Comments on Christian Book Connection ... It's All About Christian Books!: The Bait of Satan - Chapter 5 - Book Discussion

It's true we shouldn't leave the church ev...

2011-04-13T10:36:25.860-06:00

It's true we shouldn't leave the church everytime there's a problem, but it is really difficult when you are the object of a snobbish Sunday school leader and small group leader. I'm in a situation where for some reason, unknown to me, my leader is just plain rude to me. No common courtesies, no good mornings, quick and nervous yes or nos when he has to talk to me, and major avoidance of me. It's really hurtful and I've been tempted to leave many times because I know I can't control the situation, but I try to hang in there at great cost to me. I don't know this man well, but the snubbing is obvious and consistent. How do you hang in there for the sake of showing the love of Christ when you can expect bruises everytime you go to Sunday school or your small group? I've had to pray daily that God help me not to get angry, but honestly I don't know what to do and I've had enough. I cannot take anything he says seriously in class or small group because of this serious lack of simple kindness and courtesies. Unfortunately, he isn't this way with others that I can tell.

I haven't read the book but I wanted to comment be...

2008-12-24T04:24:00.000-07:00

I haven't read the book but I wanted to comment because it's an issue facing a lot of Christians and others don't give it a second thought. They stay wherever they are. I always think of how Paul started his letters, "To the saints" or to "the church" not a denomination or a class of people.

I left main stream church because I was tired of seeing the marketing and hollywood stuff going on.

Whenever I have left a church it was because of a lack of sound doctrine or situations that could not be resolved. If a church's main joy and foundational ministries are not the Word and prayer it has no holy glue to hold it together.

This was a chapter that was particularly applicabl...

2007-11-24T07:49:00.000-07:00

This was a chapter that was particularly applicable to me. At one point, about 5 or 6 years ago, I let myself get caught up in the gossip and finger pointing that was going on in my church.

I had my own opinion about the matter (that was just the opposite of everyone else) but instead of following what I knew was right, I allowed myself to fall into the offense trap and gone the crowd. I wish I never had!

It all worked out OK in the end, but still - I'm an adult with the ability to make up my own mind. I should have never blindly followed others just because I didn't want to be different.

I've been a member of 1 church for the past 12 years and before that was a member of my previous church for about the same amount of time.

When my husband and I moved, we had to find a new church because it would have taken 45 minutes to 1 hour (one way) to drive to the previous church.

While I do agree that we should not let offenses dictate our changes in churches, I don't agree that you should stay if you're not getting spiritually fed. Many denominations send preachers and pastors to the various churches. You don't get a say. Other denominations have search committees (like ours) that go out and look for the "right" preacher for the church.

I know that the preacher we had before our current one was selected simply because the committee had been looking for almost a year and was simply tired. That man didn't last very long at all. He just wasn't the one God wanted for our church and it was obvious right from the start. A lot of people left because their spiritual needs weren't being met. I have no way of knowing if Father told them it was OK to go. But many did leave.

You have to be careful in a formal church environment. It can get very political at times and feelings can be hurt tremendously and offenses can run rampant.

Viki, I had about the same answers as you did for the exercises (except that I go to church in a building) so I won't bother to post them.