Thousands of churches are closing across the U.S.

[Kathryn]

It's not about the numbers, though, so much as it's about the sense of community. If they all walk out the door and go right back to competing with each other for material survival and status then the church has done nothing but provide them an excuse to ignore the poison that's going to destroy us. And there are a lot of churches like that. And a lot of people like that.

I agree, and there are also a lot of people who don't attend church at all who are competing with each other for material survival and status.

 

[PureX]

I agree, and there are also a lot of people who don't attend church at all who are competing with each other for material survival and status.

yes. We are going to destroy ourselves with all this greed and stupidity if we don't find a way to stop living it.

 

[Father Heathen]

Because they started on a better foundation since they already believed on Jesus unlike their parents (me) who waited until he was 28

Eh?
I thought we were talking about the decline in church attendance.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

According to the scriptures, apostasy and people falling away from faith is foretold to occur first.

What hubris for churches to think that people are abandoning God if they stop going to a particular building.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

But your whole take on, and complaint about community churches is based on just the last few decades

Jesus was complaining about the same things 2000 years ago.

 

[Sand Dancer]

I rather doubt it. For instance, in our diocese there are multiple masses available, and the pews are always packed, at every service, even during "ordinary time." (Which is most of the time.) Also, we enjoy a very busy and interactive volunteer schedule, which is definitely not "compulsary."

Sounds like one of the churches I went to. Enthusiastic young priest, lots of activities and outreaches for different types of people, and opportunities to volunteer. It was great. Just a little far to drive.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

You are quite right. If we read the TaNaKh, we find that even the Israelites flowed back and forth from loving God and then not loving Him.

I’m willing to bet that they got tired of judges and priests, not God.

 

[Sand Dancer]

What hubris for churches to think that people are abandoning God if they stop going to a particular building.

Yes. I don't think Jesus meant that people would act ungodly, so parishioners would leave.

 

[Sand Dancer]

yes. We are going to destroy ourselves with all this greed and stupidity if we don't find a way to stop living it.

When half of Christians are focused on the wrong things, nothing will change. It will have to die first, in order to be resurrected into what Jesus really wanted. It wasn't really tried. It morphed away from Jesus' vision early on. The young may be the ones to try it.

 

[Kenny]

I’m willing to bet that they got tired of judges and priests, not God.

You may have a great point there. Though there was always good judges and priest, Eli's sons (along with him), eventually died because of the sons hypocrisy and Eli's passive reaction to the sons' wrongdoing.

I believe the people were quite tired of it.

 

[PureX]

When half of Christians are focused on the wrong things, nothing will change. It will have to die first, in order to be resurrected into what Jesus really wanted. It wasn't really tried. It morphed away from Jesus' vision early on. The young may be the ones to try it.

People will 'trade up' if a better outcome is offered to them. Unfortunately, religions are fighting hard NOT to change and improve because they are already totally infected by the very poison they present themselves as trying to cure. They are hamstrung by their own internal structures and agendas. If just one of them serious set out to do better, and to be better, and to offer a batter way of life that is real, and is self-evident, the people would adopt it gladly. But they never do. Instead all they want to do is stagnate in their own hog-wallows of power and control.

 

[Kenny]

Eh?
I thought we were talking about the decline in church attendance.

Which is on the cusp of an awakening. This isn't our first rodeo (deja vu)

 

[Sand Dancer]

People will 'trade up' if a better outcome is offered to them. Unfortunately, religions are fighting hard NOT to change and improve because they are already totally infected by the very poison they present themselves as trying to cure. They are hamstrung by their own internal structures and agendas. If just one of them serious set out to do better, and to be better, and to offer a batter way of life that is real, and is self-evident, the people would adopt it gladly. But they never do. Instead all they want to do is stagnate in their own hog-wallows of power and control.

It would be nice if just one brave and charismatic soul would spread the good word like Jesus, even risking death.

 

[Father Heathen]

Which is on the cusp of an awakening. This isn't our first rodeo (deja vu)

We'll see, I suppose.

 

[PureX]

It would be nice if just one brave and charismatic soul would spread the good word like Jesus, even risking death.

And do so in a very plain, simple, clear, way; that everyone could understand. Without all the poetry and hyperbole and symbolic metaphors. The message, I believe, is simple and self-evident and difficult to ignore when it's resented that way. But it NEVER is. It's like there's a 'squirm program' in the human brain that keeps sliding the foundations of our reality this way and that until we're so confused and distracted that we can't see what's right in front of us.

 

[Kenny]

We'll see, I suppose.

Appreciate you! Great answer. Have a great day!

 

[metis]

My best friend, her 8-year-old boy has a cardiologist he sees at his very young age due to covid related misc-c. He was very healthy, very active, and outgoing in his way (he is autistic). Now he's very sick and though improving he still has to take it easy.
The idea it doesn't effect the young and healthy should be criminal.

Shortly after catching covid last January, I broke out for the first time in my life with psoriasis, and my dermatologist told me he's seen all sorts of crazy reactions since covid began.

 

[RestlessSoul]

And do so in a very plain, simple, clear, way; that everyone could understand. Without all the poetry and hyperbole and symbolic metaphors. The message, I believe, is simple and self-evident and difficult to ignore when it's resented that way. But it NEVER is. It's like there's a 'squirm program' in the human brain that keeps sliding the foundations of our reality this way and that until we're so confused and distracted that we can't see what's right in front of us.

I like poetry and symbolism, and I’m always up for a bit of Papist idolatry, but I take your point.

On a personal level, I’d probably go to church more often if I lived in Rome where they know how to do religion as theater. But I also have sympathy with the 17th Century Puritans and their efforts to return to a simple church with no hierarchy, so I’m torn really.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Shortly after catching covid last January, I broke out for the first time in my life with psoriasis, and my dermatologist told me he's seen all sorts of crazy reactions since covid began.

My weird symptom has been the soles of my feet having these sharp, stabbing pains, especially when I lie down at night.
But it's the fatigue that has me not wanting it again. Surgery doesn't drain me or keep me down like that, and my muscles weakened and now I'm overall weaker, hurting more, knees popping and locking more, and I have a frozen shoulder.
I've had some nasty ailments, including sun poisoning, but covid was the worst. About three and half months later and I'm still recovering from the total sum of everything that happened due to it.

 

[InChrist]

Here we go again.

Prediction of the end number I-lost-count.

So I suppose you are of the opinion that because the end has not come yet, that means it will never occur at some point.


…knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

2 Peter 3: 3-13