I am currently the youngest member by about 50 years.
They have grandkids my age and much older.
When they are not mindlessly agreeing with the nonsense at the pulpit, they are decent people who are trying to keep the doors open and still help people out.
So yes. I am still a member. I still help out.
There used to be a lot more people my age. Now there is just me. It is sad to see, really.
So what does a fire and brimstone service have to do with the immediate difference of the people in the pews? Did they turn into snarling demons? Im trying to figure out what extreme change happened once people sat down.
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America guarantees equal opportunity, not equal outcome...
I am currently the youngest member by about 50 years. They have grandkids my age and much older. When they are not mindlessly agreeing with the nonsense at the pulpit, they are decent people who are trying to keep the doors open and still help people out. So yes. I am still a member. I still help out. There used to be a lot more people my age. Now there is just me. It is sad to see, really.
Might I suggest the book "Autopsy of a deceased church"?
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
She was kind, and respectful. She refused to marry a lesbian couple, but she met with them multiple times, and they even attended sunday worship for a while before they moved to a different town. She was funny and honest and always had intersting and moving sermons. She was quite conservative, and outspoken about her views on abortion and gay marriage, but she was never mean or abrasive or cruel. She was much yonger than the guy we have now, and the guy that was before her--probably around 50 or so. Her kids were about my age, abouy five years older. one was off and married, the other away at a Christian college.
I'm sure she was very nice. And I can't just can't imagine going to a church that would marry a lesbian couple. Sorry, but that's so against the Bible that I would question everything they said. I wouldn't trust them to teach God's word.
She refused to marry them, but she did it ao nicely they came to church anyways!
So what does a fire and brimstone service have to do with the immediate difference of the people in the pews? Did they turn into snarling demons? Im trying to figure out what extreme change happened once people sat down.
You know how Trump uses inflammatory language to rile people up? And he gets this 'it's us or them' mentality going in his audience? It was very much like that. People would be calm and happy going in, and by the end they were angry and all they could talk about was whatever group was in the crossfire that day, and how awful they were, and how people like that just shouldn't even be allowed to exist.
I believe that if you are going to attend church, you should only do so modestly, properly, and in "better than mall shopping" style. That would be suits for gentlemen and modest (but slightly upscale) dresses for ladies.
I would make exceptions for certain things though, like a "Sunrise Service" held on the beach, or a service held immediately before the congregation goes to help build a shelter at a park or something.
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.
I have NEVER seen anyone come to Church to "prove a point."
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.
Although O-4 doesn't need me to defend her, I can't let this comment slide. I had a major loss this past year and O4 has been more compassionate and loving than you will ever know. I can contact her anytime, day or night, and know without a doubt that she will be available. There have been days that a simple text of "I'm praying for you" that have given me strength to face another day.
She does have that side to her. I wish it could be shown more often.
I believe that if you are going to attend church, you should only do so modestly, properly, and in "better than mall shopping" style. That would be suits for gentlemen and modest (but slightly upscale) dresses for ladies.
I would make exceptions for certain things though, like a "Sunrise Service" held on the beach, or a service held immediately before the congregation goes to help build a shelter at a park or something.
There already are very few men coming to Church. If you make some guys wear suits they would never go. And, I am not putting on a dress when is -5 out sorry. Hillary is running for POTUS and she can't even wear a dress. Sooo....
I am currently the youngest member by about 50 years. They have grandkids my age and much older. When they are not mindlessly agreeing with the nonsense at the pulpit, they are decent people who are trying to keep the doors open and still help people out. So yes. I am still a member. I still help out. There used to be a lot more people my age. Now there is just me. It is sad to see, really.
Might I suggest the book "Autopsy of a deceased church"?
When they are not mindlessly agreeing with the nonsense at the pulpit,
What does this mean?
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I am currently the youngest member by about 50 years. They have grandkids my age and much older. When they are not mindlessly agreeing with the nonsense at the pulpit, they are decent people who are trying to keep the doors open and still help people out. So yes. I am still a member. I still help out. There used to be a lot more people my age. Now there is just me. It is sad to see, really.
Might I suggest the book "Autopsy of a deceased church"?
Good point. Why do you think that is LL?
Because they are not focused on bringing others to Christ, they are focused on damning them. That is not what church is for.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
So what does a fire and brimstone service have to do with the immediate difference of the people in the pews? Did they turn into snarling demons? Im trying to figure out what extreme change happened once people sat down.
You know how Trump uses inflammatory language to rile people up? And he gets this 'it's us or them' mentality going in his audience? It was very much like that. People would be calm and happy going in, and by the end they were angry and all they could talk about was whatever group was in the crossfire that day, and how awful they were, and how people like that just shouldn't even be allowed to exist.
It was unsettling, and I hated it and so I left.
And about 4/5 of the rest didnas well.
WHY are you even affiliated with a church like that? I realize when you've been somewhere a long time, it's hard to leave, but that is not right. There are other churches you can be involved with that are not like that.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
I've always wanted to go to one of those black baptist churches in the South where everyone is dancing and singing, like they show on TV and in movies.
I am currently the youngest member by about 50 years. They have grandkids my age and much older. When they are not mindlessly agreeing with the nonsense at the pulpit, they are decent people who are trying to keep the doors open and still help people out. So yes. I am still a member. I still help out. There used to be a lot more people my age. Now there is just me. It is sad to see, really.
Might I suggest the book "Autopsy of a deceased church"?
Good point. Why do you think that is LL?
Because they are not focused on bringing others to Christ, they are focused on damning them. That is not what church is for.
Actually i think it is the opposite. Everyone is Too comfortable. There is very little preaching leading people to true repentance. I think it is the lukewarm church of Laodacia. A lot of very smug people comfortable in their own sin.
I am currently the youngest member by about 50 years. They have grandkids my age and much older. When they are not mindlessly agreeing with the nonsense at the pulpit, they are decent people who are trying to keep the doors open and still help people out. So yes. I am still a member. I still help out. There used to be a lot more people my age. Now there is just me. It is sad to see, really.
Might I suggest the book "Autopsy of a deceased church"?
Good point. Why do you think that is LL?
Because they are not focused on bringing others to Christ, they are focused on damning them. That is not what church is for.
Actually i think it is the opposite. Everyone is Too comfortable. There is very little preaching leading people to true repentance. I think it is the lukewarm church of Laodacia. A lot of very smug people comfortable in their own sin.
Focusing on the sins of others instead of their own.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
I've always wanted to go to one of those black baptist churches in the South where everyone is dancing and singing, like they show on TV and in movies.
They do get their worship on!
I grew up in a church like that.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I've always wanted to go to one of those black baptist churches in the South where everyone is dancing and singing, like they show on TV and in movies.
I always wanted to go to a snake-handling church. Just to see.
I've always wanted to go to one of those black baptist churches in the South where everyone is dancing and singing, like they show on TV and in movies.
I always wanted to go to a snake-handling church. Just to see.
No you dont.
I stumbled into one of those once.
I was doing outreach (you know it better as door to door sales) in the mountains.
It was Wednesday evening, I'd been at for a few hours, having a bad night.
I stopped at the end of a one lane dirt road and was going to try one more sale.
Saw the sigh, it was a church. The woman asked me to stay and I said sure, why not.
On the way in I read the bottom of the sign, the verse about taking up serpents and there was a warning that poisonous snakes were in the building.
Look. I grew up in a full gospel, pentecostal church. Singing, dancing, shouting, the whole thing.
But I do not believe handling snakes is part of that.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
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.
Oh come on. No one is showing their genitals in church.
Who gets to decide what "modesty" is? Some people think wearing any make-up or jewelry is being immodest. It's not up to the other members to decide what any other person should wear.
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I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
I am currently the youngest member by about 50 years. They have grandkids my age and much older. When they are not mindlessly agreeing with the nonsense at the pulpit, they are decent people who are trying to keep the doors open and still help people out. So yes. I am still a member. I still help out. There used to be a lot more people my age. Now there is just me. It is sad to see, really.
Like what--preaching God's word and such?
__________________
I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
I am currently the youngest member by about 50 years. They have grandkids my age and much older. When they are not mindlessly agreeing with the nonsense at the pulpit, they are decent people who are trying to keep the doors open and still help people out. So yes. I am still a member. I still help out. There used to be a lot more people my age. Now there is just me. It is sad to see, really.
Like what--preaching God's word and such?
Did you read what I posted?? I don't think Project Runway is mentioned in the Bible as being a sin. Nor Harry Potter, for that matter.
I've always wanted to go to one of those black baptist churches in the South where everyone is dancing and singing, like they show on TV and in movies.
I always wanted to go to a snake-handling church. Just to see.
No you dont.
I stumbled into one of those once.
I was doing outreach (you know it better as door to door sales) in the mountains.
It was Wednesday evening, I'd been at for a few hours, having a bad night.
I stopped at the end of a one lane dirt road and was going to try one more sale.
Saw the sigh, it was a church. The woman asked me to stay and I said sure, why not.
On the way in I read the bottom of the sign, the verse about taking up serpents and there was a warning that poisonous snakes were in the building.
Look. I grew up in a full gospel, pentecostal church. Singing, dancing, shouting, the whole thing.
But I do not believe handling snakes is part of that.
Snakes don't bother me.
In any case, it's very rare for a snake to bite during a service, and here's why. Snakes are deaf. They respond to vibration, not noise.
Ever notice there's a great deal of foot-stomping during a snake-handling service? The vibration confuses the snake and it doen't know where to strike.
No reason to bite the handler in particular, as there's a lot of vibration all around.
Evidently, that's what they use to protect themselves from being bitten. Clearly, they don't trust God as much as they say they do.
-- Edited by weltschmerz on Saturday 20th of February 2016 01:54:48 PM
I am currently the youngest member by about 50 years. They have grandkids my age and much older. When they are not mindlessly agreeing with the nonsense at the pulpit, they are decent people who are trying to keep the doors open and still help people out. So yes. I am still a member. I still help out. There used to be a lot more people my age. Now there is just me. It is sad to see, really.
Might I suggest the book "Autopsy of a deceased church"?
Good point. Why do you think that is LL?
Because they are not focused on bringing others to Christ, they are focused on damning them. That is not what church is for.
This is the kind of church I grew up in. I remember it clearly. EVERY SINGLE SUNDAY Pastor B would launch into a tirade about a sin. And before you all call me out on saying pastors shouldn't talk about sin I DO believe that pastors should talk about sinning. But there's a right way and a wrong way. Anyway, every Sunday he would launch into this long sermon about this sin or that sin and it would shortly devolve into hell and burning in hell. He'd describe in detail how badly we'd suffer in hell. Being so thirsty with no water. Flames eating not only our bodies but our souls. He would get so worked up he would turn red and spit. Eventually we, as kids, just tuned him out. We had learned that anything you ever do results in hell so why bother. It's like a parent who screams constantly at their children and then doesn't understand why they don't listen. While I do think sin needs to be covered so does love and forgiveness. And there is no reason for screaming from a pulpit.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
Growing up I usually had one or maybe two Sunday dresses to wear each week.
I can't see how asking what is appropriate to wear would be offensive. Sorry, ninja, your SIL is weird.
We used to go to an awesome church where the pastor would give sermons about God's love and how we should treat each other and how to handle difficulties that arise in life. I really loved that church and I was very involved.
After we moved to Texas we couldn't find any church that was anything close to that so we just stopped going.
We also didn't check the churches with services only in Korean or Mandarian. Didn't think I would get much out of a sermon I couldn't understand.
Should I try those churches, husker??
We didn't try the Catholic or Luthern churches. Do you think we should have?
Lutherans are Protestants--the original ones. Yes, I would check them out if you want a Bible based church. Not sure you will find inspiration, though, but rarely do Lutherans preach about tithing.
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I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
We didn't try the Catholic or Luthern churches. Do you think we should have?
Lutherans are Protestants--the original ones. Yes, I would check them out if you want a Bible based church. Not sure you will find inspiration, though, but rarely do Lutherans preach about tithing.
My mom was raised Catholic. Lutheran is too close for comfort for her.
We didn't try the Catholic or Luthern churches. Do you think we should have?
Lutherans are Protestants--the original ones. Yes, I would check them out if you want a Bible based church. Not sure you will find inspiration, though, but rarely do Lutherans preach about tithing.
My mom was raised Catholic. Lutheran is too close for comfort for her.
Lutherans are NOT Catholics.
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I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
We didn't try the Catholic or Luthern churches. Do you think we should have?
Lutherans are Protestants--the original ones. Yes, I would check them out if you want a Bible based church. Not sure you will find inspiration, though, but rarely do Lutherans preach about tithing.
My mom was raised Catholic. Lutheran is too close for comfort for her.
Lutherans are NOT Catholics.
The differences are minuscule in regards to the type of sermons and style of service.
We didn't try the Catholic or Luthern churches. Do you think we should have?
Lutherans are Protestants--the original ones. Yes, I would check them out if you want a Bible based church. Not sure you will find inspiration, though, but rarely do Lutherans preach about tithing.
My mom was raised Catholic. Lutheran is too close for comfort for her.
Lutherans are NOT Catholics.
The differences are minuscule in regards to the type of sermons and style of service.
Service--maybe--sermons, no way. Plus, the doctrinal differences--which are what actually matter--are vast.
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I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
Growing up I usually had one or maybe two Sunday dresses to wear each week. I can't see how asking what is appropriate to wear would be offensive. Sorry, ninja, your SIL is weird.
We used to go to an awesome church where the pastor would give sermons about God's love and how we should treat each other and how to handle difficulties that arise in life. I really loved that church and I was very involved. After we moved to Texas we couldn't find any church that was anything close to that so we just stopped going.
Well yes, that's a given. She is. She said that you should dress up for church so that shouldn't even BE a question. But, especially in our area, churches have very different dress codes. We have several churches here with some version of The Cowboy Church. People wear jeans and boots. My SIL feels that's disrespectful. But I think those churches play a major role in bringing in people who are less dressy than others. I don't see the issue with it. She also feels like you shouldn't take into consideration how big or small the church is. She said you should never ask these questions. You just go. I think the size of the church can matter a huge amount. She posted this huge FB status saying people who ask about those two things are not really interested in going to church or getting to know god and should just not even bother. I'd tell you what I think of her but well, people would say I'm mean.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
We didn't try the Catholic or Luthern churches. Do you think we should have?
Lutherans are Protestants--the original ones. Yes, I would check them out if you want a Bible based church. Not sure you will find inspiration, though, but rarely do Lutherans preach about tithing.
My mom was raised Catholic. Lutheran is too close for comfort for her.
Lutherans are NOT Catholics.
The differences are minuscule in regards to the type of sermons and style of service.
I disagree. I've attended both.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
I am currently the youngest member by about 50 years. They have grandkids my age and much older. When they are not mindlessly agreeing with the nonsense at the pulpit, they are decent people who are trying to keep the doors open and still help people out. So yes. I am still a member. I still help out. There used to be a lot more people my age. Now there is just me. It is sad to see, really.
Like what--preaching God's word and such?
Did you read what I posted?? I don't think Project Runway is mentioned in the Bible as being a sin. Nor Harry Potter, for that matter.
Witchcraft and sorcery are, though. And they are sins.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
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.
Oh come on. No one is showing their genitals in church.
Who gets to decide what "modesty" is? Some people think wearing any make-up or jewelry is being immodest. It's not up to the other members to decide what any other person should wear.
When they sit down and their skirt is so short you can see their panties or when they bend over, they are most certainly showing their nether regions.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
There already are very few men coming to Church. If you make some guys wear suits they would never go. And, I am not putting on a dress when is -5 out sorry. Hillary is running for POTUS and she can't even wear a dress. Sooo....
- Lady Gaga Snerd
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I apologize. I assumed it would be understood that extreme weather would be a reasonable exemption as well.
There already are very few men coming to Church. If you make some guys wear suits they would never go. And, I am not putting on a dress when is -5 out sorry. Hillary is running for POTUS and she can't even wear a dress. Sooo.... - Lady Gaga Snerd
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I apologize. I assumed it would be understood that extreme weather would be a reasonable exemption as well.
In PA, it seems like we have spring/summer/fall and then WINTER.