Comments on: I love Church

By: Tony Mason

Tony Mason — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:04:32 +0000

10 years I’ve been a Christian..I’ve been in 2 and have been spiritually abused both times..I thought the church was a joke..but I have a confession..I still love the church..it is where I meet people barracking for the same team..the same God..my Jesus who forgives me loves and barracks for me.

By: denise santos

denise santos — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:08:53 +0000

The church is not what changes our life its Jesus who changes us.That’s the problem today with most churches.The church is a good place but its just a start ,or a tool that God uses for the Kingdom and the people.I Believe GOD is doing something great. He is awaking us up, and the truth shall set us truly FREE from the religious spirit that has put us in bondage. Their is only one God and he is taking back what belongs to him! So take heart ,God see and knows our heart and victory is his! I will pray for you and me and the true body of church that extends out side of the four walls of the religious church, for we our the church all the body of believers!

By: Derek

Derek — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 16:24:13 +0000

I don’t know what the church is anymore, seems more like a bunch of people in one click or another, loving themselves and patting each other on the back – while others are cold shouldered and ignored. I don’t love the church anymore, cos it’s full of people who wear masks, say all the right things, but never actually reach anyone. I don’t love the church, cos it’s full of noise and committees, happy clappers, pastor worshippers and money grabbers – it just doesn’t attract. I’m not bitter, but I’m no fool, if there’s no love, then it’s no church!!!

By: Steve Grove

Steve Grove — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:22:19 +0000

I read the article, Helen, and left some comments there. I don’t think the model he susggests is pro-church. It may sound good, but in practicality it has been going on since Jesus walked the earth and crowds followed Him looking for what they could get, but were nebulous enough to leave without comment when issues arose. The church needs movers and shakers. we are in a spiritual warfare, and we need people willing to jump in the thick of the fray and make a difference (Galatians 6).

I wonder in the years to come what will happen to 2 generations; the old and the young. Gordon McDonald’s “Who Stole My Church” puts the onus on the older people to adapt and change to the middle generations of Christians. I don’t see the younger church running out to minister to seniors, in part because they are too busy doing what and how they want. A plus of larger churches is concentrated children’s program. Who will reach them effectively in a house church?

We did pretty good at outreach with children, but lousy at discipleship. I think that is one big reason why the emergent church looks like it does – all these nominal kids were not challenged to be real in Jesus grew up and found church forms empty as a result. They left in high school or college, wandered for a decade or two, and are now coming back to Jesus. But they react to the form they found useless for growth as kids – they want something different. They are also a generation of privilege. They were given whatever they wanted. They are used to shopping around for the perfect “thing”, including church. Being in orbit makes sense to them. Not so much for me…

By: Helen

Helen — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 12:02:51 +0000

Here's an interesting pro-church article (in my opinion): Orbiting the conventional church

By: Steve Grove

Steve Grove — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 03:14:57 +0000

I love the church; in part because Jesus loves the church and died for her. It is the only thing He left on earth to continue His ministry. It would be great, too… except for the people. I can hardly wait to get older so I can see it from that perspective.
I remember the idealism I had out of college, and the realization that people are flawed. Coming to church doesn’t and never did change a person; only an encounter with God did that. I have met crappy Christians, crappy atheists and crappy Muslims. I have come to understand that when I look at the church, I need to see it through Jesus’ eyes. I had an encounter quite a few years ago, but the best part is He has never left me, and I continue to have encounters with Him every day.

By: Marc

Marc — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:34:35 +0000

I love church but don’t tell my pastor;)

By: Sivin

Sivin — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 14:42:19 +0000

Thanks Jason, for this post. :-)

“Any confession of a high view of church, and love of church immediately paints you as an institutionalized reactionary conservative, blind to the problems of church.”

as someone deeply involved in the church – institutionally and organically in all sorts of forms … sometimes I wonder whether it would be better that I pack my bags and do something else.

But then Church is not just about the mess isn’t it, it’s about the mystery of how the Spirit is hovering over our chaos and later we hear, “Let there be light” … and recreation happens!

By: Helen

Helen — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 23:20:52 +0000

Thanks Laura Anne.

By: Laura Anne

Laura Anne — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 20:50:32 +0000

I’m gutted to hear that Helen.

However, I will say that part of what I mean by family is that your family isn’t perfect – my ‘blood’ family really hurt me and find them difficult to get on with a lot of the time – I still love them, and know that when it comes down to it they’d try to support me it what ways they can.

My church family are similar. They hurt me a lot (and I do mean a lot), but God really challenged me to stick with that particular church…after a few years, they really did become my family. We still hurt each other, and we didn’t always agree, and some stuff really angered me still. But they were my family.

I hope you find a place where you can be part of a family. It does take sacrifice, perseverence and patience though from all sides…I think I’d be weirded out a bit if it was easy mind you…!