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Ophiuchus said:I was just wondering, would it be best for me to join a religious community or Church? Or just stay the same and keep plugging away at it?
I was once a "Christian", still hold some "Christ" views, and some, not all, just some christians tend to shun you for not being one of "them" anymore. So be it. As Standing Alone stated, do what you feel is best for the path you have chosen. Some need organized religion, others don't. But be prepared that if youtr views very slightly from the church you join, to catch hell for it.Ophiuchus said:I am what we call a "Christian" but I have never gone to church. I read the Bible, and I practice what it teaches in my day to day life. For further understanding of its hidden meanings I do a lot of research, and make my own conclusions as best as I can.
I have found that most non-religious, and or non-christian people are not a great source of support for my lifestyle. This is because they just dont know what I stand for. On the other hand I have also found that Religious or christian people can be very set in their ways, and sometimes even closed minded to new points of view.
I was just wondering, would it be best for me to join a religious community or Church? Or just stay the same and keep plugging away at it?
Thank you for your time.
Oh, I'm sure you are in good company. :flower2: I just figured that since you asked you wanted to hear from more than just people who see it the way you do.Ophiuchus said:Jesus did all his teaching outside of church, so maybe its not all that bad that i havent been a church going fellow. Maybe Jesus still does his teaching outside.
Ophiuchus said:I am what we call a "Christian" but I have never gone to church. I read the Bible, and I practice what it teaches in my day to day life. For further understanding of its hidden meanings I do a lot of research, and make my own conclusions as best as I can.
I have found that most non-religious, and or non-christian people are not a great source of support for my lifestyle. This is because they just dont know what I stand for. On the other hand I have also found that Religious or christian people can be very set in their ways, and sometimes even closed minded to new points of view.
I was just wondering, would it be best for me to join a religious community or Church? Or just stay the same and keep plugging away at it?
Thank you for your time.
I'm glad to see somebody voicing the opposite point of view. I, too, believe that church attendance is important, and for pretty much the same reasons you do. I don't go to church to socialize. I go to worship, to receive the Sacrament (i.e. Eucharist, the Lord's Supper), and to learn things I don't think I would learn by just reading the scriptures. No, I'm not always "in the mood" to go, and I miss occasionally, but if I miss more than a couple of Sundays in a row, it seems like something is missing from my life. (Actually, I'm not going to go tomorrow. Instead, I'm going to the 4000th consecutive live Sunday broadcast of the Tabernacle Choir's "Music and the Spoken Word." It should be really, really good!)lunamoth said:Well, from a different point of view than you've heard above, I think that going to church for the liturgy and the Eucharist is an important part of Christian practice. Socializing is a nice side benefit, but being part of a community is a way of being part of the Body of Christ. Of course this is not for everyone, think of the desert fathers who isolated themselves, and some types of hermit style monks. But at the very least it is meaningful to partake in the Eucharist, and perhaps also have a spiritual 'friend' or director to help you take stock now and then.
I certainly do think it a good idea to go to church for the reasons you state...but only if someone is ready to go. My kids have gone to church pretty much since the day they were born and fortunately they still enjoy going, are camp counselors and have gone on mission trips to Mexico. We all go. I was mostly counseling Opiuchus to not worry about it at this point in time...which is what he seemed to want to hear. I am assuming one day he will want to go. I know when I first became a Christian I did not go to church for quite some time afterwards.Squirt said:I'm glad to see somebody voicing the opposite point of view. I, too, believe that church attendance is important, and for pretty much the same reasons you do. I don't go to church to socialize. I go to worship, to receive the Sacrament (i.e. Eucharist, the Lord's Supper), and to learn things I don't think I would learn by just reading the scriptures. No, I'm not always "in the mood" to go, and I miss occasionally, but if I miss more than a couple of Sundays in a row, it seems like something is missing from my life. (Actually, I'm not going to go tomorrow. Instead, I'm going to the 4000th consecutive live Sunday broadcast of the Tabernacle Choir's "Music and the Spoken Word." It should be really, really good!)
Ophiuchus said:I am what we call a "Christian" but I have never gone to church. I read the Bible, and I practice what it teaches in my day to day life. For further understanding of its hidden meanings I do a lot of research, and make my own conclusions as best as I can.
I have found that most non-religious, and or non-christian people are not a great source of support for my lifestyle. This is because they just dont know what I stand for. On the other hand I have also found that Religious or christian people can be very set in their ways, and sometimes even closed minded to new points of view.
I was just wondering, would it be best for me to join a religious community or Church? Or just stay the same and keep plugging away at it?
Thank you for your time.
Buttercup said:I certainly do think it a good idea to go to church for the reasons you state...but only if someone is ready to go. My kids have gone to church pretty much since the day they were born and fortunately they still enjoy going, are camp counselors and have gone on mission trips to Mexico. We all go. I was mostly counseling Opiuchus to not worry about it at this point in time...which is what he seemed to want to hear. I am assuming one day he will want to go. I know when I first became a Christian I did not go to church for quite some time afterwards.
Maybe I should ask Opiuchus.....how come you haven't gone to church by the way?
I know what you mean. When my son was about 14, going to church became a battle every week. I finally decided that my relationship with him was more important than making him go when he didn't want to be there. He ultimately stopped going all together, but I didn't drive a wedge in between us by insisting that he go to church.lunamoth said:Forcing (or guilting) someone to church, kids, spouses etc. is not the way to go at all. Better for the family to go for a hike together than sit there fuming. My girls look forward to church and I hope they continue to do so. But, there will come a time when it is their decision, not mine.
Ophiuchus said:You know im not quite sure why i havent gone to Church yet. There has never been any pressure on me to do so, and my whole family on each side doesnt go either. That is probably why i havent gone to Church. My Dad always told me to find god myself and not through anothers ideology.
Great advice. If you feel the need to go, go. It's not going to hurt. You can learn. And if you like it, keep going. If not, either search for another church or keep doing what you are doing now.Ophiuchus said:You know im not quite sure why i havent gone to Church yet. There has never been any pressure on me to do so, and my whole family on each side doesnt go either. That is probably why i havent gone to Church. My Dad always told me to find god myself and not through anothers ideology.