I Need to Vent...

[shepherdsword]

You added 2 + 2 and came up with 5 on that one. We were discussing a particular incident. The reason I dislike so many churches I have visited over the years has nothing to do with the pastor preaching the Word and convicting me of sin. The reason I dislike the vast amount of them is because the pastor preaches a watered down version of the Word that is 99% for entertainment value. I like to have my toes stomped on.

Gotcha..I never meant to imply that you were in sin or anything of that nature. I guess the real point I am trying to convey is that so many of us today seem to think the church we attend should be based on personal preference. I just don't see it that way. I see the body of Christ as something that Jesus himself is forming and as such I go where he places me. I oftentimes find myself in a particular group that doesn't meet my personal preferences but I remain because I know it is is will to do so. Sometimes it is his will that I die to preference in order to meet a higher purpose.

[Desperaux]

Gotcha..I never meant to imply that you were in sin or anything of that nature. I guess the real point I am trying to convey is that so many of us today seem to think the church we attend should be based on personal preference. I just don't see it that way. I see the body of Christ as something that Jesus himself is forming and as such I go where he places me. I oftentimes find myself in a particular group that doesn't meet my personal preferences but I remain because I know it is is will to do so. Sometimes it is his will that I die to preference in order to meet a higher purpose.

This is truth, indeed.

[Seagull]

"I guess the real point I am trying to convey is that so many of us today seem to think the church we attend should be based on personal preference."

Why is it wrong to pick and choose a church? That seems to be the message I am getting from these threads. If a church doesn't teach from the Bible, then I should be able to find a different church.
I don't mean choose a church because i don't like the minister, or the color of the wallpaper, I meant choose a church based on what is taught from the pulpit.
Of course I will stay with a church God leads me to, but the main point of my post is, I am looking....

[Reynolds357]

"I guess the real point I am trying to convey is that so many of us today seem to think the church we attend should be based on personal preference."

Why is it wrong to pick and choose a church? That seems to be the message I am getting from these threads. If a church doesn't teach from the Bible, then I should be able to find a different church.
I don't mean choose a church because i don't like the minister, or the color of the wallpaper, I meant choose a church based on what is taught from the pulpit.
Of course I will stay with a church God leads me to, but the main point of my post is, I am looking....

I see what you are saying. I will give you an example other than the watered down Gospel I gave earlier. There are Pentecostal and Charismatic churches that I have visited over the years that I agree with on doctrine; but many of the people are weird. I am just not comfortable around them, they are just ultra weird. I was in attendance at one meeting where the projector blew a bulb and the preacher started rebuking demons and blaming demons for his projecture failure. I am 100% Charismatic in doctrine, but just to be blunt, I view many charismatics/pentecostals as a bunch of nuts.
I conside myself Charismatic. My education is from a Charismatic seminary. My professor said something I agree 100% with. He said "the only time most pentecostals are in the middle of the road is the brief time they spend crossing over the center line as they bounce from ditch to ditch."

[glad4mercy]

Dont be discouraged. God wants you in a Christ centered Bible believing church. Keep looking and praying, and in time you will find a church where you will be able to worship, learn, grow, and serve. I will be praying for you. Don't give up!

[Diggindeeper]

Dont be discouraged. God wants you in a Christ centered Bible believing church. Keep looking and praying, and in time you will find a church where you will be able to worship, learn, grow, and serve. I will be praying for you. Don't give up!

In the area where we live, we searched for almost 15 years before we settled into one! Some we only had to visit one or two times. Others, we may have gone there for two or three years, only to find out that they did not always TEACH all their doctrines! For example, one we attended for three years and finally figured out they don't believe a person is all the way 'saved' until they are baptised! We do NOT agree with that and we should have noticed sooner. We just thought Wow! Someone else who was led to the Lord OUTSIDE the four walls of the church! They would call us at 9:00 at night, saying, "Can you and your family come down to the church? There is a couple that the Pastor met in a Tropical Fish Store who just accepted Christ and want to be baptized." And we'd take off our pajamas and dart to the church.

The WAY we found what they REALLY believed was when my own daughter was saved one night AT HOME and we told her, "Now, you need to go down Sunday and tell the Pastor and everyone that you have accepted Christ as your savior. It's important to start telling people, confessing it."

Well, she did not want to be Baptized that very next Sunday, and those deacons and elders began telling us that her salvation was not complete...until she was baptized in water! We could not believe our ears!

You know, in that 15 years that we were searching for a church, my husband got so disheartened that he's actually tell me, "I just can't make myself keep visiting around. If you are going to visit THAT one, then if you like it, I'll go with you Sunday evening." (Or next week...!) So don't give up! Just keep on searching and asking God, "Where do YOU want us?"

We know we are where God wants us now and have been there about 10 or 11 years. Although we don't join churches anymore. Where we go, that does not matter. They will baptize someone, but NOT automatically make them a member of that church. Church membership is a separate matter. Doctrinally, we don't see eye to eye on everything, but we have a Pastor who studies and teaches the Word. We learn from him. And the people there are sincere, praying people. There are no performances there. Even little children get up and sing a song if they feel led. I've seen a couple of really little kids get up and sing "Jesus Loves Me" and we, the congregation LOVE that about our church! Little boys take up the offering...teen girls help in the Nursery...we keep a stocked Food Pantry and help people with groceries all year, not only at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

We don't agree with their denominational stance on a 'rapture could happen in the next few minutes' and we have talked to our Pastor and he knows we don't agree. We've told him why. But we can live with our differences in doctrines and neither we nor the Pastor would ever bring it up in church and cause problems.

What I am saying is, you'll know when you are where the good Lord wants you. Just like you have already learned where NOT to go and support!

[glad4mercy]

Beautiful post, DiggingDeeper. It's true that we don't have to agree with every doctrinal position of our church, as long as the church does not deny an essential teaching of the Bible, and as long as the disagreement doesnt cause disunity. I like the saying "in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity. The main thing is that a church worships God in Spirit and Truth, and is Christ-centered, Bible believing, and loving, and it sounds like your new church fits that category. I love what you said about the children and young people being encouraged to serve and take part in the music ministry. Every believer needs to be involved in serving the Lord together in their church family.

Seagull, I pray that God will lead you to a church where you can worship, grow, and serve. Remember, if we pray for anything according to God's Will, believing, it will be given to us. Keep looking and keep praying. It is God's Will for you to be connected with a fellowship of believers.

[karenoka27]

I understand that being a part of a local assembly is vital to the body of believers.
First, I would pray and ask for direction as to which church the Lord would have me use the gifts He has given me as this is where they are to be used,to edify each other.
Second, though it is sad that you were discouraged in this manner, you need to keep praying.
I do have a question. Why did you feel the need to tell the church what your Mormon background was? We all have a past, however, when we are saved "old things have passed away, behold all things are become new." (2 Cor 5:17). Perhaps the church feared you would be bringing those doctrinal beliefs into the church which led them to reply as they did.

[Diggindeeper]

The thing is, some people are born into Mormonism or even into FLDS and they can't even help that! They won't answer to God about that, but they are able to stand before God and give testimony that they managed to leave the cult they were born into. You see, when the LIGHT comes in, the darkness must flee.

My guess is that you and your family probably have a mighty testimony about when you left the Mormon beliefs behind!

[faithfulwife]

I have to say I am sorry you are having so much trouble finding a church. Your past church life shouldn't matter. I can tell you I have found having a church important. Think is one CAN be a Christian and not go to church. But it can be hard sometimes. I think having a church family is awesome, because I have other people to talk to when I have a question about something in the Bible, or when I just am having a tough time and need someone to pray with. I am praying for you that you find a loving church family that you love back!