Fed up with American Christian churches

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Lifelong_sinner

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Hello to you the reader,

Church is a funny word.

Here recently have been going more often to church.

The preaching or if they teach verse by verse is okay at best. Having investigated and searched the Bible for myself has helped me greatly understand what is suppose to be done, along with a teacher who helped me along to as God helped me grow in Christ.

People who are of Christ and live by the spirit, even if they are married, are seemingly alone though having God their with them, by the Holy Spirit and the spirit of Christ being within them.

It’s called suffering… there are three Greek words for this so you may desire to look up them and see which fits in the context of scripture when it talks about it.

The Christian life is a difficult one because it requires you to self sacrifice yourself of your desires and passion upon the cross with Christ and to be buried with him in his death. Then be raised again to new life. Not everyone may desire that type of life and have a hard time transitioning from the flesh to the spirit.

To expect people to rely on you, or need you, and to help you; seems illogical at least to my understanding because as a 30 year old male, who lives alone the only help I may get is from my mother. (Subsequently there are few that may help you).


There are people I see and met through life and you let them know your interest of God and Jesus Christ and you try to be interested in their interest but all you personally have to offer is Jesus Christ and God and prayer and if they would like to read scripture, and learn about things of God.

It seems that people may avoid you like the plague. Being someone who likes to go to church only to see the people when comes to preaching or the teaching, I don’t care what they may say at all, it was good enough for them to share it; and that I’m thankful for.

I like honesty, and upfrontness. I don’t care about the extra curricular activities, I just desire to hear the word of God presented and taught… and I’ve started my own YouTube just to do it in an organized manner.

I don’t need to hear Jesus died for me and rose again for me anymore. I need to hear about Jesus and a verse by verse the in turns has an effect by the hearing of scripture and leading people to be more filled by the spirit.

People still waiting on Jesus to come back, as a believer I believe he done came back: you mention that to someone at church they will pass along the message and people may dislike you or something.

As one person had mentioned people are people, he is right. People are people with freewill and they decided how they need to handle their life and it will always be between them and God, and always boils down to having faith and ultimately love for God and others.

It’s best not to judge others but instead judge ourselves in how one conducts his or her life either in or out of the material building.

In love,
Matthew Gallagher

Jesus hasnt come back yet.
 

MatthewG

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Hi my friend @Lifelong_sinner,

I’m to the point what other people believe is fine with me, my decision is that I’m not gonna fight or argue with them. Human beings are going to believe what they will believe based according to their own perception and knowledge based off the Bible.

From what I understand now at this point in life if one fights argues and bickers it leads to an unfulfilling spiritual life in my opinion.

As a Christian I am called to… love… by the spirit, nothing more, nothing less.

Thank you for reading,
In love,
Matthew Gallagher.
 

farouk

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When I compare the new church to the modern church, the modern church is NOTHING like the new church. With the new church fellowship occurred both at church AND in real life, everyone was included, and the new church made sure nobody went without.

With the modern church, I hear incessantly 'we love and accept everyone', but in reality, this isn't true because the church caters to extroverts, marrieds raising families, and neurotypicals (those who don't have Asperger's syndrome and/or autism). If you don't fall under one or all of the aforementioned three categories you're forgotten. Fellowship is relegated to church on Sunday and small groups, but I don't see it carrying over into real life.

I am tired of the rudeness, the insensitivity, the selfishness, and being so focused on their perspective, they don't even try to understand the other person's viewpoint. I am also very tired of the go-to in-regards to helping someone ALWAYS being encouragement. I don't have an issue with encouragement in and of itself, there's nothing wrong with it, however it's not always the solution, nor is it always the appropriate thing to do depending upon what the situation is. There's nothing wrong with encouragement, there is however a huge problem with being so fixated on positivity and encouragement that the church basically refuses to talk about anything difficult/serious/'heavy' which isn't healthy and it's definitely NOT biblical to do this.



I am tired of Christians saying 'we love and care about you' but if you don't act and think like they want/think you should act and/or are difficult to love, you're basically rejected. I am also tired of Christians refusing to serve if it means being inconvenienced and/or it makes them feel uncomfortable.


When I went to church, I expected to receive support, to be able to confide in the church, to receive practical help beyond just encouragement and unsolicited advice. Instead, I'm forgotten, and have basically given up hope that I'll actually find a church where I'm truly included, because I'm not a neurotypical, not an extrovert and am an older single. Yes, I'm very angry with the church but t's for the very reasons mentioned above, but I have been hurt and forgotten by the church, and this didn't happen instantaneously, I have dealt with this with basically every church I have ever been to.

I am tired of being misunderstood incessantly; I expect this from the secular world. However I didn't expect this type of treatment from the church, which just exacerbates the pain. I don't expect them to completely understand me when they don't have Asperger's syndrome (which I do), however I am not asking them to completely understand me, I'm asking they make the effort to try to understand me, and I don't even see that much occurring.
Hi; Acts 2.42 is a good guide for local church activities...
 

LILAC

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You're not alone. The rejection that comes from organized churches is outstanding and quite frustrating. As parents of a special needs son, we could not have been more neglected coming from a "church family". We attended for nearly 20 years in hopes that something might change this year. We had this false hope every year! One of the pastors even had a special needs child himself. When we approached the other special needs families within this church, I asked them if the church actually helped them with anything and you could tell by the looks on their faces, the sheer disappointment. Churches are failing families everywhere! It took us a while, but we finally woke up. God radically changed our lives and we no longer associate with anything "church" that requires a building and your hard-earned paycheque so the pastors can go spend it frivolously on the next grand vacation that THEY are so much entitled to because they are the first to tell you they live such hard lives for the Lord.... I'm sure nobody has it as tough as they do. Meanwhile, they can keep you up to date with the sports, news, and entertainment media. All the while their sheep go long-neglected, spiritually, mentally and in all the other aspects of a human being.

The feeling I get when I now think of these churches, now that we've been out for a few years, is a deep grieving. These are the lukewarm, compromised with the world, carnal Christians that Christ Himself will spew out of His mouth. That is going to be a very sad day. As much as I'd like to "give them an earful", Jesus reminds us to leave it up to Him. Just keep our eyes on Him and He is going to deal with these churches.
 

JohnPaul

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I think you're right, but have you tried to change this? God is inclusive and there are two sides to everything, what the church do is not exactly right, and so is your view. I think you can start by making some changes, and you can do it without focusing too much on what the church does or what other christians do, just only on whether you are right.
God is not all inclusive, that means he would accept and approve of LGTB and anything associated with homosexuality, isn't the what inclusive pertains to in this instance?
 
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LILAC

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If God were all inclusive, there would be no such place as hell.

What exactly are we to change? We don't have enough going on for us, that we are now to go and change the church and their ways? I don't think so. The shepherd is to accommodate his flock. When he lacks in his ways to do so, he is failing his congregation. And God.
 

quietthinker

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If God were all inclusive, there would be no such place as hell.

What exactly are we to change? We don't have enough going on for us, that we are now to go and change the church and their ways? I don't think so. The shepherd is to accommodate his flock. When he lacks in his ways to do so, he is failing his congregation. And God.
I'm persuaded we create hell...not God. We however have done what we always do ie, superimpose our desires for revenge onto God. God gets the blame and we dismiss our responsibility.
 

Brakelite

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Try to be less "church" minded and more "serve God with my life" minded.

The reason i say this, is because you can waste your entire Christian life believing that you are serving God by being on Time every Sunday so that you can all get out at the same time to go to the restaurant.

You can believe that what goes on inside the Church walls, other then an alter call, is not that important, once you have learned the Faith basics and have grounded your belief system in : Hebrews 13:9.

If you have children, then of course, your have to spend your life inside the church walls, till they are old enough to figure it all out.

Otherwise....

God actually does not need church membership, he needs "here i am send me".
That is what God is wanting, and can rarely find.
After being let down through the roof, Jesus said to the sick of the palsy, "I didn't come to serve you, you need to serve me. I don't forgive you and I won't heal you."
 

GEN2REV

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After being let down through the roof, Jesus said to the sick of the palsy, "I didn't come to serve you, you need to serve me. I don't forgive you and I won't heal you."
That is similar to some others verses I have noticed.

What is that verse?
 

GEN2REV

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i searched “After being let down through the roof, Jesus said to the sick of the palsy” and got three hits fwiw
Yes, thank you. I easily found that event in the chapter.

What I didn't find is Jesus saying this:
"I didn't come to serve you, you need to serve me. I don't forgive you and I won't heal you."
 
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Brakelite

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Yes, thank you. I easily found that event in the chapter.

What I didn't find is Jesus saying this:
No. And you won't. So perhaps you should ask 'Behold' why that would be an appropriate manner in which to respond to the OP seeing as how Jesus gave us quite a different example. Note his post I quoted above
 

Cassandra

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When I compare the new church to the modern church, the modern church is NOTHING like the new church. With the new church fellowship occurred both at church AND in real life, everyone was included, and the new church made sure nobody went without.

With the modern church, I hear incessantly 'we love and accept everyone', but in reality, this isn't true because the church caters to extroverts, marrieds raising families, and neurotypicals (those who don't have Asperger's syndrome and/or autism). If you don't fall under one or all of the aforementioned three categories you're forgotten. Fellowship is relegated to church on Sunday and small groups, but I don't see it carrying over into real life.

I am tired of the rudeness, the insensitivity, the selfishness, and being so focused on their perspective, they don't even try to understand the other person's viewpoint. I am also very tired of the go-to in-regards to helping someone ALWAYS being encouragement. I don't have an issue with encouragement in and of itself, there's nothing wrong with it, however it's not always the solution, nor is it always the appropriate thing to do depending upon what the situation is. There's nothing wrong with encouragement, there is however a huge problem with being so fixated on positivity and encouragement that the church basically refuses to talk about anything difficult/serious/'heavy' which isn't healthy and it's definitely NOT biblical to do this.



I am tired of Christians saying 'we love and care about you' but if you don't act and think like they want/think you should act and/or are difficult to love, you're basically rejected. I am also tired of Christians refusing to serve if it means being inconvenienced and/or it makes them feel uncomfortable.


When I went to church, I expected to receive support, to be able to confide in the church, to receive practical help beyond just encouragement and unsolicited advice. Instead, I'm forgotten, and have basically given up hope that I'll actually find a church where I'm truly included, because I'm not a neurotypical, not an extrovert and am an older single. Yes, I'm very angry with the church but t's for the very reasons mentioned above, but I have been hurt and forgotten by the church, and this didn't happen instantaneously, I have dealt with this with basically every church I have ever been to.

I am tired of being misunderstood incessantly; I expect this from the secular world. However I didn't expect this type of treatment from the church, which just exacerbates the pain. I don't expect them to completely understand me when they don't have Asperger's syndrome (which I do), however I am not asking them to completely understand me, I'm asking they make the effort to try to understand me, and I don't even see that much occurring.

You may be frustrated because God has opened your eyes to this so much that it is now a burden. You may be the mechanism He chooses to fix this!
Ask to speak at the Church board Meeting, and tell them how you feel. Offer some ways to address this problem. (If it affects you, there are others it probably affects as well, who are silent but hurting)Since the Holy Spirit has given the church gifts, one of which is helps, maybe the Church Board could direct this problem to someone who has the gift of helps. But if you asked me, I think you have it. (And perhaps Mercy too.)

You see that your problem is not just limited to you, but others as well. That is why I think you have it. What you need is a list of possible opportunities that perhaps the church could accept and put into the hands of those who have 'helps" and "mercy." (I am confident those who have these gifts would volunteer, once they heard about it.)


God Bless you!!! I'm excited for you and the changes!!!!!

dc3abca7cea250018640f40870dc7656.gif
 

farouk

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Hi @kittehsareinsane Acts 2.42 contains a wholesome list of things done in a local church which may mark it out as being Biblical in character.... May the Lord lead you in your personal walk with Him.
 

Brakelite

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You may be frustrated because God has opened your eyes to this so much that it is now a burden. You may be the mechanism He chooses to fix this!
Ask to speak at the Church board Meeting, and tell them how you feel. Offer some ways to address this problem. (If it affects you, there are others it probably affects as well, who are silent but hurting)Since the Holy Spirit has given the church gifts, one of which is helps, maybe the Church Board could direct this problem to someone who has the gift of helps. But if you asked me, I think you have it. (And perhaps Mercy too.)

You see that your problem is not just limited to you, but others as well. That is why I think you have it. What you need is a list of possible opportunities that perhaps the church could accept and put into the hands of those who have 'helps" and "mercy." (I am confident those who have these gifts would volunteer, once they heard about it.)


God Bless you!!! I'm excited for you and the changes!!!!!

dc3abca7cea250018640f40870dc7656.gif
Great post. Those best qualified to minister to square pegs are other square pegs.
 

bbyrd009

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Yes, thank you. I easily found that event in the chapter.

What I didn't find is Jesus saying this:
After being let down through the roof, Jesus said to the sick of the palsy, "I didn't come to serve you, you need to serve me. I don't forgive you and I won't heal you."
um i think bl was being facetious :)
ironic? sarcastic