I need some help here

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First let me give you some background info. I was raised in the Church of Christ, a very strict religion. I went there for 38 yrs of my life, I never questioned their beliefs because I never knew anything else. When my Mom died 8 years ago I moved across country, and settled in Az. I tried some churches here but didnt feel right in any of them.Since I have left the church Im not so sure they are right,altho they can "prove" everything they do by the bible.I want to be close to God and have him in my life but I dont want to go to church. I was raised to believe that my church was the only right one, wshich I no longer beleive. Sorry this is so long and advice would be greatly appreciated. I just dont know which way to go.

-- Roxanne (Roxanne143@webtv.net), January 12, 2002

Answers

I don't believe that any one church is right and there won't be a line for Baptist or Methodist or Church of Christ in Heaven. There will be only people that are saved by God's Grace through faith in Jesus. He died for us, a denomination did not. My sister-in-law is member of the Church of Christ and she has no room for anything else.

Ask the Holy Spirit which church/denomination is right for you, the one that can fulfil God's plan for you. He will lead you. Please don't go to a particular one because you feel guilty if you don't, that's not faith, that's letting satan manipulate you.

-- Cindy (SE. IN) (atilrthehony@hotmail.com), January 12, 2002.


Psalms 83:18

-- Kevin (kevinmail@earthlink.net), January 12, 2002.

I am sure your church could prove their religion and denominationalism. God doesn't care beans about that.

Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Read through the book of John and spend your time in prayer. Fall asleep in prayer and wake up in prayer. Ask Him to heal you, ask Him to teach you "Freedom in Christ" and show you where He wants you to be.

-- Laura (Ladybugwrangler@hotmail.com), January 12, 2002.


Attending church doesn't make you a better person or put you closer to the Great Creator in any way.

I have not been to church in over 20 years and I consider myself a very spiritual person, you honor our Maker's work by your deeds, not by worshipping in a particular building, with folks dressed in a particular manner, on a particular day.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), January 12, 2002.


Time go from drinking milk to eating meat (ref. Paul). I like the Church of Christ. Found them to be sincere. As the previous pastor of that congregation said there is no limit test, no creed that must be followed. Not everybody agreed on everything but that was fine. Church of Christ congregations vary.

Maybe it was God's blessing for you to leave after 38 yrs. Seems to me you've been freed. There are Christian churches all over. You don't have to be guided by a denomination to find God or to please him. Just follow Christ and come to your own understanding. No denomination has cornered the truth of God. Don't worry about a church not being "right". None are. Try not to expect a guidebook or set of rules.

-- charles (cr@dixienet.com), January 12, 2002.



Hebrews 10:25; Acts 8:30,31; Acts 17:11

-- Kevin (kevinmail@earthlink.net), January 12, 2002.

Annie: Thank you for your part as far as a church goes, When my mom died in 1974 I quit going to church, but like you said if you want to be close to God....Just talk to him no matter where you are and he will hear you..I became agnostic after going to Vietnam because I couldn't understand how God could let so many young men die who didn't even know what life was all about yet...Many times I ask him why not me although I had been in another war in Korea I still felt it was wrong. If God is so powerful why does he let the catholics and protestants in Ireland kill each other and now he has a Holy war with Muslems and America....I have been thinking of picking another church also but like Roxanne I don't know which way to go....Thank You and God Bless

-- Robert (snuffy@1st.net), January 12, 2002.

http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2001/5/15/article_01.htm

-- Kevin (kevinmail@earthlink.net), January 12, 2002.

Speaking from strictly a Christian perspective here...one does not need to "belong" to any particular church to be either spiritual or "saved". IMHO, any Christian church which teaches that only members of their church are going to heaven are either fools or liars or both. Unfortunately, there are more folks who belong to a church who are far away from God than there are folks who belong to no church at all. I personally find that it uplifts my spirit to meet with like-minded Christians in church on the Lords' day. I enjoy their company and I at times need their direction and support. According to Jesus, the only thing required is to believe in Him as your savior, love God with your whole heart and your whole mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. Nowhere is Jesus quoted as saying that one must "belong" to a particular denomination of worshippers. Again, in my humble opinion, enjoy your personal relationship with the Almighty and live your life according to what His word says....if and when you feel like joining other folks for worship, then do so..if that day never comes, so what? Will that affect your relationship with God? If you are asking about some other religion than Christianity, I have no opinion, since I have no experience with other religions. I have long held that if Christians spent less time "beating" each other up and more time worshipping God, the world would be a better place.

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), January 12, 2002.

I think that God can see what no one else can. I also think he looks into your heart to see the true person you are, and where you go to church doesn't make you a truly good person. Some people have the attitude that they are superior to others because they attend the biggest, fanciest buildings! Humbly seeking direction from th ebible is a great way to learn what god requires. And I agree with Leslie, it is good to gather together with like-minded people for companionship, motivation, and comfort.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 12, 2002.


Robert, that is the curse, and the blessing of having "Free Will", our Creator gave us a wonderful brain, but operating it and our lives, is our responsibility.

I too, went through periods in my life that I could not comprehend how there could be a Divine Being with all the suffering that exists here on Earth. A trip out under the infinite, velvet blackness of the clear night sky in the boonies miles away from interfearing light sources, and the uncountable stars and galaxies twinkling above me, reminded me of the insignificance of our trivial troubles here on Earth, and put me better in touch with the bigger picture.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), January 12, 2002.


Attending a church does not make you a Christan any more than walking into a garage makes you a mechanic.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), January 12, 2002.

Oh Mitch, you did it again! Your manner of stating the facts is so straight to the point and yet so humorous.

Roxanne, the Lord will guide you...just listen well as He usually whispers.

-- Ardie /WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), January 12, 2002.


Roxanne,

Early Christians did not have churches until around 100AD. If you believe in your religion tenets, it should not matter whether or not you go to chuch today.

Sincerely,

Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), January 12, 2002.


Roxanne, I haven't been able to get your post off my mind, even though I answered, I want to add a couple things: the Word says to not forsake the gathering of the fellowship, so it is important to spend time with other Christians, but that doesn't mean you have to belong to a particular denomination. The Church is the Christians, not the building. If you are unsure of your salvation, there are several Bible believing, blood bought Christians on this forum that can help you, pleas e-mail me or someone else if you want to talk, we sure will be praying for your peace. God Bless you.

-- Cindy (SE. IN) (atilrthehony@hotmail.com), January 12, 2002.


Roxanne, I grew up in the Southern Baptist Church, attended Methodist services in college, and started going to the Church of Christ (the congregation where Lance was raised) when I started dating Lance.

You are right about the hard-line of some of the members, especially the older ones. Many of the younger members seem to have a somewhat more liberal approach, though. They are less likely to condemn other denominations or churches, and only approach worship as "this is the way we see it".

I would suggest just trying a women's bible study group, maybe, even if it is at one of the churches. We used to have one in my residence hall in college that was just several of us who met in one girl's room once a week. It is probably the only thing that kept me from getting totally lost in college my sophmore year.

The other thing I believe is that the best way to judge a church is not by the face they present to their visitors, or the doctrine they spread to the community. If you really want to know the heart of a church, look at what they teach their children. If you can be comfortable with what they are training the world of tomorrow to believe, you can probably be more comfortable attending any kind of service or study connected with them.

I wish you prayers and luck in your search. Please let us know how you are doing.

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), January 12, 2002.


I have never liked sitting in church. I believe God likes my way of doing things. I walk out the door every morning and say, "Thank you God for giving me such a beautiful world to live in and I apologize for the people who are ruining it."

I remember going to church and sitting there wishing I was anywhere else but the. In my town the folks I saw at church were like the folks Jeanny C. Rilly sang about in "Harper Valley P.T.A." my family being a big part of them.

I have always said, "Anywhere can be church if you want it to be."

-- george (bngcrview@aol.com), January 12, 2002.


I'll admit that I am not a christian, even though I was raised to be. I am pagan. However, being pagan I do believe that all people who worship a higher being of goodness are pretty much worshipping the same being, whether they want to admit it or not.

When a person has a conflict with another person and is not sure how to deal with it, this person may ask others for advice. One person advises to confront the person. Another says to hang back and let it slide. Another says to acknowledge the conflict, but to otherwise let things work out on their own. Whatever you do, it isn't genuine unless it suits your personality and style.

My point is this: every person has to choose their own path. We can ask advice, consult the books, and pray till our eyes bulge from the mental anguish, but in the end you have to be the one to make the decision, and it is going to have to suit you and your style. I'm a nature fanatic, and I find Deity in nature. It works for me. I have a sister who is a people-person who needs everything spelled out for her with no margin for gray area, so she does well by going to church and volunteering.

Maybe this is your time to find what you need to do to be in touch with the Creator. Read lots of spirituality books. Read up on other religions. Find your path.

-- Dawn (olsoncln@ecenet.com), January 12, 2002.


Roxanne, the Bible says that where ever two or more are gathered in Her name, God will be there too. So as far as that goes, you're at church right now. Just as I need to congregate with homesteaders sometimes to discuss lifestyle and particulars, I also need to congregate with Christians sometimes to discuss beliefs and particulars. However, Christianity is truly all about your personal relationship with God. How you develop that relationship is a very personal thing, just as with all relationships.

-- Sheryl in ME (radams@sacoriver.net), January 13, 2002.

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