NDL Forum

So let me start this off by saying I will accept anyone and everyone's advice here to make my decision but try to make it genuine and think before you respond because I have thought about this topic for a long time but I am very torn. I also don't wanna turn this into a debate and if it becomes that I will ask for the thread to be locked.

To start off I am not a very religious person, and I really don't like for religion to be pushed upon people. I love discussion, but I do not like people slamming others when it comes to religon. I grew up in a christian values household but we rarely went to church. I to this day am pretty conservative in most of my beliefs.


So Sunday I went to church. My sister has been asking me for a while now to go to church with her. I went for the first time this Sunday.

So my sister attends a church near where I live and has for about 6 years. I have heard tons of things about this church and how they are not your normal structured church. I know a lot of very good people that go there including my sister. I have multiple friends, some who are basically my family. I had heard about people speaking in tongues there, and that they "heal" people. I have heard that people will be touched and then pass out. I have heard a lot of these things about the church.

At the church service I went too it was pretty wacky. They have no real structure, and at certain times people step forward and do what they call "Prophesizing" at the church. Right after singing on guy stood up and said something about me. He said that he shall a light go through me and I was on a road. Behind me was dark light and junk in the road and ahead of my was clear light. He said Jesus was shoeing me the way, and clearing up all my junk of the past. After this guy got done speaking someone walked up and handed me an audio tape about 10 minutes later of this guy speaking about me to listen to later.

Basically the church does some what I would call radical things I have never seen before.

I could choose to never go back.


The thing is I love a ton of the people that go there, and I already participate in all kinds of church events with them all the time. I wanna be close to my sister and I wanna be a part of a church for the community aspect, although I am not a real believer I think the church does good things.

So should I go?

I don't wanna tell them I am not going because I think they are crazy, or they are weak minded for listening to this stuff.

Heck I enjoyed parts of the service .

I am lost on this. Any advice.

Here is a link to the church.

http://www.ccnoble.com/index.htm

Also When they post the sermon where they talked about me or I can find a way to post the audio on tape they gave me I will .

you should do what makes YOU feel good.

it doesn't sound like you are into this particular type of service and thats fine, i wouldn't be either. religion isn't a popularity contest, you need to find something that moves you. whether it be a certain preacher/priest, a certain church, a certain religion even. if none of that effects you then you just need to be true to yourself and live a life of faith.

thats how i am... i'm from a town where 95% of the people are raised roman catholic, our services are part latin still, its THAT old school. if you speak in church the nuns will come over and ask you to leave. to me, thats not religion, thats slavery. the structure of it taught me many lessons growing up, but now that i'm an adult i choose to attend a more laid back service (when i actually go).

to me religion taught me a few things: a) to be nice to people b) to have faith and believe in a greater good c) when faced with the choice between right and wrong to pick the right side

religion is certainly not for everyone, i'd be careful jumping into something you aren't totally comfortable with.

I'm 100% in support of Driccio's post.

If you force yourself into going to a church that you don't like, that doesn't make you feel comfortable or at peace, then you will turn off and you will not want to move any closer to the Lord.

Try out a few churches, just let an usher know that you are visiting and they will make sure to give you any info they can. It all comes down to what you enjoy, how you enjoy to worship, to learn. I grew up in a small methodist church, Sunday School in the morning, a quiet hymnal service after, everyone knew everyone. I loved it....but I grew older and bored. Now, I went from a small church of about 300, to the sixth largest church in the nation--6000 person sanctuary, 7 building campus, LOTS of Bible study groups, special events, outreach programs, etc. They do live worship music and have some big names in Christian music show up for Christmas and stuff--and they put on the largest Easter pageant in the nation, which requires hundreds of people to give up two months of their time and not get paid a penny for it--and they love every minute of it.

That's what you want to find--a church you LOVE attending and contributing to. I wish sometimes I could know everyone in my church, but I love the people I do know from my Bible studies, from softball, from just general worship. You find a church that makes you feel comfortable, and that stuff will come. It may just take some trial and error, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I am the same way when it comes to speaking in tongues and "healing"; I think that stuff is very suspect and designed to pull money in for the coffers, nothing more. Only the Lord can heal people, and he doesn't do it through the hands of normal men.

Doley, if you have iTunes, go to the podcast section and search for "Southeast Christian" or "Southland Christian" (their sister church in Lexington) and give a listen to some of the sermons. If they sound interesting at all, I can get a list of associated churches from our church's bookstore that are similar churches around the country and can get you some in your area.

religion is certainly not for everyone, i'd be careful jumping into something you aren't totally comfortable with.

I agree Riccio. I am not comfortable there.
I just don't wanna upset my sister. She wants me to go so bad, and I don't wanna upset my friends that go there. I guess I will just explain to them that I don't feel real comfortable there.

Jsence Thanks for the advice but I am really not looking for a church. I was more looking to fully join in with these people who I already surround myself with.

I believe the bible is a good book to use as a guide for your morals. I don't take it at its every word. Thats just me.

I believe in being a good person but I think it can be taken over the edge.

All religions serve a purpose to their followers, Christian or otherwise. All ATTEMPT to explain the unexplainable so that people can more rationally understand and deal with life, teach life lessons and provide a moral way to act. That being said, would going to this church help you better deal with life and the inevitability of death?

From what you said it kinda sounds like your not exactly in line with this particular churches beliefs and thats totally fine. Everyone should remember and realize that there is more that one path. If you are comfortable going to this church then do it, but if your not don't. All too many people attend churches as a social obligation and status quo for the community. This is particularly true in my region, The South. Knowledge about all religions is what I suggest and then decided what fits you the most. I would NOT suggest joining a church that is not VERY closely aligned with your personal beliefs unless your open for a change.

My Soapbox
No one should ever be put down or preached to because their particular belief system is not the same as others.(my biggest problem with most Christian religious denominations -they believe they are better that all others and strive for converts, rather than offering their beliefs and allowing people to choose for themselves). Narrowmindedness is silly and to think that salvation, redemption, enlighteness, life after death or what ever it may be comes from believing one thing is foolish, because you then condemn everyone else.

I could go on and on as this is what I do in my spare time(History and Religious Studies Major), but Ill save you guys the rambling.

i grew up in a place similar to riccio but not the same, even though we share the smallest state in the union.

I went to catholic school every year of my life before i went to UT, and basically that shit scarred me forever.

Having to learn religion and hearing the explanations for people being 936 years old in the bible made me think religious people are a bunch of fanatics because nothing makes sense.

I get that you have to believe in something you can't prove, because that's what faith is, but i don't have that.


...just do waht you want doley

Hart4Heisman wrote:

The thing is I love a ton of the people that go there, and I already participate in all kinds of church events with them all the time. I wanna be close to my sister and I wanna be a part of a church for the community aspect, although I am not a real believer I think the church does good things.

why dont u just keep doing what ur doing?

if u already participate in alot of their "extra" events, i'd keep doing that and just say you dont like how the church is run or whatever. that way you can still do the other stuff with them

They ain't going to allow that to happen. It is like if all of your friends joined a college fraternity - but you don't - and expect to be invited to the mixers. In fact, everything I read in Dole's post reminds me of shit I read/heard about college fraternities.

I sense there are some financial undertones here. Are you trying to get into the church so you can put yourself in a better position to gladhand some local businessmen?

No there are no real financal undertones that have ever come to mind, but the there are multiple people that are associated with the church that get jobs with the business men of the church.

Trendon is right though. I just feel like now that I have gone if I don't keep going I won't be incuded in these things. My sister will always be there but not 100% like if I wnet to church.

Its a weird deal.

It is a lot like a frat

I am freinds with 70% of the frat, but if I don't join the frat you slowly get left behind.

so you're not friends with any of them then... if someone wouldn't be your friend b/c you didnt join a church then:

a) what kind of friend are they
b) what kind of lessons is that church teaching

DRiccio21 wrote:so you're not friends with any of them then... if someone wouldn't be your friend b/c you didnt join a church then:

a) what kind of friend are they
b) what kind of lessons is that church teaching

Exactly.

I have friends who invited me to their churches, and I picked another one. If they're truly going because they believe in God, and not to be part of an "in-crowd" or for status reasons, they will be happy simply that you are furthering your faith. My friends were glad I found a church I liked.

And a good church won't frown on you joining into ANYTHING extra whether you go or not--the whole POINT of many of the "extra" things outside of regular services are to draw people in through fellowship. It doesn't matter how you get them in the door, the whole point is to GET THEM IN THE DOOR!

Like everyone says here you must be comfortable and you must feel that it is right for you. Church isn't for all people. For some though it gives that weekly, daily, Christmas and Easter, I'm being a good doobie feeling.

I personally am not religious but I am very spiritual. I grew up catholic but was never forced to follow. I've been lucky enough to travel to different countries so at a young age I was blessed with the ability to experience several different religions. From Baptist, to Jewish, Muslim, Rastafarian and even Voodoo. If you really take a look at all these religions there is a greater good in all of them. It's just the few that twist and distort it's message to fit what they want people to believe that make religion what it is in the mainstream. From my experiences I've learned that if you build off the one golden rule in that you treat others as you would want to be treated you will be on your way to a better way for yourself and your spirituality. It's breaks down to the smallest things but you'd be surprised by your and others reactions to how you treat them in every day situations. Holding the door open for someone, just saying hi in passing with a smile, a have a good day to the guy at the counter before they have to say to you. If you put out good vibes, good vibes will come back to you. Now, that doesn't mean that your not going to fall off the horse and do some dumb shit in your life. It's how you rebound from that and learn from that experience to create a better you.

i just got finished doing a study of many different christian denominations and groups and using that for lessons for my class at church. in a nutshell:

1. is the core doctrine of the church biblically sound? if no, leave.

if yes...

2. do you feel comfortable there?


if the doctrine is bible centered, it's really a matter of your comfort level. what i found through studying the different groups is that many of them are very similar when it comes to doctrine. it's easy to label all baptist churches as one thing or all methodist churches as another, but much of the difference between the groups is purely traditional, passed down through the generations at that church or through the denomination itself. on the other hand, some denominations and groups are clearly unbiblical in their teaching. those should be avoided. even a little mud clouds the clear water quite a bit.

church is about worship, the teaching of the word, and fellowship. if something is lacking in one of those areas, keep visiting until you find the place where you feel God is leading you. pray for guidance, as well.

do what feels right dole. the main person who should be happy is you man. dont worry what others are going to say or feel about your decision.

I think we have found an NDL Essay Contest winner.

This entire thread.

Carry on

My entry into the NDL Essay contest...in my case maybe pronounced "Esse"


I agree with a lot of posts here. And like Riccio I grew up of the catholic faith and it wasnt forced upon me but it certainly was expected. All that it caused was my sister to become an athias and for me to rebel against the church for a while. Being Coolombian that was almost unheard of. My mom still chastizes my sister and I for not attending weekly services....but that was my choice no matter how unpopular it was.

As I grew up and was able to make my own decisions I did. I feel that as long as you have faith in something, you will make all the right moves when it comes to decisions on wrong and right. The main thing is that those moves have to made out of respect not fear.

Doley...You know how some people around here can be around religion. I know alot of people that went to ORU and Victory here in town that firmly beleive in all of the things that you witnessed at that church. However, if you arent moved or at the least bit comfortable by it. Keep searching for another place. What i told my friends that tried to get me to go with them was the truth. I respect what the church stads for but I am looking for a more subtle in church experience. Nothing against what they beleive, but more to the point of what you are looking for.

I hope you find what you are looking for because in all honesty, its up to you to find your way.

i will say my first mass or church service that i went to down in Austin was really a jaw-dropping experience.

While i had my doubts about Catholicism, seeing people putting their arms up in the air when they were "inspired" really sealed the deal for me.

I have not been back.

Religion.........what does that word even mean? Were does it come from? If you are seriously searching, what are you searching for? Were I would begin is to read the new testament from beginning to end. This can easily be done in 6 months or less if you give it 10mins a day, in fact I would be honored to even read it with you. This is something we have been starting to do at my church (link is in my sig in fact), basically all you do is take 10mins to read a chapter or two each day and I read the same and take the time to shoot you a text or email with what stood out to me in it and then take 10mins once a week to talk about what was read that week. This is of course very flexible with peoples schedules and there is no wrong or right way to do it. Thats all I have for now, if you have and questions for me, or want to chat shoot me an im or I'll be happy to talk to you on the phone if you want.

Hey, religious people, got a question for you and maybe that will help Dole.

As you know, I think you are all delusional. Sorry. As you can see from my marriage thread, if shit ain't 2+2, I don't want to hear it. Whatever ...

Let's just say you say, like me, fuck your bullshit ceremonies, fuck your tithes, and fuck your communities ... but you believe that jesus is your lord and savior. You believe all that, but you never got baptized, communed, confirmed, married, attended church and what not. You just sat there with your book and your rosary and you said your prayers and acted as if in the community.

Are you no better than the man who follows the steps set by the church?

If the answer is "no" then I believe we have the answer for Dole. Act as if and be proud. If the answer is "yes", well, I don't know what to say and I will step aside.

I look forward to penguin's answer since I feel he understand what I am saying the best considering, minus spirituality, we seem to agree the most on everything else.

trendon wrote:Hey, religious people, got a question for you and maybe that will help Dole.

As you know, I think you are all delusional. Sorry. As you can see from my marriage thread, if shit ain't 2+2, I don't want to hear it. Whatever ...

Let's just say you say, like me, fuck your bullshit ceremonies, fuck your tithes, and fuck your communities ... but you believe that jesus is your lord and savior. You believe all that, but you never got baptized, communed, confirmed, married, attended church and what not. You just sat there with your book and your rosary and you said your prayers and acted as if in the community.

Are you no better than the man who follows the steps set by the church?

If the answer is "no" then I believe we have the answer for Dole. Act as if and be proud. If the answer is "yes", well, I don't know what to say and I will step aside.

I look forward to penguin's answer since I feel he understand what I am saying the best considering, minus spirituality, we seem to agree the most on everything else.

the caesars sportsbook will be off the hook in october. i cant wait