Comments on: They don’t go to church because…

By: Kevin Fusher

Kevin Fusher — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:59:33 +0000

My wife and I left a Church 18 months ago, we walk, Kayak, do the garden and meet regularly with six or so friends. The experience is one of adventure and discovery. Our walk with Jesus is stronger and more focused. I am working with the Lord to be salt and light in my business (Hairdressing)I find people want to hear about Jesus and some are willing to be prayed for, I am looking to be a link in the chain, a conduit for the Holy Spirit. Some of my Christian customers are supportive of my adventure some really think we will go into heresy! Some friends at our former Church are hurt and do not understand our reasons for leaving, and, for now to try to continue to explain, is not helpful to them. For myself dropping the baggage of being a former house group leader and an ‘alpha male’ along with three other men of the same ilk has been very interesting! I am begining to think that for men the emerging Church or whatever label you put on it is one of God’s ways of creating loving servants and dealing with people like me, who have mainly had functional relationships based on the Structure and mission of whatever denomination we have left. My Wife finds the more fluid, deconstructed way of doing things easier than me, which leads me to think that Women’s viewpoints and perspectives are a vital component in this new move of God.

By: Stacy

Stacy — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:08:34 +0000

I think the best function of the church is to expose young people to Christ. The Jr. High and High School programs are the most vital. After that, it just seems to be a bunch of gossiping ninnies. =)

By: Stacy

Stacy — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 15:49:10 +0000

“All the arguments that a person could construct to refute the ‘assembling of yourselves together, as some are in the habit of doing’ fall short for a few reasons” -

Really, really? You have heard all the arguments and they ALL fall short? How about this one?

We don’t go to church because my son is 5, and had a kidney transplant when he was 3 years old. He is immune-suppressed as a result of the anti-rejection medication. We will not put him in nursery or the children’s classes as a result, because we will not expose him to the vast amount of careless “Christians” who stick their sick kids in nursery/Sunday school. My friend is a greeter for the preschool Sunday school at a large church and said that last week a fellow preschool “greeter” had just been diagnosed with H1H1 but “felt fine” and came to “greet” anyway. One of their preschool attenders has leukemia and is on Chemotherapy, with a very weakened and fragile immune system.

I have learned that many people, Christian and non-Christian alike, are just idiots when it comes to judgement. And I will not risk my sons life because you decided you “felt ok” to come to church and shake his hand anyway.

Your comments sound judgmental, and the fact that you state that “all the arguments fall short” prove that you speak of that which you do not know.

Last I checked, the “vine” was Christ, and His saving life. The vine is NOT the church. If that were the case we would be in a sorry state. And the last I checked, there was no mediator between us and Christ. Therefore I can gain all I need through my reading of His word, I don’t need someone in a pulpit to explain it to me. I have been to Bible School, I have read the Bible extensively, and I have also worked in Ministry. My accountability is to God, through Christ.

By: thomas

thomas — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:33:13 +0000

have been a christian for 35 years.I have never seen a church function in the way it says it does. Does not encourage, exept the few. Does not evangelise directly through preaching the gospel.does not care about you.Has difficulty saying hello. Etc…..

By: stephanie

stephanie — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:18:08 +0000

It says..If..when..should..the church meet..gather etc..this is “optional” language..when did it become mandatory..oh those “little foxes.”

By: Joel

Joel — Fri, 15 May 2009 05:06:29 +0000

Have you read Alan Jamieson’s article called the 10 Myths About Church Leavers? I don’t have a link for it off hand, but if you search it I’m sure you’ll find it.

By: Michelle67

Michelle67 — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:49:19 +0000

Why do many churches want to be the vine or think that they are the vine rather than Christ? It’s simple – they want to be the One. They want people to come to them rather than Christ. The focus is the Pastor of that church or the church itself as the solution to all your problems rather than Christ. In other words it is the spirit of Antichrist – something other than Jesus is exalted.

By: Derek

Derek — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:15:50 +0000

I’m constantly reminded of Mathew 7:21. ‘Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven’.

Good then, that he doesn’t say you have to go to church. Otherwise a lot of us out here doing the will of the Father would be screwed.

I think Steve’s claim to listen to the ‘delegated authorities’ is a bit off base as well. who delegates them? why? who decides what authorities we need to listen to. If every one listened to the ‘delegated authority’ there would be no Christains, because the pharisees and other teachers of the time rejected Jesus anti-authoritarian message.

Steve you also say “So as far as asking people why they have perceivably “defected” from the church, other Christians should be holding their brothers and sisters accountable to their commitment that they made to Christ.” But isn’t that exactly what Martin Luther was doing when he nailed the problems of the church to the door and walked away. If we all blindly accepted the authorities there would be no protestants, but somehow I doubt you’ve vowed obedience to the Pope.

As for setting a bad example to the ‘unbelievers’. There are some serious issues in the world and in the church right now. Dealing with them openly and honestly is the only way to show the world Christianity is still relevant.

Imagine a broken marriage, but for the sake of looking good to the neighbors, the husband and wife pretend everything is OK and never talk to each other to resolve the issues? Is that a true marriage or just a convenient living arrangement? Paul talks about how the church is married to Christ. Shouldn’t we at least go see a counselor before we file for divorce? I think most people on this blog agree that its at least time for a trial separation.

By: Getting There

Getting There — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:11:53 +0000

There are people that go to church every sunday and never do the will of God and they have No love! The most compassionate people I have come across are the ones who have never stepped foot in a church. The building isn’t everything! The biggest commandment is to love one another.. the commandment was not “thou shall never miss a sunday of going to church, thy must go to church.” No. I have come across many ‘church goers’ who fail to reflect the true love of Christ.

Yes obey the day of the Lord, spend time with God have friends who are believers but as far as the church, we are the church. The kingdom of God is within me.
Well Said Debbie, Christ is the vine!

By: Debbie

Debbie — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:25:01 +0000

Bill,

I only wanted to make one brief response to Steve’s comment:

********

“All the arguments that a person could construct to refute the ‘assembling of yourselves together, as some are in the habit of doing’ fall short for a few reasons:

Disconnected from the vine, the life that you enjoy in Christ will dry up.”

********

So, am I to assume that “the church who meets in a building” is now “the vine” of this passage?

Actually, I thought Jesus was pretty clear in the passage when He stated, “I am the vine.”