WHY I DON'T GO TO CHURCH

NETTIE-ISM: I used to sit on the phone or at my friend Lynette's house for hours talking about the Lord. We would work our problems out according to Scripture and encourage one another  using the word of God.

MATTHEW 4:23
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

I learn something every time I attend a church but I don't learn what I need to know to get through the day.

It is amazing how many different ways a church can preach about giving without mentioning tithing. It seems, the larger the church the more bills they have the more the amount of money you give is linked to a problem you are experiencing.

• Having problems with your marriage? The church will encourage date night. After you have paid your bills, given your tithes and offerings use that access money to take your wife to a nice restaurant or if there is not enough you cook  a nice dinner for two.
• Can't pay your bills? Take this Small Group class and we will show you how to set up a budget which includes your giving, you can get debt free.

What if you are having problems even though you give "tithes and offerings"? Money was not the reason I stopped going to church, I give or don't give as the Spirit of the Lord directs me.
I was sitting in one church listening to one of my favorite preachers and he was not making any sense.  Now this particular church has themes, they would preach a series based on a theme and each Pastor giving the message would have to adhere to the theme. It was clear to me that Saturday, I attended the Saturday evening services, that the Pastor was struggling to keep to the guidelines the Senior Pastor had adhered to. I left that church because I don't want a cutisie message that would help me with nothing.

MATTHEW  10:35
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

The same was true with another church in which you heard the word from a BIG SCREEN! Unless you were in the actual place in which the message was preached. The one positive: Jesus was mentioned.

MATTHEW 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Had I not attended a church, before I moved south, that taught me how to search the Scriptures to solve my problems. Had I not attended a church in which the Senior Pastor preached the need to work on self by studying the Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to fix me.. Had I not attended a church in which the Senior Pastor called out the behaviors he saw in the body and explained why it was a sin and revealed how to correct it, I would not have known the importance of submitting to Elohim.

2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 THE EXPANDED BIBLE
All Scripture is ·inspired by God [breathed out by God; L- God-breathed] and is useful for teaching, for ·showing people what is wrong in their lives [refuting error; rebuking], for correcting faults, and for ·teaching how to live right [training in righteousness]. ·Using the Scriptures, [L- …so that] ·the person who serves God [L -God’s person] will be ·capable [competent], ·having all that is needed [fully equipped] to do every good work.

There are so many super churches with super programs and mega budgets. Chicken dinners have been replaced with coffee and a pastry. Children don't come to church and learn how to sit and listen they attend their own service in which they can run around, play hoops sing and socialize all in the name of the Lord.  In some churches.

There are those churches, one in which I attended on an irregular bases, that taught about Scripture. It did not teach personal application but rather "this is what happened when".  Scripture was taught in context, a good thing, and commentary was presented in hopes of not offending the listener.
I learned quite a bit regarding the practices of biblical times and why various feast were carried out.  None of it helped me to submit to my husband when he was getting on my last nerve, which is why the talks with my friend were so important.

This was my personal struggle. I was attending church regularly, serving in the ministry, giving as the Spirit directed me and I was having a lot of problems. When I decided to attend church only when I felt the need to fellowship Hebrews 10:25 "forsake not the assembly of yourselves" was 'thrown' at me.  Attending church should help me be able to do what I am called to do. "That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Timothy 3:17 KJV.

I look around today and see people who attend church regularly and they live in what I would deem "survival mode".

HEBREWS 10:25 THE VOICE - and commentary
 not forgetting to gather as a community, as some have forgotten, but encouraging each other, especially as the day of His return approaches.
"The word translated “church” in English Bibles means literally “assembly of the called”; it implies that members have said “yes” to God’s call in their lives. We assemble because we are called into being by God Himself. Some people, for reasons only they know, choose to live their Christian faiths in isolation. When they do, they cut themselves off from the gifts, encouragement, and vitality of others. And perhaps, just as tragically, they deprive the church of the grace and life God has invested in them."

The Voice commentators assume that those of us who chose not to go to church are not being encouraged and do not partake of the gifts. The truth is I am not isolated from the ministry gifts and I receive more encouragement now than I did when I attended church regularly. And though I could do some things I was not able to utilize my God given gifts because it was not part of the church's vision; I was bound by man.

Finally, many churches ignore the topic of abortion, homosexuality, adultery and submission. Why would anyone want to fellowship with a place in which the full gospel is not being presented.

MARK 16:15-18
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

There are two churches I attend when I desire to be with other believers. But, it is not really fellowship when you go to church, hear the word and then go home.
                                                                          written by Marsha L F Randolph

NETTIE-OLOGY /NETTIE-ISM reflects the opinions of and is the soul property of the author MARSHA L F RANDOLPH. All rights reserved- do not use without permission. Disagreeing with what is written is not offensive to the author a disagreeable comment will be deleted.