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Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church.

 
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Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 1:00:59 PM   
PinkCarnations

 

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What are some of the reasons that someone might not go to church?

What do you say to/think about a Christian who is a regular attender, but has been missing the last several weeks/months?

What do you say to/think about Christians who don't attend church at all?

What do you say to/think about Christians who are sporadic in their church attendance?

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RE: Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 1:10:09 PM   
daughteroftheking718

 

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I really don't have any reasons for why believers can blatantly excuse themselves from a fellowship. The Bible implores us to keep meeting together as long as it is called today, basically every time we can. I myself did not go to any form of church for a year, and found that it really hurt my spiritually. As for what I'd say to someone, I 'd tell them to find somewhere that they are comfortable and go. The Body is a family and how can they be connected if they aren't part of a local body? As for those who are sporadic I'd wonder if they even care in the first place. In my mind if you cared you'd want to go to church and it wouldn't be a burden as it so often becomes
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RE: Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 1:10:18 PM   
MyCatSmokey2006


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quote:

ORIGINAL: PinkCarnations

What are some of the reasons that someone might not go to church?

What do you say to/think about a Christian who is a regular attender, but has been missing the last several weeks/months?

What do you say to/think about Christians who don't attend church at all?

What do you say to/think about Christians who are sporadic in their church attendance?


Well, I'm guilty of the last one for sure. For example, I didn't want to go today because I felt tired and I was in pain from doing a lot of yard work yesterday. Other times, it's been:

I stayed up too late, so I slept late.
It's too hot.
It's too cold.
It's snowing (I'm not counting blizzards or heavy snow where they say it's not a good idea to travel. Same with freezing rain or sleet)
I said the wrong thing in church last Sunday, so I don't want to go, etc.
I'm sick (mild cold)
I'm sick (flu, stomach flu, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.)

These are just my excuses, most of which are not valid ones. I know that I need to go more often, so I need to make myself go.

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RE: Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 1:34:16 PM   
Focusing


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There are numerous reasons why someone may not be in church.

If it's someone I know as a friend (ie, more that just someone I recognize as going to my church), I will call, text or email them and let them know I've missed them and ask them if everything is alright.

In my church, we have had several ladies who were widowed this past year. There are days when it's just too hard on them emotionally to be at church and they are suffering from depression. I can understand that. I pray for them when I don't see them in church.

I didn't go to church today because I have a migraine and vertigo, it's finally subsided a bit ... but those conditions are not good for driving or being around a lot of noise and bright lights.

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RE: Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 2:04:53 PM   
Abbreviated


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If one is sick they should stay home from church.

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Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 2:07:43 PM   
PinkCarnations

 

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How sick is too sick to go to church?

edited for typo

< Message edited by PinkCarnations -- 11/1/2009 10:20:00 PM >


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RE: Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 2:25:15 PM   
Marcus.


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Nearby churches have fallen from the faith and follow the world now.

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RE: Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 2:28:34 PM   
Katie51

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: PinkCarnations

What are some of the reasons that someone might not go to church?

What do you say to/think about a Christian who is a regular attender, but has been missing the last several weeks/months?

What do you say to/think about Christians who don't attend church at all?

What do you say to/think about Christians who are sporadic in their church attendance?



why might someone not go to church? illness, needing quiet time alone, just dont want to

what do you say to a Christian who hasnt been coming? "we missed you"...its not really any of your business unless they choose to tell you.

what about christians who do not attend church? My wonderful Daddy never went after my mom died. He did 2 times, and was lonely and miserable. He had "church" in his living room each Sunday.

What does the Bible say about how often you should attend church? It doesnt. That is a man made rule, not a Biblical rule. There are no set rules in the Bible as to how often/ how much/when you should "got to church". WE are the church, not that building
Post #: 8
RE: Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 2:28:34 PM   
BelleWeather


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What are some of the reasons that someone might not go to church?
Illness
Emotional or mental incapacity
Imprisonment
Travel/in Transit
Death
Mourning

What do you say to/think about a Christian who is a regular attender, but has been missing the last several weeks/months?
First--I would pray for guidance and wisdom
Second- I would be concerned about their health
Third--I would be concerned for their heart

I would call or write to extend my hand in fellowship to them

What do you say to/think about Christians who don't attend church at all?
I would pray for them and extend my hand in fellowship

What do you say to/think about Christians who are sporadic in their church attendance?
I would pray for for them and extend my hand in fellowship

< Message edited by BelleWeather -- 11/1/2009 2:34:49 PM >


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RE: Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 5:33:36 PM   
cornergas


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As a convert to the Sabbath two years ago, and living in a small country town, there are only sunday first day of the week churches, which do not fulfill my Biblical aspirations. Hope to start a Sabbath church in the area, God willing!

Jesus said "if you love me keep my Commandments'
Remember the Sabbath to keep it Holy
God bless us all.
Post #: 10
RE: Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 5:46:12 PM   
Oberdan

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Marcus.

Nearby churches have fallen from the faith and follow the world now.


You couldn't have spoken a more worthy truth. The churches that demand their weekly dose of money or you're going straight to Hell attitude, the churches that will nod like robots when a guest speaker preaches his slanted personal views on the Bible instead of speaking about what the Bible actually has written within it. When donation envelopes are more important than Holy Communion. When a church has a preacher that says all cats are filled with demons and can prove it by splashing holy water on them, pointing out the fact that the splashed cats freak and try to flee all the time.

I miss my old Church, when it was simply good enough to show up and praise God and Jesus Christ.
Post #: 11
Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 5:51:33 PM   
PinkCarnations

 

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Wow - I'm glad that I have a better church to go to than that.

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RE: Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 6:10:20 PM   
manda59


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"Acceptable" in whose eyes?

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RE: Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 6:12:07 PM   
ctpruitt

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Katie51

quote:

ORIGINAL: PinkCarnations

What are some of the reasons that someone might not go to church?

What do you say to/think about a Christian who is a regular attender, but has been missing the last several weeks/months?

What do you say to/think about Christians who don't attend church at all?

What do you say to/think about Christians who are sporadic in their church attendance?



why might someone not go to church? illness, needing quiet time alone, just dont want to

what do you say to a Christian who hasnt been coming? "we missed you"...its not really any of your business unless they choose to tell you.

what about christians who do not attend church? My wonderful Daddy never went after my mom died. He did 2 times, and was lonely and miserable. He had "church" in his living room each Sunday.

What does the Bible say about how often you should attend church? It doesnt. That is a man made rule, not a Biblical rule. There are no set rules in the Bible as to how often/ how much/when you should "got to church". WE are the church, not that building



Actually, as much as you might be suprised, church attendance is indeed very much a "God given rule." After all, He has given us guidelines for every other aspect of our lives, do you really think that He would leave attendance to His house up to our whims? I think not.

When I run into someone like this, I have discovered that he/she/they will fit into one of these catagories:

(1) Used to go to church...until they got mad at the preacher, Sunday School teacher, choir director, etc.

(2) Got upset because the church as a whole did not see something the same way as they did...so they left. This can be connected to (1).

As far as people who have "church" at home, no such thing. As you yourself pointed out, the people are the Church;i.e., you need to be around people to have church. There is no such thing as a solo church service. The verse in Matthew says plainly,

Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

Notice what Matthew did not say:

"For where one is gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of him."

Now if is some real reason like health, a job, etc., then someone would have to invent a different method of church attendance...otherwise, I can't think of any excuse to stay out on a continual basis. I know a man who sings in a gospel qt every weekend...but never darkens the door of a local church. In his case, he blames his lack of things spiritual on cows. "I have to work on my farm on Sunday..." but yet oddly enough he finds time for car shows on Sunday. My father-in-law also had a farm. He got up every day at 4:30AM and still was at church at 10AM.
Post #: 14
Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 6:13:42 PM   
PinkCarnations

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: manda59

"Acceptable" in whose eyes?


Well, I guess if you wanted to, you could answer the questions with what you find acceptable and what you think Christ would consider acceptable.

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RE: Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 6:28:32 PM   
m4maggie


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still shopping for a church.. have been for a while.. but I am not a regular attendee for a couple of reasons.

1. I don't always feel welcome at the church I'm visiting.
2. Illness.. whether it be me or my children
3. It causes major fights between me and my hubby
4. I'm not comfortable with the message being taught. still relatively new at bible study as well and it scares me that I may be learning wrong or doctored doctrine.
5. I get odd looks and feel weird going alone.
6. I get a bit disgusted with some churches who are all about appearance and not about the true word.

Don't get me wrong.. I still have a spiritual appetite. When I can't attend church what I usually do is go online to lighthouseministries.com and find my favourite online pastors and listen to a sermon from them. It doesn't bug the hubby then because I put in headphones and I'm still available if anyone needs me. And just for the sake of arguement, I don't feel alone either, because 9/10 after the online sermon, I'm on here, praising the Lord and being with others.. even if it's through the internet.. and tithes?? I donate to whatever I can, when I can.

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RE: Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 6:35:39 PM   
teacher1982

 

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Right now I go to church sporadically because there are things going on in my home church that are unBiblical and is really bothering me. I am visiting other area churches, but haven't found one that comes even close to being satisfying. I will keep looking and keep visiting, but it is a difficult thing to do, especially for a single elderly woman to go alone into a strange church/area/location.

I'm praying hard that the Lord will show me a church to attend that will meet my needs.
Post #: 17
Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 6:44:25 PM   
PinkCarnations

 

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I'm so sorry that some of you are having a hard time finding a church that teaches the Word.
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RE: Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 7:24:33 PM   
KaptZ

 

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My family is still looking for a church we like since we moved two years ago.

There is one that we like a lot but have not attended very often due to-

Illness-Me, the Wife, the Kid. Especially the Kid.
They recently changed pastors and still have not found a full time minister so we don't know if we will like him/her. Kinda waiting on the wings to see what happens. But we're trying to go more often anyway.

I enjoy being at church. It's also interesting to me that I find peace in almost any religious building-Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish etc. It may not be a building representing my faith, but for some reason I find them calming and thoughtful places.

If I can't get to church I try and take walks by myself, preferably in the woods to think, pray and just enjoy God's creation.
Post #: 19
RE: Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 8:20:35 PM   
agapetos


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quote:

ORIGINAL: PinkCarnations

How stick is too sick to go to church?

I've never been a stick so I wouldn't know... I have got a really painful neck and shoulders right now though that makes me feel as though I have a stick down my back, does that count?

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Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 8:22:20 PM   
PinkCarnations

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: agapetos

quote:

ORIGINAL: PinkCarnations

How stick is too sick to go to church?

I've never been a stick so I wouldn't know... I have got a really painful neck and shoulders right now though that makes me feel as though I have a stick down my back, does that count?


I'm the typo queen these last few days.
Post #: 21
RE: Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 9:19:16 PM   
sunshine4God


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The only time I miss church on Sunday is if I'm very sick,on vacation which rarely happens.

I don't look down on others who miss church from time to time though,
however if someone misses church week after week I will ask them about it though,if friends with the person.

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RE: Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 9:25:00 PM   
jn1010lf

 

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Hello PinkCarnations

May I turn your question around to ask "What are the reasons we need to meet together?"

My answer would be to research in a concordance "one to another." Every one of those talks about things we do to and for one another. Every one of them also gives reasons why need to meet with one another.
Post #: 23
RE: Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 9:58:30 PM   
Katie51

 

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Actually, as much as you might be suprised, church attendance is indeed very much a "God given rule." After all, He has given us guidelines for every other aspect of our lives, do you really think that He would leave attendance to His house up to our whims? I think not.

When I run into someone like this, I have discovered that he/she/they will fit into one of these catagories:

(1) Used to go to church...until they got mad at the preacher, Sunday School teacher, choir director, etc.

(2) Got upset because the church as a whole did not see something the same way as they did...so they left. This can be connected to (1).

As far as people who have "church" at home, no such thing. As you yourself pointed out, the people are the Church;i.e., you need to be around people to have church. There is no such thing as a solo church service. The verse in Matthew says plainly,

Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

Notice what Matthew did not say:

"For where one is gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of him."

Now if is some real reason like health, a job, etc., then someone would have to invent a different method of church attendance...otherwise, I can't think of any excuse to stay out on a continual basis. I know a man who sings in a gospel qt every weekend...but never darkens the door of a local church. In his case, he blames his lack of things spiritual on cows. "I have to work on my farm on Sunday..." but yet oddly enough he finds time for car shows on Sunday. My father-in-law also had a farm. He got up every day at 4:30AM and still was at church at 10AM.
[/quote]

church at home..no such thing? ya kidding me! where do you think some of the first churches were? "where two or three are gathered in My name"...when my wonderful Daddy and I talked about God...well that was two of us LOL...that was church. A gentle tired old man who spent many years caring for his wife until her death and worshiping God in the quiet of him home on sunday is church! There are no verses saying how often you must go to church. and church can be anyplace God is, and someone is worshiping. Dont limit God to the building. blessings!
Post #: 24
RE: Acceptable Reasons to NOT Go to Church. - 11/1/2009 10:06:57 PM   
armywifey

 

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I have noticed those times that satan tried to distract me from going to church or bible study, is the time i really needed to go b/c God had a word for me in due season! I end up saying to myself, I'm so glad i came, or i could have missed a word the Lord had for me.

If someone is worshipping at home instead, i guess it;s better than nothing, but the ''i can't find a perfect church so i stay home'' is not an accetable excuse. The word talks about not forsaking the assembling of saints. It also talks about getting counsel from the wise, and fellowshiping w/ the saints. Last time i checked, most of this happens in the church...unless you just happen to be the lucky ones who are surrounded by christians everywhere you go.
Post #: 25
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