another church dissolved??

[jane]

I posted recently about the church that we visited and how it closed...


well, another church that we were considering to visit last year just closed yesterday. The reason we chose not to go (well, one of them) was because that pastor and our old pastor get together once a week and pray for the town. THey tell stories about people who leave their church and enter each others. They are "watching the sheep" so that people who hop from one church to another to rob them don't fleech all the churches.

The problem with this is that I knew a few friends who left our old church and our pastor trashed them to the new pastor... these weren't "church hoppers" they were members for over 8 years....

so when we saw that, we decided not to attend any of these churches that get together.

and it closed.

I don't know why, it seems so weird that two closed this week.

There aren't very many christian churches in New England to begin with.
anyway, a whole group of families (some I know) are disoriented and confused.

Jane

[Katie]

Maybe God is doing a little house cleaning. ;)

[DLL]

i think the bible says something like let judgement begin at the house of God!!maybe this will make urge people to start a new christian church w/o all the problems.

[Voyager]

I wish that someone would open a church that doesn't force a specific doctrine on its members. Just a bunch of families who have good morals but don't really have large families to rely on for a support system (like us). It would be so nice to be able to fellowship with a group of supportive people without all of your conversations being based on pastor-worship or "who's not towing the line".

Why aren't there any churches out there like this? It doesn't make any sense. All of the churches have their own cliche-ish doctrines that proclaim "our brand of religion is the best". Who gives a damn what the doctrine is? As long as people are "doing unto others as they would have others do unto them", all the bases will be covered.

:cool:

[molehills]

according to The Unauthorized Guide to Choosing a Church, The Disciples of Christ are supposed to be like that, but I've known people who were just as abused there. However, that is supposed to be the general idea. They have various branches, The Christian Church and Churches of Christ. I don't know if that's of any help to you.

[Doug64]

The Christian Church (here at least) does have a class you have to go through which is basically an indoctrination class - in order to become a member.

But I know of one local congregation of our former group that voted to affiliate with a Church of Christ. And apparently the Vineyard churches vary in what and how they teach. It appears that each one has to be evaluated by its individual merits. Separate the wheat from the chaff.

Doug

[jane]

We were doing yardwork today to prepare for our cook out next Sunday--the kid's birthday parties.

We decided to invite everyone that we know over for the following Friday. We have a "woodsy" yard and a fire pit. SO we started to call all the people that we know and are going to have a "gathering" on Friday night. I asked people to bring acoustic guitars and drums if they have them. I told them to come at five with a dish for potluck or later for a campfire.


Where two or more are gathered in my name---right?

No docterine, no preaching. We are going to eat, fellowship and if worship breaks out...praise God.

I talked about this before, my husband and I decided it today--and I read Voyager's post.

Why can't we just get together and be a family with out docterine issues etc....

We all love Jesus, isn't that the point.


Keep us in your prayers, I hope our charismatic friends and baptist friends don't start arguing :o

or some from one church trying to gather those from another. :o


Love ya!
Jane

[Jerry]

well, another church that we were considering to visit last year just closed yesterday. The reason we chose not to go (well, one of them) was because that pastor and our old pastor get together once a week and pray for the town. THey tell stories about people who leave their church and enter each others. They are "watching the sheep" so that people who hop from one church to another to rob them don't fleech all the churches.


Dear Jane,,,
You have to wonder just WHO these guys think they are :rolleyes: Yes many are sorry that their churches closed,,,,,but I can hear the Angels singing ;)
Love Jerry

[jane]

Here's the thing that bothers me, the church that we left is thriving. That is the church that we felt was most abusive. It was more subtle--and taking more money and using it for selfish gain.

I hear people say, God won't let them hurt His people for long--but for us 7 years was a hunk of time.

and those that are in it for longer....jeez.

Jane

[molehills]

Here's the thing that bothers me, the church that we left is thriving. That is the church that we felt was most abusive. It was more subtle--and taking more money and using it for selfish gain.

I hear people say, God won't let them hurt His people for long--but for us 7 years was a hunk of time.

and those that are in it for longer....jeez.

Jane


I struggle with that too. Why hasn't the church we left closed? Why does God allow them to continue to hang there by a thread doing damage to well-meaning people? When I get really worked up I turn to Psalm 73 to good old Asaph. It helps to remember that their success is only an appearance of success not the reality. I find that Psalm very encouraging. God's not blind and he hasn't forgotten.