TOTALLY GEEKED!

Lawyerlady wrote:

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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Lawyerlady wrote:

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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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I guess I don't view God as the Man with the Big Scorecard in the sky, crossing off how many days of the month I attend church. But, maybe you are right and that is His Ultimate concern. But, you don't have to account for my life, only I do.

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 His ultimate concern is that everyone will be saved and join him in heaven.  How are you furthering that cause?

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I live my life well.  I take care of my home, my family , my children.  I volunteer and  help the community.  I coach girls basketball at both the YMCA and the School.  I am on the School board in endless meetings trying to make the school a better place.  I have picked up my kids friends, served them meals, toted them around when they have absent or derelict parents.  I pay taxes.  I work hard.  If that isn't "enough" for you, oh well.  

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 What does that have to do with it?  You can't get into heaven by being good.

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So, you get to Heaven by attending Church regularly. 

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Lawyerlady wrote:

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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Lawyerlady wrote:

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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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I guess I don't view God as the Man with the Big Scorecard in the sky, crossing off how many days of the month I attend church. But, maybe you are right and that is His Ultimate concern. But, you don't have to account for my life, only I do.

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 His ultimate concern is that everyone will be saved and join him in heaven.  How are you furthering that cause?

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I live my life well.  I take care of my home, my family , my children.  I volunteer and  help the community.  I coach girls basketball at both the YMCA and the School.  I am on the School board in endless meetings trying to make the school a better place.  I have picked up my kids friends, served them meals, toted them around when they have absent or derelict parents.  I pay taxes.  I work hard.  If that isn't "enough" for you, oh well.  

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 What does that have to do with it?  You can't get into heaven by being good.

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So, you get to Heaven by attending Church regularly. 

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No, but you get to hear God's word.  You get to be reminded of your purpose, which is to bring lost people to God. 

How does it look, Gaga?  When you put yourself out there as a Christian, and then you can't be bothered to go to church?  Why would the unsaved neighbors bother to go when they see your car in the driveway every week.  Appearances matter. 

There are people dying EVERY DAY that are not saved.  Don't you care?  I don't wish hell on anybody, not even my worst enemy. 

 

So go to church because appearances matter. Got it.

Tinydancer wrote:

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This whole thread is not furthering the cause.

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 Thank you. 

 

I dont choose not to go to church because it's full of sinners and I don't like sinners. You are missing the point entirely. The biggest sinners are being held up as beacons of God's light because they can write a check. That's the problem. When the dentist who was selling prescription drugs out of his office is brought to the front of the church and we are all told to be more like him...what the pastor says loses credibility. He becomes a hypocrite. 

And I don't know how many churches ones is expected to try. There are only so many in my denomination. Once I try them both should I then drive an hour to the next one? An hour and thirty mins to the next one? Two hours to the next one? Sorry. I don't have 5 hours to devote to driving to church and back each Sunday. 

Lawyerlady wrote:

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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Wow! Not sure how you got not going to Church to not caring that anyone gets saved or goes to Hell. WOW!

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One of the MAIN problems people have with Christians is when they appear hypocritical.  "Hey, I'm a Christian, but I don't think Chrisitans have to go to church.  Yes, Jesus says I should go to church, but that's between him and I and I don't have to justify my choices to you. I just don't like the Christians that go to church, but I think you should become a Christian."  That is basically what you are saying.  If you can't be bothered to follow God's word on the simplest of matters, how can you spread it?  I mean, other than when you want to quote Bible verses to support your argument of the moment. 

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OK, I am a self admitted Hypocrite.  I admit it.  Now, it's your turn. 

Lawyerlady wrote:

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Mellow Momma wrote:

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So go to church because appearances matter. Got it.

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 I go to church because God tells me to.  If I can't follow that simplest of directives from Jesus, why would anyone listen to anything else. 

Yes, appearances matter.  That is not why I go to church.  You don't think appearances matter?  So, when someone claims to be a Christian, but cheats on their spouse, that's not a reflection.  Several of the examples of why people don't go to church are because of things pastors and other church members did wrong.  That doesn't matter?  It all matters.

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 Sorry.

Go to church because appearances matter to the neighbors. 

It really is amazing how little NAGGING Jesus did while on Earth. Hmmm......

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Lawyerlady wrote:

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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Wow! Not sure how you got not going to Church to not caring that anyone gets saved or goes to Hell. WOW!

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One of the MAIN problems people have with Christians is when they appear hypocritical.  "Hey, I'm a Christian, but I don't think Chrisitans have to go to church.  Yes, Jesus says I should go to church, but that's between him and I and I don't have to justify my choices to you. I just don't like the Christians that go to church, but I think you should become a Christian."  That is basically what you are saying.  If you can't be bothered to follow God's word on the simplest of matters, how can you spread it?  I mean, other than when you want to quote Bible verses to support your argument of the moment. 

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OK, I am a self admitted Hypocrite.  I admit it.  Now, it's your turn. 

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 Yep, me too.  But at least I TRY not to be.  You don't seem to care with your "I don't want to go, so I don't and I don't need to justify it." 

The people who question the pastor are not exactly thrown a parade. A popular pastor in a bad church is not going to change because I show up and point out the things he is doing wrong.

In the churches I have had the bad experiences at, the "trouble makers" were in charge! They were the leaders, the ones making decisions. A few people did question things and those people were run out. The people who try and hold others accountable and change things are not exactly received well.

I know not all churches are like that. And I am glad you have a positive experience at church. But my experience is vastly different. The gossipy women were in charge. Me simply not going to their ladies meetings resulted in their total retaliation against my family. Why in the heck would I stick around and challenge them outright?

Mellow Momma wrote:

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The people who question the pastor are not exactly thrown a parade. A popular pastor in a bad church is not going to change because I show up and point out the things he is doing wrong.

In the churches I have had the bad experiences at, the "trouble makers" were in charge! They were the leaders, the ones making decisions. A few people did question things and those people were run out. The people who try and hold others accountable and change things are not exactly received well.

I know not all churches are like that. And I am glad you have a positive experience at church. But my experience is vastly different. The gossipy women were in charge. Me simply not going to their ladies meetings resulted in their total retaliation against my family. Why in the heck would I stick around and challenge them outright?

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That is a very difficult position to be in.  Not all churches are a good fit and some are bad.  I'm not trying to deny that.  But, it's just not something I can see giving up on.  Take a break, re-focus, do whatever.  But at least visit one once in a while.  You might be pleasantly surprised and find something you like.  Not every pastor is the right fit, not everything feels welcoming.  Our church is too white and that's not very welcoming to people of other races.  We would like more diversity, but some have to be first, and that's a daunting thing to be.  We get that. 

When I first moved here, I tried to attend the church I was baptised into.  It's different here in the south so I now go to a different church.  And it hasn't been perfect.  Heck, we "ran off" a pastor some people liked.  Problem is, the people that liked him were not coming very often, and never attended anything outside Sunday morning so they didn't understand the issues - they didn't understand he wasn't ministering to the shut-ins, and he wasn't following the churches by-laws in making changes and spending money, that he didn't move to our community when he promised he would if we gave him the job, and that he wasn't showing up for church events outside Sunday morning, even though he was hired as a full-time pastor.  The straw that broke the camel's back was when he said he wasn't going to do a Christmas Eve service because he it wouldn't fit in his schedule that day with his family events.  And whenever anyone questioned him about anything, it became a sermon about following HIM and his vision without question.  The pulpit is for God's word, not yours.

 

We now have a wonderful pastor.  I've have never met anyone who practices what they preach more than him, and he does it without being off-putting.  You can talk to him, joke with him, and generally relate to him.  We hired him as  part time pastor, but he works for the church more than any full time pastor I've ever met.  And he still gets complaints.  Someone was mad because he gave a sermon about devoting your life to Christ and "being all in" or "all out".  How being a Christian is not a part-time job and if you are coming to church to gossip and complain about the little things like TV screens in the santuary instead of hearing about God's word and worshipping Jesus and bringing lost people to God - you were there for the wrong reasons.  Wow, some people got pissed.  But geez, we hired him to preach God's word - not what people want to hear.  Since everyone sitting in those pews is a sinner, there are times the preacher should make you squirm in discomfort. 

There are things about church I don't agree with.  I have no idea where the Baptist idea that dancing is wrong came from.  But, really not a big deal for me - I don't need to dance in church.  My old church didn't believe in instrumental music - don't know where that comes from, either, but really not a big deal, I can sing a hymn without a piano. 

Church would be a much better place if people stopped focusing on preferences rather than God, but people are people, and there will always be some of that.

Thanks for the advice, but I think I will continue being who I am.

And this that you said -

"Maybe if the Church would stop letting these people run roughshod over the entire Church body, then there would be plenty of people returning to the churches they used to go to."

The PEOPLE are the Church, not any one person in it, or the pastor, or the bitchy gossiping ladies. ALL the people. So, when you are part of the church, it is YOUR job to "stop letting these people run roughshod over the entire Church body." Why is it someone else's job and not yours?

You seem to have missed all previous commentary. You seem to have missed where DH was on the Church Board and we stood up for the Pastor and they pushed him out anyway.

I couldn't attend a denomination that I didn't agree with. You don't agree with the no dancing thing...but you go anyway and represent that church. So don't you feel like a hypocrite when you dance?

Lawyerlady wrote:

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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Isn't it interesting who is tell whom what they should or shouldn't do? Hmm......

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 Isn't it intersting that you know everything about theology, and yet ignore it?

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I don't recall saying "I know everything about theology".  But, yes, I am well read.  I have read and studied the Bible for years.  I have read many Christian apologists from Norman Geisler , Walrood and Zuck, Matthew Henry Commentary and on and on as well as taking college course on Old and New Testament.  And, I have read Oswald Chambers, Millard Erickson, FB Meyer and so forth.  In fact, here is an excellent text to you get you started above.

 

 

Mellow Momma wrote:

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I couldn't attend a denomination that I didn't agree with. You don't agree with the no dancing thing...but you go anyway and represent that church. So don't you feel like a hypocrite when you dance?

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There is not a church denomination out there that I agree with everything because every denomination has rules that men made up or are simply traditional.  But that small stuff is just not important.  The Bible says nothing about dancing being bad - why would I let a church denomination tell me differently?  I can read. 

There is no drinking in the church, either, but Jesus drank wine.  The church wants to prevent the temptation of sins that dancing and too much drinking could cause  - ok, I get that.  That doesn't mean all dancing and all drinking is wrong, they are just being overly cautious. 

Tinydancer wrote:

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Wow this thread is about to make me run from the church screaming...lol. God's judgment is the only one that's important so why is anyone judging how "Christian" someone else is. I'll worry about my own soul thank you very much.

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 When that person starts a thread about how she ran from the church because those people weren't good enough for her, well yeah.  What goes around.....

Way to go, LGS!

Thread just got BIG!

flan

Mellow Momma wrote:

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Tinydancer wrote:

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Wow this thread is about to make me run from the church screaming...lol. God's judgment is the only one that's important so why is anyone judging how "Christian" someone else is. I'll worry about my own soul thank you very much.

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 This is my thought as well. My faith is between me and God. He doesn't take attendance. He cares how you live your life. He wants you to be a good, honest, decent person. That's more important than "butts in the seats". And if it isn't, come judgment day it's no one else's problem but mine. 

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 Sorry, but you are both missing the point.  Yes, he wants you to be good, honest people.  But, that's not all we are here for.  If that was the case, why would anyone have to be saved?

Lawyerlady wrote:

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Tinydancer wrote:

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Wow this thread is about to make me run from the church screaming...lol. God's judgment is the only one that's important so why is anyone judging how "Christian" someone else is. I'll worry about my own soul thank you very much.

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 When that person starts a thread about how she ran from the church because those people weren't good enough for her, well yeah.  What goes around.....

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 No, the thread was about 7.5 Millions of Americans.  I added my own personal flavor.  But, I didn't "run" from Church.  For some reason, it seems really important that you try to paint me in a way that fits into your box.  People who are secure about their faith are not threatened by people who think differently than they do.

Lawyerlady wrote:

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Mellow Momma wrote:

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Tinydancer wrote:

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Wow this thread is about to make me run from the church screaming...lol. God's judgment is the only one that's important so why is anyone judging how "Christian" someone else is. I'll worry about my own soul thank you very much.

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 This is my thought as well. My faith is between me and God. He doesn't take attendance. He cares how you live your life. He wants you to be a good, honest, decent person. That's more important than "butts in the seats". And if it isn't, come judgment day it's no one else's problem but mine. 

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 Sorry, but you are both missing the point.  Yes, he wants you to be good, honest people.  But, that's not all we are here for.  If that was the case, why would anyone have to be saved?

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 I think our ideas of what being saved means are vastly different. 

 

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Lawyerlady wrote:

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Tinydancer wrote:

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Wow this thread is about to make me run from the church screaming...lol. God's judgment is the only one that's important so why is anyone judging how "Christian" someone else is. I'll worry about my own soul thank you very much.

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 When that person starts a thread about how she ran from the church because those people weren't good enough for her, well yeah.  What goes around.....

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 No, the thread was about 7.5 Millions of Americans.  I added my own personal flavor.  But, I didn't "run" from Church.  For some reason, it seems really important that you try to paint me in a way that fits into your box.  People who are secure about their faith are not threatened by people who think differently than they do.

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 I've already pointed out the numerous ways you have bashed church and the people in it.  Then you left and didn't go back. 

Mellow Momma wrote:

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Lawyerlady wrote:

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Mellow Momma wrote:

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Tinydancer wrote:

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Wow this thread is about to make me run from the church screaming...lol. God's judgment is the only one that's important so why is anyone judging how "Christian" someone else is. I'll worry about my own soul thank you very much.

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 This is my thought as well. My faith is between me and God. He doesn't take attendance. He cares how you live your life. He wants you to be a good, honest, decent person. That's more important than "butts in the seats". And if it isn't, come judgment day it's no one else's problem but mine. 

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 Sorry, but you are both missing the point.  Yes, he wants you to be good, honest people.  But, that's not all we are here for.  If that was the case, why would anyone have to be saved?

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 I think our ideas of what being saved means are vastly different. 

 

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 There is only one way to be saved.  But, once you are saved, you should WANT to follow God's word, you should love him above all else, including petty differences.

I'm sorry LL but it isn't your job to tell others how tend to their faith. I belong to a very nice church but I can see where others are coming from. Everyone's faith is between God and themselves so you really don't get to tell others how to behave any more than they can tell you.