InDeoHonorium2
8th November 2006, 03:27 PM
I am starting this htread because a recent thread on this forum sparked my curiosity and I wanted to givethis topic it's own space.
There seem to be some people who attend church because they want to, perhaps because they enjoy it or because they can see their friends while there, or be inspired etc
Then there are some who do it only because they say they are commanded or told to.......
I am of the first group.
I had a converstaion with a friend last Spring (Yes I have a few friends) and he said he goes to church every sunday because "that is how we are commanded to worhip" It seems that he does not really like it, so I wonder how much spirit and love he has in it if it is something he does out of obligation, not choice? or perhaps he is choosing to do it out of obligation.....?
I once told someone about something really beautiful I had experienced at a Christmas Eve service at a certain church. His response was "That sounds nice I wish I could worship that way" When I pointed out to him that it was open to anyone, his response was "Oh no I can't go off and worship like that when I want to...my church would not allow that" It seemed, after further conversation, that he worshipped where he did and ONLY where he did because he believed that he was "commanded" both by congregation and Bible to worship in that way, and that way only! Sure, he did not like it, (he more or less admitted that) but he did it because it was the "Right thing to do."
As for going to worship, I go where the Spirit leads me and where the inspiration lives through me.
I may be at an Episcopal church one week, catholic the next, at a Bhuddist gathering on Monday, a drum circle on Saturday, a non denominational service on Wednesday, I might go to a traditional service on week and a contemporary the next ! People in town and nearby are used to seeing me show up at various times ...and they probably think "there's that $&$^@ again" no LOL JK :D No they know how my spiritual life is, they know that I place spirituality way above religion, in fact, they know that I am not really religious at all......So they are used to seeing me in and out when I am so directed to be there......
I know a lot of people around here stayed away from church because of negative experiences until one of the local baptist churches started a contempoarry service, complete with Rock music and dancing and a very informal structure...now they get 200 to 300 a week that go becasue they like it, and that means 200 -300 people inspired to live better and do better as a result. At least we hope. I have been there and believe me, those people are not going out of obligation.....
(If you own a Harley you'd fit in, ok?) Not the kind of crowd you would pen as Christian but at the same time, the kind of people that Jesus would stand beside and bless if he were here.....
But let me here some more of what you guys do and believe and think......PLEASE !!!
Do you go because you want to, or because you are fulfilling an obligation?
THANKS
There seem to be some people who attend church because they want to, perhaps because they enjoy it or because they can see their friends while there, or be inspired etc
Then there are some who do it only because they say they are commanded or told to.......
I am of the first group.
I had a converstaion with a friend last Spring (Yes I have a few friends) and he said he goes to church every sunday because "that is how we are commanded to worhip" It seems that he does not really like it, so I wonder how much spirit and love he has in it if it is something he does out of obligation, not choice? or perhaps he is choosing to do it out of obligation.....?
I once told someone about something really beautiful I had experienced at a Christmas Eve service at a certain church. His response was "That sounds nice I wish I could worship that way" When I pointed out to him that it was open to anyone, his response was "Oh no I can't go off and worship like that when I want to...my church would not allow that" It seemed, after further conversation, that he worshipped where he did and ONLY where he did because he believed that he was "commanded" both by congregation and Bible to worship in that way, and that way only! Sure, he did not like it, (he more or less admitted that) but he did it because it was the "Right thing to do."
As for going to worship, I go where the Spirit leads me and where the inspiration lives through me.
I may be at an Episcopal church one week, catholic the next, at a Bhuddist gathering on Monday, a drum circle on Saturday, a non denominational service on Wednesday, I might go to a traditional service on week and a contemporary the next ! People in town and nearby are used to seeing me show up at various times ...and they probably think "there's that $&$^@ again" no LOL JK :D No they know how my spiritual life is, they know that I place spirituality way above religion, in fact, they know that I am not really religious at all......So they are used to seeing me in and out when I am so directed to be there......
I know a lot of people around here stayed away from church because of negative experiences until one of the local baptist churches started a contempoarry service, complete with Rock music and dancing and a very informal structure...now they get 200 to 300 a week that go becasue they like it, and that means 200 -300 people inspired to live better and do better as a result. At least we hope. I have been there and believe me, those people are not going out of obligation.....
(If you own a Harley you'd fit in, ok?) Not the kind of crowd you would pen as Christian but at the same time, the kind of people that Jesus would stand beside and bless if he were here.....
But let me here some more of what you guys do and believe and think......PLEASE !!!
Do you go because you want to, or because you are fulfilling an obligation?
THANKS