Why go to Church only on Sunday?

[4dmin]

You know what Paul? YOU are absolutely correct there my friend.

I was raised in the Catholic church and my wife was raised in the Baptist church. When we married, this made for some difficult situations. When the children were born, it compounded the problem. What church would we raise our children in????

Well, we decided to visit a bunch of different churches to find out which one would make BOTH of us happy. I had some things I didn't agree with from both the Catholic church and the Baptist, as did she. We weren't looking to switch religions, as our basic beliefs were the same it was just the "churches" handled it so differently.

While looking and visiting a number of different churches, we found one that as corny as it sounds she and I looked at each other and both said "this is it". We literally said that and joined that church that day. We have not regreted our decision since. It has traditional values like the Catholic church, but also has a big contemporary message. It has old school customs as well as modern things we can actually use. We enjoy going and we enjoy doing the things we volunteer to do there as well.

All that background to say this: I personally have visited many many churches before. Some were honestly a complete turn off to me for a variety of reasons. Some of those reasons are exactly what you said, they are "watered" down. Some were too political, some were about nothing but money, some were to fanatical.

I agree that some "churches" are not being good examples of what they are supposed to be. I also am here to tell you that I KNOW that some ARE. The key is to find one where you can spread your wings. Worshiping by yourself is good, but spreading it is better. That is where a "church" comes in. It's supposed to help you to achieve many spiritual goals, and that is one of them. Some "churches" are better at that than others. You can't condemn ALL churches under the same stigma. Not saying you do, just saying.

i just find it funny... my dad was raised jehova witness, and my mom a catholic (went to catholic school too). so my parents didn't take us to a church b/c of the backgrounds they had, i have been and we as a family went to many different churches,.... i just found the following so crazy:

1) backwards small town thinking, your church is right and the rest are wrong.
2) money $$$ money $$$ money
3) the casual church, it has people dressed worse than casual friday at work
4) the keeping up w/ the jones church were apperance and what car you drive is everything

personally i think church is the yacht/country club for the poor. i know it sounds funny, but seriously i think worship is the last think on their minds. I'm not saying all are like this, but i think this is a huge trend in American Christianity.

[Jaimecbr900]

i just find it funny... my dad was raised jehova witness, and my mom a catholic (went to catholic school too). so my parents didn't take us to a church b/c of the backgrounds they had, i have been and we as a family went to many different churches,.... i just found the following so crazy:

1) backwards small town thinking, your church is right and the rest are wrong.
2) money $$$ money $$$ money
3) the casual church, it has people dressed worse than casual friday at work
4) the keeping up w/ the jones church were apperance and what car you drive is everything

personally i think church is the yacht/country club for the poor. i know it sounds funny, but seriously i think worship is the last think on their minds. I'm not saying all are like this, but i think this is a huge trend in American Christianity.

I agree to an extent, but I also think it's more a perception issue with you too.

I've been to "churches" where all the things you mentioned occured. #3 and #4 are extremely rare IMO and really not that important IF the substance of the rest is there. In other words, what people look or dress like has nothing to do with how YOU or even the ones dressing badly worship. God doesn't care what you look like. Is it disrespectful? Most of the time, I think it is. But that's just my opinion. Nowhere in the Bible does it say we have to dress a certain way to worship.

[4dmin]

I agree to an extent, but I also think it's more a perception issue with you too.

I've been to "churches" where all the things you mentioned occured. #3 and #4 are extremely rare IMO and really not that important IF the substance of the rest is there. In other words, what people look or dress like has nothing to do with how YOU or even the ones dressing badly worship. God doesn't care what you look like. Is it disrespectful? Most of the time, I think it is. But that's just my opinion. Nowhere in the Bible does it say we have to dress a certain way to worship.

I just think that if a church pulls away from the core of religion which is worship; then it kills the ideas it stands behind. I think if a church has to have casual dress service to attrack teens then its nothing but a way to generate #'s and $$$. God doen't care what you look like, but this is a fairly new trend that has started in probably the past 10 years... i remember when i was a kid the term "sunday best" you don't see that as often now. its funny you'll see people dress up for court but for church

[Jaimecbr900]

I just think that if a church pulls away from the core of religion which is worship; then it kills the ideas it stands behind.

Yes, but sometimes no.

The "church" is made up of lots of members and lots of different people. Just because one person ticks you off doesn't mean the WHOLE church is bad.

What really makes "churches" bad per se is when they focus on the wrong thing. I've seen churches that would rather scream and holler about believe now or go to straight to Hell than to speak to it's parishoners like a friend would. The core of the message may be technically right, but the delivery is all wrong. Follow? The same about the money. Churches need money for everything from day to day operations to missionary works to charity work. They get that money from it's members. Everybody should know that. No problem with supporting the church and it's missions. The problem comes in when either there is a miss appropriation of that money, ie. pocketing it or misspending, or when all you ever hear during a service revolves around "gimme, gimme, gimme".

My church is a semi-big church. They have big expenditures. I give wholeheartedly every week what I can afford to give. No regrets. When there are special needs, I give more to those special needs. When I feel compelled to, I give some more. My giving is my own doing. Yes, the church believes in tithing, but they're not going to excommunicate you if you don't. I would be upset if I found out that someone was stealing that money instead of using it for good. Big churches usually have an ellaborate system of checks and balances that makes it difficult to simply palm money. Too many eyes watching over the soup makes it difficult to blow your nose in it.....

I think if a church has to have casual dress service to attrack teens then its nothing but a way to generate #'s and $$$. God doen't care what you look like, but this is a fairly new trend that has started in probably the past 10 years... i remember when i was a kid the term "sunday best" you don't see that as often now. its funny you'll see people dress up for court but for church

The church is not the parent to these teens. What do you suppose they do? Stop the service or activity and kick that teen out for wearing jeans???? There is nothing they can do besides lead by example. If the teens don't want to follow, they don't. Again, that would be like chastizing someone into not coming to church because they're too ugly. I agree with you to an extent because I don't dress like a bum when I go to church, but I also don't wear a shirt and tie either.

God loves you no matter what you wear.