Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Should a Christian go to church/if so how do you find a healthy church?

As has been mentioned a number of times, Christians can worship anywhere. But a place where we worship is not a church. I worship in a building that is partly a medical center and partly a school. So does the rest of the church that worships with me.

Isn't my bed a kind of altar when I kneel beside it to pray? Some Christians have altars at home for personal or family worship, but they generally don't do that "instead of" church.

Steve

Not to be presumptive, but the understanding that Christ was fully God is the precurser to understanding how he can also be fully man. His will is supreme and His only limitation is perpetual Truth. He has taken on the form of man many times prior to the advent of Christ. A disconnect may arise from understanding "why" He would want to set aside the Glory of Heaven and lower Himself to be a part, even the most blessed part, of a sinful humanity. That too can be understood or somewhat apprehended in accepting His Love for us is a Love unlike any other which also helps us with the concept of Grace.

No. They co-exist because it suits His plan and His will. He reigns Supreme and forever. Humanity as we know it now is as temporal as a puff of smoke in the wind.

What we understand is we cannot understand it all because we are not given the information to do so. It has little to do with adequacy.

That is supposition and in fact He doesn't need to. The Truth of Gospel is compelling enough for men to pursue it, at least when they have the opportunity to learn of it, and that has given rise to denominations. None of which to date have embraced it's entirety and likely won't until His return when His are changed from the corruptible to incorruptible.

Leven is what.

I don't think so. People can recognize and often will forgive ignornace. The kind of hurt that drives people out of churches comes out of pride, ususally of the meanspirited and/or self-promoting variety.

Yeah, well.....those who advocate kicking people out of a church because they live together or because they got a divorce or because they're a 'sinner' don't see it that way.

RickyD, without a long post, let me just say I understand your points, but we're speaking to the issue on different levels. In at least one case, your answer isn't an answer because it states as a conclusion what was already assumed.


With that, I agree completely.

Steve

I don't. Altars are for sacrifice. I have no need to sacrifice on an altar as the sacrifice for me has already been made on the Cross.

Many churches have communion tables which some may interpret as altars. They are more of a convenience for dispensing the emblems than for worship in my view.

Hum, interesting.

When I was a Catholic, "The Church" was the body of Catholics ruled over by the Pope and his clergy.

The consecrated building that Catholics worshiped in was "the church".

I looked up the word "church" and the dictionary says the building where Christians worship and/or hold services. The Church is also the body of Christians.

I guess no one can be a solatary Christian like the hermits and Fathers of the Desert were back in the day.

So many churches don't have consecrated alters any more like the Catholics do or did or the mainstream Protestant churches do or did?

Very true. The cross is the penultimate altar. However, some churches have kneeling rails at the front that they call altars. They're for "presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice." I see no problem with that, per Romans 12:1.

It has been a long time since I participated in one of these campfire discussions on religion. Now I remember why. They never seem to end.

Steve

Sorry. Don't mean to be picking on you. I do enjoy the discussions but have little time for them. In a week I lose my job and will have more, though I hope to spend more time in His word and less with my own.

No offense taken. One reason the discussions go on is my fault -- I participate in them. I spend more time doing this than I ought, at the expense of things both more urgent and more important.

Steve

Everyday Hunter,

To me it is important that folks like you and Ricky D post. I learn from you guys and assume other do also.

Thanks for taking the time.

I'm going to remember that and use that, really good analogy.

mm

In my mind, the Church should be a hospital at the gates of hell, but many times I have seen that Christians are the ones that shoot their wounded. I have a degree in Pastoral ministries (whoop-dee-doo...I know), and have spent a great deal of time in church and study of the Bible. I don't have the answers, but God does. He changed me around so much that I am no longer anything like I once was. Have I arrived? NO!. Salvation is an event, but it is also a life-long process of growth. There are no perfect churches that I have seen yet. There are some really great ones, but not perfect. One thing is sure...if a church is perfect, it will cease to be the very minute that I walk in the door. I have grown a lot through fellowship with the Brethren over the years. I have been run off from more than one church, as I am not shy about speaking out when I know that non-Biblical things are coming from the pulpit. If a church is adhering to the Bible...that is the main thing to me. I am not interested in slick sermons or man's philosophy. I look for a place to serve, as my Master was a servant, and I want to emulate/immitate Him. I don't go around looking to find fault with any church, but I do follow the admonition to beware of false teaching and preaching, as there are certainly many wolves in sheep's clothing. I enjoy teaching the Bible to younger or newer believers, because I can possibly help them avoid some of the pit-falls that I fell into as a new believer.

If you have been planting bad seed, after a season, you will reap bad fruit. If you are suddenly changed, and begin planting good seed, after a season, you will reap good fruit. BUT...if you broke the law and had a court date before you got saved...you still have to go to court. The bad fruit that keeps coming when a person first gets saved, can sometimes be hard for new brethren. I encourage them to keep planting good seeds, and to wait for the season to catch up to them.

And never forget...you are a part of the church...do what you can to make it the kind of church that would bring a smile to our Lord's face. Overcome evil with GOOD! Delight yourself in the Lord...and He will give you the desires of your heart! He may give you the kinds of desires that you should have in your heart, or, if your desires already line up with His will, He will give them to you willingly.

It is very much worth it to serve God and to love Him with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. He has given my life purpose, meaning, peace, and satisfaction. He has blessed me beyond measure. I sleep well, and only seldom have any trouble facing the man in the mirror...and when I do...I go to Him...for confession and forgiveness.

According to every bible I have seen, Paul was an apostle.

Yes, and the author of thirteen of the twenty-seven books of our New Testament (about 32% of the text.) Paul was a preacher, but he was no mere preacher.

Steve

Yep. Paul took the place of the lost one.

It's interesting, with all the mentions of Pharisees, that Paul had been a Pharisee before he was transformed -- and apparently also a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council that conspired against Jesus. I sometimes wonder if Paul (then Saul) was the "rich young ruler" who "went away sad" because Jesus demanded so much.

Steve

Right!


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Uh, if you look in the books Paul wrote, yes.

Sycamore

Uh, where should I look in order to find the truth?