American Churches - How diverse are they?

[crossnote]

In my neck of the woods, the rattlesnakes will grafitti your walls and they're difficult to handle...except through the gospel.

 

[RachelBibleStudent]

there is wide variation in lutheran churches...you might try a different denomination of lutheranism...

the ELCA overall is very liberal and it is common for ELCA churches to not do any actual gospel preaching...they just preach vaguely on 'being a good person' sunday after sunday...so that might be why the church you visited seemed so 'dead'...

 

[Rachel20]

there is wide variation in lutheran churches...you might try a different denomination of lutheranism...

the ELCA overall is very liberal and it is common for ELCA churches to not do any actual gospel preaching...they just preach vaguely on 'being a good person' sunday after sunday...so that might be why the church you visited seemed so 'dead'...

Yes possibly.

I wasn't aware of the variation in Lutheran churches and the existence of the ELCA until now.

The point of this thread isn't to get into the doctrinal issues of a church but to highlight its unwelcoming and cold attitude, and my wondering if it was due to a difference in race.

Though I can see now, from everyone's replies, that this isn't the case for all.

 

[Rachel20]

Well, you coulda walked into a church deep in the woods in the Southern US, and been quite surprised when someone handed you a rattle snake..............

If someone handed me a rattlesnake, I hope I'd be allowed to pet it.

 

[2Thewaters]

Revelation says ALL THE CHURCHES
ALL
EVERY ONE
all SEVEN
all
are in Babylon confusion
EVeryone that is what Revelation says

I didnt say that
I would never say such a thing!
but REVELATION says ALL the churches sardis laodicea philadelphia etc
all did something wrong

never do what I say
I know nothing

never do what any other man says
he knows nothing

do what Jesus in revelation says
he knows EVERYTHING.
so

the only way to be lost is to say

MY CHURCH IS RIGHT and does no wrong
that would be disagreeing with God

when we say

OH I AM WRONG AND I KNOW IT

then you hear and agree with God

and he will tell you the next thing

you can read what he says yourself to HIS PEOPLE who are in ALL THE VARIOUS CHURCHES

read if for yourself.

it is in revelation chapter 18/...

 

[4enlightment]

Today, I had the opportunity to visit a church in America.

The service was at 11:00 AM, and prior to that I had slept at 5:00 AM in the morning. I had stayed overnight at the office.
Still, I had made up my mind, that come what may, this Sunday I would go to church.

For the time I've been here in the USA, I hadn't been to church.

Despite feeling really tired, I made it a priority to get up, dress up and since I have no transportation here - walked 2 miles to go to a Lutheran church.

I was lost for a while, sweating and I am sure, not in a very spectacular condition but I was very excited.
I was excited to be in the house of the Lord, excited to visit a Lutheran service, and excited to meet other Christians.


I walked in to a congregation that seemed predominantly white. I didn't think too much of it until I noticed that nobody smiled.
A little intimidated, I ended up sitting next to a really lovely, divorced single mother.

The service was mechanical, lifeless and the people had no smiles or anything. They were like zombies. When it came to greet one another, they did it with absolutely no expression whatsoever.

The service ended sooner than I thought, and I was not at peace. Everyone stared and except the kind lady on the pew, not a single person was welcoming or smiled at me.

After the service, the woman and her friend spoke to me a bit. The only ones. They almost seemed apologetic in the way they tried to describe their church. They claimed that the white population here, seemed to like only a certain worship style and that black churches have a 3 hour worship service. "People here, just like to get it done within an hour."

She was a wonderful woman, however, I felt very shocked at the whole church.

This was something that I had not anticipated at all. I thought segregation and all those stuff was done with.

Usually when people come to any church - whether local visitors or international, there is always a bit of excitement and everyone is usually happy and warm.

To be treated in such a cold and unwelcome manner was an eye opener to me.

If I think about it, I actually want to cry.

For me, I was really excited to visit a Lutheran church, because a friend on here is Lutheran and I wanted to see what the whole deal was.

I made so much of an effort to come to church and to view and understand how Americans worship. I was psyched about it.

How could they be Christian and do that?
If we as Christians are so terrible in welcoming members and being open to people of different races, what does that speak of us?

I wouldn't call what happened at church racism. However, there was just something in the air that made me uncomfortable and it's hard to explain.


Currently, I am in the Southern part of the United States, and maybe it has to do with that, with it's history etc.

So my question to those reading this thread, if you belong to a conservative church, is this how your church is? Predominantly of a different race/ a community without much diversity?

I can understand churches may be attended by a single community at large, but in case someone else of another race came, would they feel welcome?

This is mostly directed to Americans. I hope you are frank with me just as I have been.

I disliked this church a lot. If I ever, (chances are slim) have the opportunity to be in this place again, I will never come to this church.
Not only it's people, but even the service was bland. I've never seen such mechanized, rote-like worship. If I think about it, it's actually almost insulting God because of the lack of passion.

This was the only Sunday I had, that I could visit a church and I spent it on such a church. I feel an extreme loss and really hurt. To think that Americans still have such a phenomenon of "white" and "black" churches in a unsaid manner is so unfortunate.

I hope this church was only an exception and not the rule, and not all churches are like this.

Americans doesn't smile in churches, but if you want to see smiling Americans, just visit a strip club or a ballgame.

 

[oldthennew]

WE ALL, we all fall into one of 'The Seven Church' 'catergories'!!!

REVELATION 2:2.
I know your works...

2:9.
I know your works....

2:12.
I know your works.....

2:19.
I know your works......

REVELATION 3:1.....
I know your works.......

3:8.
I know your works........

3:15.
I know your works.........

PSALM 78:36.
Never-the-less they flattered him with their mouth and they lied to him
with their tongue.

REVELATION 3:19.....
zealous....................

God knows our works - and we all fall' into one of the above!!!

 

[Billyd]

If someone handed me a rattlesnake, I hope I'd be allowed to pet it.

Where I live that's lunch and a new pair of shoes!

 

[oldthennew]

Billyd,

here they ROLL on the floor and go into convulsions and then speak -
GIBBERISH/GLOSSALIA!!!

and then they proclaim -RYTHMICALLY - lawd, lawd, HOLY GHOST!!!, HOLY GHOST!

 

[StoneThrower]

Crossnote, actually this church was an ELCA church.

Oh my, you picked almost the worst of the worst, even real Lutherns will have no part of that denomination because its so liberal, that dosent mean you might not find one good one, but you would need to look pretty hard and under rocks. Most real Lutherns have moved on to other more conserative Luthern churches. Personally thats catholic lite, and not my speed Luturgical worship dosent need to be bad if done correctly although it seldom is. I'd avoid the mainlines, unless its Southern Baptist and some of them arent so swift anymore either. It's really hard to find a good church!

 

[Yet]

I disagree with everyone. God has left the building. A building of mans design. A worship service of mans design. A hierarchy of mans design. He has written Ichabod on the front door of mans tenacious strangle hold on the folks because of their own self elevated interests. Pastor worship is coming down and He is bringing forth shepherds after His heart who have been sitting on the back burner for decades, a life time, waiting for their marching orders. Schooled in the class room of hard knocks, total rejection, and aloneness.
The church is deader than dirt though it parades a name saying they are alive and well. See Sardis church.
Some say 'our people are happy people.' I can find happy people at the local bar, football game, or gentle men's club.

Are they anointed people, filled with the Holy Spirit and power, holy through and through with no compromise? I think not. are they gathered in His Name conducting the meeting according to the pure word of God? I didn't think so.
David was happy, happy, happy also carrying the ark home.....the wrong way. He disobeyed God but that doesn't count, does it? As long has he was a nice person and don't forget, happy. Read the story. All hell broke loose.....by Gods design this time.

So forget His design. Stick with man's design. The Pharisees were dead. Not to mention evil. But at least they were happy. That's all that counts.

 

[biscuit]

Today, I had the opportunity to visit a church in America.

The service was at 11:00 AM, and prior to that I had slept at 5:00 AM in the morning. I had stayed overnight at the office.
Still, I had made up my mind, that come what may, this Sunday I would go to church.

For the time I've been here in the USA, I hadn't been to church.

Despite feeling really tired, I made it a priority to get up, dress up and since I have no transportation here - walked 2 miles to go to a Lutheran church.

I was lost for a while, sweating and I am sure, not in a very spectacular condition but I was very excited.
I was excited to be in the house of the Lord, excited to visit a Lutheran service, and excited to meet other Christians.


I walked in to a congregation that seemed predominantly white. I didn't think too much of it until I noticed that nobody smiled.
A little intimidated, I ended up sitting next to a really lovely, divorced single mother.

The service was mechanical, lifeless and the people had no smiles or anything. They were like zombies. When it came to greet one another, they did it with absolutely no expression whatsoever.

The service ended sooner than I thought, and I was not at peace. Everyone stared and except the kind lady on the pew, not a single person was welcoming or smiled at me.

After the service, the woman and her friend spoke to me a bit. The only ones. They almost seemed apologetic in the way they tried to describe their church. They claimed that the white population here, seemed to like only a certain worship style and that black churches have a 3 hour worship service. "People here, just like to get it done within an hour."

She was a wonderful woman, however, I felt very shocked at the whole church.

This was something that I had not anticipated at all. I thought segregation and all those stuff was done with.

Usually when people come to any church - whether local visitors or international, there is always a bit of excitement and everyone is usually happy and warm.

To be treated in such a cold and unwelcome manner was an eye opener to me.

If I think about it, I actually want to cry.

For me, I was really excited to visit a Lutheran church, because a friend on here is Lutheran and I wanted to see what the whole deal was.

I made so much of an effort to come to church and to view and understand how Americans worship. I was psyched about it.

How could they be Christian and do that?
If we as Christians are so terrible in welcoming members and being open to people of different races, what does that speak of us?

I wouldn't call what happened at church racism. However, there was just something in the air that made me uncomfortable and it's hard to explain.


Currently, I am in the Southern part of the United States, and maybe it has to do with that, with it's history etc.

So my question to those reading this thread, if you belong to a conservative church, is this how your church is? Predominantly of a different race/ a community without much diversity?

I can understand churches may be attended by a single community at large, but in case someone else of another race came, would they feel welcome?

This is mostly directed to Americans. I hope you are frank with me just as I have been.

I disliked this church a lot. If I ever, (chances are slim) have the opportunity to be in this place again, I will never come to this church.
Not only it's people, but even the service was bland. I've never seen such mechanized, rote-like worship. If I think about it, it's actually almost insulting God because of the lack of passion.

This was the only Sunday I had, that I could visit a church and I spent it on such a church. I feel an extreme loss and really hurt. To think that Americans still have such a phenomenon of "white" and "black" churches in a unsaid manner is so unfortunate.

I hope this church was only an exception and not the rule, and not all churches are like this.

Sorry you had to learn the hard way. Americans are probably the most diverse & 'backward" people in the world. There are Americans who embrace diversity while others would discourage it. It is best that you do the homework before you attend another church. It is like going to an ice cream parlor and trying to find a flavor you can find tasty. There are whites who have a preference for diversity in a church rather than all white.

 

[p_rehbein]

QUOTE: Americans doesn't smile in churches, but if you want to see smiling Americans, just visit a strip club or a ballgame. END QUOTE>.........

You really, really live a sheltered life...........sigh...........and you don't know very much about Americans and how they worship God do ya? Well, maybe the guys you hang out with...........

 

[dcontroversal]

More like... American Churches-How Corrupt, Fallen, Contrary Have They Become and What a Joke that the majority have become!.....Jesus by Paul taught that the Lord's churches would apostate from the truth as the end of the age approaches...not get more righteous and or faithful!

Not that Individuals cannot be more faithful and or righteous!

 

[p_rehbein]

change that to denominations, and I might agree more with your statement...........congregations of true believers will remain rooted in the Faith.........else no one would be saved..........

religious bodies/institutions and denominational authorities might well wax cold............but there will always be a body of believers who remain rooted in the faith.

 

[dcontroversal]

change that to denominations, and I might agree more with your statement...........congregations of true believers will remain rooted in the Faith.........else no one would be saved..........

religious bodies/institutions and denominational authorities might well wax cold............but there will always be a body of believers who remain rooted in the faith.

Can I come out of a building that I have not been in?
Can I get out of the pool if I am not in it?
Can I come out of a car that I have not been in?

Can you APOSTATE from something that you have never been apart of?

 

[kennethcadwell]

Exactly, how does one fall away from something if they were never a part of it ?

Can I come out of a building that I have not been in?
Can I get out of the pool if I am not in it?
Can I come out of a car that I have not been in?

Can you APOSTATE from something that you have never been apart of?

 

[p_rehbein]

"d" Bro............your comment makes no sense to me.......sigh......and unless you can provide conclusive evidence that you have attended, worshiped in, and come to understand the hearts of all congregational members to be able to state with Biblical Proof this comment.......

[What a Joke that the majority have become!]

then you are exaggerating more than a wee bit here to express your personal displeasure, and that isn't Biblical Proof that "the majority" of churches in America have fallen away from God........just saying......

 

[dcontroversal]

Exactly, how does one fall away from something if they were never a part of it ?

Kenneth, that is the point....you CANNOT fall away from something that YOU HAVE not been apart of......the context is the Lord churches and how they will...

1. Turn to lies and fables
2. Apostate from the truth because of 1

We see this taking place on a grand scale...........

1. Ordaining people who should not be ordained
2. Unification of religions that have no basis of agreement
3. Truth swept under the table so as to accept all in LOVE
4. Any and all sins being approved of and overlooked for the sake of money and numbers
5. The truth being chunked in favor of entertainment
6. Biblical preaching being chunked or moved left of center and in place rock bands and gymnasiums

etc........!

 

[dcontroversal]

"d" Bro............your comment makes no sense to me.......sigh......and unless you can provide conclusive evidence that you have attended, worshiped in, and come to understand the hearts of all congregational members to be able to state with Biblical Proof this comment.......

[What a Joke that the majority have become!]

then you are exaggerating more than a wee bit here to express your personal displeasure, and that isn't Biblical Proof that "the majority" of churches in America have fallen away from God........just saying......

Paul...see post 39...take your blinders off and come to a solid conclusion on what the BIBLE STATES WILL HAPPEN TO MOST CHURCHES ON THE PLANET....

SHALL THE SON OF MAN FIND FAITH WHEN HE RETURNS?

Not to mention...watch the news and read the papers.....GEESH!