my thoughts. I have been in your position before, and sortof, now.
1 John 2:27 As for you,the annointing which you recieved from Him abides in you,and you have no need for anyone to teach you;but as His annointing teaches you about all things,and is true and is not a lie,and just as it has taught you,you abide in Him
Interesting you should choose this verse. What is the anointing that John was speaking of? It obviously comes from Jesus, but what do we know about it? It teaches you all things, it is true, and it makes you abide in Him.
Next, let's see if you or one of your friends could have this anointing that teaches all things. Do you know everything about God and His kingdom? That is one of the things about this anointing, it teaches ALL things. Do you and your friends abide in Jesus? Always? Even when a pretty girl walks by wearing almost nothing? If you had these things, don't you think you would be teaching somewhere? Starting a church? You would be so on fire, that you would have to tell people everywhere you went. Is this the case? This is the anointing of a prophet.
There is a big difference in being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and being anointed by Him. To be anointed means to be covered, and is usually associated with the receiving of a gift from God to accomplish a mission that He has appointed you to do.
Like Paul says, how can they learn, lest they be taught? This is an example of that. You misunderstood the context of this scripture because you had not been taught. There is nothing wrong with that other than the fact that it can draw you into even bigger misunderstandings. Eventually you reach the point where you are teaching false doctrine to people, and we are taught that teachers will be held to a higher degree of judgment.
Church is not somewhere we go to be with God, He is everywhere. We don't have to go anywhere to find Him. Church is for us. It keeps us on the straight and narrow, and the fellowship is important as well.
Leon, I disagree with you about the meaning of that verse.Nowhere in the context does it allude to this being a separate annointing for a specific group of people.When the Holy Spirit comes upon you when you first believe He then begins to show us all things.If you can't trust the Holy Spirit then who can you trust
