Fundamentalist Christian Bible Churches

[Anonymous]

I don't understand this post. Is there a church, temple, or other religious community on earth that does not have social events for members to meet (and marry hopefully within the faith), children's outings and social events for membership, gatherings for the church community, etc.? And what is wrong with that? Read any letter to "Dear Abby" where some lovelorn person asks how to meet members of the opposite sex and Abby says "join a church."

What is your beef here? That fundamentalists are not praying 24/7? That they are enjoying a chicken dinner every once in a while? I'm no fundamentalist, in fact I can't stand them, but I just don't get it. Churches have been the social centers of their communities for literally hundreds of years. The "community center" has only developed in the last fifty years or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand this post. Is there a church, temple, or other religious community on earth that does not have social events for members to meet (and marry hopefully within the faith), children's outings and social events for membership, gatherings for the church community, etc.? And what is wrong with that? Read any letter to "Dear Abby" where some lovelorn person asks how to meet members of the opposite sex and Abby says "join a church."

What is your beef here? That fundamentalists are not praying 24/7? That they are enjoying a chicken dinner every once in a while? I'm no fundamentalist, in fact I can't stand them, but I just don't get it. Churches have been the social centers of their communities for literally hundreds of years. The "community center" has only developed in the last fifty years or so.

I don't think OP has a beef. I just think she enjoys feeling superior to people who are different from her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in a town (not DC) with many fundamentalist Christian churches. Lately, I have been talking to acquaintances who attend these churches and read some blogs and websites and done other research about them and my conclusion is that these churches are nothing more than big social organizaations. So many of them have "fellowship" meetings that consist of hikes or potluck dinners or breakfast meetings or ski trips or other fun outings. These churches also seem to have plenty of money to pay for a lot of full time staffers. One church has two full-time youth leaders. From what I can tell, all the youth leaders seem to do is host a weekly pizza night with the teens plus weekend outdoor outings such as camping trips and paintball. One of the youth leaders is approx. age 30 and he and his wife have a very nice house and are raising four young children. They look like models from Outside magazine. I'm thinking he makes a pretty good salary for a very easy job. I grew up in the Catholic church and it was nothing like this. The Catholic church emphasized helping the needy. The priests had volunteers (mostly older women) helping them run the church and rectory. These new age independent Bible church seems to emphasize the self. It just seems like religion-lite. They have many "ministries" - such as "divorce care" and "young parents group". These churches just seem so funny to me. The people only like to associate with other "Christians" and talk about "praying" for silly things. They do seem to have "mission trips" once a year to places like Guatemala, but even these trips, which are funded by the trip, seem like nothing more than a vacation with a little bit of praying or house-building built in. What does anyone else think about these Bible churches?

Gee, what a terrible crime! Somebody put a stop to these pizza parties and camping trips!

[Anonymous]

I'm a devout atheist, but I occasionally miss the community aspects of going to church.

Perhaps OP has never spent time at a fundamentalist church camp, time in a "fellowship hall", etc, but there is certainly a lot of preaching going on at events other than Sunday morning sermon.

[Anonymous]

I know people want to, as a rule, crap all over other people posts on DCUM. But I believe that the OP has made a valid and insightful observation. I've read similar perspectives on the Christian megachurches -- the full-service ones, some even with Starbucks and gyms in them. The focus, in these churches, is personal gratification. It's feel good "religion" from the folks that subscribe to the so called "prosperity gospel." The preachers are "cool" young dudes with highlighted hair and there's a lot of me, me, me there. There's not much concern for others. Most of the people attending are republicans (shocker!) and they only care about themselves. Seems kinda far away from Jesus to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know people want to, as a rule, crap all over other people posts on DCUM. But I believe that the OP has made a valid and insightful observation. I've read similar perspectives on the Christian megachurches -- the full-service ones, some even with Starbucks and gyms in them. The focus, in these churches, is personal gratification. It's feel good "religion" from the folks that subscribe to the so called "prosperity gospel." The preachers are "cool" young dudes with highlighted hair and there's a lot of me, me, me there. There's not much concern for others. Most of the people attending are republicans (shocker!) and they only care about themselves. Seems kinda far away from Jesus to me.

Then don't join their church! Live and let live. They have no effect whatsoever on your life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know people want to, as a rule, crap all over other people posts on DCUM. But I believe that the OP has made a valid and insightful observation. I've read similar perspectives on the Christian megachurches -- the full-service ones, some even with Starbucks and gyms in them. The focus, in these churches, is personal gratification. It's feel good "religion" from the folks that subscribe to the so called "prosperity gospel." The preachers are "cool" young dudes with highlighted hair and there's a lot of me, me, me there. There's not much concern for others. Most of the people attending are republicans (shocker!) and they only care about themselves. Seems kinda far away from Jesus to me.

You're so right! Get these people back in bars and on street corners where they belong!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know people want to, as a rule, crap all over other people posts on DCUM. But I believe that the OP has made a valid and insightful observation. I've read similar perspectives on the Christian megachurches -- the full-service ones, some even with Starbucks and gyms in them. The focus, in these churches, is personal gratification. It's feel good "religion" from the folks that subscribe to the so called "prosperity gospel." The preachers are "cool" young dudes with highlighted hair and there's a lot of me, me, me there. There's not much concern for others. Most of the people attending are republicans (shocker!) and they only care about themselves. Seems kinda far away from Jesus to me.

Then don't join their church! Live and let live. They have no effect whatsoever on your life.

So therefore, we should not be concerned with or notice the world around us at all. My point exactly! You must belong to McLean Bible Church!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in a town (not DC) with many fundamentalist Christian churches. Lately, I have been talking to acquaintances who attend these churches and read some blogs and websites and done other research about them and my conclusion is that these churches are nothing more than big social organizaations. So many of them have "fellowship" meetings that consist of hikes or potluck dinners or breakfast meetings or ski trips or other fun outings. These churches also seem to have plenty of money to pay for a lot of full time staffers. One church has two full-time youth leaders. From what I can tell, all the youth leaders seem to do is host a weekly pizza night with the teens plus weekend outdoor outings such as camping trips and paintball. One of the youth leaders is approx. age 30 and he and his wife have a very nice house and are raising four young children. They look like models from Outside magazine. I'm thinking he makes a pretty good salary for a very easy job. I grew up in the Catholic church and it was nothing like this. The Catholic church emphasized helping the needy. The priests had volunteers (mostly older women) helping them run the church and rectory. These new age independent Bible church seems to emphasize the self. It just seems like religion-lite. They have many "ministries" - such as "divorce care" and "young parents group". These churches just seem so funny to me. The people only like to associate with other "Christians" and talk about "praying" for silly things. They do seem to have "mission trips" once a year to places like Guatemala, but even these trips, which are funded by the trip, seem like nothing more than a vacation with a little bit of praying or house-building built in. What does anyone else think about these Bible churches?

Haha, I was reading along wondering if you too were Catholic, and when I got to the part where you said that you are, I coudln't help but smile. We are too, and my DH and I often say the same types of things to one another about this same topic. It's a bit different from what we are used to, isn't it? My brain cannot quite wrap around it and I keep trying to wonder, "But, but, but, . . .where is the 'THERE' there?? What is the doctrine? Are there sacraments? WHAT BASICALLY IS GOING ON HERE???" I know this won't really make sense to non-Catholics reading this (and probably maybe fallen away Catholics too) and many will sieze upon it to then do some more Catholic-bashing posts, but, just wanted to say, OP, I know what you are talking about, and my DH and I sometimes feel this way too. It doesn't fit into our mental framework very well but it does seem to do some good. It's just, I would classify it more as a benevolent social organization too. Shrug. Oh well. (This will annoy all the non-Catholics): Pray for them.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know people want to, as a rule, crap all over other people posts on DCUM. But I believe that the OP has made a valid and insightful observation. I've read similar perspectives on the Christian megachurches -- the full-service ones, some even with Starbucks and gyms in them. The focus, in these churches, is personal gratification. It's feel good "religion" from the folks that subscribe to the so called "prosperity gospel." The preachers are "cool" young dudes with highlighted hair and there's a lot of me, me, me there. There's not much concern for others. Most of the people attending are republicans (shocker!) and they only care about themselves. Seems kinda far away from Jesus to me.

You're so right! Get these people back in bars and on street corners where they belong!

I actually have more respect for the people in bars than the "christian" goofballs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know people want to, as a rule, crap all over other people posts on DCUM. But I believe that the OP has made a valid and insightful observation. I've read similar perspectives on the Christian megachurches -- the full-service ones, some even with Starbucks and gyms in them. The focus, in these churches, is personal gratification. It's feel good "religion" from the folks that subscribe to the so called "prosperity gospel." The preachers are "cool" young dudes with highlighted hair and there's a lot of me, me, me there. There's not much concern for others. Most of the people attending are republicans (shocker!) and they only care about themselves. Seems kinda far away from Jesus to me.

Then don't join their church! Live and let live. They have no effect whatsoever on your life.

So therefore, we should not be concerned with or notice the world around us at all. My point exactly! You must belong to McLean Bible Church!

Wrong! I am not religious at all. I am very observant and concerned about the world around me. I just choose not to concern myself with other people's business. It strikes me as funny that one of the biggest criticisms of fundamentalist christians is that they are judgmental and intolerant of those who do not share their beliefs!

[Anonymous]

Church is a business. Don't let their missions fool you. It costs a lot of money, 10% of income is expected and you are pressurised to give it.
Very welcoming to new members, once you are in you will notice the pecking order. If you are happy to always agree with the church elders, then it is ok.
Priest is a wealthy man. The amount of money they use on themselves is mindblowing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know people want to, as a rule, crap all over other people posts on DCUM. But I believe that the OP has made a valid and insightful observation. I've read similar perspectives on the Christian megachurches -- the full-service ones, some even with Starbucks and gyms in them. The focus, in these churches, is personal gratification. It's feel good "religion" from the folks that subscribe to the so called "prosperity gospel." The preachers are "cool" young dudes with highlighted hair and there's a lot of me, me, me there. There's not much concern for others. Most of the people attending are republicans (shocker!) and they only care about themselves. Seems kinda far away from Jesus to me.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP continued...And all her friends are all congratulating here and praying for her. And all I see is one big mess of step-families and property divisions. it seems like anything goes. All the churches seem to be about is "praying" for each other and being "grateful" but nothing substantive. It is sort of whatever folks want is okay. I agree with the poster who said - there is no "there" there. It all just seems sort of silly to me and really just a social organization disguised as a church.

OP -- this is ONE church.
Not all churches are the same.
Not all Catholic Parishes are the same...just like all Priests are NOT child molestors.
You go where your Spirit is fed..what works for you.
I am a Christian, but that doesn't mean I want to join just any church...I go where I am led by the Holy Spirit and a place I feel I am being taught and my spirit is being fed.
You cannot judge all churches based on one Church...just like one cannot judge all Christians because someone who labels themselves as such has done something crazy.
If a group of women was doing something not to your liking would you then have a negative view of all women?

[Anonymous]

I know people want to, as a rule, crap all over other people posts on DCUM. But I believe that the OP has made a valid and insightful observation. I've read similar perspectives on the Christian megachurches -- the full-service ones, some even with Starbucks and gyms in them. The focus, in these churches, is personal gratification. It's feel good "religion" from the folks that subscribe to the so called "prosperity gospel." The preachers are "cool" young dudes with highlighted hair and there's a lot of me, me, me there. There's not much concern for others. Most of the people attending are republicans (shocker!) and they only care about themselves. Seems kinda far away from Jesus to me.

OP here: YES, this is exactly what I was trying to say! the focus is all wrong in my opnion.