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Walking alone with Jesus helps most - 5/2/2008 5:06:30 PM
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BibleBased
Posts: 67
Joined: 4/29/2008
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This week i have again been reassessing my daily walk with our Lord, and i discussed the matter both with my mother (also a christian) and my wife (not a believer).
My decisions are the same as they have been for 10 years. I am withdrawing again from weekly church services. Why? Because 1/2 an hour once a week doesn't help me at all. Easter week made sense, a service every day and fellowship etc. But 2 hours a month is not being part of a church.
I have also decided to leave my bible study group, because it is so poor. A couple of ladies use it for nap time, the leader reads for an hour and then gives us no time to discuss.
At home i read 2 bible chapters a day, usually seperately. I often scan many bible books/ chapters every day. I read commentaries on individual books and use the Matthew Henry full 6 volume commentary regularly for reference. If i study a book i use 4 different bibles to get different translations.
Also i teach my eldest 3 sons every evening 365 days a year - i actually don't know ANY christian personally who teaches their chidren - that's the churches' job apparently.
The sad thing is nearly always when i come into contact with other christians they depress me and try to destroy my faith. Well they have no chance there, i'm rock solid! They don't want the bible, or they know it backwards but don't believe it and teach against it.
Where is the true church? I've tried many denominations and none want my children. Where are the 'bible' believing christians.
I've had all the discussions church is important and it tells us to attend in the bible. Been there. Actually it says to meet as christians, which was mostly in house churches and church means 'all called out' believers. The organised churches just are not biblical and a lot of the people in the Anglican church don't even want to be called Anglican any more!
It is a little sad that the only way i can have a strong daily walk with our Lord is almost alone. Just me, the bible, prayer/ talking to God and a few good christian friends. Because when i go near a church or even worse some christian web sites all i see is christians abusing christians in ways non christians never would.
I just want to meet christians who want the Word of God and to meet together in love and peace. Also i want them to want to get off their bottoms and go out and do mission work. I can spend my money on gospels and give them to non believers, but whole churches can manage a leaflet 3 times a year with no bible passages in it!
The church in the UK is almost dead. 4% attend church and i don't think i've met one who wants the bible who isn't in a paid position. Revivals and churches with large congregations turn out to be bible less, pop music and little bible. Last one out, please turn off the light!
Actually it worries me what mission organisations are converting people to. Because if one of the people i give a gospel to, response and wants to learn our faith, i don't know what i'll do after we have read it together. I can't say go to this church or that, or ANY and you'll grow. Because all the churches i've been to want me to give up my daily reading and live a compromising life.
You'll tell me your church is great. You'll tell me it loves children and families especially. You'll tell me the minister is super biblical and the study the best ever. Perhaps you'll tell me you are involved in spreading the bible every week?
I've heard it too many times. I go, it's nothing like that.
I'm not even sure what the point of this topic is. I continue to hope and pray i will meet a group of believers like me and be able to join them. Be able to study together, pray together and yes get out on the street and work together in God's work of converting people/ God's children!
Because even in mission work, i have to work almost alone. Because no organisation will touch me without a ministers letter. Which amuses me because if i went once a week for 30 minutes, i could get that letter without picking up a bible, but i'm not a hypocrit.
People who don't know the bible, have the weirdest beliefs because of it, can do mission work - but i have to work alone. Do you run a mission organisation? Would you let me join? So you see you force me outside the church by your own actions!
Well in the next few weeks i'm going to regroup, strengthen and grow again. I've been held back too long by churches and non bible believing, if that is possible even, christians. I believe i am where God wants me - but i'm open to offers, a church, a study and definitely God's work he gave us, mission. Love BibleBased.
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RE: Walking alone with Jesus helps most - 5/2/2008 5:59:25 PM
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sylvan
Posts: 35
Joined: 5/2/2008
Status: offline
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You are not alone. I think you're on the right path - use this opportunity to strengthen your personal relationship with God. I understand your bitterness, but don't succumb to the negative emotions. Accept that the world is flawed, and continue on your path.
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RE: Walking alone with Jesus helps most - 5/2/2008 6:25:24 PM
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Little_1
Posts: 538
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There is a lack of spirituality in many Scottish Christian churches (although not all) and in each town and city, there are a few churches (maybe one or two) who continue on faithfully. However, by and large, there is very little hunger for the things of God across Scotland and many Christians are more concerned about feathering their nests than the Kingdom of God. I know Biblebased lives in the south of the UK and he finds the spritual temperature there pretty lukewarm to cold likewise.
People (even confessing Christians) prefer to have their 'ears tickled' than hear a Bible based sermon. There are many churches being turned into flats, businesses and nightclubs even!
Yes - I have real concerns for our spirituality over in the UK also and understand why Biblebased is upset and disolusioned with our churches in the UK.
_____________________________
I was lost but Jesus found me.
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RE: Walking alone with Jesus helps most - 5/2/2008 11:23:13 PM
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Ignited-Faith
Posts: 360
Joined: 2/22/2008
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Little1,
I believe you hit the nail on the head!
quote:
People (even confessing Christians) prefer to have their 'ears tickled' than hear a Bible based sermon.
Biblebased,
Your words are painful to read.
What a reflection of the sign of the times...
The Church I now go to, the Pastor always starts out by telling sarcastic jokes... (I don't know if I'm the only one who doesn't find them funny, instead of laughing I want to cry...)
Many of the Sermons have become little skits... Etc.
My Husband is the head of the household, and for now he wants us to go here. (My prayer is that God might direct our path to a Church where we will be fed so we can grow!)
On the other hand, a few years ago we visited a different Church, they only Preached the Word of God! (Thoroughly I might add!!!)
I left that day thinking WOW! This is just what we've been looking for!!!What a spiritual meal!!! I couldn't wait to talk about the verses when my family got in the car... only to hear Everyone say, "We are not ever going back there....! I ended up joining the Ladies Bible Study. I have never, ever found such a loving, kind, wise, godly, group of women, at any other Church I've been to. Their love for God and His Word blew me away!
But for now, I am patiently trusting God.
I find that I am also alone with God.
This is wonderful, but I want my Family to have that too!
I find His Word a treasure, and knowledge is sweet!
I pray that my family will one day only have eyes for Him!
I pray that one day, together as a Family, we will pray, read the Bible, and talk about the Lord and all He is doing in our lives.
God sees the bigger picture. My hope is in Him.
We'll see where He takes us this Sunday!
With God, all things are possible!
May God also bless everyone who is hungry and thirsty for more!
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RE: Walking alone with Jesus helps most - 5/3/2008 3:56:03 AM
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BibleBased
Posts: 67
Joined: 4/29/2008
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It's funny talking about families. A couple of years ago my wife read the whole New Testament, to please me i admit. She spent weeks reading the bible and my mother who is at the church daily doing knitting, coffee, the lunch etc NEVER took a bible off her bookshelf. While my wife and i discussed scripture, my mother told me why are you always talking about the bible -get a new hobby!
For my mother the church is her life, almost every day and all her friends. I have talked to her about this and said that this could be wonderful for all of them. But they don't want the bible or faith. I have had long periods attending the coffee morning for example, faith is never mentioned, it might as well be the bowls club or snooker club. I have also collected my mother from most of the groups and popped in and chatted to the ladies. Christianity is never mentioned.
You see if i was older to fit in with these groups, all pensioners, it would make me even sadder to be at the church daily with Christian friends and get told to stop talking about our Hope/ faith. Because i'm considered weird if i meantion Jesus or the bible around the church - a fanantic. That is strictly for the service! Then lets do other things.
I'm glad the people replying haven't attacked me, which i have had on other sites. Perhaps this site is different and more 'Christian'/ loving.
Please believe i would rather be IN a church, IN good bible study, SOCIALISING with good christian families. If anyone in the UK has a suggestion i'll listern, i always go to my brothers/ sisters in Christ. Especially to any mission organisation. Because i take Jesus's/ God's order to go out and take the good news to non believers seriously. I've even 'met' on line a missionary from abroad sent to work in the UK. I might have found this funny in the past with so many churches in every town. But 10 years of attending different churches show me that the good news needs to be preached not only to non believers, BUT ALSO to most church attending believers!
What do people think of house churches or free churches? Should i look into setting one up myself? There is a free church locally, totally free of all denominations which answers to noone and a community church. However i took my whole family to the free church and got told the usually - can your young children go outside (aged 3 & 6) when they made the slightest noise at the back of the church. We tried twice more and even the coffee morning was impossible. It was me alone or nothing. Great witness to my non believing wife and 5 sons.
Yes does anyone run a house church or hire a hall and do it themselves? Love and God bless Paul.
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RE: Walking alone with Jesus helps most - 5/4/2008 9:37:52 AM
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BibleL7
Posts: 410
Joined: 2/1/2008
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Sorry if we tend to have been boasting on our churches here in the US we are very much in a different situation than the UK. And it is hard to realize the problems you are having simply because we don't encounter them. As for my post in the other thread about house churches I apologize if it is confusing it was in the thinking of the US and not considering you might be in another country.
I do know that Calvary Chapel has missionary in Whales don't know if that would be any where near you or if that is one that has the popular music just know that some who went there were very much bible believing. They do tend to like the more popular music. Don't know if you might be able to contact them to get help. Sorry is only group I know of in UK that was looking to bring the Bible back to UK. When I attended CC in Reno we had a group from our church go there and they reported the state of the current churches in UK.
I will very much keep you in prayer and ask your forgiveness for my ignorance and if anything I have said has offended you I am sorry.
May the Lord richly bless you and yours with much love always may He guide you in all your ways and strengthen you in your endeavors
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RE: Walking alone with Jesus helps most - 5/4/2008 9:43:46 AM
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DustyLady
Posts: 84
Joined: 5/3/2008
From: Ohio
Status: offline
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I think some of us forget how Christ worshipped his Father -- by going away to a private place, in prayer and meditation. And, remember how Christ told us, when we pray, to go into a closet away from others?
There are certainly benefits to be gained from corporal worship, but I don't think that God will think any less of us if we opt for the private kind occasionally. My husband hasn't been to church in years, except to hear me sing or to attend a wedding or baptism. And his faith is truly awe-inspiring.
Dusty
_____________________________
"The thing I hate about an argument is that it always interrupts a discussion." -- G.K. Chesterton
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RE: Walking alone with Jesus helps most - 5/4/2008 10:42:27 AM
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BibleBased
Posts: 67
Joined: 4/29/2008
Status: offline
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I have contacted a couple of local papers to see if i can do an article or just an ad, trying to start a house church. Please pray. Perhaps this is where God has brought me to on purpose, to reach out to others who have rejected the church. I would love to blend into the background of a good biblical church, but i am not afraid of leading and working to start a new church either. Love BibleBased.
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RE: Walking alone with Jesus helps most - 5/4/2008 10:58:54 AM
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manda59
Posts: 5193
Joined: 9/22/2005
From: Hampshire, UK
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: BibleBased
The church in the UK is almost dead.
I beg to disagree!
_____________________________
"WAY TO GO Manda! ....Excellent advice! You've done it again!"
(BlessedMamaofmany, June 2008)
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RE: Walking alone with Jesus helps most - 5/4/2008 11:12:22 AM
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Little_1
Posts: 538
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: manda59
quote:
ORIGINAL: BibleBased
The church in the UK is almost dead.
I beg to disagree!
If you live in an area where there is a live Christian community - you are the exception manda. Much of the UK is spiritually dead or sleeping - at least it is in Scotland - especially the small towns and rural villages.
_____________________________
I was lost but Jesus found me.
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RE: Walking alone with Jesus helps most - 5/4/2008 12:34:59 PM
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BibleBased
Posts: 67
Joined: 4/29/2008
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manda - i recieved your person message and replied. Little_1 it is lovely to feel your support and protection, but i don't believe manda is being anything but honest in her experience. My experience is of awful churches. This is partly due to having 5 children. I know other christians just accept the children don't belong in services, at the church and take it in turns to go to services for example. Despite my family almost running the church, except the vicar, when i was young my parents did this. My problem is i have had young children for 15 years so the not being welcome has lasted more than most people, who do a couple of years and then are mainstream again.
manda - i don't want to argue but the official figures speak for themselves 4% at best go to church. That's 96% who don't! All the churches i have attended have very little bible in them and study is very poor.
I am happy if your experience is different. If you belong to a growing large church, i heard recently of a church with 2000 members in Wales. I'll be even happier if you tell me it has excellent bible study. But i have been told this many times, by many people and when i attend the experience is always the same. Bible study is just awful, on the most basic level and those there have to be corrected on the simplest of christian beliefs, despite being self professed christians of decades in some cases. Many are willing to admit privately, some publically that they actually don't believe in Jesus and the bible.
manda or anyone, on here or through e mail or private message, i would love to hear of strong churches with good bible teaching. I could really do with a boost after my many bad experiences. Why do you think i give out gospels to believers and non believers alike? Because many church goers are certainly not saved! Love Paul.
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RE: Walking alone with Jesus helps most - 5/4/2008 1:16:54 PM
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SinnerSaved
Posts: 266
Joined: 10/28/2007
From: Belfast, N. Ireland
Status: offline
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BibleBased,
I too live in the UK and can relate to what you have said about churches here. We desperately need a revival! However, do not forget God's promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
I am extremely fortunate to be able to attend a wonderful church that preaches the gospel. There is bread in our house. I live in Northern Ireland, and the church is Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle. We have a congregation on a Sun morning of around 2,000 and Sunday evening of 2,000-3,000. On our Wednesday night Bible Study, we have around 1,000 attend and we have a prayer meeting on Monday night and Friday night. Our youth group (The Well) is extremely strong and meet every Saturday night, with many of their friends regularly being saved as they come to see what it's all about.
You can log on the internet and listen live, or even listen to past sermons. Our web site is:
www.whitewell.com
If you prefer, you can watch us on UCB TV at 7am and 8.30 pm The programme goes out under the name of our pastor - James McConnell.
Maranatha
_____________________________
"No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."
John Donne
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RE: Walking alone with Jesus helps most - 5/4/2008 1:33:31 PM
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colliefan
Posts: 2159
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: Raleigh, NC
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: manda59
quote:
ORIGINAL: BibleBased
The church in the UK is almost dead.
I beg to disagree!
quote:
Could upu start a seperate thread on the good going on in the church in the UK?
_____________________________
The grace of God is infinite and eternal. As it had no beginning, so it can have no end, and being an attribute of God, it is as boundless as infinitude.
A. W. Tozer (1897–1963)
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