> Testimonies / Prayer Requests / Fellowship
So I want to go back to Babylon now! Why?
newgene87:
oh Rhys - you are speaking for me and to me!!! I understand exactly where you are coming from. Deployed to Afghanistan right now; they have church services out here and im hearing really good things about the services - i'm so tempted to go. Good singing, good fellowship, good "worship" and all that "good" stuff: but I know better. As others have spoken; It's hard sitting through "preaching" or "teaching" and hearing lies and gibberish and becoming really judgmental. Also at home: i'm hearing such good news about the church I used to go to. It's so BIG, the "worship" experience is like a rock concert, the people are sooooo nice and kind, I'm so tempted to go to back there with my wife. My wife is not on this level of understanding of the scriptures but she LOVES church. So i feel obligated to go with her but I can keep my composure. Besides for her; I feel the "tug" to go myself just to get into the feel-good "atmosphere." Jesus words humbles me in that thought, "beware of false prophets, which come to you in SHEEP'S CLOTHING..." (Mat0715) - oh the calming beautiful SIGHT of SHEEP! I still find myself missing certain aspects of church too. I joined in a small study group in my barracks and they watched a sermon of Francis Chan and it felt so good and there really wasnt any contradiction in the sermon that he preached but i found out where he stands....just that calming sight of sheep is what makes me miss it. I'm praying along with you that God would humble us, console us, and strengthen us!
Ian 155:
I Paul "a prisoner of The Lord" comes to mind "Resist" as well etc
I know you will see out your sentence they all did - even though there were a few periods of time spent in spiritual Jails
BTW did you get lost up there in "Gannistan" ? ;D No Signal ?
Ian
arion:
--- Quote from: newgene87 on February 21, 2013, 06:21:44 AM ---Deployed to Afghanistan right now; they have church services out here and im hearing really good things about the services - i'm so tempted to go.
--- End quote ---
I finished up my service in 1995 as a chaplain assistant. Even back then the chaplains were dissuaded from praying in the name of Jesus because they (the military) wanted to be inclusive and didn't want to 'offend' and that right there soured me beyond belief. And that was well before I believed that which I do now. The military includes chaplains not so much for spiritual edification but to make the servicemen feel that killing their enemies is a righteous thing to do and that God is on our side. Funny thing is that their isn't much different between that and whatever the Islamics call their spiritual advisor’s in their armies.
Rhys 🕊:
--- Quote from: newgene87 on February 21, 2013, 06:21:44 AM ---oh Rhys - you are speaking for me and to me!!! I understand exactly where you are coming from. Deployed to Afghanistan right now; they have church services out here and I'm hearing really good things about the services - i'm so tempted to go. Good singing, good fellowship, good "worship" and all that "good" stuff: but I know better. As others have spoken; It's hard sitting through "preaching" or "teaching" and hearing lies and gibberish and becoming really judgmental. Also at home: i'm hearing such good news about the church I used to go to. It's so BIG, the "worship" experience is like a rock concert, the people are sooooo nice and kind, I'm so tempted to go to back there with my wife. My wife is not on this level of understanding of the scriptures but she LOVES church. So i feel obligated to go with her but I can keep my composure. Besides for her; I feel the "tug" to go myself just to get into the feel-good "atmosphere." Jesus words humbles me in that thought, "beware of false prophets, which come to you in SHEEP'S CLOTHING..." (Mat0715) - oh the calming beautiful SIGHT of SHEEP! I still find myself missing certain aspects of church too. I joined in a small study group in my barracks and they watched a sermon of Francis Chan and it felt so good and there really wasnt any contradiction in the sermon that he preached but i found out where he stands....just that calming sight of sheep is what makes me miss it. I'm praying along with you that God would humble us, console us, and strengthen us!
--- End quote ---
Thanks for sharing there Eugene. I'm so glad that my post here is speaking to you. I don't have much confidence in myself and what I post. I feel I'm a bit of an odd person that makes little difference. I hope you feel encouraged by other people's comments here as I know I do. I still get times when I am tempted to go back especially when I hear of certain things going on that sound good to me, well at least they use to sound good. Thing is God is not too far from any of us and I don't need church to discover my place in Him.
Act 17:27 to seek the Lord, if perhaps they might feel after Him and find Him, though indeed He is not far from each one of us.
I discover more and more of that special place we have in Him. I never found that place in church and I seriously doubt I would if I went back. I get your comment about being like a rock concert. They had a service once and it was like heavy metal for the worship. It was just awful, people jumping up and down and I was just standing there praying to God - you must be joking Lord that this rubbish has anything to do with worshiping You, this isn't you Lord and I know you. One of them once threw water all over the people in the front row, I'm glad I was up the back. I always stayed up the back so I could sneak out if I had enough. It's just a big show and I'm not clapping. If you really desire after God then this stuff just doesn't help. It never helped me. It's like they put bandages on your problems but you walk away and the wounds still remain. I use to have to spend time in prayer after church so I could feel close to God. Why would I want to put myself through that pain again. Would seem stupid for me to do so. I don't need some service to make me feel good about myself, what I need to do is to continue to humble myself before Him and trust that He is in 100% control and nothing will change that and His plans for me.
This is what God is doing in me in these verses:
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, do not be astonished at the fiery trial which is to try you, as though a strange thing happened to you,
1Pe 4:13 but rejoice according as you are partakers of Christ's suffering, so that when His glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.
God help me to keep my eyes upon You and stay the course and let this strange thing continue until You say it's finished.
May grace be with you all. Amen.
Rhys
Felix:
hi Rhys
This has been a great post. It seems that we are all going through the same things. I was
involved in church for a long time and I miss certain aspects such as fellowship. In fact
I think that I lost a really good friend because of my new beliefs.
For the last several years I've gone back to church a few times. My wife and I think that
maybe we can find a place that is not too spiritually offensive and give us some social
activity. Well, every time we go I say that this is the last time!
Several months ago we went to a church that had two pretty girls stand up front and
lead the worship service. I have nothing against pretty girls, but it's like high school
when we would choose the most attractive females to be cheer leaders. And ,of course,
the sermon was very forgetable. As I said, never again. Maybe I can stick to it this time.
Felix
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