I went to a christian church today

[Tranceformer110]

It was a little different than I am used to, but nothing I saw as bad or wrong. I would go back if they were a little more friendly.

[ParsonJefferson]

It was a little different than I am used to, but nothing I saw as bad or wrong. I would go back if they were a little more friendly.
Give them a second chance.
I don't know what part of the country you live in, but where I live (up North), most people take a "2nd or 3rd shot" to really warm up.

[Frame1520]

Was it a small church or larger christian church? My church is relatively small, and people always comment on how friendly our people are. I don't know, some christian churches can be friendly, others take more time, as ParsonJefferson put it, to warm up. We also have the goal of making new people feel very comfortable, and make new inroads with them. I usually like to ask them to go to lunch, just to get to know them and show them that we're not weird or cold.

Some bigger churches loose a little of the personal touch of the smaller churches. Its ironic actually; smaller churches are always trying to do things like bigger churches, and bigger churches are always trying to be more like the smaller church.

Side note, I was just at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville this past friday night for their Easter play, and it was fantastic. The people there were all very welcoming, from the entrance, to the seating, and the time that we left. Everyone has their own ministry there. With a church of around 18,000 members, its easy to get lost though.

Give them another shot though. What was your overall impression of the christian church? I'd be interested to hear some more.

[Tranceformer110]

I figured there was probably around 150-200 people in service, about the same size as my current church. The only people who really acknowledged me were door greeters and that's their job. Oh and a guy who is on staff at my college. That was my main gripe. Oh, and the worship leader asked us to sit down during part of the worhip! It probably wouldn't have bothered me if it wasn't one of my favorite songs, Majesty by Delirious :D

[Frame1520]

Too many people don't realize that its important to greet visitors and be friendly. There's nothing worse than walking into a church and out without anyone saying a word to you. That's happened all too many times to me. I usually give a second chance, but when it happens again, that's pretty much the end for me. You never know who is walking thru the door. What if its a non-christian? We need to go out of our way to exhibit Christ's love to everyone, not knowing where anyone is coming from or where they are at in their christian walk.. That might be our only oppurtunity.

I agree. I don't like sitting during worship, unless your old, or can't stand for that long. I play in the worship band, and I never like it when the leader tells everyone they can sit down. It always makes me feel awkward to still be standing.

[jturpin4]

I figured there was probably around 150-200 people in service, about the same size as my current church. The only people who really acknowledged me were door greeters and that's their job. Oh and a guy who is on staff at my college. That was my main gripe. Oh, and the worship leader asked us to sit down during part of the worhip! It probably wouldn't have bothered me if it wasn't one of my favorite songs, Majesty by Delirious :D

Tranceformer, do you know if it was a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) or an Independent Christian Church? If it was a Disciples of Christ, you probably participated in communion on Sunday.

[Tranceformer110]

No it is not disciples of christ, I did have communion though.
I might give them a second chance I just haven't really decided. I don't know if I'll leave my current church yet. I'm kind of on a quest to see what's out there.

[Praying4Peace]

Tranceformer ~ Put your local Christian Chruch (Disciples of Christ) on your must visit list. ;) I haven't walked in a DoC church without people welcoming us and offering information. And it looks like you're wanting a more spirit-filled worship service. The DoC church I belong to offers services of different styles: traditional, spirit-filled, and family friendly. I hope you find a church that you can be excited about. :thumbsup:

[WesWoodell]

We need to go out of our way to exhibit Christ's love to everyone, not knowing where anyone is coming from or where they are at in their christian walk.. That might be our only oppurtunity.


Right on :)

[Tranceformer110]

Tranceformer ~ Put your local Christian Chruch (Disciples of Christ) on your must visit list. ;) I haven't walked in a DoC church without people welcoming us and offering information. And it looks like you're wanting a more spirit-filled worship service. The DoC church I belong to offers services of different styles: traditional, spirit-filled, and family friendly. I hope you find a church that you can be excited about. :thumbsup:I'm not trying to offend, but I don't think I will. From what I have heard they are liberal on the issue of homosexuality among other things. You are right though that I am looking for something spirit-filled. That comes from me being brought up pentecostal.

[constance]

Tranceformer, my husband is in the search-and-call process in the DoC, and I can tell you that congregations are very concerned about how liberal prospective pastors are regarding that topic. While it is true that the N. California region has declared itself "Open and Affirming", several other regions refuse to ordain homosexuals...so you'll find completely different congregations in cities, for example, than you will find in the cornfields.

With that said, sin is sin, and it's a shame that this issue is given any more limelight than any other, and that we let it be a dividing point within the Church.

Constance

[Frame1520]

I'm not trying to offend, but I don't think I will. From what I have heard they are liberal on the issue of homosexuality among other things. You are right though that I am looking for something spirit-filled. That comes from me being brought up pentecostal.

They all differ, but usually the Disciples church (which is a denomination, and not part of the christian church), tends to lean liberal. I know of at least a few here in the Cincinnati area that are very liberal...and that's surprising since we are in the midwest, not the Left coast or in Hollyweird.

Christian churches will most always adhere to the bible. That to me is the most important part of finding a good church. A church that teaches the bible, does not add or take away from it, and takes the bible in context, not just picking out one verse to teach a "doctrine" from. Of course, you never know until you go to one that doesn't teach the bible...or if someone doesn't read their bible, how would they know? But to me, the bible is my final authority, not any particular church. :)

Sorry for the rant!

[constance]

Frame - I'd agree with you, but pointing out that Cinci is certainly a "city". If you compared the rural "county seat" DoC churches in Indiana and Illinois to their Christian Church counterparts you would find a very similar trend...I go to a conservative DoC Chicagoland church and I'm "the conservative" there. At the country church my husband just called at, there was a family more radically conservative than me (ie I consider myself to be a "bible only" person, they buy into some conservative ideals that aren't in the bible, this is a tangent, sorry), while most of the others tended to be in the spectrum between as conservative as I am (mildly conservative) to as liberal as my DH is (very mildy liberal).

:)
Constance

[ParsonJefferson]

Frame - I'd agree with you, but pointing out that Cinci is certainly a "city". If you compared the rural "county seat" DoC churches in Indiana and Illinois to their Christian Church counterparts you would find a very similar trend...I go to a conservative DoC Chicagoland church and I'm "the conservative" there. At the country church my husband just called at, there was a family more radically conservative than me (ie I consider myself to be a "bible only" person, they buy into some conservative ideals that aren't in the bible, this is a tangent, sorry), while most of the others tended to be in the spectrum between as conservative as I am (mildly conservative) to as liberal as my DH is (very mildy liberal).

:)
Constance

I think that's an extremely important point to make: Urban versus Rural churches.

Of course, we really cannot broad-brush entire denominations because, while they tend to adhere to certain "focuses" (foci?), individual churches are comprised of individual people.

That said, I do believe that the basic focus of the Disciples of Christ denomination has been leaning "liberal" for quite awhile now. On the other hand, MANY of the individual churches are very conservative and Bible-based - with people hungry for The Word. And this, I believe, has contributed to many people leaving the DoC denomination in recent decades.

Very interesting...

[Frame1520]

I said cincinnati, but actually I was referring to some churches about 30 miles outside of the actual city. Parson is right though...it is hard to paint with such a broad brush. I merely just want to encourage people to read the bible and follow the bible! Seems simple, but so many are led astray by men!

[SpiritualPilgrim]

I am now a member of a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and I just kind of feel like it is important to say that "Liberal" doesn't have to be a dirty word. My experience has been that DoC isn't trying to tell me what to believe (other than Christ being the Son of God and Savior), but to read the Bible and keep an open mind and heart so that when God speaks through His Word, I can hear clearly what's coming across.

I know that homosexuality is a hot-button issue for a lot of folks, but the stance that my particular congregation seems to take is that whether we view homosexuality as a sin or whether we view it as a disease (or whatever other opinions there may be) the important part is that we mustn't shoot the wounded! Condemnation won't help these people in any way, shape or form...but Christian brotherly love and God's love will.

[Mrs. Enigma]

It was a little different than I am used to, but nothing I saw as bad or wrong. I would go back if they were a little more friendly.


Glad you had a nice time.

A while back we visited a Baptist church. They seemed nice and freindly, too.

[Frame1520]

Again, people will be people. Not much you can do about that. I'd be more concerned about a church that's friendly and not teaching the bible than anything. As a matter of fact, I've been to a friendly church that doesn't teach the bible, and that's scary.

[PastorMikeJ]

We all should meet and greet stranger that comes to Worship God at your place of Worship...You never know who you are greeting or making welcome...plus it is the way that Jesus would do..So make everyone welcome when they come into your house of Worship...

I remember once when I welcomed a family to our church one Sunday about 23 years ago...they are still members and me and Glenda are good friends with them....

[Tranceformer110]

Well I am going back to my own church tomorrow because there is a speaker I really like to hear. I do have another RM church in mind and an A/G church I want to visit before really deciding what to do.