Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Church? Where Have We Gone Wrong?

Dont fit, dood. jus sayin.

Who am I? Nobody. I just can't stand when people dress like they're going to eat at the Golden Corral when they're going to church. Same for people that stand in front of a judge and look like they just came from the beach.



Travis

[quote=the_shootist]CurDog45-70,

I think you'd do okay in one of my services.

I'm sure I would. And that is to your credit , not mine .

Actually , I'm a member of a small rural Baptist church , but they didn't come looking for me ; I found them.

I figure if you are going to attend a church service you ought to throw some $$ in the basket.You are responsible for the stewardship of that money.If you think it is going to be used wrongly , you can quit going or try to get them to change what they are doing.

Those folks are satisfied with what's happening to the $$$ they throw in , so trying to get them to change is not the proper course of action.My rule about church attendence is this :

Go, and don't bitch , or , don't go , and don't bitch .

Blessed art thou, Swampman700, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but our Father which is in Heaven.

Amen!

Been going to "Cowboy Church". What I call Jesus off the ala-carte menu. Has all the basics but none of the frills. Sundays sermon was accompanied by 3 feed buckets, where the pastor taught that you had to help open peoples eyes to get them to see what is right in front of them. Simple but effective ministry. Church always closes with the kids coming up and singing Happy Trails!

My understanding is they are spreading all over the US and are the fastest growing church in the country. If your looking for a simple, back to the basics church, give them a try.

TM

I am with DJTex on this one.

In addition to what he stated, I would also add that churches have become entirely too dependent on money. Churches spend a lot of money on their buildings, their furnishings, their coffee bars, etc.

When a church has a debt to service, it needs income to service it. Income comes from attendees/members. In order to attract and keep people in the church, the church has to "be attractive" and actually cater to the desires of people whose lives need changing. So the church actually responds to the demand curve set by the people, or it faces the prospect of fewer people--which, of course, means less money!

So, whether any modern church will admit it or not, the number one goal of the modern church is to guard and perpetuate the continued existence of the church entity. The entity, not Jesus, is paramount. Churches do what they have to do to keep givers giving, because church leadership wants to keep the business going. Preaching the gospel is secondary. I must sound cynical for saying that, but I have developed this thought over many years and believe it to be true in the vast majority of churches. Having sat through countless meetings regarding church finance and planning, I truly believe churches are mainly concerned about keeping the church going. And no church has ever realized this critical shift in priorities (or at least ever admitted it).

Churches are too willing to accept "a little pollution" in exchange for keeping the entity thriving.

I don't think God cares if you're comfortable or not. I believe He cares about your heart.

We have a cowboy church in our community as well, and the fellowship where I go and help is in an old truck warehouse that does not look or feel like a traditional church on purpose. Some come dressed up a bit, some in jeans, some in camo head to toe. What is important is that they COME and fellowship and hear Gods word clearly and correctly expounded with a strong emphasis on application. And yes, we have a coffe bar in the foyer, with no rules against bringing your coffee into the main meeting area.

"But who prays for Satan? Who, in eighteen centuries, has had the common humanity to pray for the one sinner that needed it most?" - Mark Twain

You got THAT right .A few years ago the wife and I , having just moved , attended the largest Baptist church in Wichita Falls for an Easter Service.

The "service " consisted of a power point presentation about the new Building project and the attendent financing.And that's ALL the service was !

As proof that this type of promotion pays off , the pastor of the church was "called" to one of the [ if not THE ] largest Baptist churches in Dallas not long afterwards.

THAT, is sad.

I, too have been on a few boards and such and been to a pile of meetings. Church body's with the right priorities (preaching and teaching Christ and the REAL good news, period) are hard to find but ARE out there. We, as sincere believers need to find these works and support them or - START one. Not a 'denomination' or another cash cow self serving entity but a true outreach oriented Gathering of believers who are mutually focused on fullfilling the great commision of making Disciples and following Christ. Enabling and equipping and uplifting one another toard these things in the process. At the same time worshiping God in our fellowship as well, with hearts and lives and all that we are focused on God, genuinly offering up our meager attempts at worship the best we know how without regard to what we used to like or prefer but rather, true and vital Worship of the only one who deserves it.

Christian book recommendations from a guy who posts nude pics of his old lady on the net. [bleep] classic.

tff. Heh.

A lot has changed in my life my friend, which is even more reason to investigate the books that helped me. Give me a call and I'll be happy to tell you all about it. I have a testimony that is anything but boring. 334-795-3596 Clint

You might also want to read up on David........

"Crazy Love" is another good one to read by Francis Chan. Nate Larkin's "Samson and the Pirate Monks" helped me a lot too.

Church has become a place where people like to talk about the trials they have overcome. Church should be a place for support to get through current trials, but very can handle that.

I think God wants the same person on Sunday as he has the rest of the week. I've seen far to many Christians take off their "spirituality" when they take off their Sunday Suit.

I'm with you. Many mega churches it seems have fallen hook line and sinker for "ways of the world" and have watered down scripture terribly to justify any and everything. If it feels good, God approves (apparently). Everybody's balance for what is 'right' in a sanctuary is different. I personally could care less about the trappings of the actual building, it's the conduct inside the building that really leaves me shaking my head sometimes.

Prayer works pretty good when you have an Oldsmobile upside down on top of you.

Judge and be judged. Glad you're on the straight and narrow. Could you repost those pics?