> Testimonies / Prayer Requests / Fellowship
So I want to go back to Babylon now! Why?
Extol:
Rhys,
If it's the social part of church that you miss, maybe you can get together with some of the people that you say were loving and encouraging. Not to have a Bible conference or anything, but just to hang out...Go to lunch, play tennis, watch rugby. . . We are to "come out of Her" but I don't think that means we are forbidden from being social with people who have different beliefs. My family (which lives in a different state) believes the traditional teachings of Christendom but I still love going back to visit. We don't have any discussions on our faith--we mostly just spend time together, playing games, playing sports, watching movies, talking about life, etc.
If you do fellowship with any of these folks, maybe just being around you will have some influence in their lives that may eventually lead them to the truth. Last spring I exchanged a few e-mails regarding my beliefs with my mother, and was encouraged by her responses...until she suddenly stopped responding and said, essentially, that we should agree to disagree. Yet after I visited home for Christmas, she said "Your father and I still cry when you leave. You are by far the most Christ-like of our sons." This was very surprising. She knows I don't go to church, and my two brothers do go to church (the same one as my parents, in fact.) During my Christmas visit, we never talked about my beliefs or anything. I'm not even sure why she said it, but apparently there was just something about the way I carried myself, or talked, or behaved, that made her see Christ. Maybe something similar can happen if you hang out with some old friends from church.
And of course, you can always play guitar and sing, whether you're in church or not, whether with others or alone.
Hang in there brother, we love you!
8)
space.ace.jase:
If you want to go back then you should try going back to a church. But like the post above said are you going to be honest with those people? Are you just going to sit there while the paster spews out lies about hell?
I could never go back to a church, I stopped going years ago and I have never missed it for a second. Everything is so fake it makes me sick to my stomach. Let us know how it goes.
Rex8:
Wow!
I went back to reread the beginning to make sure I didn't miss
"Hi...My name Is Rhys and I'm a churchaholic..it's been....."
I am the odd man out since I never enjoyed church since the first one I walked into(and the ones I got kicked out of) and the sentiment was mutual.
At least you are on the right track...you know it's BAAAAD idea to even think about it.It's all part of the process though.It too will pass.Religion is the most insidious addiction there is because it all seems so GOOD at the time.The reality it is Gods most potent cure for...RELIGION!!....it is an inoculation of sorts.When it works we only need one strong dose to cure us of it....
But more than that it is fertilizer.Paul flashed his credential of a Pharisee born of Benjamin circumcised on the 8th day and as to the righteousness of the Law ...BLAMELESS ..Paul was VERY FULL OF DUNG.His religion could have fertilized all of Israel for decades but he counted it as loss.
Paul had to go through the process and look back at his piles of dung to keep him from going back to the sheep fold.God uses ALL for good.Religion is one of the main methods to make the infertile soil fertile to produce trees of life and 30,60 and 100 fold fruit.
Religion is not so easily cured by a few true doctrines.It is piled on until the dung is so deep we can't breathe.No one walks away from it smelling of roses soon afterwards...or even long afterwards..the roots are as deep as they stink...
to mix the metaphor ....pluck out your right eye and run far far away and fast as hell and don't look back at the pillars of dung.
Rhys 🕊:
Thanks for all your encouraging comments, means a lot to me.
I was thinking about this today quite a bit and I feel I get a bit affected by people who feel sad for me not going to church as they think something has gone terribly wrong which is not the case. I walk away afterwards thinking I wish they wouldn't feel sad for me then I start to feel not so good for them feeling that way which gets me a bit down (just being honest here - I'm not perfect).
I was also thinking maybe it can be harder for some of us who use to be heavily involved in the church like I was compared to those who use to just show up to the service, sit down, then leave and do this each week. That was never me I always got involved since I was young and being honest I liked church most of the time. The last year I was in church was the worst. I couldn't start the pastor and his wife. I left after we had an argument. I feel it's a good thing now as if it didn't happen that way then maybe I would still be there.
I don't want to go back to church it's only a part of me that does but I'm not about to let that part of me have the final say. I would rather deal with the pain that I have now than to make it worse going back to church as I can see more clearly now that would happen and I will be worse off than ever and why we would I want to put myself through that. The church in question didn't preach hell at least they didn't when I was there and they even refused to do songs that mentioned hell but they are into tithing and the trinity and all the other stuff typical to the churches.
I have no motivation to play guitar since leaving church but I hope it will return as it was something I enjoyed even playing alone.
Thank you my friends for your words and reading my rather worded post.
Rhys
Dave in Tenn:
I had stopped going (other than the occasional visit) many years before even understanding why. I thought I was the 'bad guy' (not untrue at all) and was missing what they had. Didn't want to be the hypocrite because I'd exhausted myself trying to be righteous, and didn't fit in. Shouldn't fit in, even.
That passed, and it was helped along by a visit to a christian music concert. What I would have had to throw off in order to 'enjoy' the 'worship'! As sucky as life can be, sometimes, I just don't want to add that to it. After the 'high' wears off (and eventually completely wore off) it's a burden I could never bear and no longer want to.
Jesus gave examples of the "reward" of religion. And it's true, that for many there IS reward. But it's temporal, earth-bound, carnal, and not age-abiding, heavenly, and Spiritual. It's the best thing many people can do, yet one of the worst things I can do. How do I explain that to others? I'm not sure I can. Even if I engage them in theological discussion, until they themselves see the evil of eternal torment and the blasphemy of "free-will", it means little to them even if they mentally can entertain the idea of the salvation of all and the sovereignty of God.
Talking with my friend Larry was just trading points. My mother called my disgust with 'hell' not concentrating on the important things. :( Then she ran out of the room crying like I'd joined a cult. I can't be that compromising any more...not that I can't be compromising...I compromised for years reading one thing in Scripture and seeing another in practice for the sake of 'fellowship' and 'getting along'.
The churches are home to large numbers of good, well-meaning individuals. It seems though that those who 'believe' the most are the most messed-up and those who can go-along have a pretty good time while it lasts. While they are happy, why should I interfere? It's God who does the dragging and they will be content until they are not...same as me.
But, as I said, it wasn't 'them' that drove me out...it was me, ultimately. I reckon there are two ways not to be a hypocrite. One is to do right, and the other is to get out.
I'm not going back (Lord willing) until I get my turn to preach. Right now, the one who needs my sermons most is still ME.
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