How many Christians here have abandoned going to church and for what reasons ?

Question

I go now and then but not often to the same church as it doesn't seem to take long for the controlling individuals to surface. What are your reasons....have you remained faithful to God? Do you meet up with other Christians in your area who have a similar problem ?

Answer 1

I've researched many religions in search of one that (to me) follows what I read in the Bible. One church did nothing but talk about money, the other, a priest tried to induce me to commit adultery, another where priests blessed tanks and machiene guns every 28th October....
Now I just read my Bible and try to live my life according to Jesus's teachings and pray to my heavenly father one on one until I find what I am looking for.

Answer 2

I was brought up going to Church, but then I learnt that I needed to make my own decision about whether or not I believed in God. I spent a while looking at the various arguments for and against God, and studying the Bible and I have found that what I was taught as I grew up was true. As I have deepened my relationship with God, I have grown closer to Him, and every day brings new revelation to me that God really exists. There are so many things in my life which I wouldn't have if God did not exist.
I still go to the Church I was brought up in. Although things aren't perfect, and I sometimes wish that my Church would be so much better and more modern, I realise that nothing is perfect. I'm trying to play my part in the life of my Church and I have seen amazing things happening over the last few months. God really does answer prayer - I am living proof of that.

Answer 3

My reasons for abandoning the church were also sufficient in causing me to abandon the name of Christianity. It is simply this: In Christianity, there is a divided way of looking at the world as those who are part of it and those who are not. It is in my view that this segregation is unhelpful, particularly since it is membership that apparently carries all of the supposed benefits that are spoken of by its leaders.

Am I faithful? Not in the least. But I do continue to meditate upon scripture and still attend weekly church services; not because of what I wish to gain from it but because of how I can continue to help those around me, whether Christian or not, through knowing and thinking about it and sharing my thoughts with anyone who needs them.

The only thing I regret is that I haven't spent the necessary time reading the innumerable other holy texts around the world.

Answer 4

I do know the church is the church and the people are the people therefore the behaviour of certain members of the congregation should not matter. But am afraid it did taint my view.....too many hypocrits one in particular who spouted at prayer meetings and was a complete and utter piglet in real terms.

Answer 5

When I was a child, I went to church. I "Really, Really, enjoyed my re-relationship with "My God?. When I grew older, I thought that all christian Institutions regardless of there particular believes were to me fundamentally flawed, Especially, the Major denominations. I don't think I have deserted God by not attending church.
I have actually In my heart of hearts came closer to God (If that Is Possible). I think your expression, "The Controlling individuals" perhaps,s says It all. Having said that, I am "Frightened" going It alone as I get older. Can you understand?, or are you to young to understand mortality?.

Please guide me If you can, as I feel you may be a lot "Stronger" than Me In Faith.

Yours most sincerely,
Thomas Bartholomew Gormley.

Answer 6

We are still looking for a Bible believing and teaching congregation. We love the Word of God and are commandment keepers, raising our children in a sabbatarian home with much of the Old Testament values. ie, modesty, moderation, cleanliness, tything, clean/unclean foods, etc..but mostly the 10 Commandments. We haven't abandoned the idea altogether and would love for our children to be raised in a congregational atmosphere with other kids but our beliefs are too radical and so we are either not welcome or we are pitied and attempts to "help" us become frustrating. We believe the Bible, in its entirety to be the True Word Of God.

Some common lies/deceptions taught

Sunday Sacredness
Immediate Dispensation
Freedom from the Law (we believe the law makes you free cuz if you don't break it..it doesn't apply to you).
The Deity of Christ is questioned.
The Trinity
State of the Dead
Eternal Suffering in A pit of torture and fire (Try again...Destroy, perish, 2nd death, etc.)
Prophecy interpretation (the Bible is its own interpretor)
Communion (don't even get me started on where that went wrong)
and other stuff...Love in Christ, ~J~

Answer 7

I'm afraid that church doesn't always answer my needs. I know that the Bible tells us that we are to meet with other believers, I think that helps us to remain true to God.
We moved away from the church we had attended for 15 years and I have not found another one I've felt comfortable with.
Should we go to church. Yes. Do I feel comfortable in church? No. Do I feel guilty over not going to church. YES.
My relationship with God does not depend on my church attendence. My closeness to Him grows with prayer, Bible study, talking about Him, and trying to do as Jesus would do.
As for church: I've met some really upsetting people there. But, I've also met intelligent, spiritual, loving people. They're hard to come by, but they are jewels and they serve God. Going out of my way to meet these people is worth the trauma of dealing with the controllers, I just have to force myself to do it.
In reading other answers, I think we have to remind ourselves that church is composed of fallible humans trying to live up to the infallible. We gather together to worship God, not to judge each other. I need to give church another chance.

Answer 8

I stopped going when I was 11 cos I was being bullied by the older kids, was fed up with being told I was a sinner and a wicked child and got fed up with the cliques that were being formed by so many parents there. Also I lost faith as I got older in the face of AIDS and cancer and natural disasters. Church's are just there for social climbing and money making.

Answer 9

I flit in and out of the church, morally I feel I should go but mentally, its bollox. I find the sacrifice of Jesus a bit hard to chew, I don't like permenant and obsessive thoughts about somones blood and death being on our hands and for our benefit. I think there is more to life basically

Answer 10

I still enjoy my non church, religious community. I have abandon my assumption of being in the Christian community which I have carried with me all my life but always thought there was something wrong....now, having realized the fraud....there may be something to the message Jesus offered, but modern Christianity has nothing to do with it....it is the church still prospering at the expense of their brainwashed, duped followers.