Bible Question:
First of all, I do not mean to offend anyone, I am just curious as to other outlooks on this topic. I am a 20 year old man who Beleives firmly in God and in the Savior Jesus Christ. I pray daily and am doing all that I can to develop a relationship with god. I do not however, attend church on a regular basis. My experience and outlook on the church, has led me to beleive that quite often, the church in my opinion tends to lead people away from a true beleif in God. Too many times in church I've felt like someone else's beleifs are being forced upon me in place of being inspired to develop my own beleifs through the truth of the bible and to find what god truly wants me to do with my life. I've always thought that the church should be a place where you can go to worship God in your own way and a place to go where you can learn through sharing with the experiences and outlooks of others, yet in most churches I've attended, perspectives that don't agree with the pastors are completely shunned on. I guess I only wish that church was a more free enviroment and that I could attend it without feeling like I have to beleive word by word the interpretation of the bible that someone else has instead of developing my own interpretation. What I want to know is does anybody else feel this way, and does it seem wrong to anyone but me to replace doing what you feel god wants with going to church every week and doing what the church says? I welcome all views from either end of the perspective as I am an open mind and want to truly learn from the beleifs of others. |
Bible Answer: It is not wrong to ask! From your situation I can see you are a youth strugling with the question of submission to church authority. Most problably at your age you cannot agree with the set styles of the church, which to you seems out of sync with current realities. This is understandable My question is; Does the Church you attend preach the Truth of the Gospel of Christ? If yes, then I believe you are being 'sharpened'. Proverbs 27:17. Iron sharpen iron, so a man sharpens his friend. To sharpen something requires some form of pressure or other. Your wish to be alone from other's for fear of being influenced negatively could well be the enemy of our souls, the devil, trying to lure you away from your source of the Word of Life. You need more of church and not less. Bible states that we should not despise fellowship. I work in a place where I can compare with 'Sodom and Gomorah'. We who believe in Jesus have a small bible study and prayer group that meets twice a week. It has saved many of us from lots of grief, but those who chose the solitary way from fellowship have come to great problems. Picture this: A pile of wood in the fireplace gives off lots of flame and warmth. Get one out and lay it aside alone and see what happens, it soon fizzles out and dies. Now get it back into the rest of the pile and see that it soon glows back to a flaming life. I know some poorly trained or unprepared shepherds in the churches today can be hard on the flock resulting in pain. I have been there with my family where we were dis-fellowshiped for a year and half owing to lack of wisdom on the part of leaders. We suffered, and so did the work the Lord had given us in church. We just got back last month and wow! What a service of sweet reconcialliation that was! My counsel to you is to stay put in your Church and wait, return if you have been away. Your occassional appearance cannot qaulify you to make a general conclussion of all Churches. May be you should try out a few other churches that may have youth programs in their calendar if your present church doesn't have. Seek counsel from other Christians and never neglect your parents in any part of your life. They took care of you since when you were a baby, so share your concerns with them. I am sure they are bound to give you sound advise. Importantly, allow the Lord to minister to you and in due time He will show you what to do. Let Psalm 27:14 give you encouragement. This can only happen if you constantly partake in services and bible teachings. In His Service, Andy. |