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paintersteve
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| Joined: | Tue May 1st, 2007 |
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Posted: Thu May 3rd, 2007 06:29 pm |
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| I am trying figure out what does one like myself do, when in my experience with the church, has been a miserable, let down "big time" experience of phoney balogna, fake, give me your money, i`ll pray for you brother crap, how are you crap, look at me i am so spiritual crap, i am a leader over you attitude crap, and so on.......crap. I am so longing to find true people who dont act like they have it all together and know everything, i am a sinner daily and know that i suck at being G-D like, i want to be able to honestly share my fears, hurts, desires, addictions, and so on with people i can trust, so that when someone asks me how am i doing i can know that they really care and want to know "how i am doing" not just b.s.n me with their phoney concern. Last edited on Thu May 3rd, 2007 06:32 pm by paintersteve
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truthseeker
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| Joined: | Tue May 16th, 2006 |
| Location: | New Jersey USA |
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Posted: Thu May 3rd, 2007 06:43 pm |
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Hi paintersteve,
Sometimes you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find a true princess. I am truly blessed to be in a church whose leaders serve humbly and share authentically. Yes, we call sin sin, but also function as a hospital for sinners, not a museum of saints. I am not gifted in all things, so I would be most inefectual alone.
TruthSeeker
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Suzi
Member
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Posted: Mon May 7th, 2007 12:18 am |
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Painter Steve,
Unfortunately, I don't think there are any perfect churches. My H and I often joke, ... if we would find one, we would ruin it as soon as we joined because we are definitely IMPERFECT!
I do think there's a lot of stuff in most churches that really can be a turn off. However, what I would suggest is this... don't concentrate quite so much on all the people-habits (though they are important!)... but listen to the source. Are the messages Bible-centered? Is there an ever increasing desire of the leaders there to follow GOD? Not just be "THE MINISTER". Does the pastor (and leadership) exhibit a servant's heart? Do you sense that people are being challenged to follow God? To submit to God? If so, I wouldn't necessarily write off the church just because of the Christians who go there.
Pray, pray, pray and ask God for guidance to the local church where you will be fed, and can, in return, become a part of The Body, imperfect though it may be.
I love our pastors... I believe they are godly men... but I could, at the same time, write a book about all the things our church doesn't do exactly right, in meeting needs of others. However, I have peace in my heart, that this fellowship is where GOD wants us to be serving, learning, growing.
If you really want to follow God, you have to come to terms with recognizing that God's vehicle to get HIS MESSAGE to the world always came through men in local assemblies, and those who were sent out from local assemblies. I can't think of any effective "free-lancers" in the New Testament.
I remember how frustrated we were for a number of years, desperately seeking a place where we could have good fellowship in addition to good teaching. It took awhile.... but our church changed, and WE changed (!) as we grew in the Word.
So, don't write off church just because of us imperfect church-goers, OK?  God has a place for you, and people for YOU to touch and reach out to. So, don't give up! OK? We really DO NEED each other!
Suzi
____________________
Psa 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Psa 119:37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
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tropicalstorm
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| Joined: | Mon Apr 16th, 2007 |
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Posted: Mon May 7th, 2007 01:16 am |
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The problem with churches is that they are full of fleshy people LOL. Seriously though, we are all flesh and prone to error.
I have found that I look at everything though my "me tinted" glasses. I have always been "odd" (not in a dangerous or bad way- just off the beaten path). I have always been sensitive about this.
When I am down on me and not just praising God for making me EXACTLY who he wanted/needed me to be, I am very sensitive that others are just too over the fact that I am different.
I am not saying what you are experiencing is NOT real, just saying that perhpas you are looking at times through "me colored" colored glasses. If you are not digging yourself, you'll never believe anyone else will either. If you are judging yourself, why wouldn't everyone else?
Just something to think about.
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