WHY BOYOES ABSENCE?
Friday, May 22, 2015
Hebrews
10:22-27 Let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and
our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider
one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one
another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if
we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there
remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of
judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
James 4:17 … to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
On Monday, May
18, I posed several questions to you have to do with why are there so few men
in church. Though I had hoped for more, not many responded, a reaction that may
be indicative in itself. Read on … EBB4
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I think all America has become feminized, and the church
is sadly more influenced by, than it influences, the rest of all America.
"Why do I go to church?" I go to church
because:
I believe God wants me & my family to go to church.
I desire for me & my family to be healthy, growing
Christians.
My fellow believers in my local church provide me &
my family with encouragement and accountability to be healthy & growing,
and God uses me to encourage & provide accountability to my fellow
believers.
I am able to worship in a more thorough way in the local
church setting.
God equips me to be a better ambassador for Christ, a
better husband, a better Dad, and just a better man through my involvement in
my local church.
TOP 10 REASONS
WHY A CHRISTIAN SHOULD ATTEND CHURCH:
10. It is sin to
not go to church.(Jas. 4:17)
9. It’s the right
choice. (Joshua 24:15)
8. It’s the
soul-winner’s responsibility. (Luke 14:23)
7. To have a
better life. (Matt. 11:28)
6. To follow the
Bible pattern. Acts 2:47)
5. To confess
Christ. (Luke 12:9)
4. To have
fellowship with other Christians. (Acts 2:42)
3. To have a
healthy Christian life. (1 Peter 2:2)
3. To express
thankfulness (Luke 17:16)
1. To obey
Christ’s commandment (Heb. 10:25)
TOP TEN REASONS
WHY SOME CHRISTIANS DON’T ATTEND CHURCH:
(from the same
Scripture verses as above)
10. Don’t care
that it’s sin.
9. Don’t care if they
make bad choices.
8. No desire to
see others get saved.
7. Desire a
sinful life over a better life.
6. Don’t want
God’s pattern.
5. Don’t care to
confess Christ.
4. Don’t care to
fellowship.
3. Prefer to
neglect spiritual health.
2. Ungrateful.
1. Disobedient.
Tom (IL)
-
I stopped going to
church at least my church because of Pastor Derik Hines at the Community church
of Joy in Glendale Arizona. I had been attending this church for nine years. I
have served and volunteered in every capacity there is in this church. Before I
was suspended and kicked out by Pastor Derik Hines, I has taken over as manager
the Sunday snack bar we call the Taste Of JOY. I had many doubts and concerns
about assuming this position because of my background. I expressed this to the
Pastor along with another pastor in a meeting with the woman I was to replace.
They both knew my background and knew my concern but told me in front of her it
was no issue as long as I wanted to serve. So I accepted the position and
trained and took over. I ran this group of volunteers for six months including
the holidays and special events including Kenny luck. During March I was
wrongly accused on hugging one of my staff members inappropriately. I was
devastated. I talked to the person involved and another member who both stated
in no certain terms I had never did a thing wrong to either of them They even
called the pastor on this. I met with him and brought along a retired superior
court judge as my witness and assistant. The pastor explained that his security
guard over reacted to the situation but never apologized. Instead two weeks
later he called a meeting of all the volunteers to discuss background checks
which had been brought up in my meeting. In front of 15 witnesses he told
everyone that there was NO ONE in that meeting that had anything to worry about
as far as background problems. I was very reluctant to fill it out since he was
all ready aware of my problem. I have a felony from seven years ago. I trusted
him to be fair and honest with me. After a week of deciding on Palm Sunday I
turned it in. Sure enough on good Tuesday he suspended me pending further
investigation. Then it became I was accused of harassing some woman at church.
The story kept changing and the lies kept piling up. A pastor who deliberately
lied because he needed to protect some person who is not even a member of the
church yet blew me off like I never mattered. As it turned out He never lifted
the suspension and I never went back. No one from the church not even the few friends
I had left have even bothered to contact me or even care about me.. I cant
attend my church home of nine years because of a series of lies and
inconsistencies. I have NO church home and any church I have attended once they
know my background have ostracized me There is NO point being in a place
or a church YOU are not welcomed. The least of these does not apply in modern
society especially if you are a felon. … I am not sure courage [in
sharing his experience] is the right word. I have no home church or otherwise.
I have nothing to lose and I doubt there will be any reaction. I just feel as
though I was made a scapegoat for nothing after nine years of service to this
church. Which meant nothing. Now I am nothing. Joseph Inserra (AZ)
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The Pew Report
said about the same. A left progressive reporter for the New York Times
wrote a story that the young people are leaving the Church, but Fox News said
it is not true...only in the churches that are watering down God's Word are
they seeing young people leave.
First Lutheran's
attendance is fully recovered from the rift we had when our junior pastor left
and took one third of our congregation. We picked up many young people
(with small kids) from the ELCA congregations over the "homosexual can be
pastors because we have grace" doctrine they adopted. Our
congregation was mostly gray until the last ten years. Praise Jesus!
Then the other
day, Kevin Steele (a left leaning reporter from Texas) got an earful from Ted
Cruz. The reporter was asking Ted why he hated gays. So Ted asked
him why he hated Christians. I Pray that the other Republican candidates
follow suit.
DJK (NE)
-
Make church more attractive
to men?
Wouldn’t this
draw such men that are drawn to or marry women for their attractiveness, then
depart if she begins to look like a sagging bag lady?
CL (MD)
-
Jesus said He
would draw all men to Him. (Jn.12:32) All men will not come. (Mt.7:13-14;
Jn.3:15-21)
I believe there
are underlying reasons why people forsake gathering together in His name.
(Heb.10:25 )
The reasons have
to do with unbelief on the part of the unsaved and saved alike; attitude toward
The Word living (Jn.1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God.” Also note 1Jn.5:20.) and written (2Tim.3:16-17 “All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God
may be perfect, throughly [completely] furnished unto all good works.”)
The two greatest
motivators in life are fear and love. They are behind all that we do or don’t
do, at times contrarily so. A man fears not being responsible. He loves family
and friend. A man fears responsibility. He expensively loves himself above all
others. There are many more examples that may be given. No need to, just look
around.
The Word says that
exceedingly moral reverence of God is of utmost importance to and in life. (Contextually
“fear” is commonly used in Bible translations and versions. Deut.10:12, 20-21;
Pr.1:7, 29; 2:5; 9:10; Isa.11:2; 33:6; Heb.10:31; 12:28-29) God’s Word says
gathering together as His family for worship, synergy, and mutual support. Many
do not consider this knowledge and practice to be important, setting other life
matters higher on priority list. This is understandable when it comes to those
that know Him not, but professing Christians that say they believe, trust in,
His Word?!
The Word says
that if we love Him we will obey His commandments. (Jn.14:15, 21; 15:10) Does
this include only submission to the morality of The Ten in the Old and New
Testament? No. It includes fellowship with family “reasonable service”
(Rom.12:1-3) worship and discipleship (Jn.8:31; Heb.10:25-26).
Men, and women,
do not participate in church because they don’t fear and love God.
I am churched
because I fear and love God.
Ed Bullock (NE)
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Any further responses to the question will be published
in Saturday DT FORUM. EBB4
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