Obsessed with Church
 

I noticed a facebook post made yesterday by my first cousin praising the dedication of his wife to attend church even though she was very ill. This post had several likes and a few comments regarding her dedication. Keep in mind this is a pastors wife. My question is where is the line drawn when its ok to miss a church service? One comment stated that there is no better place to be than church when your sick. Where is the common sense? What is the thought process? I'm sick so let me go to church and get everyone else sick. Is it fear of missing a church service? Is it an obsession?

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

If you have something contagious like a bug or a virus, you need to stay home so you don't get other people sick. However, if you have a chronic disease or illness, getting out to church could be the highlight of their life. So, it would depend on what kind illness or problem they have, I would think.

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

God forbid anyone should get the fanatical idea that one might go to church AND GET HEALED! My o my, where is the common sense!

Oh wait, I thought I was in a pentecostal forum...

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

You don't have to be "in church" to be healed.... :happydance

Use common sense - don't go if you are contagious!!!! KBTW had wisdom in his post!

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

I just noticed where she posted " fourth day with fever this virus is bad"! So she didn't get healed but put dozens more at risk of getting sick. But hey she didn't forsake the assembling!!!!

I wouldn't judge someone's dedication, nor would I mock it.

But this is AFF and it's par for the course here.

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

If one is sick, please don't spread it around! It could be very dangerous for the elderly or the very young. I believe God expects us to use common sense.

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

Amen!! :nod

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

Not a judgement nor mocking. Just a question. I don't understand the logic. What is going on in someone's head that they cannot miss a church service because they are sick and risk elderly and children getting sick??

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

Is any among you sick? Let him stay home, take pills, and avoid the saints, and the prescriptions of the doctors will raise him up...

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

BTW, I am not judging an individual's decision to stay in bed or at home, for whatever reason. I DO however think that some folks here have quite low expectations of faith.

But I suppose if healing is not realisticly to be expected, then going to meet with the saints is obviously bad juju.

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

Wanna be like that? Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church. Not go to the church.

Sure was written that way.

You made the point yourself...you don't know her thoughts or intentions or reason for going so leave her alone.

BTW, have you asked her about it? She's family, so it should be pretty easy to find out her reason.

As far as risking elderly and children: risk is going to a restaurant, mall, store or anywhere else.

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

Let me put my opinion out there. It seems that in my small circle church has replaced God. Or in the very least equates to God. Church has become a gauge and thermometer for pastors and saints to compare each others spirituality. I do not attend Church and I am a descent person I don't smoke, drink, cuss, steal, fornicate, nor adulterate. I do and don't do what the "average" person sitting on a UPCI church pew do. I have received the Holy Ghost and been baptized my belief and faith in this remains the same. However, since I do not attend I am a heathen. I do not understand how my attendance three times a week will change my salvation. Should I and do I need perfection in my walk? Of course Do I need guidance ? Sure I do? But I do not get that by going to a church and hearing the same few songs sang over and over until the same few people do their thing and the same few people get "prayed thru" for the humpteenth dozen time. Or an evangelist screams and yells till everyone loses bobby pins and toupees. Then call that good church. Seem like the days of bible teaching and a sermon that will stick with you Tuesday morning are gone. Back to my original point. How many times have you heard a testimony or a minister say " I just couldn't wait to get back in church its been a rough week". Or '' So glad we have a midweek service a week is too long between Church" . Or some similar statement about being in Church. I ask myself, What did these people get? Jesus or Church?? Jesus is as close as the mention of His name. Not as close as the Wed. night service. How many times have you heard of visitation or passing out tracks without mentioning a Church' just Jesus Christ? Then there is people like the one mentioned in my first post. Are they scared that missing a service will look bad to the saints and pastor? Or they scared that missing a service jeopardizes salvation?

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

You are off base. I really don't care if she goes or does not. As for risk, well remember this is a Pentecostal church so you are ok with your elderly grandmother or 7 year old child having someones sick hands laid on them while yelling and spitting their sickness in that persons face?? a little different from general public bud!!

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

[QUOTE=aegsm76;1422504]"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."[/QUOTE


O yea the same tired answer that make no sense.

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

Here it is from the Message Bible, if that helps.

"Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching."

Is that what she did? I doubt it.

Touch a shopping cart and your hand has germs from dozens of people who touched it before you.

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

What is "not forsaking"? once a year once a month everyday?? what are we to do 'more' of assemble or exhort?

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

Bet she did she is a pastors wife!!

Here's a thought: maybe she enjoys going to church. Maybe she enjoys being around others of common faith.

Instead of gossiping about her, you should just ask her.

You "bet" she did...ie you don't know and are just making stuff up.

Again, and I'll drop the subtle hints...instead of gossiping about her, and insinuating she's done something wrong...be a Christian and go to her and ask her. Man up, bud! Stop besmirching her anonymously and just ask her.

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

Not gossiping or insinuating "she" did anything wrong! I am using her as an example. I have witnessed the same thing on more than a dozen occasions! As for as confronting her I asked her pastor/husband so..........

So you knew the answer to your question before you posted it here.

smh

Your post questions her common sense, yet you pose a question which was already answered...

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

Is the point I am trying to make that vague?? Read first post very slow! Then read post 14.

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

If we don't have enough God to keep us, we are in a heap of trouble. When you are so sick that it takes every effort to put one foot in front of the other, you are not able to go to church. If that woman is a pastor's wife, that means they would probably be at church early and probably be the last one to leave church. It is expected of her to greet the ladies who have to have just one minute of her time. Stay home and don't feel guilty about it. She is probably over worked as it is and not able to fight off the illness. I would say the same thing to any person whether they were a pastor's wife or the regular church going person. The problem would be if it became a habit and an excuse - that would be different case. We don't need to live under such guilt and condemnation.
Years ago when we pastored, my husband was real sick and this was a Saturday afternoon. (I have seen him hold onto the pulpit and preach. The anointing took away all the pain but it was hard getting ready and getting there to church and pretending you were ok.) Anyway, this Saturday, he was real sick. I went to the phone and called a friend of ours that I knew my husband would be ok to be in the pulpit. He agreed to come and preach. I went to the room and told my husband, I have tomorrow taken care of. He looked at me because he knew I couldn't preach and would never do anything without his permission. I said I got Bro. to preach, you are not going tomorrow. It was to late to cancel out. He didn't get upset with me but I think he knew I was making a good sound decision. He stayed in bed next day. I don't remember how we handled Sunday Night. We pastors' wife see the other side of our husband and as most wives know, our husbands are like another sick child when they are sick. The church survived and we did too. LOL

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

Very wise!! I like this. My main question is what drives a person to go anyway? (in spite of having the flu)

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

You're making a HUGE assumption and have no clue how she felt or what she was thinking. How do you know she's overworked or living under guilt and condemnation.

Good grief, people.

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

What did her husband say? You say you "confronted" him.

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

Hmmm. Did I use the term confrontation? And since you say "we" don't know how she felt why are you defending her actions???

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

Bro. David,
Reread... I said she probably was overworked. I don't know very many pastors' wife who are not overworked. I don't think I necessarily referred to her in particular of being under guilt and condemnation - I was speaking in general. SOME pastors make their people feel guilty for missing church. But that statement doesn't mean all pastors do that. I will use the same quote you used: GOOD GRIEF. I was in no way condeming anyone. I have lived under guilt and condemnation years earlier in my life so I know a little bit of what I am talking about. Some pastors are dictators BUT that doesn't mean all are. There are MANY good loving pastors who genuinely love their people and treat them respectfully and good and then their are others who make themselves lords over God's heritage.
I am sorry that you misunderstood me. I don't always agree with every statement put on here and I don't expect everyone to agree with me. I watch my words closely and go back many times and rewrite or leave out.

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

n David I'm not questioning the action I am questioning the motivation behind the action. Although I would not wanna be around anyone with the flu pastor pastors wife or my wife!!

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

Over 54 years of having the Holy Ghost probably less than a dozen services I have missed being sick. I broke my leg they carried me to church I was healed. I have been healed at home on a few occasions but the majority of my healings I have received have been during a church service. It is up to individual faith whether they choose to come and strength but I salute those who press to come.

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

So honest answer you would go with the flu??

You used the word after I questioned if you asked her about it, but I misread it and you did not use it in that way.

I'd defend you if someone was posting, questioning your common sense for going to church sick, and suggesting you were wrong for doing so.

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

LOL! Yes true :thumbsup

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

If you have faith to see folks pray for you to be healed, THEN GO! :)

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

Had a wonderful healing two sundays ago in Church! A woman was suffering three years with problems where hemorrhaging wouldn't cease for many weeks straight. The word of knowledge came forth by one of our members saying there was someone there with severely problematic stomach pains and suffering. This woman indicated it was her, and we prayed. Voila! She was instantly healed in Jesus' name, and testifies yesterday how the first time in three years the ordeal is over and the pain completely gone. She even said she doesn't have to leave the window of her bedroom open with snow sneaking in on their dresser to cool her down as a result, while her husband was buried under blankets during our frigid winters.

Like I said... if one has faith to be healed to be in church, then GO and get healed.

But I also agree wisdom is required and we should not carelessly spread sickness around.

That reminds me... DON'T SHAKE HANDS WITH PEOPLE IF YOU HAVE THE FLU OR A COLD!!!

Re: Obsessed with Church
 

There was a fiery young man I knew once and he would have to be in the hospital or a bad stomach virus in order to miss church.

He saw church attendance as a way, a small way, to be faithful to the God who had saved him and delivered him from destruction.

So when he went to the House of the Lord while he was noticeably ill, there were people there who did not appreciate his consecration to attend every regular church service if he could physically get there.

He was a little bothered by their carnal reactions but I reminded him that there are people who literally, financially cannot afford to get ill and miss work. There are parents of young children who are justifiably cautious of their babies and children getting sick. There are sick people in the church with weak immune systems.

He realized that his personal consecration is about him and the Lord-- not everyone is going to understand and it is too much to ask them to understand. Do what you're going to do to honor the Lord and be wise so as to "not let your good be evil spoken of."