Bible Question: i was saved 13 months ago and have been attending the church that my wife was membered at.the pastor is my wifes brother-in-law.the problem is that it is not growing and is somewhat -rednecked- it is really countryfied with bibbed overall mentality.everyone there is lacking in education [that is not the reason for my concerns]but it adds to the delima.the pastor is really bullish and after ten years of service,last sundays attendance was 12 including the pastor and his wife.the singing is really lousy with people forgetting the words,some who sing each week behind the alter sing the same songs each week with the words or hymnal still mess up constantly,i feel that they could at least practice and get it right,[after all, this is our lord we sing about and we are in his house]GET IT RIGHT.i have convinced my wife we need to move on to somewhere more godly. but her sister has already started in on her with the remark that god will beat me up for leaving,i cant say that they are lacking in the lord,for it is not my desire to knock anyone down.there is a need for sure to teach everyone,but my wife and i are not growing,if i must go on without my wife,so be it but,i fear that as i learn more and she stays behind,that it will cause more problems between us,i want for her as much as i want for myself,,please advise |
Bible Answer: Dear valspapa, Welcome to the forum... the Study Bible Forum! Although the forum is specifically not intended to render advice, I have to admit that it sounds like the church you describe might benefit from your absence. Churches face huge challenges these days, even with supportive members. Perhaps the Lord is moving even now to purify its ranks. In His love for His church, maybe He will begin to add to its numbers. He might bring in believers whose gospel-changed lives will be more interested in humble serving than proper service, more excited about joyful praise than correct harmonization, more concerned over beam extraction than mote counting, more diligent in spiritual growth than cultured sophistication, more passionate for Christ-like fruit than ground encumbrance. I and our readers will be in prayer for your former and future churches. In Him, Doc |