Are you afraid to be too involved in church because you're afraid you'll be kept accountable by others?

Answer 1

No, I'm accountable to others no matter what beliefs I have. If I am to live in a society, I'm accountable to others in that society for reasons that have nothing to do with any invisible sky being's dictates.

I'm not afraid to be too involved with any church. I just don't hold the beliefs that any church holds. God is just a superstition and I see no point joining a group that believes that nonsense.

Even as an atheist, I still get involved with churches. I went to a Bahai celebration of Bahá'u'lláh's birthday a few weeks ago, because I was invited by someone of that faith and I was curious what their rites were. I've also helped a local church make lunches for the homeless. And my brother-in-law is a Methodist minister, and I've seen him do his thing. I even went to my mother's church to watch her in the bell choir one Christmas. It was quite nice.

Answer 2

I was involved in a Church and my wife and I attended regulary. One night I had a party and some of our members attended it. We went through the photo album and there was a picture of my wife when she was 25 years old dressed like a hooker.
By Sunday all the members just about got the clue that my wife was a former Hooker.

So to set the minds straight to all the members at Church we went one last time and I told most of them "Let me set the story straight . Yes, my wife was a prostitute and lived a very hard life until she turned to God and this is the Church I met her at. Now you people who say you're Christians just really showed me that your nothing ,but a bunch of hyprocrites."

They were shocked as we left that Church for the last time and my last words to the members were, "by the way my wife has more heart about people than anyone of you could ever imagine and Judy? Does the washing machine really give you orgasms on the spin cycle..at least that is what you told my wife. Have anice day"

I have four beautiful children and a wonderful Mother and wife.
We are still Church going people and always will be. The past is the past.

Answer 3

I'm afraid to be involved in a church since our church refused to remove a known child abuser from the congregation. Family donations kept this man on. I want nothing to do with that.

Nobody can hold me accountable, because they have no power over me at all. I don't know how a church would hold someone accountable...everyone is forgiven, right? Even on a weekly basis...so, what the heck? Fear of accountability is the last thing I would have in a church. From what I can tell, churches are many times havens for those who would deny accountability for their actions.

Answer 4

I am afraid of being too involved in church because it can become more like a job and less like worship and joyful service. I currently serve as youth director and Sunday School teacher, VBS director, business moderator, church clerk, Praise and Worship team, choir, nursery worker...I think that's all. We are a small church with more children than adults in attendance (we have a bus ministry) so there are more jobs than people to fill them. Some days I just don't want to go to church because it feels like a job, but then you see the love of Jesus in the eyes of a child and I am glad to be there and to be the best example of Christ's love I can possibly be!

Answer 5

No.

Church is a haven for people who are generally unsuccesful in real life.

I spent most of my life in churches, even considered becoming a minister. Churches claim to be a safe place for believers, but the accountability quotent you are talking about is typically used as a gossip mill and a way to pass judgement on other members.

Most Christians know this to be true. There are a few exceptions, the Vineyard Churches for instance tend to be open and not judgmental of others. But on the whole most churches are just places where discord rules, and Jesus is sidelined. Especially churches that emphasize accountability.

Imagine how a person in need would be welcomed stumbling drunk and disheveled into your church on a Sunday morning?

I am thinking he would either be ostracized or mauled by overly zealous people trying to prove to their fellow flock that they are kind hearted.

Answer 6

I really belive that no matter what church you go to or even if you don't go to church at all, you will still be accountable to God. Everyone will stand before God some day and only those that have trusted in his son Jesus will be forgiven of their sins.
And as for the topic of hypocrites. You will find them everywhere not just in churches. No one is, or ever was, perfect except Jesus and he hasn't come back yet.

Answer 7

I prefer to sleep in and rest on sundays.... Too much of a hangover from saturday.... Besides that, it's like my Grandfather said, "be a leader, not a follower." I don't need a guide. I like traveling my own path, it's more exciting that way, besides, everyone is going to hell if the christians are right(yes the christians are too) so, whatever

Jesus won't come back, it was a failed prophecy. He said he would return before the last breath of his last disciple, thats been about 2000 years ago. Get over yourself, face the fact that the prophecy was false. And don't try the "well how do you know gods time is the same as ours." The bible was written to be taken literally, not to take what you think it says out of it. Word for word it is the way it was meant to be read.

Answer 8

"afraid"?? no.....I have had times in my life when I was very involved in the Church and then times when I would prefer more seclusion and prayer. It is up to the individual and the events taking place in their own life. If someone doesn't want to be accountable in Church, then chances are, they don't want to be accountable in several other places. We give of ourselves what we can. By the way, we are accountable to Jesus ultimately.

Answer 9

I used to. I would not get too involved or allow my self to open up because I felt that the expectations placed on me by others would be smothering so I'd bounce around to different small group Bible studies.

But now, for the past 4 years my wife and I have been involved in one small group Bible study and we love it. Yes, it has its share of expectations and responsibilities, but the support and mutual love make it worth while. The Bible clearly teaches that we as christians are to encourage each other to grow spiritually closer to Christ. It comforts me to know that if I get off track and start doing some behavior that is contradictory to the Word of God that one of my brothers in Christ will encourage me to consider my choices carefully.

My small group men understand that we are all hopelessly lost without the grace of Jesus Christ so we would never condemn each other but I feel a responsibility to them which find beneficial to my walk with Christ.

Answer 10

No, I'm not religious and I'm afraid to go to a church because I'm afraid of being judged, left out of the loop, being taken of (money wise), and brainwashed. I don't think that everyone who goes to a church has those things happen to them, but I'm afraid of it happening to me. I don't see how going to a church would make me accountable for any wrong doings.