tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707215866042944684.post7799400498663803873..comments2023-03-22T15:04:55.281-07:00Comments on Delicate Awakening: Does Church Turn You Off God?Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12693795343641111526noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707215866042944684.post-84855158220341060552011-07-25T07:05:03.863-07:002011-07-25T07:05:03.863-07:00@Skeptigirl - That mentality, of converting rather...@Skeptigirl - That mentality, of converting rather than investing in a real relationship, is self-serving I think. I've heard people talk about all the lost they brought to the Lord as if they were winning souls like trophies. But where are these people after the alter call? I bet they don't have a clue. Luckily, I haven't come across anyone like that in my church.<br /><br />@Pippi - That's a good point. I'm at a place now where I'd still be in a relationship with God even if I never stepped foot in a church again, but for some people it is the first place they will visit when they feel the longing and if they get turned off it may take a while for their wounds to heal enough for them to regain the strength to continue searching. <br /><br />@JSS - Your description made me cringe. I feel very uncomfortable in churches like that. I've been to a few and they were all Evangelical. (Whatever that definition even means anymore.) Sure, we sing songs of praise during worship but we don't pretend not to have issues. (Even, gasp, after entering into this new life with Jesus.) I think we are a very healthy, honest church and I give a lot of credit to our pastor who is leading with his eyes wide open. It's refreshing. (But rare it seems.) Unfortunately, I think you are right -for the most part, to date, the church has failed in it's mission here on earth. It's not without it's merits but it doesn't yet get a passing grade. I think the whole institution needs an overhaul -to be shaken up and propelled out of its comfort zone.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12693795343641111526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707215866042944684.post-42511953435922047712011-07-25T05:29:57.680-07:002011-07-25T05:29:57.680-07:00I used to think of being saved as having your hand...I used to think of being saved as having your hand stamped. Ok you can get into the carnival now. Ok you can get into heaven now. Ridiculous.<br />It was in my darkest days that I was attending what passes for an evangelical church around these parts. I was about as low as I could possibly get and everyone around me was singing joyous songs to God, exuberantly thanking and praising him for life and all it did was leave me wondering what the hell was wrong with me that I didn't feel that way. What was wrong with me that I didn't have that 'thing', that 'part' that allowed me to accept Jesus as my lord and saviour, instantaneously and magically freeing me to throw my hands in the air and praise Jesus for all he had done for me.<br /><br />It would be a long and irate post for me to describe all the ways that I think the Christian Church fails it's constituency. I will simply say that I have come to a place where I simply don't buy it, don't feel I need it and, if truth be told, don't want it.jsshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02841951364803029201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707215866042944684.post-9471482849051638652011-07-24T10:22:39.537-07:002011-07-24T10:22:39.537-07:00I think I've passed the point where church has...I think I've passed the point where church has the power to turn me off God. The problem I keep running into now is having my growing discoveries about God turn me off church. And since I don't want to fall into the isolation of no fellowship (I was raised in that camp and it was unhealthy and bred cult-like doctrine), I am finding myself looking more and more for like-minded Christians, something that until recently wasn't a big priority for me.Pippihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05598890631695015818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707215866042944684.post-18201945122401181332011-07-24T01:58:25.604-07:002011-07-24T01:58:25.604-07:00Those plastic veneers and salesmanship we put on h...Those plastic veneers and salesmanship we put on hurt others and ourselves. Your fear of them not wanting to be your friends anymore if you rejected the gospel was real and coming to the realization their friends are only trying to convert them is an awful blow to many. I have been told by some Christian gurus that being in the world but not of the world means not hanging out with the sinners unless I am there to convert.Skeptigirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09114437797095740146noreply@blogger.com