A Return
 

I must confess that it has been a few years since I've gone to church. I know, let the jeering terms of scorn begin. :)

A few weeks ago I returned to the Apostolic church where I was baptized. I expected to hear a heart-felt teaching with some depth to it. Instead, I was met with a fiery sermon about holiness and standards - practically the very same thing that was being taught and lectured about when I left.

Preaching about holiness and standards has it place, but why does that have to be the central focus of an Apostolic church? Consider the fact that the demographics of the church are mostly over the age of 65+ and have been faithful members of the church for nearly all of their lives, or at least half of their lives. If these old folks don't have holiness down by now they never will!

I'm just let down by the modern Apostolic church. I believe God to be more well-rounded and deeper than what He is given credit for in His house now of days. I will not return to church, but I will walk with God, and I believe I can have walk with God and be in fellowship with Him apart from what calls itself "His church."

Re: A Return
 

Amen. Sometimes it is a lonely walk. The Holy Ghost does lead and guide people if the will to follow Christ is there.

Re: A Return
 

Don't judge all churches by the one you visited.

Some are stuck in a "time warp" and some are "cultic" but there are also genuine Christians and very good local assemblies all over the world.

Many oneness churches are in survival mode as they struggle to hold onto the "faithful few" while they preach an irrelevant message of performance based religion and hunker down and "hide" in their fortresses with those who have drunk the koolaid huddled in there with them. All over the world God is pouring out His Spirit. There are millions and millions who consider themselves Pentecostal/Charismatic. Don't give up on "The Church." It is alive and well.

Just remember "The House of God is much larger than that little room where many of us used to dwell."

Re: A Return
 

Um, what about the "trinny" churches, Sam? :lol

Re: A Return
 

Maybe being "well-rounded" and "deeper" isn't God's assignment for you're old pastor...

Maybe your old pastor has been praying, preaching, and teaching simply what the Lord wills him too and God simply needs him to preach in particular way to reach the particular saints your pastor is pastoring...

Maybe you should seek the Lord on finding a pastor who preaches to your direct needs rather then critizing pastors who aren't as "deep" or "Well-rounded" as you...

...maybe... just maybe.

No offense. I just get sick of people trashing pastors. I've gone to OP churches accross the east coast with the military, prayed for a pastor who preaches the word of God and who preaches a word to meet my needs whatever they may be. He's provided every time.

Re: A Return
 

Every true Pastor is to teach the whole counsel of God.

Paul said "I have not shunned to teach you the whole counsel of God".

Re: A Return
 

No jeering from me just the observation that in my 50+ years most of the time people I know that don't go to church use the excuse that the church isn't perfect.

Now the church you attended may be FAR from perfect so the solution would be to find one that is much closer to perfect (though none are perfect) and plug yourself in there to try and make both you and that church better.

Re: A Return
 

dante, i have similar sentiments. conservative and evangelical churches are preaching a system of belief while mainline and progressive churches are preaching christian lifestyle and a social justice gospel. you need to find an educated leader. i like listening to sermons from the episcopal church, emergent leader brian mclaren, ravi zacharias, darkwood brew, patheos.com progressive channel for blogs. my deepak chopra thread in deep waters has a link for lectures by bible scholars from the episcopal church.

Re: A Return
 

This is another qualm I have. Why does the church have to be so pastor-centered? Why isn't the church community-centered? If you look at the modern sanctuary and how it is designed, it is very "leader" focused instead of people focused. There is a stage area (often known as the platform or pulpit area), and there is an audience. The focus is on one man...the pastor! He/She is the main event of the service. I thought ministry leadership was a team effort, and not an autocracy?

I could be wrong....

But then again, I could be right!

Re: A Return
 

A humongous AMEN.