Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 09:34     Subject: Looking for a church just right for me
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Time is precious especially weekends


Sounds like people shop for churches the way they shop for everything else -- looking for the perfect solution, which, of course they rarely find.

Or if they'd do find it, it doesn't last long, because their needs change.


Worshipping God is way down on the list


I wish this were not true, but it pretty much is. Probably always was, though.


For some people. For others they'll prioritize it over everything else.


And those people who actually worship God don't necessarily go to church.


If you are a Christian - and we're talking about church so I think that's a moderately safe assumption - it's a Biblical command. Hebrews 10:25 and 13:17 are verses where you can see this. Or as 9 Marks says:

Every Christian should join a church because Scripture requires it. Granted, there is no direct command in Scripture that says, “Every Christian must join a local church,” but two factors in Scripture indicate that every Christian should be a member of a local church.

1. Jesus established the church to be a public, earthly institution that would mark out, affirm, and oversee those who profess to believe in him (Matt. 16:18–19, 18:15–20). Jesus established the church to publicly declare those who belong to him in order to give the world a display of the good news about himself (John 17:21, 23; see also Eph. 3:10). Jesus wants the world to know who belongs to him and who doesn’t. And how is the world to know who belongs to him and who doesn’t? They are to see which people publicly identify themselves with his people in the visible, public institution he established for this very purpose. They’re to look at the members of his church. And if some people claim to be part of the universal church even though they belong to no local church, they reject Jesus’ plan for them and his church. Jesus intends for his people to be marked out as a visible, public group, which means joining together in local churches.

2. Scripture repeatedly commands Christians to submit to their leaders (Heb. 13:17; 1 Thess. 5:12–13). The only way to do that is by publicly committing to be members of their flock, and saying in effect, “I commit to listening to your teaching, following your direction, and to submitting to your leadership.” There’s no way to obey the scriptural commands to submit to your leaders if you never actually submit to them by joining a local church.

(https://www.9marks.org/answer/why-should-every-christian-join-church/)
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 09:31     Subject: Looking for a church just right for me
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Time is precious especially weekends


Sounds like people shop for churches the way they shop for everything else -- looking for the perfect solution, which, of course they rarely find.

Or if they'd do find it, it doesn't last long, because their needs change.


Worshipping God is way down on the list


I wish this were not true, but it pretty much is. Probably always was, though.


For some people. For others they'll prioritize it over everything else.


And those people who actually worship God don't necessarily go to church.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 09:03     Subject: Looking for a church just right for me
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Time is precious especially weekends


Sounds like people shop for churches the way they shop for everything else -- looking for the perfect solution, which, of course they rarely find.

Or if they'd do find it, it doesn't last long, because their needs change.


Worshipping God is way down on the list


Just as well, if you don't really believe in God and many people don't, without knowing it. They go to church for the people and the programs and the convenience. Not to commune with God.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 08:59     Subject: Looking for a church just right for me
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Time is precious especially weekends


Sounds like people shop for churches the way they shop for everything else -- looking for the perfect solution, which, of course they rarely find.

Or if they'd do find it, it doesn't last long, because their needs change.


Worshipping God is way down on the list


I wish this were not true, but it pretty much is. Probably always was, though.


For some people. For others they'll prioritize it over everything else.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 08:54     Subject: Looking for a church just right for me
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Time is precious especially weekends


Sounds like people shop for churches the way they shop for everything else -- looking for the perfect solution, which, of course they rarely find.

Or if they'd do find it, it doesn't last long, because their needs change.


Worshipping God is way down on the list


I wish this were not true, but it pretty much is. Probably always was, though.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 08:53     Subject: Looking for a church just right for me
I think it is normal. It's kind of like how there are so many people around here desperate to fine the exact right college for their kid.

But as a very active church member I can tell you -- there is no ideal church. It's a bunch of people. That right there tells you the bottom line. You will get annoyed with people. You will get frustrated with lots of situations. If you give a lot, you will likely get burned out. People aren't perfect, and so neither are churches.

Find one that doesn't go against your beliefs, and take it from there. Lots to love about faith communities, but have realistic expectations.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 08:32     Subject: Looking for a church just right for me
I'm with you OP. On some level, once you find a church that theologically is a good enough match, it's good to commit. Do what you can to build up that church, even where it isn't perfect. Stay and get involved and deal with people you sort of don't like and find out how the love of Jesus can transform those relationships.

In some ways the old parish system where you just kind of went to the church closest to your home helped the church to be what the Bible calls the church to be. Sure the pastor might not be the most eloquent and sure there would be annoying people. Sure the choir or the music might not be what you preferred. But you went to church there anyway.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 08:16     Subject: Looking for a church just right for me
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Time is precious especially weekends


Sounds like people shop for churches the way they shop for everything else -- looking for the perfect solution, which, of course they rarely find.

Or if they'd do find it, it doesn't last long, because their needs change.


Worshipping God is way down on the list
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2025 06:48     Subject: Looking for a church just right for me
Anonymous wrote:Time is precious especially weekends


Sounds like people shop for churches the way they shop for everything else -- looking for the perfect solution, which, of course they rarely find.

Or if they'd do find it, it doesn't last long, because their needs change.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 21:45     Subject: Looking for a church just right for me
Time is precious especially weekends
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 19:54     Subject: Re:Looking for a church just right for me
Why? Because it might be out there. Because the process of working to figure out your priorities and refining them as you visit different church communities is useful. What’s the alternative? How do you usually make what are presumably long term decisions that include emotional, spiritual and financial commitments OP?

Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 19:51     Subject: Looking for a church just right for me
I mean church is a choice, not an obligation. If church doesn't fit your needs, why go?
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 19:49     Subject: Looking for a church just right for me
Because you have a choice and it will be a big part of your life. Your community. How strange a question.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 19:46     Subject: Looking for a church just right for me
Why not shoot for the moon?
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2025 19:40     Subject: Looking for a church just right for me
Not really, but it seems like so many people on DCUM are looking for a church that is ideally suited to them. I can understand avoiding churches that actively go against your beliefs, but why expect to find the perfect church that meets all your needs, e.g. good location, attractive, great preaching, strong Sunday school, nice folks, etc.