I Love Jesus, But LOATHE Chruch!

[Dread_Zeppelin]

The title isn't really my opinion, it was an article I read. I'm not in church currently. My last church shut down and there was a lot of scandal, and I just didn't know where to go. When I found a replacement church, I was alienated (yet again) by other Christians attending, which made me feel bad/unwanted/awkward.
I saw a title of a book similar to this, and was thinking: I know a lot of people have been hurt by churches. I have spent years dealing with it and trying to make the steps nessisary to dig out the bitterness. It's an ongoing battle but I simply refuse to give up on my mission of loving the church. My question is this:

Do you love Jesus, and hate church? How do you deal/dealt with it? Be honest. Tell me your experiences. Be as specific as you want.

 

[charisenexcelcis]

The title isn't really my opinion, it was an article I read. I'm not in church currently. My last church shut down and there was a lot of scandal, and I just didn't know where to go. When I found a replacement church, I was alienated (yet again) by other Christians attending, which made me feel bad/unwanted/awkward.
I saw a title of a book similar to this, and was thinking: I know a lot of people have been hurt by churches. I have spent years dealing with it and trying to make the steps nessisary to dig out the bitterness. It's an ongoing battle but I simply refuse to give up on my mission of loving the church. My question is this:

Do you love Jesus, and hate church? How do you deal/dealt with it? Be honest. Tell me your experiences. Be as specific as you want.

I'm sorry about your experience and pray that you will find a congregation that loves and appreciates you.

 

[imoss]

I used to refer to the failings of the church to justify my need to sleep on sunday. I used to refer to the failing of the church to justify keeping my money in my jeans. Now I am attending church again and thankful for the parts that I take joy in and praying about the parts that need refinement. I think that the church is necessary... (this from me, the woman who did TV church for 7 years.) Seriously though, the church is other believers & we need to find the place to praise and worship God and feel like we are home in God's house with God's people. I will pray this for you as it took me many years to find a place (wasnt lookin too hard though I must admit) I prayed for a place where my husband would feel like he's sitting on our couch as he is the one with problems being accepted in church (his long hair & biker appearance tends to weed out the judgemental jerks) unfortunately there are alot of judgemental folks in church. I'm certain you will find a house of the Lord, dont give up. The people fail but Christ never fails and he knows exactly where you will be... ask him.

 

[MahogonySnail]

Jesus said His true disciples will be put out of synagogues and churches, so it's a normal christian experience. Be more worried if you were happily accepted, then you have something to worry about.

 

[Pheonix]

The title isn't really my opinion, it was an article I read. I'm not in church currently. My last church shut down and there was a lot of scandal, and I just didn't know where to go. When I found a replacement church, I was alienated (yet again) by other Christians attending, which made me feel bad/unwanted/awkward.
I saw a title of a book similar to this, and was thinking: I know a lot of people have been hurt by churches. I have spent years dealing with it and trying to make the steps nessisary to dig out the bitterness. It's an ongoing battle but I simply refuse to give up on my mission of loving the church. My question is this:

Do you love Jesus, and hate church? How do you deal/dealt with it? Be honest. Tell me your experiences. Be as specific as you want.

Well, the bible says that we are the church. The believers are what makes up the church. The building is nothing but brick and wood. There is nothing special about it. So I guess the biggest thing to get over is the sense of betrayal when your brothers and sisters in Christ shoot you in the back while you are struggling to fight satan's armies. I'm trying to get over that as well.

YOu aren't alone, no matter what you feel. God is there to help you struggle through. Trust in him, and nothing else matters.

 

[imoss]

I would say thats an inaccurate statement Snail. We can find like minded believers... it may take awhile but there are churches out there. Personally my new found church is nondenominational.. dont know if that makes the difference or not.

 

[charisenexcelcis]

Jesus said His true disciples will be put out of synagogues and churches, so it's a normal christian experience. Be more worried if you were happily accepted, then you have something to worry about.

Actually he said "synagogues". It should not be a normal experience to be kicked out of the church....

 

[MahogonySnail]

These days, church'es are just like the synagogues. The problem was not with Jews but with the religious establishments of the day. History repeats itself and so it is quite accurate that church's are ilke the synagogues in Jesus's time, - full of man's traditions and lacking true spirituality.

I would say thats an inaccurate statement Snail. We can find like minded believers... it may take awhile but there are churches out there. Personally my new found church is nondenominational.. dont know if that makes the difference or not.

The fact that you have to search and find a "good church" or the "right church" and "it may take a while",....these days, proves my point.

There's only two reasons why you would be put out of a church: a) there is something wrong with you, or b) something wrong with the church. Assuming Dread (as a case example) is a genuine Christian, the only other option is b).

 

[charisenexcelcis]

These days, church'es are just like the synagogues. The problem was not with Jews but with the religious establishments of the day. History repeats itself and so it is quite accurate that church's are ilke the synagogues in Jesus's time, - full of man's traditions and lacking true spirituality.



The fact that you have to search and find a "good church" or the "right church" and "it may take a while",....these days, proves my point.

There's only two reasons why you would be put out of a church: a) there is something wrong with you, or b) something wrong with the church. Assuming Dread (as a case example) is a genuine Christian, the only other option is b).

You should of put it that way to begin with. Jesus spoke prophetically and I think that if it was "to be expected", he would have said "churches". I don't think the problem is the traditions of men, I think the problems are the hearts of men. I agree that if Dread was put out of the church it would probably be a problem in the church. As it is, the problem is that she did not feel comfortable/welcomed/wanted. This again speaks to problems in the hearts of men.
As difficult as we have made it, the church is not optional, nor is the gathering together. This thread is important because the church and fellowshipping in the church is important.

 

[MahogonySnail]

You're a protestant I assume? The reformation, that's one example...otherwise we'd all still be going to Sunday mass.

It's the very nature of prophecy that history repeats itself. All true christians throughout history have experienced shunning in one form or another. It's better than being one of those new agish happy clappy lovey dovey "love all religious" types I guess.

There's no doubt it's important but if there's no true church and no real fellowship you really may as well be watching Benny Hinn on a Sunday morning.

I agree sometimes we think it's the church when in fact it is us.

 

[greatkraw]

yeah, I have seen clichy churches of all age groups

 

[MahogonySnail]

I can't stand churches full of single mothers, or where everyone is over 30 and divorced.

 

[jam]

there is a thing called comfort zone, the church is a comfort zone,maybe God wants you be to out of churches and doing a Christian job like, evangelizing, reaching out people and bringing them to church, i past those things in life, but churches is called comfort zone, when you are matured enough, its time to be more active outside the church. and there is no perfect church, and never look at the wrong things the leader has done, remember they are just humans like us. in many years of service of the Lord. my experience is,there is no perfect church.

God BLess always jam

 

[Pheonix]

You're a protestant I assume? The reformation, that's one example...otherwise we'd all still be going to Sunday mass.

It's the very nature of prophecy that history repeats itself. All true christians throughout history have experienced shunning in one form or another. It's better than being one of those new agish happy clappy lovey dovey "love all religious" types I guess.

There's no doubt it's important but if there's no true church and no real fellowship you really may as well be watching Benny Hinn on a Sunday morning.

I agree sometimes we think it's the church when in fact it is us.

Who are you talking to here?

 

[livingbygrace]

The title isn't really my opinion, it was an article I read. I'm not in church currently. My last church shut down and there was a lot of scandal, and I just didn't know where to go. When I found a replacement church, I was alienated (yet again) by other Christians attending, which made me feel bad/unwanted/awkward.
I saw a title of a book similar to this, and was thinking: I know a lot of people have been hurt by churches. I have spent years dealing with it and trying to make the steps nessisary to dig out the bitterness. It's an ongoing battle but I simply refuse to give up on my mission of loving the church. My question is this:

Do you love Jesus, and hate church? How do you deal/dealt with it? Be honest. Tell me your experiences. Be as specific as you want.

When I was ten along with my family we moved to a new church. It was what you may call a fundamentalist church. After a few weeks I became a Christian. Every week the minister told us how we should live as Christians. I got the opinion from the church that I had to live this perfect life to be a Christian.
I lost my happiness, feeling terible guilt that I wasn't living as I should. Every time I did anything wrong I thought I would end up in hell. We were never taught about grace. I became depressed and gave up with church. Eventually I came to God when I was twenty, but although I returned to church it never made me happy. I didn't trust ministers, and much of what the Apostle Paul wrote concerning grace was never preached. So I stoppeed going completely.

But I love God. So I pray and read my Bible at home. That is the only way I can be happy as a Christian. Maybe I just cannot forget the church of my childhood.

But I know there are dangers in this. I have chatted to people on Christian websites who have gone it alone. They say they are Baptised in the Holy Spirt, yet some of their beliefs seem unrecognisable to me from what is actually written in the Bible. I guess the best way is to be shepherded. Some like I have(if I am honest) can become unteachable in the end. You just want want to be on your own with God.

But then I wonder if my theology has gone awry. Why should it only happen to others and not me.?

Basically I don't trust ministers and church, they never brought me any happiness, I hope that you are able to join a church again soon. It must be better to have fellowship if you can

God Bless

 

[Pheonix]

When I was ten along with my family we moved to a new church. It was what you may call a fundamentalist church. After a few weeks I became a Christian. Every week the minister told us how we should live as Christians. I got the opinion from the church that I had to live this perfect life to be a Christian.
I lost my happiness, feeling terible guilt that I wasn't living as I should. Every time I did anything wrong I thought I would end up in hell. We were never taught about grace. I became depressed and gave up with church. Eventually I came to God when I was twenty, but although I returned to church it never made me happy. I didn't trust ministers, and much of what the Apostle Paul wrote concerning grace was never preached. So I stoppeed going completely.

But I love God. So I pray and read my Bible at home. That is the only way I can be happy as a Christian. Maybe I just cannot forget the church of my childhood.

But I know there are dangers in this. I have chatted to people on Christian websites who have gone it alone. They say they are Baptised in the Holy Spirt, yet some of their beliefs seem unrecognisable to me from what is actually written in the Bible. I guess the best way is to be shepherded. Some like I have(if I am honest) can become unteachable in the end. You just want want to be on your own with God.

But then I wonder if my theology has gone awry. Why should it only happen to others and not me.?

Basically I don't trust ministers and church, they never brought me any happiness, I hope that you are able to join a church again soon. It must be better to have fellowship if you can

God Bless

Its not just you. I have found the same thing. Going to church shortly after I came to Christ was an incredible experience. I felt God's presence everytime but, gradually because of the politics and factions, I became more and more dissilusioned. Eventually all I saw was a bunch of people going throught the motions. I left and discovered while walking down my great long lane filled with trees, birds and whatnot that I felt God's presence. I can't explain it other than to say the I felt an incredible peace and joy as I walked quietly there. Like all the clutter was gone.

I tried going back, but then other things happened that rammed the final nail in the coffin of my "Church" experience. I haven't been in a church since. So if you hear sounds of battle comming from the other side of the hill to your left. That's me fighting all of satan's minions on my own. I figure if I go down I'd rather it be from the enemy than being shot, stabbed, bludgeoned and otherwise beaten down by my own forces.

 

[charisenexcelcis]

When I was ten along with my family we moved to a new church. It was what you may call a fundamentalist church. After a few weeks I became a Christian. Every week the minister told us how we should live as Christians. I got the opinion from the church that I had to live this perfect life to be a Christian.
I lost my happiness, feeling terible guilt that I wasn't living as I should. Every time I did anything wrong I thought I would end up in hell. We were never taught about grace. I became depressed and gave up with church. Eventually I came to God when I was twenty, but although I returned to church it never made me happy. I didn't trust ministers, and much of what the Apostle Paul wrote concerning grace was never preached. So I stoppeed going completely.

But I love God. So I pray and read my Bible at home. That is the only way I can be happy as a Christian. Maybe I just cannot forget the church of my childhood.

But I know there are dangers in this. I have chatted to people on Christian websites who have gone it alone. They say they are Baptised in the Holy Spirt, yet some of their beliefs seem unrecognisable to me from what is actually written in the Bible. I guess the best way is to be shepherded. Some like I have(if I am honest) can become unteachable in the end. You just want want to be on your own with God.

But then I wonder if my theology has gone awry. Why should it only happen to others and not me.?

Basically I don't trust ministers and church, they never brought me any happiness, I hope that you are able to join a church again soon. It must be better to have fellowship if you can

God Bless

So, you haven't had regular fellowship for thirty years?

 

[charisenexcelcis]

You're a protestant I assume? The reformation, that's one example...otherwise we'd all still be going to Sunday mass.

It's the very nature of prophecy that history repeats itself. All true christians throughout history have experienced shunning in one form or another. It's better than being one of those new agish happy clappy lovey dovey "love all religious" types I guess.

There's no doubt it's important but if there's no true church and no real fellowship you really may as well be watching Benny Hinn on a Sunday morning.

I agree sometimes we think it's the church when in fact it is us.

So, you must live in a really small town?

 

[MahogonySnail]

Not much to choose from really. Every church is the same these days, that's why they have ecumenical services. If they were good churches, then I suppose their seats would be full. A church with empty seats is a ) not fullfilling the great commission and b) not keeping its members for one reason or another. When God said "come out of her", aka Babylon, He really meant it.

 

[livingbygrace]

So, you haven't had regular fellowship for thirty years?

Not that you could fellowship no I went in my twenties sometimes. I just sat in the back row and left as soon as the service was over. I felt I was too bad a person to mix with the people in the church.
I had lived an extreme life to say the least after I had left church as a teenager, there was no-one I could relate to in church. They hadn't erred like I had.

I came to realise that the most important thing in church isn't the preaching, but that you could relate to people and have friends, I never did. People would be nice to me out of Christian duty, but I guess we want friendships because people like us, not because they are doing it out of Christian duty, there is a big differance.

In the last twenty years I have hardly ever been to church. I have a complex about them now anyway. I admit I smoke. Every church I have been to, you get disapproving looks if you smoke, it just makes you feel bad.