I love the church that my boyfriend and I go to. The paster is wonderful, and there's always a good atmosphere. I have heard a lot of good things about the church, and I've heard a lot of bad things, too. It seems like there are a lot of people who attend this church that are hipocrites and those type of people who go to the bar on Saturday night, and in church on sunday morning. It bothers me when I tell people that I go to this church and they say something bad about it. I defend the church as much as I can. The answers on here won't affect my choice to attend this church, I just wanted to know if it would bother anyone else, or if I just shouldn't worrry about it.
2006-07-31 05:51:30 · 10 answers · asked by Littlemissy 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am a "born again Christian" and I have found it very hard to live for God the way I should. By hearing all these negative comments about the church, I'm getting kind of confused about what I should and should not be doing. I look up to the people who attend the church because most of them have been going there for years and years! It just bothers me to think that the people I look up to could be evil or something.
2006-07-31 05:53:23 · update #1
Everyone is fallable, even church members. I have read some articles indicating that God is shaking up the church on purpose, because as a whole, it has lost its focus. At the moment, I do not attend church. I haven't found one near where I live that I like and feel comfortable in. I do, however, have bible studies and prayer groups with some very good friends of mine, at least once a week if not more. We help each other spiritually and with all aspects of life. God will tell you if someone you're dealing with in church isn't being true to what He is all about. Also, the church being what it is, there will always be negative comments about it, no matter what. If you feel comfortable there, then I'd say don't listen to the people who talk negatively about it. As far as the people in your church go, it takes a lifetime of work and prayer to become like Christ, we are continually trying to achieve that goal. That's the only way for me to explain. God bless!!
2006-07-31 05:59:16 · answer #1 · answered by ♥ Luveniar♫ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Read the Bible a lot! Really get into it. It's hard at first, but with prayer and a little time you can really get into it. That will help you see where they are wrong or right. Also, ask God for a spiritual mentor so that you can look up to that person and know that God put them there for you. As far as the church's reputation, I think it would bother me some because I think that they would imply that I did those things as well. Church is for the building up and edifying of the church body (the people). If you don't feel built up, tell your boyfriend that maybe you should explore other churches together. If he doesn't leave (and you still want to go to church with him) then go to a Wednesday Bible study at a different church, get your encouragment and teachings there and then support your boyfriend at his church. Also, pray for the church you go to: it's leaders, members, and visitors.
much love!
2006-07-31 05:58:56 · answer #2 · answered by Lissa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, you can always form your own church. Personally, you have to ask yourself if what they're really doing is evil. If it is, then they're not exactly role models.
Anyway, people tend to use guilt by association a lot. It's a logical fallacy, but it's what people do to simplify their world view. If you don't want people looking down on you, you can either not be part of that church, or you can adamantly strive to insist that it is not the church that begets this evil, but rather that there are those who possess evil but seek to drive it out from thereselves, and therefore go to this church as a mechanism of self improvement. However, the restriction of this arguement is that that would make the church seem ineffective.
Best wishes from an Agnostic.
2006-07-31 05:57:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No matter what church you go to, you will always hear negative things. You are to keep your eye on Jesus and his true word of the bible which is LIFE and the sword. If you listen to all the bad things then you will never find a good church or get saved. I do believe the church has a work to do and live holy as Jesus did ! If the church is not abiding by his word then it will become a very bad reputation.
2006-07-31 05:58:13 · answer #4 · answered by MizzSweetness 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a Christian myself, but it doesn't seem very Christian to judge what people who attend the church do in their free time. If you like the church and the pastor and it makes you feel good to go there than go there and don't worry about what other people say.
2006-07-31 06:00:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, because the church's reputation would directly reflect on my own. I'd hate to be seen by friends with a church that had "been around the block" ... perhaps even courted one of them prior ... it'd just be too much additional stress on the relationship.
2006-07-31 05:58:29 · answer #6 · answered by Arkangyle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I believe that you have to take all of the information in and process it. I also beleive that you should pray over it and God will definately tell you the way to go.
I find that the Lord will tell you where you need be you just have to keep an open mind.
2006-07-31 11:12:46 · answer #7 · answered by blueraider93 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try my website. Born Again and Evangelicals like Swedenborg.
http://www.mechanicsburgnewchurch.org
2006-07-31 05:57:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I cannot excuse some of the behaviors that you discribe in you question. But we all fall short of the Glory of God. By this I mean that none of us are perfect. We all sin. But, because of Jesus our sins are forgiven. We will not be perfect and without sin until Jesus returns and call us to the new heaven.
2006-07-31 06:02:03 · answer #9 · answered by Geoff C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Show me a church that DOESN'T have a reputation for hypocrisy in its members.
I've never encountered such a thing.
2006-07-31 05:57:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋