I am a Christian, and I have a Christian friend who will not discuss this civilly with me. She just tells me that "that's what God wants" and other simple arguments that she never supports. She'll send me an email from her pastor that dances around the topic, and states that it's good for the church if we go. I like the people at my church. It's a friendly environment. However, I feel like we waste so much time on our own concerns, that God is pushed to the back burner. I've been to several churches, and I find the same thing everywhere.

I am sick of pastors using God to justify their political beliefs. Two weeks ago, our pastor gave a lecture on how Islam cannot defend itself from attacks, because vengence is the Lord's. Then he goes on to say how we are obligated to God to retaliate when we are attacked... Huh? Ok, I don't want to get into political debates here - PLEASE! My point is that these sermons have nothing to do with the worship of God, but justification of our own seflish desires.

Next - Too many sermons are focused on debatable doctrine. Why do we have so many denominations and conflicting beliefs? Because there are very well-educated, God-loving Christians on all sides of any given issue. So then, why do we focus our church time on proving our own covictions to be accurate, and all others wrong? Because of our selfish desire to have God on our side, rather than a desire to change our views so that we are on God's side.

Why do we waste so much time in church NOT worshipping God?

I'd rather stay at home and listen to Alexander Scourby's reading of the KJV. I feel closer to God doing that and praying, then I ever have at church.

I'm not satisfied with someone telling me "that's what it says in the Bible," or, "that's what God wants," or, "God told me so-and-so..." Where does it say in the Bible that God wants us to go to church every Sunday, and that it's ok to judge and shout down those who don't?

Please give me a clear, specific verse, or chapter.... or a bunch of them, but please don't send me on a wild goose chase, I'd like an answer.
Thank you.