[WakkieRob]

I want to go to church but like all churches you have to be there when they want you there
In the name of God this cannot be right.

Pilgrims travel miles to Celebrate Jesus Christ. Why when I want to do the same at my local church can I not. The doors of heaven are open to all not if your late it seems especially around our way.

[jakester]

WakkieRob -

I appreciate your frustration. I do think that it's unfair to say that "all churches" require you to "be there when they want you there.."

I'm not really sure I understand what your issue is so I'm hoping you could elaborate a little more about what it is you are dealing with. If you are not a very punctual person then perhaps you are angering people in the church when you come in late... I guess people could be a little more forgiving but who knows, maybe you could be on time too. I'm not a very on-time kind of guy so I can't really say "be on time Wakkie" but you experience all kinds of people and sometimes you have to work with folks, Christians or not.

[cogs]

If you mean, 'why isn't the church open 24 hours', then you can see that thieves will steal everything. I myself have been disappointed when I wanted to go into church at night to pray.

Here's the conclusion I found: god is in our hearts. He doesn't need a patch of ground, or a church building for him to be at to hear our prayer.

Before, I used to want to be at a piece of 'holy ground' or something. This was because I felt such a lack of godliness in the city around me.

Now, I realize that jesus is light, and he's inside me, making me like him. This light makes darkness vanish. We are the salt of the earth.

If we, with jesus directing us, weren't here, how unholy this world would seem.

[Fr_Chuck]

Actually Jesus went to the temple and worshiped and prayed.
He also went read and taught in the temple.

So yes if you want to do the religion of Jesus, you go to the organised service and worship and take part in it, ( yes there is set days and times for it)

Then on all the other days, you live that faith, talking and living that faith in all the things you do.

[Galveston1]

Salvation is not of ANY church. It is belief and acceptance of what Jesus did for you to give you spiritual LIFE.
Church is where you go to get further instruction on how to live and serve Jesus. It becomes your extended family and is actually the corporate Body of Christ.
It is also the means to obey the command of Christ to go into all the world to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Foreign missioin works would be impossible without some body of believers supporting those missions.
A Christian is called to either go or to send.

[hawk22]

I want to go to church but like all churches you have to be there when they want you there
in the name of God this cannot be right.

Pilgrims travel miles to Celebrate Jesus Christ. Why when I want to do the same at my local church can I not. The doors of heaven are open to all not if your late it seems especially around our way.

The doors are not open to all only those who are born again who have excepted jesus into there heart if this sounds crazy to you your not alone when I first heard it I thought my sister was nut,brainwashed etc so I said I'm going to prove her wrong I'm going to study every bible the catholic,king james bible,jehovah witness bible the mormon bible etc even charles darwin with the dumbest therory of evolution and I found that all religion were false except christianity and there king james bible every 1 else changed the words of the bible if you compare you will see which is right a lot of reading but worth it on account that your soul depends on it I'll give u 1 king james says in john 3;3 jesus speaking [verly I say unto thee except a man be born gain you cannot enter heaven and nicodimis asked how can a man be born again]paraphrased but you will c it . Catholic bible [verly I say unto thee except a man be begotton from above he cannot enter heaven and nicodimas ask how can a man be born again

[TexasParent]

I want to go to church but like all churches you have to be there when they want you there
in the name of God this cannot be right.

Pilgrims travel miles to Celebrate Jesus Christ. Why when I want to do the same at my local church can I not. The doors of heaven are open to all not if your late it seems especially around our way.

You know, if structured church service is not for you, you could plug into various bible studies in peoples homes, or other gathering places. Most churches will help you find one, and some are conducted at the Church on the days or nights which aren't used for full service and usually in a small room setting.

There are plenty of places Christian's (or I imagine other faiths) get together other than a Church service to learn more about their faith.

If you are younger, say in your teens there are youth groups that do things on the weekend. Some churches cater to singles which have other meetings and events they participate in. If you are a young married couple, you can get plugged in there too.

There is plenty of flexibility in learning more about your faith.

Good luck and God Bless in your quest.

[De Maria]

I want to go to church but like all churches you have to be there when they want you there
in the name of God this cannot be right.

Pilgrims travel miles to Celebrate Jesus Christ. Why when I want to do the same at my local church can I not. The doors of heaven are open to all not if your late it seems especially around our way.

Do you mean that Jesus was not at the temple when required? Unless you can prove it from Scripture, I'd say that you are perfectly wrong. Because everyone knows that Jesus kept the Law perfectly. He is the only person who ever did so.

Sincerely,

De Maria

[JoeT777]

I want to go to church but…

You’ve been given good advice here. So, no excuses, no buts; souls desiring God belong in Church. The hindrances go away only when you put the butt in the pew.

JoeT
PS and go early so you won’t be late.

[JoeT777]

the doors are not open to all only those...

Why would you say a fool thing like that!

JoeT

[WakkieRob]

How do we know we are following the proper way of GOD if the people who killed Jesus for wrong doing, must have tore up the writings from his followers. Or if they didn't why would they want to use it? haw22, anyone can be a born again Christian.

[JoeT777]

I’m really surprised you haven’t gotten a response by now. In any event here’s my poor attempt.

How do we know we are following the proper way of GOD

How do I know - You don’t. Being prone to error, all have sinned – that’s why we have confession. It allows us to recognize our mistakes, make adjustments in our life, and move forward. Any Christian Church you go to should be filled with sinners (if it’s not you’re in heaven). Our goal should be first to love God in all things; next is finding “the way” which is what life’s journey is about, seeking holiness.

if the people who killed Jesus for wrong doing

You’ve got a misconception. Christ died for us – not because an authority ordered Him crucified. He allowed his crucifixion to occur to open heaven for the souls of men. The crucifixion was part of God’s plan for our salvation. (See the movie “The Passion of the Christ - 2004”)

must have tore up the writings from his followers. Or if they didn't why would they want to use it

Christ didn’t write anything during his life on earth. The bible was written by men and inspired by God. In part, the bible is first theological treatise, second prophetic, and third historical. Catholic’s don’t believe that the bible is the sole source of God’s revelation to man, rather that God continues to communicate to man (after Christ's assention) in other means we call Traditions. It was decided which works would be in the bible early in the Church’s history. The bible is a collection of various works (books); the Old Testament, in part, dealing with the God’s promise to the Jews to send a messiah, and the New Testament which includes the Gospels (Literally, the good news) of Christ.

JoeT

[WakkieRob]

JoeT, Your cool man u know the in's and out's of the way of GOD that may b taught in heaven 2 stop more fallen Angles!

Do u believe the Demon is a Angel from God and why?

And do u believe different beliefs cause the Demon to stir up War among our people?

[JoeT777]

Rob:

Do u believe the Demon is a Angel from God and why?

Yes, and the Church teaches demons, evil spirits, and satan are real beings.

And do u believe different beliefs cause the Demon to stir up War among our people?

Yes, I do believe that the devil is always tempting us, attempting to lead us to evil. And when we do evil, Satan is the first to denounce us. When we fail, the fault is ours because of our free will. As I understand it, demons have no direct power over us. The exception to this is when we cooperate with evil. Prayer and confession is our best weapons.

These are the seven deadly sins the great slanderer uses to temp us with; avarice, gluttony, lust, sloth, envy, anger.

But, you shouldn’t be preoccupied with such things, rather recognize them for what they are; road hazards to be avoided on life’s journey.

JoeT

[TexasParent]

Rob:

Yes, and the Church teaches demons, evil spirits, and satan are real beings.


Yes, I do believe that the devil is always tempting us, attempting to lead us to evil. And when we do evil, Satan is the first to denounce us. When we fail, the fault is ours because of our free will. As I understand it, demons have no direct power over us. The exception to this is when we cooperate with evil. Prayer and confession is our best weapons.

These are the seven deadly sins the great slanderer uses to temp us with; avarice, gluttony, lust, sloth, envy, anger.

But, you shouldn’t be preoccupied with such things, rather recognize them for what they are; road hazards to be avoided on life’s journey.

JoeT

You mentioned six of the seven, is greed not another?

As for the devil, when does a attribute which we have as children designed by evolution or God as a protection become a sin? Greed for instance, as children by design they tend to be selfish and greedy; a survival instinct bred into us as survival of the fittest when there isn't enough food, etc. So the children grow, and are elected leaders and have power, they still want things either for their citizens or for themselves personally; this attribute of greed still exists within them and for some it is a matter of survival of their country but to others it is sin to act upon that greed at the expense of others in a War for instance.

I don't agree with the black and white notion of the devil, etc. there are too many shades of gray.

My opinion for you, if it matters.

[JoeT777]

You mentioned six of the seven, is greed not another?

Pope Gregory named the 7th as pride. To be avarice is to be greedy.

[TexasParent]

Pope Gregory named the 7th as pride. To be avarice is to be greedy.

My bad, thank you. Pride, a particularly nasty and elusive little bugger isn't it.

[JoeT777]

Tex:

I don't agree with the black and white notion of the devil, etc. there are too many shades of gray.

I agree there are too many shades of gray, but the point is there doesn’t have to be. Besides, it’s easier to make the right choices when the distinctions are clear and sharp. With virtuous morals the distinction is most always clear.

As for the devil, when does a attribute which we have as children designed by evolution or God as a protection become a sin? Greed for instance, as children by design they tend to be selfish and greedy; a survival instinct bred into us as survival of the fittest when there isn't enough food, etc. So the children grow, and are elected leaders and have power, they still want things either for their citizens or for themselves personally; this attribute of greed still exists within them and for some it is a matter of survival of their country but to others it is sin to act upon that greed at the expense of others in a War for instance.

This statement makes incorrect assumptions for a predetermined conclusion. It assumes that right virtuous reasoning isn’t applicable in survival conditions. Further it assumes evolution is a fact. So, I’m a bit confused. Morals remain valid regardless of the condition one finds himself. I guess that gets me back to the black and white of it all; right is right and wrong is wrong.

The fact that we are fallible doesn’t change vise into virtue.

JoeT

[arcura]

Jesus founded a church for His followers to go to, not to skip it.
Jesus was a perfect Jew so He went to the Temple and other worship houses to pray and to teach as the bible tells us.
Jesus' Church (the Aramaic word means assembly) is for His followers to assemble for worship, prayer, and learning.
That is what the earliest Churches did in homes before the love of God causes Church buildings to be built for the assembly of Christian followers of The Son of God.
I went to Church tonight early so I could get the seat I wanted, close to the pastor so I could hear him.
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura)

[saintjoan]

We cannot be religious like Jesus was. The temple no longer stands, therefore we can no longer bring a sacrifice to make an atonement for sin. Also Jesus was perfect
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Contrasted with our perfect Lord, we are all sinners.
1 John 1:8-10 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.