Caution...You are entering the religion zone!

To everyone who does not know me, I went to high school with Ben, so in that respect, we come from similar backgrounds regarding early education and religious beliefs. Beyond that, I'm quite certain that he and I have led completely opposite lives. Also, I apologize if I get off-track or off subject. Working and facebook do not always mix well, LOL. Plus add to it, on a personal level, I have lots of questions regarding my own spirituality, or lack there of, so I beg for your patience if I wear you out with all this.

1) If you attend church, why do you attend the church you do?

Currently I occasionally attend Draper Park Christian Church (DPCC). By occasionally I mean once or twice a month at the very most. Brutal honesty time…I go there because my wife dragged me there as her parents had started attending church, for, I think, the first time in their lives. So now we go every now and then. I have even, on occasion, dropped off our daughter with my in-laws and gone back home. Tacky, tacky.

This long, drawn-out posting will bleed over into questions 2 and 3 a little. About a year ago, their minister left because the elders were, oddly enough, against him trying to institute community outreach programs. I don’t see the logic, but who am I? This was early last summer, and they still have not replaced him. So they alternate between the elders, and various volunteers to offer up a lesson on Sunday morning. Very inspiring. I know, I’m shamefully sarcastic. But anyway, in the last couple of years, I have been feeling a need to be closer to God. Sometimes it is just a quiet nagging in the back of my mind, and other times it is almost an aching in my gut, but it is there almost every waking moment. It’s probably the primary reason I’m reading Ben’s notes and tossing this all out there.

2) If you do not attend church, why do you not attend?

Probably the biggest reason I don’t attend more often is I always come away from it feeling let down. I know I have a need, I can feel it, it’s real, and it isn’t being fulfilled. I walk into Mardel’s and I get more inspiration than I do from a church service. I’ve asked my wife if she would be willing to visit other churches in the area and she said yes, but also tossed out there she’d like to check out some of the Methodist churches around. This honestly freaks me out a little. As a child, she attended a Methodist Church in Little Rock with her Grandmother.

With the exception of DPCC, I have never attended a service anywhere other than a CofC. From all the CofC's I have attended over the years, the basic theology is sound for the most part from one to the next. However the differences between “denominations” are of some concern. But should they be?

Perfect example, I have never seen a musical instrument inside a CofC. However, DPCC has the song leader, 2 singers on stage with mics, and a guy playing guitar and another on the piano.

So, this begs the question which is right? Can they both be right? I don't know the scripture, but I know there is one that is always tossed out there anytime this topic comes up, something to the effect of praising God with our voices, I think.

Anyway, these are things I had trouble with even as a child. I have an Uncle and Aunt who attend a Baptist Church. I remember my Mother talking about it; it was so troubling to her. They aren't "Christians" so they are going to Hell. To this day, she will not attend a service at DPCC, and while she has not said the words, I feel confident that it is simply because it is not a CofC. If I tell her we are going to Oakcrest CofC where the majority of my extended family attends, she’s right there, Johnny-on-the-spot. So, I guess, not only an I responsible for my own salvation, but my mother’s as well. Hmmm.

Anyway, back to my original thought, I have no idea why they attend a Baptist Church. In addition, I have never set foot inside a Baptist Church, I have no idea what the difference is. I've never talked to them about it. I've tried to find these answers online, but so far I haven't been able to find what I want in a clear and concise form.

Do I think they will go to hell because they are Baptists? No. I have a hard time believing that God is really that unforgiving. Will I go to hell because I attend a church that has a piano? If I do, it won't have anything to do with a piano. Personally, from a sinner's point of view, I believe that salvation is personal. It has nothing to do with the name on the building, nothing to do with a Capella singing, nothing to do with wearing a suit or jeans, nothing to do with waving your hand in the air shouting "Praise God", or quietly bowing your head in prayer.

3) What are the strengths and weaknesses of churches today?

With all of that said, I personally have been accused of over-simplifying things through the years....

DPCC is a perfect example of what not to do. They actually let a really good minister leave for another congregation because he wanted to reach out! How messed up is that? I know that not everybody is the same, nor will everybody find what they are looking for in the same place. I’m a perfect example. I’ve been away from the Church for 20 years. I have no idea what I am looking for; all I know is that I need it, and I’ll know it when I find it.

From my point of view, churches need to consider reaching out to each other. Not as individuals, but as congregations. Even with no real experience, I can’t help but think that if we could get past our self-righteous nature, and competitive spirit, that surely it could happen. I know, this was discussed in a previous topic, but I just read them all in the last two days LOL. Sorry. Anyway, if we, including myself, can get past the procedural differences, I think the Church as a whole could grow by leaps and bounds. I have to assume things probably haven’t changed much in the last 20 years it is probably still all about what people can and can't do.

Growing up in the CofC, I can still remember when people would ask, "Where do you go to church?" Their response to the answer was almost always something to the effect of "Oh, you all can't dance" or "You don't have a band” or even “women can’t wear pants huh?”

From my limited experience, it all boils down to what people want to feel like they can get away with. Some people want to feel like they can be saved simply by showing up on Sunday morning, or reciting a few prayers, or tossing 10% in the collection plate, or confessing to someone on the other side of a curtain. They have no interest in actually living in a Godly manner. So many people have no interest in God, save that 1 hour on Sunday morning. I know this because I was there for a brief time, then I gave up God completely. That was around 20 years ago. Personally, considering myself an outsider to the church, some of the differences from one church name to the next are just silly.

It starts with having God in your heart and soul. Where it goes from there......

Done, I think LOL. What was I saying?