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In short, if you attended church, you might actually start living in accordance with your beliefs. Can't have that.
Good point, but even more scary....getting involved in the "life more abundant" Jesus promised...and it's not about having stuff, it's about living love.
Good point, but even more scary....getting involved in the "life more abundant" Jesus promised...and it's not about having stuff, it's about living love.
I suppose that depends on the church. I'm not sure why people insist on mindlessly trying to shove all Christian denominations into the same box. It's weird.
Let me count the ways.....
I was raised in a traditional northern baptist church. My father was episcopal and my mother was Lutheran. I am good with God, and believe in the power of prayer, yet I haven't attended church for 50 years.
Sometimes I think I want to, but there are things that hold me back. Just this week, a couple of nice men from the local baptist church stopped to invite us to Easter services. I'm tempted, but I know what I'm like.
If I went and liked the atmosphere, I'd probably start volunteering for a bunch of stuff...child care? Sure. Food pantry? Sure. Sunday school? Sure. I don't want to get involved. I'm retired. The next thing I know, I'd be hip deep in mud in someplace in Africa.
I'd encourage you to just go ... they invited you so you don't have to feel out of place. You know you're welcome and wanted there. But if you don't want to be too social at first, it's okay to slip in the back and leave right away...consider it a stepping-stone toward possibly resuming fellowship with believers after these many years.
The worst case scenario is you don't like it or decide you don't want to go back, in which case you lost 90 minutes of your life and nothing else and keep on trucking. Especially on Easter, if you don't fill out a guest card, it's unlikely anyone will track you down or bother you or anything like that. Worst case scenario you go, shake a few hands, don't like it, and don't go back.
The best case scenario is you feel at home and find greater fulfillment and closeness with God through worship. If you do, I'm sure you can set limits on your own level of involvement. I think it's worth the risk, right?
I'd encourage you to just go ... they invited you so you don't have to feel out of place. You know you're welcome and wanted there. But if you don't want to be too social at first, it's okay to slip in the back and leave right away...consider it a stepping-stone toward possibly resuming fellowship with believers after these many years.
The worst case scenario is you don't like it or decide you don't want to go back, in which case you lost 90 minutes of your life and nothing else and keep on trucking. Especially on Easter, if you don't fill out a guest card, it's unlikely anyone will track you down or bother you or anything like that. Worst case scenario you go, shake a few hands, don't like it, and don't go back.
The best case scenario is you feel at home and find greater fulfillment and closeness with God through worship. If you do, I'm sure you can set limits on your own level of involvement. I think it's worth the risk, right?
good response. ultimately nobody can "force" us to do anything even if we are " official members" of a particular church or congregation----it's ultimately up to our free will, conscience, and perhaps the guidance of the Holy Spirit as to how much of our time and efforts are used in public co-operation with a group for the love of God and neighbor. God wants us to be His good servants by acts of charity and forgiveness to others but they can be as a private individual at your own choosing as to when and how.
Let me count the ways.....
I was raised in a traditional northern baptist church. My father was episcopal and my mother was Lutheran. I am good with God, and believe in the power of prayer, yet I haven't attended church for 50 years.
Sometimes I think I want to, but there are things that hold me back. Just this week, a couple of nice men from the local baptist church stopped to invite us to Easter services. I'm tempted, but I know what I'm like.
If I went and liked the atmosphere, I'd probably start volunteering for a bunch of stuff...child care? Sure. Food pantry? Sure. Sunday school? Sure. I don't want to get involved. I'm retired. The next thing I know, I'd be hip deep in mud in someplace in Africa.
If you're retired, surely you have a time to volunteer for one ministry, whether it's in a church or not. What is your spiritual gift? What is your passion? Figure that out and go to work for the Lord.
I suppose that depends on the church. I'm not sure why people insist on mindlessly trying to shove all Christian denominations into the same box. It's weird.
It hardly makes a difference if you are not willing to make a commitment to ANY church, does it?
If you went and liked the service/people/etc, then good. If you are asked to get involved in things and you don't want to, just say you're not interested/ready/etc, or no not yet.
It is not that I have trouble saying no, I don't. It's more like, if I'm in, I'm all in. I don't like to just be a bump on a pew. If I go to a church, I will want to help by contributing, not just taking.
It is not that I have trouble saying no, I don't. It's more like, if I'm in, I'm all in. I don't like to just be a bump on a pew. If I go to a church, I will want to help by contributing, not just taking.
Sounds like a good thing to me! I would encourage you to please go. To me, it really sounds like you may be ready for this and may feel right at home.
If you end up getting involved and making friends over time, that's nothing to be upset about. But for now I would say just focus on going to church and enjoying that experience. If you stick around and attend the church regularly, then the time will come for contemplating how you can help out. For now I would say, just go in and sit down and don't worry about all the what-if's just yet.
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50 Things That Depend If You Join A Ministry ?
