Has anyone here ever felt so frustrated with the churches around them?

[wombat]

You're at the age where you question what is around you, and rightly so. It is part of growing up. It sounds like you are questioning things for the right reasons, as well. If it is not right for you, keep seeking, and the truth will find you. All it takes is an open mind and an open heart.

 

[bigkford]

Sometimes that helps to have a friend with you. But it all comes back to you. What makes you feel right and comfotable. You are the one that has to make that choice. I wish you the best. But keep this in mind, My Dad took me out hunting one night and we sat there just talking about anything everything that came to mind. Right in the middle of a conversation he just shhs, he said "Can God get any better than this, so peaceful, so wonderful. If everyday could be this beautiful." When you find what your looking I hope you feel that. Good Luck Honey. I have a daughter 1 year older than you and she is going through the same thing.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

the problem with church is .... they are full of sinners! so these problems are just expected. but thats why Paul preaches against this kind of ridiculous behavior in his letters to the Corinthians. think these problems are new? ha! just give a read and see they had all kinds of the same silliness - gossiping, infighting, power struggles, physical sins....its the same old story.

however,

we are admonished NOT to forsake the gathering together for corporate prayer so unlike the others - i'm not going to advocate not going. in fact more than ever you need to go! dont like the message? bring and read your bible but be there for prayer and worship. dont like the folks? get there just in the nick of time and then leave directly after - be polite but no need to linger.

need a different message? check out churches online - i highly recommend:
marshillchurch.org

its a great church for younger people.

but ps Pastor Mark will also tell you to be modest in the way you dress. a church is a place of worship not a nightclub... you can be attractive AND modest at the same time.

 

[DTchickens]

Quote:
Smartie, if you would like to. I go to: http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/articles.htm this site and read articles often.. It's pretty good. I haven't read other posts except a few sentences.. But i will say God does recommend that you have fellowship with other believers- It's to help you keep from falling and so you can have someone to go to you trust with problems along with learning new things among other things, and it's your job to do the same in return.. Im just getting into the faith (again).. And i will say, don't stop going to church or at least don't stop fellowshipping with other believers in some shape or form i've been there and it ends badly going alone.. If you have some good friends, or anything get together with them, or you can PM me anytime.. Churches like that are pretty common now-a-days and are one of the reasons everytime someone hears "Christian" they think "Hypocrites".

-Daniel.

 

[flakey chick]

Quote:
My parents told me about one church they visited where half the sermon was about the sinful way young men kept their hair long. Uhm, hello have you ever seen Jesus with short hair? W.W.J.D. indeed.

I half-disagree with red hen. Although it doesn't matter where you pray, the church isn't a building. It's a group of people- 2 or more gathered in his name.

 

[DTchickens]

Quote:
My parents told me about one church they visited where half the sermon was about the sinful way young men kept their hair long. Uhm, hello have you ever seen Jesus with short hair? W.W.J.D. indeed.

I half-disagree with red hen. Although it doesn't matter where you pray, the church isn't a building. It's a group of people- 2 or more gathered in his name.

It's true to some extent

.. It does say not to have you're hair long (As a guy) because it dishonors your head.. And i had thought about it wondering "how?" "How long is too long?".. Needless to say one day a old guy called me a girl?

now my hair is shorter but still could be cut some more..


ETA: So basically, i could be wrong.. But i think that depends on your societies "standards" for how long hair should be on guys, since it didn't give any specific lengths.. If you thought back to those days, they didn't really get hair cuts. But it was "long" by todays standards and normal then...

So then you have when someone sees you with longer hair then normal they'd think you were a girl until they noticed for-sure signs like voice, etc..

 

[redhen]

Quote:
My parents told me about one church they visited where half the sermon was about the sinful way young men kept their hair long. Uhm, hello have you ever seen Jesus with short hair? W.W.J.D. indeed.

I half-disagree with red hen. Although it doesn't matter where you pray, the church isn't a building. It's a group of people- 2 or more gathered in his name.

Its okay to disagree with me! I'm used to it.

Thats what makes the world go round. We all dont have to think alike.

I just feel that if shes having problems with people at church and how they are run..etc...its better to not go and not get bitter about God and the whole religion thing. IMO. I'm not religious..but i can understand her frustration...And i know that if i believed in something with my whole heart, i would not need to worship with other people. Thats something personal inside yourself..Again..just my opinion.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

smartie pants,

I applaud your efforts to even be concerned with church at your age!! Keep the faith. MANY people from young to old have a similar view of "church" right now. I am almost 45 years old and last year my family and I left our "conversative, traditional church" (where my wife and I met mind you) to start a new church that WASN'T the things you described. The music is contemporary, the dress is VERY casual (even the pastor....in flip flops occasionally)....but the ONLY purpose is to reach others for Christ. I struggled at first as it WAS NOT at all what i was used to. What, no suit on Sunday? What, drums and electric guitars? The Lord works in mysterious ways and we are reaching MANY, MANY families who were either un-churched, or who had experienced church in the way you have, never to return. Check out our webiste www.discoverthewell.org

I would encourage you to find something like this in your area if it exists. We have a large group of young people, just like yourself, who are finding us a very non-tradtional form of worship

God is at work in your life....I see it in the words you write. Don't give up hope.

Blessings......and stay in touch

 

[backdoorchicken]

i,m just reading along in this thread. church has recently become a regular thing for me but only because i found a church that does not make me uncomfortable and does not have the feeling of a hidden financial agenda.

 

[backdoorchicken]

had you asked me a year ago i would have told you i hate church and don't believe in god.

i've come a long way since then.