How important is "church"?

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by Thad

It's the peoples' choice to come or not to come STS
no one held a gun to their heads

this is were personal responsibility comes into play.
I hate it when people blame the church for everything.

Thad, Once again I halt between two opinions:

1. We have been conditioned through the years [those of us raised in Apostolic churches/organizations] that church comes first. Many do this in the name of God but it is not God first, it is church first. This in not scriptural and church leadership are to be blamed.

• In all fairness, Pastor does what he thinks is best for the church and has a bias because his life is the church; whereas our families and jobs are our lives, and church itself, a third or fourth on the list.
• For all the prior conditioning I find it ironic that at the times I think should be the most 'spiritual' like the birth fo Christ and the New Year we can rarely find a church open, and those that are are eating and drinking and not doing spiritual things.

2. Personal Accountability does come into play here; and many people are ostracisized for their standing in their own conviction when it is against a scheduled service or a church activity. Those who live by their own convictions are often not accepted as 'submissive' to church leadership and denied accessability to church leadership's response in counseling , hospital visitation, and conducting of weddings and funerals.

• When did Pastor's get too busy to go pray for people who are having surgery, in the hospital, or at home on their deathbed?
• Who do Pastor's think they are who say they will not counsel those who do not pay their tithes? Are they not making themselves HIRELINGS after all?

So, I do think personal accountability is essential, but I also think that the Bible bears out that leadership are accountable for what they do or don't do, teach or don't teach.

Charles Stanley had an excellent sermon this morning: one thing he said that stood out in my mind. He said, "Jesus takes full responsibility for the consequences of our obedience, and we must take full responsibility for our disobedience." [He was talking about obedience to God and not man, BTW].

Blessings, Rhoni