TOTALLY GEEKED!

lilyofcourse wrote:

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It is.

It's odd to me is all.

You look at them and you wouldn't think they "fit".

They are good people.

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 I don't think anyone should be judging whether or not someone "fits"'in church. Aren't we all welcome? Don't we all fall short of the glory of God? Cut some people a break. They fit just as much as anyone else does. And so what if they don't care what they wear?! I bet they look around and think those dressed to the nines are vain and spend too much time on primping and looking good for no reason. Being vain is just as big of a problem isn't it? 

A dress code in a church irks me to no end. Either you want people to find God, or you don't. There is not much wiggle room there.
If a Gigalo or a hooker show up, what, they get kicked out because they have the wrong clothes on? You going to kick a homeless person out for being smelly?
Nope. Either it is open to everyone, or not.

Lawyerlady wrote:

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Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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A dress code in a church irks me to no end. Either you want people to find God, or you don't. There is not much wiggle room there.
If a Gigalo or a hooker show up, what, they get kicked out because they have the wrong clothes on? You going to kick a homeless person out for being smelly?
Nope. Either it is open to everyone, or not.

---

 No, I'm not going to kick them out. 

But once they ARE Christians and are members of a church, they are supposed to try to adhere to the Bible, which includes MODESTY. 

---

 So where do you draw the line? How many times do they enter the door before you insist they toe the line? Who talks to them? What do they day? Nope. 

You want to reverse dwindling church attendence, let people feel welcome regardless of how they are dressed. Nobody is perfect, and ironing your skirt doesn't make you any less of an imperfect sinner in need of redemption.  

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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Lawyerlady wrote:

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Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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A dress code in a church irks me to no end. Either you want people to find God, or you don't. There is not much wiggle room there.
If a Gigalo or a hooker show up, what, they get kicked out because they have the wrong clothes on? You going to kick a homeless person out for being smelly?
Nope. Either it is open to everyone, or not.

---

 No, I'm not going to kick them out. 

But once they ARE Christians and are members of a church, they are supposed to try to adhere to the Bible, which includes MODESTY. 

---

 So where do you draw the line? How many times do they enter the door before you insist they toe the line? Who talks to them? What do they day? Nope. 

You want to reverse dwindling church attendence, let people feel welcome regardless of how they are dressed. Nobody is perfect, and ironing your skirt doesn't make you any less of an imperfect sinner in need of redemption.  

---

 When they become members.  You have to ask to become a member, usually meet with the pastor.  And a wrinkled skirt doesn't matter, but one that shows your nether regions in church is disrespectful to God.

Lawyerlady wrote:

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Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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Lawyerlady wrote:

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Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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A dress code in a church irks me to no end. Either you want people to find God, or you don't. There is not much wiggle room there.
If a Gigalo or a hooker show up, what, they get kicked out because they have the wrong clothes on? You going to kick a homeless person out for being smelly?
Nope. Either it is open to everyone, or not.

---

 No, I'm not going to kick them out. 

But once they ARE Christians and are members of a church, they are supposed to try to adhere to the Bible, which includes MODESTY. 

---

 So where do you draw the line? How many times do they enter the door before you insist they toe the line? Who talks to them? What do they day? Nope. 

You want to reverse dwindling church attendence, let people feel welcome regardless of how they are dressed. Nobody is perfect, and ironing your skirt doesn't make you any less of an imperfect sinner in need of redemption.  

---

 When they become members.  You have to ask to become a member, usually meet with the pastor.  And a wrinkled skirt doesn't matter, but one that shows your nether regions in church is disrespectful to God.

---

 People getting rejected from a Church based on their clothing rubs me the wrong way no matter how you want to try and justify it. It's disrespectful to God? Really? And turning people away from his door isn't? 

Ohfour wrote:

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Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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Ohfour wrote:

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People that come into a church in tank tops and short shorts usually arent there to worship. 9 times out of 10, they are trying to prove a point. And then they call themselves victims. Ive seen it happen...

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 Soooo don't give them a point to prove. Welcome and embrace them. 

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 We do, until it becomes obvious that they are there to stir up trouble...

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 Right. 

I have seen enough of your oh so lovely Christian compassion to somehow doubt that. 

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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Lawyerlady wrote:

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Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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Lawyerlady wrote:

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Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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A dress code in a church irks me to no end. Either you want people to find God, or you don't. There is not much wiggle room there.
If a Gigalo or a hooker show up, what, they get kicked out because they have the wrong clothes on? You going to kick a homeless person out for being smelly?
Nope. Either it is open to everyone, or not.

---

 No, I'm not going to kick them out. 

But once they ARE Christians and are members of a church, they are supposed to try to adhere to the Bible, which includes MODESTY. 

---

 So where do you draw the line? How many times do they enter the door before you insist they toe the line? Who talks to them? What do they day? Nope. 

You want to reverse dwindling church attendence, let people feel welcome regardless of how they are dressed. Nobody is perfect, and ironing your skirt doesn't make you any less of an imperfect sinner in need of redemption.  

---

 When they become members.  You have to ask to become a member, usually meet with the pastor.  And a wrinkled skirt doesn't matter, but one that shows your nether regions in church is disrespectful to God.

---

 People getting rejected from a Church based on their clothing rubs me the wrong way no matter how you want to try and justify it. It's disrespectful to God? Really? And turning people away from his door isn't? 

---

 Who is talking about rejecting anybody?  You jump to an awful lot of conclusions. I said I wouldn't like it, and I don't have to - that doesn't mean I'd slam the church door in their face.  But if they are dressing like a hooker and want to become members, the pastor's JOB is to counsel them on dressing modestly in accordance with Biblical teachings. 

You don't get to pick and choose the parts of the Bible you like.  You are supposed to be willing to embrace it all because you love Christ. 

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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Ohfour wrote:

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Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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Ohfour wrote:

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People that come into a church in tank tops and short shorts usually arent there to worship. 9 times out of 10, they are trying to prove a point. And then they call themselves victims. Ive seen it happen...

---

 Soooo don't give them a point to prove. Welcome and embrace them. 

---

 We do, until it becomes obvious that they are there to stir up trouble...

---

 Right. 

I have seen enough of your oh so lovely Christian compassion to somehow doubt that. 

---

 And it's people like you that she's talking about.  The ones with a chip on their shoulder so big, it wouldn't matter what they did.  If they tried to welcome and embrace them, they would be "fake" or hypocrites because while they are friendly to them in church, they didn't instantly invite them to dinner.

I think there should be a dress code for every day life.

Keep the bits and pieces covered.

Simple as that.

lilyofcourse wrote:

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I think there should be a dress code for every day life.

Keep the bits and pieces covered.

Simple as that.

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 I actually agree with that.

You know, I expect lots of skin at the beach.

But not at the mall.

Yes. And not at church.

Back to church, you are not supposed to do anything that takes the focus from God.

This can be clothing, either not enough or too much. Rowdy behavior, talking, kids playing. Eating or drinking.

It seems to me the problem is more that we have lost out reverence for God and his house.

The thing I see taking place in sanctuaries today would have gotten us into so much trouble.

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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Lawyerlady wrote:

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Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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Lawyerlady wrote:

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Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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Ohfour wrote:

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Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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Ohfour wrote:

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People that come into a church in tank tops and short shorts usually arent there to worship. 9 times out of 10, they are trying to prove a point. And then they call themselves victims. Ive seen it happen...

---

 Soooo don't give them a point to prove. Welcome and embrace them. 

---

 We do, until it becomes obvious that they are there to stir up trouble...

---

 Right. 

I have seen enough of your oh so lovely Christian compassion to somehow doubt that. 

---

 And it's people like you that she's talking about.  The ones with a chip on their shoulder so big, it wouldn't matter what they did.  If they tried to welcome and embrace them, they would be "fake" or hypocrites because while they are friendly to them in church, they didn't instantly invite them to dinner.

---

 I no longer attend service, that is true. I couldn't stand the hypocrisy and nastiness towards certain groups. (And by that I mean pretty much all of them).

But, I still manage to be an active member in plenty of other ways. Delivering food packages, donating clothes and time and food and money, reading at the special services occasionally,  etc. My Church is full of flawed people, and I don't much like listening to them prattle on about how perfect they are.  So, I find ways to be involved that limit that. 

And yes, O4. You let your true colors shine through here a lot more than you think. Just because you have a lovely rosey image of how compassionate and loving you are doesn’t mean it is true. You have shown a much different side here, and when you proclaim your faith as publicly as you do, it does a severe disservice to the whole body of the Church. 

 

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 I see.  So, judging people when they dress like a hooker is not ok, but judging an entire church as nasty and flawed and not wanting to listen to their prattle is perfectly fine in your little world.  I'm quite certain there are very lovely people in your church, but you can't see it through all your negativity.  When you think you are above all of them - then your sin is pride.  The greatest sin of all.

What you say about ohfour?  Right back at you.

---

 There are lovely people in my Church. Basically all of them are good people at heart, but somehow once they sit down in the pews they turn into something unrecognizable. 

If they were not lovely people, why on earth would I still help out at the food drives and the rummage sales and the dinners and such? 

Somehow, during the worship service a nastiness is triggered, and no, I do not want to listen to it. If that somehow makes me prideful, so be it-- did I ever claim to be perfect or sin-free? 

---

 Seems as if you are projecting.  I think the nastiness isn't coming from them, I think its coming from a hardened heart...yours...

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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lilyofcourse wrote:

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Yes. And not at church.

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 If God's love is for all of his children and unconditional,  why should people be not welcomed into the fold because you don't like the way they dress? 

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 Why shouldn't they throw down and commit adultery in the church pews?  I mean, his love is unconditional, right? 

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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lilyofcourse wrote:

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Yes. And not at church.

---

 If God's love is for all of his children and unconditional,  why should people be not welcomed into the fold because you don't like the way they dress? 

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 First, I don't know who this person is. It doesn't matter.

It's the dress I'm using to make a point with.

Ohfour wrote:

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Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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Lawyerlady wrote:

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Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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Lawyerlady wrote:

---

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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Ohfour wrote:

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Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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Ohfour wrote:

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People that come into a church in tank tops and short shorts usually arent there to worship. 9 times out of 10, they are trying to prove a point. And then they call themselves victims. Ive seen it happen...

---

 Soooo don't give them a point to prove. Welcome and embrace them. 

---

 We do, until it becomes obvious that they are there to stir up trouble...

---

 Right. 

I have seen enough of your oh so lovely Christian compassion to somehow doubt that. 

---

 And it's people like you that she's talking about.  The ones with a chip on their shoulder so big, it wouldn't matter what they did.  If they tried to welcome and embrace them, they would be "fake" or hypocrites because while they are friendly to them in church, they didn't instantly invite them to dinner.

---

 I no longer attend service, that is true. I couldn't stand the hypocrisy and nastiness towards certain groups. (And by that I mean pretty much all of them).

But, I still manage to be an active member in plenty of other ways. Delivering food packages, donating clothes and time and food and money, reading at the special services occasionally,  etc. My Church is full of flawed people, and I don't much like listening to them prattle on about how perfect they are.  So, I find ways to be involved that limit that. 

And yes, O4. You let your true colors shine through here a lot more than you think. Just because you have a lovely rosey image of how compassionate and loving you are doesn’t mean it is true. You have shown a much different side here, and when you proclaim your faith as publicly as you do, it does a severe disservice to the whole body of the Church. 

 

---

 I see.  So, judging people when they dress like a hooker is not ok, but judging an entire church as nasty and flawed and not wanting to listen to their prattle is perfectly fine in your little world.  I'm quite certain there are very lovely people in your church, but you can't see it through all your negativity.  When you think you are above all of them - then your sin is pride.  The greatest sin of all.

What you say about ohfour?  Right back at you.

---

 There are lovely people in my Church. Basically all of them are good people at heart, but somehow once they sit down in the pews they turn into something unrecognizable. 

If they were not lovely people, why on earth would I still help out at the food drives and the rummage sales and the dinners and such? 

Somehow, during the worship service a nastiness is triggered, and no, I do not want to listen to it. If that somehow makes me prideful, so be it-- did I ever claim to be perfect or sin-free? 

---

 Seems as if you are projecting.  I think the nastiness isn't coming from them, I think its coming from a hardened heart...yours...

---

Yes. My heart is so hard I help the poor and the old and the infirm, and give openly and willingly to the church that the building may stay standing and keep a roof over the head of the flock, even as they listen to the sermons I can no longer stomach. 

And no, listening to vile attacks on well, everything, is nasty, and I got sick of it. And it is certainly not just me. The old pastor was a young woman, and she was kind and vibrant and smart as a whip, we had a solid 40-50 people every week.

When I left, it had dropped to roughly half that.

Now, it averages 10-15 for weekly attendence. It is barely keeping the doors open.  They had to sell the piano to help pay for repairs last fall. 

lilyofcourse wrote:

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That dress is not appropriate for church. Period.

Would I expect to see it at a club? Yes.
At a bar, a party? Yes.

Now, if someone came to church in that, no one at my church would say a thing to them.

But it doesn't mean that it should be worn to church.

---

 And there we have it!  No, it is not the ideal clothing to where to Church,  but you would keep your mouth shut amd treat them kindly, yes?

THAT is all I  saying.  Welcoming prople into the flock no matter what. 

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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lilyofcourse wrote:

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That dress is not appropriate for church. Period.

Would I expect to see it at a club? Yes.
At a bar, a party? Yes.

Now, if someone came to church in that, no one at my church would say a thing to them.

But it doesn't mean that it should be worn to church.

---

 And there we have it!  No, it is not the ideal clothing to where to Church,  but you would keep your mouth shut amd treat them kindly, yes?

THAT is all I  saying.  Welcoming prople into the flock no matter what. 

---

 And if she wants to take on a leadership role? She would most definitely have to rethink her attire before that would even be considered. We allow gay members, but they are not allowed to hold leadership roles. Same difference...

Lawyerlady wrote:

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Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

---

Ohfour wrote:

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Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

---

Lawyerlady wrote:

---

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

---

Lawyerlady wrote:

---

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

---

Ohfour wrote:

---

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

---

Ohfour wrote:

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People that come into a church in tank tops and short shorts usually arent there to worship. 9 times out of 10, they are trying to prove a point. And then they call themselves victims. Ive seen it happen...

---

 Soooo don't give them a point to prove. Welcome and embrace them. 

---

 We do, until it becomes obvious that they are there to stir up trouble...

---

 Right. 

I have seen enough of your oh so lovely Christian compassion to somehow doubt that. 

---

 And it's people like you that she's talking about.  The ones with a chip on their shoulder so big, it wouldn't matter what they did.  If they tried to welcome and embrace them, they would be "fake" or hypocrites because while they are friendly to them in church, they didn't instantly invite them to dinner.

---

 I no longer attend service, that is true. I couldn't stand the hypocrisy and nastiness towards certain groups. (And by that I mean pretty much all of them).

But, I still manage to be an active member in plenty of other ways. Delivering food packages, donating clothes and time and food and money, reading at the special services occasionally,  etc. My Church is full of flawed people, and I don't much like listening to them prattle on about how perfect they are.  So, I find ways to be involved that limit that. 

And yes, O4. You let your true colors shine through here a lot more than you think. Just because you have a lovely rosey image of how compassionate and loving you are doesn’t mean it is true. You have shown a much different side here, and when you proclaim your faith as publicly as you do, it does a severe disservice to the whole body of the Church. 

 

---

 I see.  So, judging people when they dress like a hooker is not ok, but judging an entire church as nasty and flawed and not wanting to listen to their prattle is perfectly fine in your little world.  I'm quite certain there are very lovely people in your church, but you can't see it through all your negativity.  When you think you are above all of them - then your sin is pride.  The greatest sin of all.

What you say about ohfour?  Right back at you.

---

 There are lovely people in my Church. Basically all of them are good people at heart, but somehow once they sit down in the pews they turn into something unrecognizable. 

If they were not lovely people, why on earth would I still help out at the food drives and the rummage sales and the dinners and such? 

Somehow, during the worship service a nastiness is triggered, and no, I do not want to listen to it. If that somehow makes me prideful, so be it-- did I ever claim to be perfect or sin-free? 

---

 Seems as if you are projecting.  I think the nastiness isn't coming from them, I think its coming from a hardened heart...yours...

---

Yes. My heart is so hard I help the poor and the old and the infirm, and give openly and willingly to the church that the building may stay standing and keep a roof over the head of the flock, even as they listen to the sermons I can no longer stomach. 

And no, listening to vile attacks on well, everything, is nasty, and I got sick of it. And it is certainly not just me. The old pastor was a young woman, and she was kind and vibrant and smart as a whip, we had a solid 40-50 people every week.

When I left, it had dropped to roughly half that.

Now, it averages 10-15 for weekly attendence. It is barely keeping the doors open.  They had to sell the piano to help pay for repairs last fall. 

---

 It sounds like you went to the wrong church.  There are a lot out there.  You should try to find a different one. 

And try to go with an open mind. 

And also try to remember that it will be very difficult to find a Christian church that doesn't believe homosexuality isn't a sin.  But there are plenty of them that don't damn people over it.

 

---

 I dont think she went to the wrong church. I think she went to a Biblically sound church. She just dosent like the truth...

Women can't be pastors?

Lawyerlady wrote:

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Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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Ohfour wrote:

---

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

---

Lawyerlady wrote:

---

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

---

Lawyerlady wrote:

---

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

---

Ohfour wrote:

---

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

---

Ohfour wrote:

---

People that come into a church in tank tops and short shorts usually arent there to worship. 9 times out of 10, they are trying to prove a point. And then they call themselves victims. Ive seen it happen...

---

 Soooo don't give them a point to prove. Welcome and embrace them. 

---

 We do, until it becomes obvious that they are there to stir up trouble...

---

 Right. 

I have seen enough of your oh so lovely Christian compassion to somehow doubt that. 

---

 And it's people like you that she's talking about.  The ones with a chip on their shoulder so big, it wouldn't matter what they did.  If they tried to welcome and embrace them, they would be "fake" or hypocrites because while they are friendly to them in church, they didn't instantly invite them to dinner.

---

 I no longer attend service, that is true. I couldn't stand the hypocrisy and nastiness towards certain groups. (And by that I mean pretty much all of them).

But, I still manage to be an active member in plenty of other ways. Delivering food packages, donating clothes and time and food and money, reading at the special services occasionally,  etc. My Church is full of flawed people, and I don't much like listening to them prattle on about how perfect they are.  So, I find ways to be involved that limit that. 

And yes, O4. You let your true colors shine through here a lot more than you think. Just because you have a lovely rosey image of how compassionate and loving you are doesn’t mean it is true. You have shown a much different side here, and when you proclaim your faith as publicly as you do, it does a severe disservice to the whole body of the Church. 

 

---

 I see.  So, judging people when they dress like a hooker is not ok, but judging an entire church as nasty and flawed and not wanting to listen to their prattle is perfectly fine in your little world.  I'm quite certain there are very lovely people in your church, but you can't see it through all your negativity.  When you think you are above all of them - then your sin is pride.  The greatest sin of all.

What you say about ohfour?  Right back at you.

---

 There are lovely people in my Church. Basically all of them are good people at heart, but somehow once they sit down in the pews they turn into something unrecognizable. 

If they were not lovely people, why on earth would I still help out at the food drives and the rummage sales and the dinners and such? 

Somehow, during the worship service a nastiness is triggered, and no, I do not want to listen to it. If that somehow makes me prideful, so be it-- did I ever claim to be perfect or sin-free? 

---

 Seems as if you are projecting.  I think the nastiness isn't coming from them, I think its coming from a hardened heart...yours...

---

Yes. My heart is so hard I help the poor and the old and the infirm, and give openly and willingly to the church that the building may stay standing and keep a roof over the head of the flock, even as they listen to the sermons I can no longer stomach. 

And no, listening to vile attacks on well, everything, is nasty, and I got sick of it. And it is certainly not just me. The old pastor was a young woman, and she was kind and vibrant and smart as a whip, we had a solid 40-50 people every week.

When I left, it had dropped to roughly half that.

Now, it averages 10-15 for weekly attendence. It is barely keeping the doors open.  They had to sell the piano to help pay for repairs last fall. 

---

 It sounds like you went to the wrong church.  There are a lot out there.  You should try to find a different one. 

And try to go with an open mind. 

And also try to remember that it will be very difficult to find a Christian church that doesn't believe homosexuality isn't a sin.  But there are plenty of them that don't damn people over it.

 

---

 Saying it is a sin is fine. My aunts do that,  all the time. It is what it is, doesn’t bother me. 

There is a MASSIVE  difference between saying somethig is a sin, sorry, just the way it is doesn't mean you aren't welcome here and having every sermon every week devoted to attacking someone --not just homosexuals, but the too rich, people with tattoos,  people that commit adultry, people that watch project runaway I AM NOT EVEN JOKING THERE WAS LITERALLY A SERMON ABOUT HOW WATCHING PROJECT RUNWAY IS A SIN.  

Harry Potter, Twilighr, anything magical, if your eyes cross it, you have OFFENDED GOD AND NEED TO APOLOGIZE BEFORE YOU ARE CONDEMNED TO HELL. 

LOTS OF YELLING.

LOTS OF SINNING AND GOING TO HELL. 

And so, the numbers dwindled.  

lilyofcourse wrote:

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Women can't be pastors?

---

 Only to other women.

 

The question at hand is not whether women are of equal value to men, nor is it whether they can minister effectively. It is, rather, the nature of their ministry in the church. More specifically, it is permissible for a woman to serve as senior pastor?

The place to begin in this, as in other biblical questions, is to ask, "What does the Bible say?" Even a cursory reading of the pertinent texts reveals three important observations: 1) there were no known women pastors in New Testament times; 2) none of the instructions regarding church order include instructions for women pastors; and 3) some texts on church order explicitly forbid women to occupy that role. Paul, in 1 Tim. 2:12, states, "I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man" (NIV) . This verse is introduced by a statement that women should learn "in silence," and it is followed by the statement that "she must be silent." The word silence means being possessed by a calmness of spirit and peaceful disposition. It is set as the opposite to "teaching" and "having authority over a man." Paul does not expect that women will not or can not learn or teach (compare with Titus 2:3-5 and 2 Tim. 1:5; 3:14,15). He states that they cannot teach or have authority over men. Thus, they cannot have a pastoral position, or perform the pastoral function, for that puts them in authority over men.

 

 

 

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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Lawyerlady wrote:

---

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

---

Ohfour wrote:

---

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

---

Lawyerlady wrote:

---

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

---

Lawyerlady wrote:

---

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

---

Ohfour wrote:

---

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

---

Ohfour wrote:

---

People that come into a church in tank tops and short shorts usually arent there to worship. 9 times out of 10, they are trying to prove a point. And then they call themselves victims. Ive seen it happen...

---

 Soooo don't give them a point to prove. Welcome and embrace them. 

---

 We do, until it becomes obvious that they are there to stir up trouble...

---

 Right. 

I have seen enough of your oh so lovely Christian compassion to somehow doubt that. 

---

 And it's people like you that she's talking about.  The ones with a chip on their shoulder so big, it wouldn't matter what they did.  If they tried to welcome and embrace them, they would be "fake" or hypocrites because while they are friendly to them in church, they didn't instantly invite them to dinner.

---

 I no longer attend service, that is true. I couldn't stand the hypocrisy and nastiness towards certain groups. (And by that I mean pretty much all of them).

But, I still manage to be an active member in plenty of other ways. Delivering food packages, donating clothes and time and food and money, reading at the special services occasionally,  etc. My Church is full of flawed people, and I don't much like listening to them prattle on about how perfect they are.  So, I find ways to be involved that limit that. 

And yes, O4. You let your true colors shine through here a lot more than you think. Just because you have a lovely rosey image of how compassionate and loving you are doesn’t mean it is true. You have shown a much different side here, and when you proclaim your faith as publicly as you do, it does a severe disservice to the whole body of the Church. 

 

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 I see.  So, judging people when they dress like a hooker is not ok, but judging an entire church as nasty and flawed and not wanting to listen to their prattle is perfectly fine in your little world.  I'm quite certain there are very lovely people in your church, but you can't see it through all your negativity.  When you think you are above all of them - then your sin is pride.  The greatest sin of all.

What you say about ohfour?  Right back at you.

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 There are lovely people in my Church. Basically all of them are good people at heart, but somehow once they sit down in the pews they turn into something unrecognizable. 

If they were not lovely people, why on earth would I still help out at the food drives and the rummage sales and the dinners and such? 

Somehow, during the worship service a nastiness is triggered, and no, I do not want to listen to it. If that somehow makes me prideful, so be it-- did I ever claim to be perfect or sin-free? 

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 Seems as if you are projecting.  I think the nastiness isn't coming from them, I think its coming from a hardened heart...yours...

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Yes. My heart is so hard I help the poor and the old and the infirm, and give openly and willingly to the church that the building may stay standing and keep a roof over the head of the flock, even as they listen to the sermons I can no longer stomach. 

And no, listening to vile attacks on well, everything, is nasty, and I got sick of it. And it is certainly not just me. The old pastor was a young woman, and she was kind and vibrant and smart as a whip, we had a solid 40-50 people every week.

When I left, it had dropped to roughly half that.

Now, it averages 10-15 for weekly attendence. It is barely keeping the doors open.  They had to sell the piano to help pay for repairs last fall. 

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 It sounds like you went to the wrong church.  There are a lot out there.  You should try to find a different one. 

And try to go with an open mind. 

And also try to remember that it will be very difficult to find a Christian church that doesn't believe homosexuality isn't a sin.  But there are plenty of them that don't damn people over it.

 

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 Saying it is a sin is fine. My aunts do that,  all the time. It is what it is, doesn’t bother me. 

There is a MASSIVE  difference between saying somethig is a sin, sorry, just the way it is doesn't mean you aren't welcome here and having every sermon every week devoted to attacking someone --not just homosexuals, but the too rich, people with tattoos,  people that commit adultry, people that watch project runaway I AM NOT EVEN JOKING THERE WAS LITERALLY A SERMON ABOUT HOW WATCHING PROJECT RUNWAY IS A SIN.  

Harry Potter, Twilighr, anything magical, if your eyes cross it, you have OFFENDED GOD AND NEED TO APOLOGIZE BEFORE YOU ARE CONDEMNED TO HELL. 

LOTS OF YELLING.

LOTS OF SINNING AND GOING TO HELL. 

And so, the numbers dwindled.  

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 Well, yeah.  I would have left, too.  You are still actually a member and give them money?

 

Now, my pastor does his job and preaches on living a Godly life, and things that are not.  There are things we do everyday that are sins, but he'll remind us all that all sins are sins - none worse than others.  Hmmmm, he's never brought up Project Runway. He did tell us all he better not see us going into 50 shades of Gray.   But he doesn't yell.  He tries to do it with humor.  It's his job to remind us to pray, to give to the poor, to not watch pornography.  But, he does not give me a hard time about my love for Harry Potter, even though he won't let his own kids read it.