Would I go back?(to church)
01.10.07 (2:29 am) [edit]
I use to go to church. Alot. I would go to youth groups about 3 times a week then church on sunday. I miss alot of people that went to those churchs and youth groups but would I go back? Probably not. The church I went to for 3 years has changed. I don't believe for the better. Well I don't like the change anyways. Not that any of this matters as I am no longer a christian anymore anways. Anywho the church that I went to use to have this location downtown that many people who were somewhat cast out of society or outcasts or just people who wanted love kindess or friendship would come to. Now the church moved from the downtown location to a school gym and caters more to the middle class and it has lost a huge amount of the people who went to the church when it was downtown. Partly because it moved to far for some people to get to and some people im assuming just didn't know it was moving. The new place as I mentioned is in a school gym. So after church everyone wants to hightail it out of there get everything cleaned up. Theres not much hanging around and talking to people. It felt really impersonal last time I went. (which was more than a year ago) So in answer to the question no I would not go back at least to my old church. I would feel too uncomfortable and too upset to go. Thoughts?
posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 01.13.07 (5:33 pm)
It is irritating to me that a church would do that. I understand the reasoning for such a move. I'm sure the leadership would say it is because of the will of God. But, interestingly, you almost neve see a church moving from the affluent suburbs to the ghetto because of "the will of God", although the Jesus of the Bible characteristically hung out with the down-and-outers and the outcasts of society. No, it seems today that Jesus is most interested in up-and-comers with lots of money. It's a struggle, because we so readily equate success with appearances. A big and clean looking church building with lots of activities geared toward children and young adults will inevitably make for a growing church, thus what appears to be a God-blessed church. So, that's the characteristic movement in my particular denomination. Most of the time when they send me the magazines encouraging church growth, they highlight exactly these kinds of churches. I'm of the persuasion that a church can be filled with people and full of money and yet not, necessarily, be honoring to God and all the "success" could come from many factors other than the blessing of God.
Funk, I think if you were to connect with a group of genuine Christians who truly love God and others and are not too concerned with buying into this "success mentality" that is the bane of the modern church, then you wouldn't have such a problem indentifying yourself as a Christian.