Anna1111 wrote:
"But, I also know people that don't go to church because they haven't found a local church that follows the Word. SO MANY churches are becoming social clubs and are all about community events, food pantries, movie nights, alternative "clubs" for those that want a "safe environment" to socialize."
Food pantries are ALL about following the word (Acts 6,
http://biblehub.com/acts/6-1.htm. Not to mention this HUGE selection of verses on the topic
http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/poor.htm). And, I cannot recall any Biblical prohibition on socializing with other Christians in a Church context - quite the contrary.
!
I'm not saying that Churches are perfect - they're not - but if someone can't find one that's "good enough" for them *anywhere*, it's not the Churches' fault.
The Biblical command is clear. If someone is not obeying the command, then how can they claim to be more obedient than the Churches they criticize?
Oh no! I don't mean any of these things are bad! And, I could go so far as to say that most of them are good! Biblical even! (Altho' feeding the poor and food pantries do not always go hand in hand in the USA.)
I mean that this is ALL the church is about - these churches. There is little, if any, Bible teaching. It's more like an inspirational tho't for the day with a scripture connected - that's the SERMON. That's IT! It's about making people feel good and happy and purposeful (again all good things as PRODUCTS but not the total package). God is often left on the side so as not to offend those that you're helping. Much of the help is often more about making the helpers feel good than for actually meeting a real need. There's no teaching on forgiveness, giving God the glory, or salvation - blood?! Horrors!