That's what I thought, until you started slamming my posts based on what I do in my personal life. I didn't think I had to explain my motives for posting something, that's all. Shoot, maybe I should be more careful about what I share with the BBS, so it doesn't get used against me later? If it's just "a debate", why does it matter if I vote (like that has anything to do with a discussion on religion) or go to church?
It doesn't matter anymore than the fact that my political leanings have been held against me plenty of times here. I don't know if you ever read it, but I got called every name on the book during the arena campaign and more than once had the fact that I was honest used against me. If anyone understands getting hammered for being honest, it's me. Hell, everyone even knows my real name!!! Sorry if you took it personally. It wasn't intended as such.
I guess this is the part where we kiss and make up (maybe outlaw can make a statue out of it and put it in a park ) I think I saw a couple of arena threads in that forum, and it wasn't pretty ("hetero doxy", was it?)....sorry, that just sucks. I suppose this all could have been avoided had I chose not to enter this perfectly harmless thread and instigate.....sigh. I have a habit of doing that, unfortunately. My apologies AGAIN to RM95, as well as you Jeff, Mrs. JB, outlaw, and anyone else I may have pissed off for no real good reason .
NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT!!! i'm sorry..that was just a HUGE hanging curveball ready to be hit out of the park...
Thank you! I didn't have the guts to say it that straight-forward. I'm trying to avoid hassles with RM95!
So, y'all picked your churches because of God's whim, but I won't be? I don't think you really understand what we're doing. We're going to find a church that's right for us. In our minds, it'll be the church that God wants us to find. Isn't that what it's all about?
<b>Religion</b>, or your system of beliefs, is supposed to be about God and/or whatever out there is bigger than yourself. About the meaning of life and what is important. Therefore, you can honestly search for the truth and ask God to guide you - that's one thing - but I don't know how you can just pick and choose your "favorite" religion like a piece of fruit at the supermarket. If you're really looking for the truth, then, no, they're not all equally valid. If you're just looking for a way to fool yourself, keep busy on Sunday mornings, and make some friends, fine, but be open about it. Don't pretend to believe in something you don't. (the above is directed to everyone in general... not to anyone in particular on the bbs... just making sure because this thread has started to ignite...) Most <b>Christian denominations</b>, Protestant or not, technically have the proper theology to do the job. However, denominations, and the individual churches affiliated with them, can vary in terms of how they use it. Questions to ask yourself: Does this church follow traditional Biblical guidelines, or does it find an excuse to deviate from them? Does the minister seem to be sincere in his/her faith? Do the pastor and congregation seek an active relationship with the living God? (assuming that you want them to...) It's hard for <b>couples</b> to find a church... I've cheated because I never did settle on a "compromise". I didn't mind marrying a Catholic, but of course I had to end up with one of the hardcore, old-school Catholics, so a "compromise" church isn't an option, since he feels that anything less is inferior and that he made a promise to the Catholic church at his confirmation. He doesn't mind attending another church as well, so we just go to both - usually Sunday school at a Protestant church (to connect with a peer group) and Catholic mass (since he believes he's in trouble if he misses one, even to go to another Christian church service). I have nothing against the Catholic church, but I like to hang onto a piece of my Protestant heritage since I feel more compatible with the worship style... a little variety is good for all of us...
I've been to the "hippie" church up here in BCS (Bryan-College Station) quite a few times. I stopped going. It was cool... I mean, it was like all my criticisms of dumb church stuff did not apply there...it was liberal, yet extremely true to the faith..weird huh...I mean, it was just a little too good. I think what I concluded was that I'm just not a Christian and don't think I ever will be. Cause for the first time in my life, I attended a church in which I could not find anything majorly stupid/wrong (meaning nothing like the original post in this thread). I mean, in my humble opinion, all of the churches I attended spewed of moronic misinformation and ignorance. So here comes a place almost perfect...and yet I just didn't feel like I was supposed to be there. Not their fault, cause they're like the kindest most loving and accepting church and members I've ever met. Still, I felt like an outsider, no matter what. I guess there are just some fundamental Christian beliefs that I will never accept. Again, not the stupid crap that some people claim as Christianity-that didn't happen here. This was a good Christian hippie church (which is even wierder considering the city). So RM95, maybe you're not Christian. I mean, even though I've been kinda raised a Christian and even though I found a situation that was closest to what I thought was good Christianity...I just could not make myself believe what I don't truly believe deep inside. Good luck.
Good Luck RM95. It took me quite awhile to find a church in which I felt comfortable in, but I am glad I took the time to do the research and I hope you will too.
Sorry to go back to this after you guys have made up and everything... but this is silly TheFreak. We are of course animals. I realize it's a figure of speech... but it's a very bad one.
Exactly. I don't understand why our search for a good church that we feel comfortable in is such a big deal? How did it work for y'all that are criticizing our choice to do it this way? Did you wake up one Sunday morning, go to a church, figure that's what God wanted you to do, so kept going to that Church. Maybe, maybe I could understand the sentiment if I was shopping religions, but, like Isabel said, most Christians share most of the same ideologies, it's just how they use it.
The irony here, <b>RM95</b>, is that you are throwing out the baby with the bath water. This Lutheran priest did a thing that, apparently, you would approve of (participating in a pan-religious ceremony) and yet, deductively, you would still refuse to join his church because of a bureaucracy that disagreed with his decision. (I don't mean literally join his church; I know this was in NY or somewhere-- just speaking figuratively). That's why I tongue-in-cheek predicted that you wouldn't find a church home. You will always find something to be disappointed by. Frankly, I don't know of a bureaucracy anywhere that doesn't function like a parking brake left on. Then you have the factions within the church family. Then come the political overtones. Hey, I left a liberal church (Quaker) almost 20 years ago because of political overtones and I've visited churches where I just didn't feel a part of the group. I don't blame you for being discriminating. I can't help but wonder though if you are being too idealistic. No one will pass a White Glove test.
I don't understand how my exclusion of a church based on condemning someone that takes part in a prayer service designed to help comfort people after this country's worst tragedy leads you to believe that I'll be too idealistic when looking for a church. I'm pragmatic enough to know that I'll never find a church that will fit my personal morality like a glove. The fact of the matter is that things rarely work out that way whether it's religion, friends, significant other, etc. I'm sorry if I don't believe I'd feel comfortable attending a church who condemns this kind of thing. I don't know how in the world you think that goes against God's whims. You still didn't answer my question though. How is my searching for a church that I'll feel comfortable in going against God's whims? How did you find a church by not doing that? Was your time in a Quaker church going against God's whims, or since it was you, it wasn't?
Hey, no fair starting these threads on the weekend! I'm in church then Shopping for a church isn't wrong if your motive is to seek out God. "Knock and the door will be opened. Seek and you will find." If you honestly seek Him, He will make it obvious which congregation would be best for you. Has anyone seen all the advertising churches do now? It's similar to big business. But from the church member's pov, they are commanded to actively reach out to their community. I suggest starting with churches that are close to your current/new residence. Being near church families is a real blessing. Also look out for churches that have a lot of elderly and don't have many younger kids. Unless it's their planned mission field (such as ecclesia or ekklesia church reaching out to the Montrose area) it probably is a sign of spiritual sickness. Once you have narrowed down your choices, look for how often do they read the Bible during worship, if they offer prayer meetings (usually on Wednesdays), and try to find out what mission fields they use their resources on. A church with these things usually has staying power over multiple generations. Of course the best thing you can do is pray for a new church. I go to a Baptist church, but I didn't start out baptist. I started out by being saved and reading the Bible. I was just led to that church. Yes, like a sheep. But that's cool because I understand that the pinnacle of man's wisdom is still foolishness to the Lord. Add the facts that He's all powerful, knows my future, wants the best for me because He loves me, is not persuaded by sinful motives, and has a plan for me to reveal His attributes to the world, letting Him do my "thinking" for me seems like a really good investment of my hope. It's still my choice after all. (ps When they sang "The Rainbow Connection" at a Unitarian service I once went to, I knew they were too weird for me )
The church I left is one I had attended off-and-on for about 10 years-- not one I had read about in a newspaper. You just seem to have a cavalier attitude (maybe even joyful) about being able to disqualify churches as not worthy of your consideration. Maybe I'm misreading your message... The point I was trying to make is that there are people in that church (maybe even a majority) who feel exactly the same way that you do. If you agree with him and disagree with his condemnation, then that is one pastor that needs support-- including new members of the church. Your way of dealing with his situation just leaves him to the wolves... Oh, yes, I know God's preferences better than He Himself does!!
Joyful? Where in the world did you get that? If I see a problem with the "managment" of a certain denomination, then I'm not going to get involved. It's almost akin to wanting to become a part of Enron right now. Not even close to a perfect analogy, I know...don't get offended by the comparison, please. The way I see it is that we could be wrong about our exclusion of this church, or the Catholic church, and if we are, God will show us the way. At this point, it's not my responsibility to show any support to this pastor outside of my vocal condemnation of the choice to punish him. That, and the realization that because of the governing body of that particular denomination, they most likely won't have us as members. It makes no sense for me to join a church that does something so atrocious, IMO, as this. Something I maybe should've stated long ago is that neither one of us is really drawn to churches with big bureaucracies. I don't feel comfortable with a bunch of people voting on how the church believes or has a group of pastors (meaning priests, pastors, ministers, etc.) deciding what the rest of us believe. The church I grew up in, and the only one I've ever really enjoyed going to on a regular basis, didn't have a governing body or anything like that. mr_gootan, thank you for that post. Our main motive is to seek out God. However, there are other things that we will be looking for in addition to how we feel in that church, how children-friendly (for lack of a better term that I can't think of) it is.
I reserve the right to believe you've got it backwards though. And how would you suggest someone find a church? Just pick one randomly? How did you discover yours?
L@@K at the title of your thread... So casual and so final. Your glib announcement of an earnest search distracts from the deep concerns you have.
