I go to church weekly and lead a small group studying the church fathers and how they read the Scriptures. I'm a worship leader and musican. I've served in many roles in various churches over my life.
What bothers me about the modern evangelical non-denominational church is how we have watered down the church litergy. My church is no where near the extreme on this but I beleive we should be looking further back into church history prior to the reformation and be more humble about our interpretation of Scripture.
Novel teaching has crept into the church and the focus on individual interpretation is leading us down a dangerous path. Our pastors preach expository (verse by verse) not topical and that is good but the lack of understanding of church history concerns me. It concerns me in myself and I've been working on correcting that for a while.
I think many of the issues in my church tradition stem from ignorance and over-reaction to Roman Catholicism. The rejection of tradition. The watering down of the litergy. The lack of reverence. The focus on the comfort of the individual. None of this started in the last 30 years.
I really beleive all church traditions can learn from each other and I'm trying to do that. I'm trying to be humble and teachable. But, I am deeply concerned about cultural drift in the church. The diluting of long held orthodox Christianity due to cultural pressures. The acceptance of novel doctrine over orthodoxy. I've seen it in friends and family and I think my tradition needs to reckon with it very seriously.
I don't have a simple answer to any of this. I do think that answer is not to leave your church because it has it wrong in some areas. Maybe the answer is that we each work on these issues first in our lives and then with others in our churches. From the bottom up. For some, maybe they should leave their church but that's a serious decision.
Hey @kepford, thanks so much for sharing your experience and thoughts here. It sounds like you care deeply about your church and doing the right thing.
I love how open you are in saying that you don't have all the answers, but that you are taking a leadership position in starting the discussion. I'd love for you to keep the dialogue going in this ~Christianity territory. I'm sure myself and many others have a lot to learn from you.
You can start posts proposing ideas, or even just asking questions. You're right that all the churches should be working together to make things better for all so that more people find Jesus and live like Jesus. I'm still learning about the early church and traditions. I am excited to keep the dialogue going with you. God bless
Yes. Once a week mainly. I like that it's one of the few times awake I'm not in front of some screen. I like the fellowship and connection to brothers and sisters in Christ. I like being challenged by the word and by the sermon. I like having the time to slow down and reflect on how I could be better. I like the singing.
This is the case and it is not the case. There are church traditions that are nothing like others in the business / cultural sense.
Beware that the enemy doesn't influence you to being disconnected because you see many flaws in churches. All have them. All have always had flaws. They are populated by people.
As others have said, maybe visit a mainline church or for a completely different experience an Eastern Orthodox church. I too do not like the influences of our culture on the modern church but our individualistic culture is partly responsible for this. Older orders have less emphasis on the individual and comfort and more on the church and worship upward.
I know many people that have lost faith and connection due to being critical of their church. It's ironic and sad. It can be an easy out for us to blame society or church tradition but we are a part of it all. So it humbles me to realize that I am commanded to first take the log out of my eye before I help my brother with the spec in his.
There are still many healthy biblical churches out there, brother. I recommend you to look for historical reformed churches with solid foundations and conservative/orthodox theology. Be careful with the ones that have fallen for progressive agenda
At least three times a week (Bible study, Sunday school and regular church service)
What do you like/don't like about Church?
I like when the sermon (the word of God) makes me uncomfortable. It means it touched something hidden in my heart I need to change.
And I don't like when the preacher doesn't open or doesn't read enough of the Bible during sermon (which doesn't happen very often at my local church, thank God🙏)
And I don't like when the preacher doesn't open or doesn't read enough of the Bible during sermon (which doesn't happen very often at my local church, thank God🙏)
yeah, it can be frustrating when the preacher seems to be drawing his conclusions from various cultural assumptions or worldly philosophies, rather than from the word of God
Thanks for sharing Felipe! I too am grateful when something from scripture touches my heart. I appreciate having things to work on to get closer to Jesus
I go to church weekly and lead a small group studying the church fathers and how they read the Scriptures. I'm a worship leader and musican. I've served in many roles in various churches over my life.
What bothers me about the modern evangelical non-denominational church is how we have watered down the church litergy. My church is no where near the extreme on this but I beleive we should be looking further back into church history prior to the reformation and be more humble about our interpretation of Scripture.
Novel teaching has crept into the church and the focus on individual interpretation is leading us down a dangerous path. Our pastors preach expository (verse by verse) not topical and that is good but the lack of understanding of church history concerns me. It concerns me in myself and I've been working on correcting that for a while.
I think many of the issues in my church tradition stem from ignorance and over-reaction to Roman Catholicism. The rejection of tradition. The watering down of the litergy. The lack of reverence. The focus on the comfort of the individual. None of this started in the last 30 years.
I really beleive all church traditions can learn from each other and I'm trying to do that. I'm trying to be humble and teachable. But, I am deeply concerned about cultural drift in the church. The diluting of long held orthodox Christianity due to cultural pressures. The acceptance of novel doctrine over orthodoxy. I've seen it in friends and family and I think my tradition needs to reckon with it very seriously.
I don't have a simple answer to any of this. I do think that answer is not to leave your church because it has it wrong in some areas. Maybe the answer is that we each work on these issues first in our lives and then with others in our churches. From the bottom up. For some, maybe they should leave their church but that's a serious decision.
Hey @kepford, thanks so much for sharing your experience and thoughts here. It sounds like you care deeply about your church and doing the right thing.
I love how open you are in saying that you don't have all the answers, but that you are taking a leadership position in starting the discussion. I'd love for you to keep the dialogue going in this ~Christianity territory. I'm sure myself and many others have a lot to learn from you.
You can start posts proposing ideas, or even just asking questions. You're right that all the churches should be working together to make things better for all so that more people find Jesus and live like Jesus. I'm still learning about the early church and traditions. I am excited to keep the dialogue going with you. God bless
Thanks. I hope we never stop learning.
Very well put. Thank you.
No. Not any more.
It's pretty much a waste of time, unless you just don't have any other options for socializing.
What about socializing with God? One could argue that's one of the main points of going to church.
Yes. Once a week mainly. I like that it's one of the few times awake I'm not in front of some screen. I like the fellowship and connection to brothers and sisters in Christ. I like being challenged by the word and by the sermon. I like having the time to slow down and reflect on how I could be better. I like the singing.
These are all amazing things about church, @Dash_1971. Thank you for sharing, brother
I don't go to church that much as I use to, what I don't like is that the church is becoming more of a business rather than a place of worship
This is the case and it is not the case. There are church traditions that are nothing like others in the business / cultural sense.
Beware that the enemy doesn't influence you to being disconnected because you see many flaws in churches. All have them. All have always had flaws. They are populated by people.
As others have said, maybe visit a mainline church or for a completely different experience an Eastern Orthodox church. I too do not like the influences of our culture on the modern church but our individualistic culture is partly responsible for this. Older orders have less emphasis on the individual and comfort and more on the church and worship upward.
I know many people that have lost faith and connection due to being critical of their church. It's ironic and sad. It can be an easy out for us to blame society or church tradition but we are a part of it all. So it humbles me to realize that I am commanded to first take the log out of my eye before I help my brother with the spec in his.
Well said
How is it becoming more of a business? They solicit donations a lot?
There are still many healthy biblical churches out there, brother. I recommend you to look for historical reformed churches with solid foundations and conservative/orthodox theology. Be careful with the ones that have fallen for progressive agenda
Yes, every week. We also have a weekday bible study every week of the month except the first.
I like fellowshipping with other believers and hearing the word of God preached.
I don't like how busy it can be sometimes. I'm always very tired after church on Sundays (I do serve a lot in various ways.)
That's awesome @SimpleStacker thank you for sharing!
Yeah, I forgot to mention that on my answer. I love worshiping together with my brothers and sisters.
That too! I'm part of the worship team (I play acoustic guitar) and rehearsal and practicing takes a lot of effort
Yes
At least three times a week (Bible study, Sunday school and regular church service)
I like when the sermon (the word of God) makes me uncomfortable. It means it touched something hidden in my heart I need to change.
And I don't like when the preacher doesn't open or doesn't read enough of the Bible during sermon (which doesn't happen very often at my local church, thank God🙏)
yeah, it can be frustrating when the preacher seems to be drawing his conclusions from various cultural assumptions or worldly philosophies, rather than from the word of God
Thanks for sharing Felipe! I too am grateful when something from scripture touches my heart. I appreciate having things to work on to get closer to Jesus