RateItAll: The Opinion Network

Too busy thinking for myself.

while i can agree with most disgruntled churchgoers that their base belief has been undermined for a lack of "move" of God, I can also say this. That God Himself moves at His own Will and in His own time. who are we to believe that God is at our beck and call whenever we feel we want a "move" of His Spirit? the problem with non denominational churches is that the "pastors" of these churches have felt the move of God in their life... a spiritual awakening, and instead of staying in their respective churches have opted to rebel against the authority which God has placed before them from their youth. the problem i see with this is that instead of relying on God to use them to create a revival of dead souls in their church, they feel that because God has blessed them to fell Him and to become real to them that they are easily persuaded by the devil to believe that God has chosen them for a "higher" calling, insomuch that instead of patiently waiting and just worshipping God, they allow themselves to be seduced into believing that they are greater than what God allows. God will always test the spirits... seeing which ones are obedient and which ones will go astray. God has not, nor will not empower you to rebel against the authority that He has so carefully nutured you in. instead He will Guide you as He moves you to be a witness to Him in wherever you are. whether you are in a denomination or otherwise... God works through the patience of believers and the persecution of unbelievers. Jesus Christ NEVER left His people... He endured with them till His fleshly existence died, even though Im sure He could have started his own non denominational church because the pharisees insulted Him so much.... boohoo!!! He endured the hatred of His own church because he LOVED them. and i ask you... do you love your brethren enough to die for them? or will you leave your church to create your own church where those that love you will follow? Jesus said its easy to love them that love you. I know that many of these preachers have felt that they are doing the right thing by preaching rebellion and dissention among the brethren, but i implore you my brethren, reconsider your actions... has God really called you to start your own church or has God touched you and moved you to be a witness to Him in a church that has grown cold? was the fire He lit in you meant to be a fire in the darkness you're in, or did He intend for you to move your fire to a place all your own and to hide it under a basket, to share with only your friends? my friends i beseech you to reconsider that when you feel God moving upon you to worship, and to weep openly and to raise your hands in thankfulness to Him, that you do it all where you stand.. remember that persecution is a sign of the worthiness of which you are called to be a witness... and that Christ Himself never left Jerusalem, His people or His calling... He came unto His own and His own received Him not.. but did He depart? no, He endured, till the end and in doing so submitted Himself to persecution, false accusations, arrest and ultimately... His death. but in so doing He submitted Himself to all authority within the bounds of Gods will. it is not where you worship... but how you worship.. and there are people in darkness who need for you to shine in the obedience of submission and love.. God Bless and move all who read this message

The Church, as Christ intended for it to be, should be a hospital for sinners...rather than a museum for saints.

I think there is no better way to start the day. There is nothing I would rather do than serve the Lord Jesus Christ and have sweet fellowship with my Christian brothers and sisters.

One of my most hated memories from childhood. I think my agnosticism was always an integral part of my personality (one story I've heard about myself...I don't remember it personally...occurred when I was about 4 years old and was in "Sunday School". I got up from my seat and started putting on my coat. The teacher said "Mr.edt4, where do you think you're going?" I allegedly replied, "I'm sick and tired of this Jesus business. I'm leaving".), and my parents, with the best of intentions, forced me to go. Sunday mornings, I'd hear my father coming up the stairs to my room. Almost always, I'd feign sleep. Occasionally, he'd take mercy on me and allow me to "sleep in". Most times, though, he'd say, "C'mon, get up, it's time for church." I'm not sure how much my father really wanted to go, and I think he figured if my mother was going to make him go, I had to as well. Two hours (maybe it was less time, but it certainly seemed like 2 hours) of boredom in an uncomfortable suit, sitting in a hard pew, and I was finally free. At 15, I finally asserted my independence and told my parents I wasn't going anymore. And I never really have, outside of weddings and funerals. I've re-connected with my birth mother, who is Catholic, and I'll occasionally go to Mass with her. Never on Sunday mornings, though.

Not for years.

Not for years to come either.

When I do periodically enter a church (about once a year), its always a midweek Mass.

I try and go to church every Sunday, but that's my choice as I want to. My last church was too money orientated, had too much church politics and didn't focus on worship and for myself personally that's not what church is about as there are people out there with great problems and burdens who come to church to unleash this, why should there be all that rubbish of church politics in-between? The saddest thing is the minister there honestly thought that people went to church for him and spoke to his congregation like kids in such a derogatory and patronising manner, which is a disgustingly arrogant way of behaving. Attending a church should be an optional thing not a compulsory thing and you shouldn't force anyone to do or believe if they don't want to and just because someone doesn't share your views on the world doesn't make them less "holier than thou". I've always said your Christian in your everyday actions and the way you treat people, not by attending church every week. Going to church every week and claiming to be a Christian is no different than someone who goes to MacDonalds every week claiming to be a hamburger.

There was a time I used every excuse in the book to avoid church. As much as I tried to avoid and deny it, there was still the feeling that something was missing. Then one day for a variety of reasons, I put all my personal objections aside and forged ahead with a strong, renewed desire to love and serve God. It wasnt easy to get to the point of total acceptance and it took time. My decision to return to church was based on a very long history of searching, the experience of poor health and the loss of near and dear loved ones. All these elements and more I believe have brought me to a very real and personal spiritual maturity. Im now very content and thank God for every opportunity I have to worship Him and be in His presence. This life is a journey for all of us and each has a unique path to follow. Be true to yourself and dont let petty grievances and temporal things keep you from experiencing the eteranal.

I admit I've been neglectful (I slept in today because I was feeling like crap for the past few days) in going to church but it's a great way to kick off the week.

UPDATE: Church can be a formal building with a steeple. It can be a storefront building. It can be held in some ones home. It can be held outside under a oak tree. Where ever it is held, this is just a building or a place. It's the people who come together to fellowship and worship the Lord that makes it a church. God lives in our hearts not a building.

ORIGINAL MESSAG E: Going to church is not just about you or me doing it. People should attend church because they want to have fellowship with other believers. They should attend so that they can be an encouragement to others. They should attend because they love the Lord and want to learn more about him. They should attend not because of how it makes them feel, but because it may make others feel better and because it's the right thing to do.

I've been, something like 30 years ago. Wasn't much to it. For laugh, I flip over to TBN and watch the outlandish claims and the begging for money. Like I said, not much has changed. I do like Jack and Rexella van Impe. I think they are the best comedy team since laural and Hardy. AND Paula White is such a little hottie!

It is the least I can do for the Lord, but then I still have time to go out to dinner, watch football and spend time with my girls.

metal666, have you even been in church?

okay I have to admit I haven't made it to church in years... it doesn't mean I don't love the Lord or his teachings but if this is something that is important to enter the pearly gates Im gonna have some problems... LOL

Church is great, I don't go because its the thing to do for Christians. I go because I love Jesus and want to grow in my faith and relationship with Him by learning more about Him. Early in my childhood, I hated going to church because I was forced to, and ended up not going to church for 4 years because I didn't like it, but as I have grown up and grown in my relationship with God, I have understood the purpose of the church, which makes up the body of Christ.

No way. It's just a waste of time and it takes hours away from my weekend beauty sleep.

metal666- don't you find it slightly ironic to say that the church teaches hate and intolerance yet you paint an entire practice with such a negative, false brush? Anyway, going to church is a very commendable practice but only if one extends what they learn in church to their world & isn't hypocritical. Don't forget that their are other ways to express your faith to God, though!

What could be better than going to church and hearing the word of God? This is absolutely the best! Later we stop and have breakfast and discuss the sermon and other things. When I don't go to church it really bothers me and it will nag at me.

Give me a break. Going to church brings me memories of endlessly boring and depressing sundays when I was a child. Nobody goes to church because they like it, just because they have been imposed with the obligation to go.

I only go when I am with my Grandfather, a southern baptist preacher.

This sucks so much .I hate going its so boring.

What's the point? Most people go because they have a guilty conscience.

The reason I do not go to my church is because of the people currently there. They are annoying, rude, and prejudiced. Plus, I'm not much of a religious person anyways soooo....

I don't go to church near as much as I used to..they just expect too much of my time now....the last time I went...it lasted well over 5 hours...and I am sorry...but my God is still going to love me whether I am sitting in the meeting house for 5 hours or not...

Well, it appears so far that I'm a minority on this topic, but yes, I most certainly do go to church. I happen to go to a church at the present in which there are some very nice people, complete with a caring pastor who won't tolerate any backbiting or squabbles. I, myself, have been hurt by a few church people claiming to be believers, so I know what it feels like, more than anyone could ever realize. However, I'm not going to let that get in the way of my going to church. I just go, mind my own business, and concentrate on the Lord. Any person faking Christianity and playing church has God to answer to. But I also know that there are still some church people who are there for the right reason: to worship God and learn how to live right. Right now, all I can do is pray for the troubled people whenever I can. Anyone who is expecting to find a perfect church here on this very mortal Earth is going to be disillusioned.

not for me. I believe in God but do not wish to spend part of my day with some of the hypocrites who attend church. I know not everyone is like this but more people than I care to know who go to church are judgemental, gossips. who look down their noses at others. I will worship in private.

For many, this is a 5, but I'm not religious.

I prefer the Church of Nature. A walk in the mountains or beach feels closer to the divine presence to me than a seat in a dank building full of talk of sin and death.