Where is the balance for churches? Is there one?

Do you think that would be bad not "fellowshipping" with other Christians. Just asking.

 

I do not think it should replace the traditional church.

 

Oh, there would be a message board at least for the online church, and probably one or two get togethers per year. Honestly, I think message boards have almost as much potential for fellowship as meeting in a building.

 

I wouldn't view it as a replacement for traditional church, I'd view it as another option for people who either refuse to go to a traditional church, or have schedules/circumstances which prevent them from attending a traditional church service.

 

I don't go to church because I like to drink beer and vodka, smoke cigars and cigarettes, cuss like a sailor and have sex outside of marriage. Doing these things and going to church would make me the hypocrite. I'm a lot of things but a hypocrite I am not.

This post is 100% true and not tongue and cheek.

 

Fair enough, Barry. At least you're honest. I can definitely respect that. :xyzthumbs

 

No it wouldn't!
Have you ever went to a club or bar and not drank! Or to a baseball game with friends because it was there thing but you wanted to be with them?
The church is for SINNERS, which we all are.
Come, take what you want out of it, and worship God.

 

I think you have presented a great topic Hasbeen. The church I attend is fairly small, and I joined when they were first established. The atmosphere does not present itself in such a way, you feel you "have" to be there. It's relaxed, and no matter who long someone has been attending; if they need help the whole church pitches in.

We have bread, sweets, and the like every Sunday. So, if that's what keeps some people coming back every week. That's ok, because they are hearing God's word while they're eating..

 

WEIRD sounds like my church, but we have biskets and other stuff

 

Most folks here know that I'm not Christian, though I tried really hard to be earlier in life So I'm taking the question in a more general way--as it would apply to any sort of regular gathering of any religious/spiritual group.

The essential components of such gatherings to me are:

1--open, sincere discussion of matters of the spirit in which all can participate. Human beings being what they are, a good moderator would be needed to keep discussions on topic & non-judgmental. (And by non-judgmental I don't mean that people can't honestly disagree; just that they must do so respectfully). I have been in environments where there was some reading or study or message beforehand, & discussion afterwards. This is great. It facilitates learning & growth, & it deepens bonds among the participants.

2--sincere welcoming of visitors without setting out to convert them to a single point of view. As someone (I wish I could remember who, & give credit!) once said, "Jesus said to be a light--not a foghorn." Don't preach at people. Welcome them, & be an example.

3--openness to change. Churches, like other communities, are made up of fallible human beings. Even if you believe your church to be headed by an infallible deity, the rest of you are bound to make mistakes--including mistakes of interpretation & understanding. History is full of examples of this (most notably the idea that scientific findings that clash with church doctrines must be evil & wrong, instead of opening our eyes to deeper understanding). God may not change, but hopefully WE learn & improve over time. I don't trust churches or governments or parents who say, "This is the way it is, now & forever, we can't ever learn any more than this." A church that is afraid of disagreement isn't based on much, IMO. (That's why I'm always flabbergasted when some group tries to censor certain books. If you're afraid to let people read for themselves & then discuss things openly, how weak must your arguments be?)

4--a real sense of community, engendered by mutual support during difficult times, shared celebrations, & outreach to those in need with no strings attached.

People need both warm fuzzies & hard truths. A spiritual community must be a source of, or path to, both. We can offer each other truth without beating each other over the head with it. We can shed light on things that need to be dealt with while giving hugs & encouragement at the same time.

Sorry, I got wordy