Posted on 12/28/2024 11:02:22 AM PST by Patriot777
Recently, I once again efforted to attend a local church, which was a Baptist by name. I've been battling PTSD in the recent months, which was seriously hampering my ability to just get ready and go. During any given week, I researched the internet to find other local churches, and when I had decided on one, by that Saturday night so much fear welled up within me that I just put it out of my mind. Groaning within myself with much dejectedness and pummeling myself over being what I felt was cowardice. Sadness that I had allowed fear--what God commands that we do not allow to control us, but his Perfect Love casting all that out--
Within me there also was a message that rang out in my mind, that what did I have to fear of man? Was there not that right to go and be with a body of believers and join in worship of The Lord Jesus Christ, to praise His Holy Name? Not a spirit of pride, but that yes, I could make myself ready and make that drive to that church and attend services.
So this last Sunday, that is what I did. I was welcomed in, the dress was casual as I had noted in the church website. But groups of people were gathered talking with each other right near the entrance, and I began to feel trapped. It took nearly pushing past to get through them.
Not long after the worship service was about to begin, and I found seating. The lighting was low, and multicolored lighting was on the stage. Then everyone that was in the sanctuary was called to stand and the music began. Worship I cannot say, that as much as I tried, the beat, the type of music, the complete loudness was truly unsettling. I was literally gritting my teeth, listening for the words of worship but my spirit within was in near anguish for the type of music that accompanied it. Loud, confusing, unsettling. It was relief when it was over. A message of Salvation was preached and then a call for anyone who would like to receive The Lord, and also for other needs.
Then dismissal prayer, and it was in, again, relief that I entered my truck and drove home. I received a text later on that day from a church member desiring to inform me of two classes, looking to be to educate about church membership / assigning a class, other things at this point I don't recall. Then a call from a nice lady who also informed me of a few other things and prayed with me.
It saddens me that as so very much I would have been looking forward to attending services there again, I will not be. Forgive me for seeming to "pick things apart", but when folks gather to talk right at the inside of the entrance and make no effort or interest in moving aside, and the worship music causes chaos within your spirit and so much unrest...
We are not to align ourselves with this world, God tells us in His Word. Churches are playing this kind of music I believe to cater to the younger generation, to cater to the types of music they are hearing on Christian music stations. To draw them in.
I've experienced the difference. I've experienced the soothing, loving, deep, refreshing Scriptural worship with gentle and sweet and calm background music, many times without music. The Holy Spirit flowed like honey, and oftentimes tears streamed down my face. I knew that Jesus was releasing that huge knot of whatever I'd been facing at that time, from me, and filling in its place with His Presence and Love and Peace.
I know that The Lord Jesus will show me which body of believers to attend service with, but I know His call is for all believers to preach His Gospel. "If you confess with your mouth The Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Amen.
Try a small PCA or OPC church, 100 members or less. You won’t get a show but you will get faithfull biblical preaching and hearty singing of theologically rich hymns and songs. I have no doubt that there are faithful lovers of Jesus in the megachurches but like you, I don’t find real worship in that kind of atmosphere.
I used to join the churches I attended . I don’t anymore.
Did they have multiple ATM’s? That’s standard at the new mega churches. The big city wealthy are flocking to these to find a sense of belonging. My oldest sister goes to one, and trust me, she has zero religious sprit. Sh’s just an older (67) multi divorced, wealthy woman looking to tag along with her latest man.
You have never seen such a chameleon.
This bad behavior seems to be happening a lot more everywhere, not just at churches.
Pisses me off, I just shove through them, sometimes with a loud, "excuse me", and hope I've pissed them off enough to realize their error.
Denominations mean zilch at this point in church history. It is a minefield out there.
Two things:
1. It’s all about doctrine.
2. So find the man that has a legitimate call from Christ Himself. Everyone else is just a hireling (John 10).
Mark Dever’s “9 Marks of a Healthy Church” should give you a good azimuth.
I do NOT entertain a church that has zero tethering to the Reformation. I had better see it in your website, creeds and confessions, pastoral training, or even recommended books (Piper and RC Sproul are dead give-aways).
If you do NOT understand what has happened to the North American church, I commend “Revival and Revivalism” by Iane Murray.
A Messianic meeting is what I like.
I have been attending a wonderful church that was recently established near me. I was immediately invited to several functions and had to explain that while I would love to be involved, I’m really more of a solitary soul in my older age and prefer it that way. Had to fight my way through life in the corporate world as an introvert, and am now so relieved to have a little peace and quiet! I AM very active on a committee within the church that I believe is needed in the community, and I visit elderly and am open to whatever else the Lord would have me do. But I’m not a joiner these days and they are very gracious in accepting that.
It amazes me how they want you to join the Church after you’ve attended only Sunday and they don’t know anything about you or this fellow, unless they spent a long time talking to you or in this case this fellow which I’m sure they didn’t. But it doesn’t end there the list of what they want you to do or get into is a mile long, starting with attending Sunday School. Then it is some type of Discipleship class etc, and then memorizing a million scriptures, reading he Bible in a year, basically a lot of busy work, and you know what after getting started in some of that more often then not they still haven’t really got to know you, your just a figurative number or star in their hat per say. In the Mega Churches people really don’t really get to know you that well, that is my experience.
I’m praying for you, FRiend, that you keep trying, somewhere else. That church wasn’t the right one for you, but I’m so glad you got past a lot of your barriers and gave it a try despite how hard that was to do. Don’t give up. The Lord hasn’t given up on you. He wants you to have Peace. Keep seeking Him.
We attend a Church of God, (Cleveland Tennessee denomination). We get spiritually fed there, but it needs some updated music. My view on worship music is that the words need to praise God, magnify His Name, and glorify Him. Worship means “to add worth to”. They’re still singing 90 year old songs about personal experiences and longings. Some of them are ok, but there has been some awesome, anointed worship music written in the last 50 years. If it’s loud or has a beat, or not, I don’t care, as long as the words worship God. There are some wonderful, anointed hymns from 200-300 years ago, and I love those, too, but the same can be said about plenty of modern hymns. We are very conservative Christians, and this denomination is very conservative, but we don’t plan on joining the church. We pay our tithes there, and support the church. This denomination has come a long way. 50 years ago, if a woman wore makeup, cut her hair or wore slacks, she was going straight to Hell. Over the years, they came to the realization that God looks on the heart, and it’s what’s going on in the inside that God is most interested in. I hope you find a church where you feel the presence of the LORD when you walk in the door. I have experienced that in different churches of different denominations, and it is wonderful. And don’t get sidetracked by people in the congregation; churches are filled with sinners, because ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
My first rule of thumb is “Church is not about me”. I am there to worship and serve. I am a member of the United Methodist Church and attend a small Appalachian congregation. Although I am a conservative, I have never been a member of a conservative denomination because church isn’t about me. I attend local churches that I like.
There's just no pleasing everybody. Other people will feel dejected if they're hardly invited to the next step of being part of the church culture. "They're a clique." But you're turned off if they're inviting you to be more and more part of their church family. There's simply no one-size-fits-all as far as how engaging a church should be with people who visit.
Adding to the rec for an OPC or PCA. basically any church listed at naparc.org.
Sounds like you are where you need to be.
I always liked Street Preachers and stop and chat and encourage them.....
A very diverse Breed.
I say all this because I goto a Church that is almost the opposite, their is only three things to the service
1. Singing Hymns acappella for a half hour
2. About 15 minutes of pray requests, pray, and announcements.
3. And about a 45 minute or 50 minute sermon.
I'm not a good singer, and I bad at reading music. I sit more upfront so basically no one can really hear me and I can still follow the song leaders. But I wouldn't have it any other way, because it is a simple service.
Theoretically the minute you allow something like a piano, they would want guitars and who knows what else and eventually it would become an entertainment service.
Considering all three points, it is about the simplest you could get to a Church Service. But no matter I still feel like it is a Country Club Church and most of the members go there because it is the thing to do on Sunday. I go their mostly because I like the pastors sermons. But I still get the feeling most of the members are there to warm the pews and get announcements and pray requests and most of the sermons go in one ear and out the other ear. The last few sentence I've said is my opinion what most Churches have become, I don't think you could really change that, because in a sense the Bible alludes/hints that that is the way it is going to be.
I admire street preachers tremendously. Ray Comfort and the Jewish believers on the YouTube channel So Be It have my deepest respect.
I am in much the same situation. I have manic depression and it makes it VERY difficult to get up in the morning to visit a church no matter how much I want to go. The ones I have been to since I moved to this area have often been too big, and it matters to me that I’m in a place of intimacy with fellow believers. I’m hoping to relocate to the next larger town over soon. It’s a conservative leaning place with many more churches to check out. In the meantime I do my best to pray and stay in the Word, but I do miss fellowship.
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