what is the biggest turn off about church? when was the last time you attended church?

Question

I would like to know why and why not people attend church.

Answer 1

I enjoy attending church because I find true peace in my heart with an atmosphere of praise and worship.
I have been through a lot of difficult times in my life with a family member's illness.
There have been times in my life when no one was there to help me through the trial and If it hadn't been for God I would never have made it!
To me church is not going to see who there.
Church to me is God's house and a place of spiritual renewal.
But you don't have to be in church to find God because He is everywhere if you just look for Him
I will never regret the day I gave Him my Heart.
I can do with out a lot of thing but Jesus isn't one of them.
He gave me strength when doctors said my son would die at 18 months of age.
He is 33 now.
When I had cancer 30 years ago He took care of my life
I don't go to church to get into a click or find out the latest gossip.
So church is what you make it not what everyone else does.
It is a place to find peace in your heart and soul

Answer 2

I've been to many different types of churches growing up.I used to be an assistant youth pastor and now I no longer attend church. For me, it was a combination of things: an adulterous pastor that still lied to the church after he was caught "red handed", a "christian" fiancee (also an assistant youth pastor) that lead a double life, the accusations that I wasn't right with God because I questioned methods and traditions that people didn't know the answers to, when I found biblical answers in context, sometimes they didn't line up with what I was told to tell others. I was then asked to step down because I was still struggling with my faith. HA! What I lost faith in was rules and traditions, not God or the bible.
I could go on for days about things I've seen in churches across America and the world. But I won't, because at the time those people were doing what the thought was best or that they were led to believe. I just have to find what's right for me, between me and God.
Here's a parting thought - When you can honestly look at your religion, critically examine it, see and acknowledge its flaws and your own, AND still believe, then you really have faith.

Answer 3

I go every week. I don't have a turn off about my present church. When I was attending another church I was turned off by the the push for money. It wasn' t the money, I give more now, it was attitude about money. So I go to a church that doesn't pass the plate and has talks about thithing a couple times a year.

Answer 4

I attend every week, and try to live the lessons the rest of the time.
My biggest turn off is that it can feel institutionalized at different times and places. Jesus warned against "Religiosity" But he did not intend for us to throw it off entirely. He was also a proponent of congregating.

If you don't go that's your choice, but I do get a little put off by those who do not attend because the do not like hypocrisy of those that attend. I tell them that what is wrong with the church is that not enough people like them don't come and balance out the scales...................

Answer 5

I attended church for years
I was highly involved in it for years until about the age of 15 - 18

HOWEVER!!!I found that the churches I have attended are arrogant, in the sense that if you are not a christian you are not worthy of their time, if you do not want to believe everything that they do then then you cannot associate with them. I think that is sooooo sad. I have had many people tell me church brings a community together, however, I strongly disagee. Church seperates the "good" from the "evil" they make people feel bad for being sinners, well you know what! we are all sinners!!! No one can ever be perfect, we all make mistakes, we all sin, we also all need friends who will support us no matters what.


I hated with a passion every time I was told not to associate with non christians because they would bring you down, I left church for various reasons, the last words spoken to me from my youth minister and fellow christians I had spent from age 11 and up with were"have a nice life" because I refusesd to listen to their preaching and I disagreed. (mind you the person who said that to mee went away to become a minister and is now married to another guy) But the sad part is, the youth minister who taught us all to think like that is still preaching:(

I could go on for hours..

I think churches need to rethink their purpose, it was never intended to seperate people, but I believe it is all that it has ever been doing for the last century. If someone is hurting you help them, you don't keep your distance and pray for them haha, example in church, members would get sick, we would pray for them, but would we fund a trip to see a specialist... no it's easier just to pray for them, or how about your having troubles with your partner, well "i'm sorry lets pray about it" WHAT ABOUT TALKING ABOUT IT WITH THE PERSON

TREAT PEOPLE LIKE PEOPLE NOT SINFUL OBJECTS


ok i have ranted enough:)

Answer 6

The biggest turn off for me is that I've never practiced Christianity or even monotheism. I have nothing against them, I simply don't believe in the same things.

The last time I attended a church was about 10 years ago when a family member asked me to go to her confirmation. I was happy to go to support her. I didn't participate in the ritual of communion though since I don't believe in it (I felt it would be hypocritical and insulting to my deities). I didn't draw attention to myself--I quietly excused myself to go to the ladies room. Anyway, the people were very nice and I liked the candles, incense and chanting. And they had a nice reception afterward.

Answer 7

People attend church for many reasons -- some right and some wrong.

I think the idea of a church is for the individual to be able to find themselves grow in their relationship with God through belonging to a "community" of believers. When it works it is beautiful.

Too often it gets screwed up -- in sin. There can be backbiting and sniping. Power struggles and ego -- bad doctrine and people getting manipulated.

I don't attend church as much as I did for many of the reasons listed above.

I've worked hard to find other ways to be connected to the Body of Christ.

Answer 8

My biggest turn off about Church is that it teaches Christianity and I am not Christian. The last time I went to Church was over Easter weekend, strictly for educational purposes.

Answer 9

I am a Christian who has not found the church in my area. Can't enjoy a sermon. WHY?
Legalism. Too busy making their programs work to allow God in.

Intellectualism. Much smarter than God. Church knows how to get to heaven, don't need God to show them how.

Love has grown cold. Many of these people are satisifed with going to heaven, no love for others, no freedom to help others.

I want a church where you KNOW God has control over the church. If He wants to change the service, people want that.

When the Holy Spirit has free reign, that's where I hope to be.

Answer 10

I last attended a couple of months ago.

I have become increasingly unhappy with church. It is all about politics and gossip and not about God.

We are constantly raising money for non-spiritual purposes (I mean, God doesn't actually need money at all, and Jesus wasn't too keen on the stuff either).

The people at church are so judgemental of everyone who differs from them in any way.

I just don't see anyone behaving in a Christ-like manner.

Answer 11

All of the hypocrisy & backstabbing that goes on. We all know that this goes on everyday, everywhere, church is the one place where you shouldn't have to face this. Everyone adopts this holier than thou attitude once sitting there before the Pastor, once church service is concluded it is so shameful to hear & see them whispering & gossiping about what someone was wearing or who was seen with whose husband, etc. I know they're only human, but these are the same people who love to preach at you when you're seen doing exactly what they do after church.