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Dissatisfied with Church

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Is church a spiritually shallow experience leaving you seeking a better connection with God? If so, what should you do?

Transcript

[Gary Petty] Are you dissatisfied with attending church? Do you find that you enjoy the shorter sermons filled with self-help principles but you’re still longing for a deeper relationship with God?

Let me ask you something you may have never thought about. What was the church like when it was made up of people who personally knew Jesus, Mary and Peter? What was it like to have the apostle Paul as your pastor? Wouldn’t it be great to worship with those people?

Those first churches seem to be places of miracles and powerful and life-changing preaching. Where would you even find a church like that today?

Stay with us as we explore the experiences of the early Christians and what you should do if you are “Dissatisfied With Church.”

Today we’re talking about what to do if you are dissatisfied with attending church.

If you’ve seen Beyond Today before you know that our purpose is to explore and discover original Christianity as taught in the New Testament. When you watch Beyond Today you see programs showing what the early Christians believed about issues like baptism, the resurrections, and the seventh day Sabbath.

So what was it like to worship with those early Christians?

It must have been amazing to talk with people who had met Jesus, or listen to a sermon given by the apostle John, or have your congregation receive a personal letter from the apostle Paul. Being with those people must have been exciting and always spiritually uplifting.

Well not entirely. Let’s look at what it was really like to be a member of a Christian congregation at the time of the apostles.

Think about the Apostle Paul’s letters written to congregations in far-flung regions of the Roman Empire. Letters to the Romans, the Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians. When you read these letters it can be a little disconcerting. These people had problems. Problems like arguing over how to conduct worship services or how to deal with members consorting with prostitutes, problems concerning marriage, divorce, gossip, prejudice, divisions over leadership styles, members taking each other to secular courts. And this list is just from Paul’s letters to the church in Corinth.

It would have been easy to become fed-up about attending worship services even among the earliest Christians. But there were no other options for them. It’s not like there was a Christian church on every street corner. In the ancient world, there just weren’t that many because the Christians were a small minority in the Roman Empire.

Which brings us to an important point about how they defined “church.” The word “church” in the Bible didn’t originally mean what we usually think of in English.

The English word church can mean an organization or a building. But in Greek the word translated church means people “called together.” Ecclesia was used to denote a gathering of citizens called together to discuss the issues of the community. The New Testament writers use “church” as a reference to people called by God to assemble together to learn about the teachings of Jesus Christ.

This is important because it means that the church is people and these people are called by God to assemble together. Paul’s letters were written to people who gathered together. His letters were to be read to them when they assembled.

So if you are disillusioned with church, you find that it is a spiritually shallow experience leaving you seeking a better connection with God and Christ, what do you do? Give up on gathering together completely?

Of course not, God calls people to gather together so He can do His work in them and so that they can teach others about Him. Reading Paul’s letters show us that the early Christian assemblies had difficulties, difficulties getting along with each other many times. Then, just like today, any congregation is filled with people who are a work in progress.

At the same time we must recognize that there are very real reasons why people become dissatisfied with attending church. And these reasons need to be addressed.

Let’s look at three common reasons people give to why they become dissatisfied in attending church and see how to deal with that dissatisfaction.

One reason people become disillusioned with church is they don’t see how an ancient book like the Bible has any relevance to their everyday lives.

The Bible was originally written in ancient languages to people whose cultures can seem as foreign and bizarre to us as a sci-fi movie. To understand the Bible, it is important to remember that this book was written by real people and it was written to real people as a message from God. It isn’t just a book of legends or history.

You will never unlock the power of the Bible until you approach it as a book inspired by God containing a message from Him that transcends time and culture. It is a message concerned with your life. It is just as relevant for the issues you and I face every day as it was for the people who heard Jesus give the Sermon on the Mount.

But what if you already believe the Bible is inspired by God and still feel like what you hear in church isn’t relevant to your life? In all honesty, it may be because you are hearing a watered down version of the gospel.

Yes, God’s love is expressed to us in the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins. This is the very foundation of the gospel. But when was the last time you heard a biblically-based sermon about defining, facing and overcoming sin that was so powerful it made you feel a little uncomfortable?

Yes I used the word, that dreaded word, sin. The word that turns so many people off because they see it as judgmental. You need to understand that the gospel message is about God’s love, but it is also about God’s judgment. You will never experience the power of the gospel to change your life, to be relevant to your everyday problems, until you understand and deal with sin.

You know why? Because according to Jesus the root cause of most of the problems in your life is sin.

I hope you are feeling a little uncomfortable. Authentic Christianity should make us feel uncomfortable. In fact, you will never understand God’s love until you understand how offensive our sin is to God. The apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10).

Any gospel that doesn’t contain a message about the destructiveness of sin is a watered down version. God loves every human being but until we turn to Him as our Creator, our Lord, our Father, until He restores our relationship with Him, we are His enemies. That’s Paul’s words, not mine. Accepting the torture, death and resurrection of the Son of God as a substitute for our judgment by God and then dedicating our lives to Him is the only way you and I won’t stay an enemy of God.

When was the last time you heard a sermon built around these statements of Jesus that He made in the Sermon on the Mount, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” (Matthew 7:21-23).

It’s a little uncomfortable to consider these words of Jesus isn’t it? It should be.

Christianity is more than a message of profession of faith. Authentic Christianity is a way of life that is relevant to every aspect of daily living. It’s relevant to your marriage, your job, your finances, your emotions, raising children and how you properly obey and worship God.

The first reason why the Bible can seem irrelevant to daily life is because you may be hearing a watered down version of the gospel, a version that doesn’t involve the power of change.

The second reason is something you’re really going to have to think about. I mentioned earlier that the people and culture of the Bible can seem so foreign, that the message seems irrelevant to today’s world.

Have you ever thought of this? Maybe the culture you and I live in is so foreign and bizarre that the values we think are normal are keeping us the enemies of God?

I want you to take a moment and think about what I just said, “…maybe the culture you and I live in is so foreign and bizarre that the values we think are normal are keeping us the enemies of God.”

We all know about the mid-life crisis, a time of reassessment by people facing the fact that they’re getting older. It is a time when some people look at their lives and question their achievements and values. Over the past few years there has been a lot of discussion concerning what is now called the “quarter life crisis.” This is a term used to describe a sense of loss, panic and depression experienced by people in their mid-twenties to early thirties who are questioning their relationships, their education and their careers. They find themselves searching for a more relevant life.

It’s time for you, it doesn’t matter what your age, to discover what is really important. The answers are found in the Book many people believe is absolutely irrelevant to daily life.

When you begin the journey of discovering real Christianity and when you do you will question the values of society, you won’t be the first person to look for deeper meaning in the teachings of the Bible.

Paul wrote to the Christians in the first century church in Corinth, Greece. He told them that they relied too much on Greek philosophy as the basis for relevant decision making. He explained that following the true teachings of Jesus Christ would actually seem foolish to those indoctrinated with the sophisticated Greek culture of that time.

These Christians in Corinth living almost 2000 years ago, they were struggling with the same question you and I face today, “How can the gospel be relevant to my everyday life?” You know, this is the same question asked by every Christian in every age.

So where do you start?

Here’s a great way to begin your exploration of authentic Christianity. First, read the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, 6 and 7. But don’t stop there. Take a notebook or the word processor in your computer and draw a line down the middle of the page. Then write or type out every verse in the Sermon on the Mount in one column. In the other column, while praying for God’s guidance, write out in your own words what Jesus is teaching.

When you do this you will find that the teachings of Jesus challenge many of the assumptions you have about authentic Christianity. This can be the first step in a new spiritual journey.

A third reason people say they become dissatisfied with attending church is: “My relationship with God is personal. I don’t need a church. Or, I’m spiritual not religious.”

We’ve already seen that in the Bible the word church isn’t a building, it is people. Your relationship with God is very personal. But to understand the gospel is to realize that we, you and I, don’t determine how our relationship with God actually works.

Listen to what Paul writes to the congregation in Rome, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

To be reconciled to God, to go from being His enemy to being His child, is to accept Christ’s sacrifice as a substitute for the penalty for your sins and to love God and Christ so much that you present your life as a living sacrifice. Authentic Christianity means to be transformed by the renewing of your mind! Feeling uncomfortable yet?

How does this transformation apply to being a member of an ecclesia, or assembly?

After you do your study on the Sermon on the Mount, then you need to read the book of Acts. In this short history of the earliest Christians you will discover that every place the gospel was preached people were expected to assemble together as the disciples of Jesus Christ. Disciples are more than students. They are imitators of the Teacher. It is in a Christian community where disciples learn how to apply Christian teachings. Assembling with other Christian disciples – it’s messy. But let’s be honest. Your life is messy. At times all of us are still falling way short of authentic Christianity.

It helps to think of a congregation as a hospital for the spiritually sick to go to learn how to get better.

I mentioned earlier the problems in the assembly of the Christians in Corinth, Greece. In Paul’s letter you find him dealing with a highly dysfunctional community. What you also find are practical instructions concerning what is acceptable Christian conduct and what is not acceptable Christian conduct. The earliest Christians were serious about biblical teachings and they were real serious about sin. Jesus Christ wants you to learn about sin, then receive God’s forgiveness, and get it out of your life. Remember, sin is the cause of many of the problems you face every day.

Let’s go back to 1 Corinthians. Paul writes about a man who was having an affair with his step-mother. How do you think Paul dealt with that issue? Maybe don’t judge, just show love? Paul actually told the congregation to remove the man from their assembly until he had repented to God and changed the behavior.

Would that happen in your church where you attend? Or, is it a place where the watered down gospel creates a watered down Christianity that feels attractive but does not contain the power to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The transformation God wants in your life begins with coming to grips with your sin, receiving God’s forgiveness and then you have to live authentic Christianity so that God removes sin from your life.

Find a congregation that preaches the power of the full gospel and you will begin to experience the power of God’s transformation. You will find relevancy and you will begin to accept biblical values.
So, how about simply watching an online worship service or watching a religious television program. Does that fulfill the Christian requirement to assemble?

Online messages are wonderful for shut-ins or for Christians who can’t find an assembly in order to participate in a worship service. Watching an online service can be a spiritually uplifting addition to your Christian growth. But it can’t take the place of face-to-face assembling together with other people. Remember, the ecclesia is people who are called together to assemble.

The early churches were communities where people shared their lives. Once again, read the book of Acts and 1 Corinthians and realize that simply watching online or religious television isn’t the fulfillment of being a member of a Christian community.

Authentic Christianity involves a calling from God to attend an assembly of other disciples of Jesus Christ.

We’re going to discuss how you can become rejuvenated to attend a church. We’re going to talk about these things with the Beyond Today panel but first let’s review what we’ve covered so far.

In the New Testament, the disciples of Jesus Christ are expected to assemble together.

Attending a church well, it’s messy, because it’s a hospital for the spiritually sick.

People can become dissatisfied with attending a church because they are hearing a watered down gospel message.

People can become dissatisfied with attending a church because they aren’t willing to give up the wrong values of the society in which they live.

People can give the excuse that they are spiritual not religious, but the early Christians saw the gathering together as a spiritual command.

We’re joined by fellow Beyond Today presenters Steve Myers and Darris McNeely. Thanks, guys, for joining us here today. I want to review the three reasons why people become dissatisfied with attending a church and get your input on how when people bring you these concerns.

Now one reason people give is that I’m in a personal relationship with God. Attending church has nothing to do with that relationship with God because I’m really spiritual and not religious. How do you deal with that?  

[Darris McNeely] Well I would say people like that just don’t really fully understand the Bible. The Bible is about relationships. The Bible is directly tied to how we relate to people. The 10 commandments deal with our relationships with one another. The Apostle Paul said to the Corinthian church, you were reading out of Corinthians that when you come together, speaking about how they relate to one another in their fellowships. That’s how we learn about God, that’s how we knock some of the rough edges off of our own personality and character to be conformed to the image of Christ. And as we in our modern age kind of cocoon and draw further away through technology from people, it’s more important to look at what the Bible really says and to realize that just being spiritual in your own mind doesn’t measure up to the example that is there in the Bible.

[Steve Myers] I believe there is two things that the Bible is clear on. You have that personal relationship, absolutely, you have to have that. But there is also a collective relationship that’s important as well. You talked about the Greek word for church and it means you are called out and you are brought together. So it’s not just an individual kind of thing and in fact when Paul wrote to Corinth he also talked about the example of the body. The church wasn’t just an individual, it wasn’t just an eye or a big toe, it was all the parts together and so the whole body is one and it is all these individual parts that come together and so you can’t be an isolated Christian. It’s just not biblical.

[Gary] By the definition of Christian you come together and assemble. It’s part of what we’re supposed to do.

Now, I’ve heard people say this. They’ve said it to me and its one reason why people can become so dissatisfied with attending church. It’s because they say the Bible is irrelevant to my everyday life. It might have all this theology in it but it doesn’t have practical information. How do you deal with that?

[Darris] Well again let’s go back to the book of Corinthians. What was Paul addressing with the church there but divorce, immorality, alternative lifestyles, and he was giving them practical information from the Word of God, from the law of God, to deal with that and helping them to distance themselves from the chaos of their life created by their relationships that were mixed up. A man living with his step mother, for instance, as you say. That creates chaos and confusion and has no good fruit. So irrelevant just doesn’t square with what you really unwrap from the picture of the Bible and what is really being told there of a life that is very similar to ours today.

[Steve] Yes I think when you see it’s about people and what are their circumstances, what are the circumstances that they’re dealing with and life is similar whether you are talking about first century with the New Testament church of whether you are talking about today. We’re talking about people and how we act, what we think and there’s really not that much difference other than the circumstances themselves. It’s about human nature, it’s about our challenges and our problems and the Bible recognizes those things very clearly and when we can see what it’s really saying we can see how it is applying to us today, and I think that is what is critical.

[Gary] Okay but here is what some people will say. Some people say, they’ll say, okay I’ll go to 1 Corinthians and I’ll read all that but that is concerned with the bizarre culture 2000 years ago and that means nothing to me today because my culture is different. Now how do you deal with that?

[Darris] The Roman culture of the first century was probably more chaotic and worse morally than ours today. They had immorality, they had gender issues, people were mixed up with what they were and who they were sexually then. They had problems with human nature, dealing with murder and moral problems and ethical issues. Paul addresses every one of them there and frankly even we see that today. Those of us that have worked in pastoral ministry understand all of that is with us today but it doesn’t take a scholarly mind to go back into scripture and show that that world is the mirror of our world today.  Paul was giving concrete information based on the Word of God how to deal with it and come out of it.

[Steve] That’s the unique aspect of the Bible. It applies throughout time. That God knows His creation. He knows us. He knows what’s best for us. And so when we look even today we have various cultures around the world. Does the Bible apply all around the world to all the different cultures that are out there today? Well of course it does. Of course it does. But you’ve got to get beyond just saying well it’s a first century thing or it’s a Moses and Israel kind of thing. It’s a people thing and God knows how we work and He knows what is best for us and He gives us this guide in order to help us in this walk.

[Gary] You know, if you’ve read 1 Corinthians, there were people in the congregation who had these same questions. They would have said, oh no the Greek culture is so sophisticated that this Christian culture is really sort of primitive. All the things that we’re talking about here and all the things we’ve talked about that people bring up as reasons why they aren’t satisfied going to church. You will find people in Corinth dealt with those same things. So it’s not new. These are the same questions people have been asking since, well, since Christianity started.

[Darris] That’s right.

[Gary] So what is the relevancy of Jesus Christ? That’s why people need to do the studies that we’ve talked about here on our program today.

Today we have examined three of the most common reasons people give for being dissatisfied with church and we’ve offered solutions to these complaints from teachings of the earliest Christians. Hopefully you’ve found this discussion both valuable and enlightening. To help you gain even more understanding about the type of church you should be looking for, we have prepared a free Bible study aid: “The Church Jesus Built.”

I highly encourage you to order your own copy of “The Church Jesus Built” by calling us toll-free, at 1-triple-eight-886-8632. That’s 1-triple-eight-886-8632. Or you can go online at beyondtoday.tv or write to us at the address shown on your screen [Beyond Today, PO Box 541027, Cincinnati, OH 45254].

And, when you order your free study aid, we’ll also send you a free subscription to Beyond Today magazine. Each bi-monthly issue of Beyond Today is packed with exceptional, well-researched articles on practical Christian living, prophecy, doctrine and current events, all designed to help you better comprehend remarkable and exciting biblical truths.

Again, to order your free study aid “The Church Jesus Built” and your free subscription to Beyond Today magazine call 1-triple eight-886-8632. Or go online to beyondtoday.tv to read or download them.

Also, to discover much more about the Holy Scriptures, please join my fellow Beyond Today hosts and me for our live, online Bible studies at beyondtoday.tv. These online studies conducted every other Wednesday night examine a variety of biblical topics. However, if you can’t join us live, you can watch these edifying Bible studies at you convenience since they are all archived on our website.

Plus, when you visit beyondtoday.tv, be sure to watch BT Daily. These short daily videos cover a variety of biblical topics and current events. And you can watch BT Daily and our 30-minute Beyond Today programs anytime on YouTube, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and other streaming-enabled devices.

Our desire on Beyond Today is explore and discover the teachings and observances of the first century Christians. We believe in teaching the gospel of the kingdom of God as taught by Jesus. Not a watered down version that promotes a spiritually weak, uninspired, cheap-grace.

Beyond Today is sponsored by the United Church of God. People dedicated to first century Christianity and a hospital for the spiritually sick who want to find healing from our Father.

Join us next week on Beyond Today as we continue to discover the gospel of the Kingdom. We also invite you to join us in constantly praying, “Thy kingdom come.” For Beyond Today I’m Gary Petty. Thanks for watching.

[Narrator] For the free literature offered on today’s program go online to beyondtoday.tv.

Comments

  • Gary Petty
    Tanja, The issues you are facing are difficult. As we learn to obey God as our loving Father, we find ourselves out of step with the rest of society. Ask God to help you not only in understanding the truth, but in growing in faith. Sometimes it can be helpful to do a Bible study of the promises God makes to us and His faithfulness to fulfill those promises. When we trust in His faithfulness then we can step out on faith, expecting His help.
  • tanjakelleter2004
    Hello, My name is Tanja and I live in a little town in Canada with about 50 churches around me. Unfortunately, they all have service on a Sunday and they are not teaching the truth. My husband and I are strong believers in the Word of God, He gave this to us so that we can live our lives as He wanted us to live it, in His Will. So I have already 2 problems, first I have no church I can attend so that means I have no fellowship with other Christians. Secondly, I work in a gas station where I have to work every second Saturday. That means that I break God's law. I prayed for His guidance and if there is a way to not work on a Saturday that He would open a door for me. It didn't happen yet. So I am kind of in a bad situation and I am wondering if you would have a solution to my problem. The other thing is that the Bible says in Revelation 18:4,5 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not be a partner in her sins and receive her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her wickedness and crimes. " My husband and I read out of it that it means to get out of the churches because they are deceiving.
  • Nadiczka
    Hello Tanja, I'm sorry that you are going through a dilemma at the moment in regards to the Sabbath, church, and work. You seem like you really want to obey God, but feel like you have too many obstacles. If you don't mind me suggesting a few things: I'm not sure where you live, but there is a link on the UCG website that can show you various congregations in Canada. There aren't a lot, but there could be one close to you, or maybe it could be a few hours away. If it is a few hours away, and if it is possible, maybe see if you can go one weekend when you are not working with your husband. It could be a nice getaway too! In regards to work, that sounds like a tough situation you are facing. You get some Sabbaths off, but have to work the others and feel guilty about it. There are a few things you could do: -talk to your boss about it. I would recommend if they say yes, stay away from compromise, otherwise they can take advantage of it. -when I have to make some hard choices, I read examples in the Bible where people had to be courageous. My favourite is Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego and the fiery furnace. -start looking for a new job All the best!
  • Skip Miller
    Hello Tanja, You have stated some really good points: 1. some (or all) of your closest churches "are not teaching the truth." 2. "no fellowship with other Christians" (except your husband! Don't count that a small thing!) 3. You consider it a breaking of God's law to work on God's Sabbath. God has opened your mind to that Truth! That also is Not a small thing. 4. And you think that Rev 18: 4,5 may apply to you. All those things are really important. Now you want to know what to do. So wherever you live (except at the North Pole) we have congregations in Canada. Some may be miles (many!) away but they exist and the Brethren work things out to be with each other as often as possible. Please write to United Church of God, Box144, Station D, Etobicoke, ON M9A 4X1, Canada and you will be contacted, Please tell them that Skip Miller sends his regards. (Phone 800 338 7779)
  • John Vick
    I'm sometimes dissatisfied with my local United congregation because we seem to focus entirely on keeping ourselves "unspotted" from the sins of the world while seemingly ignoring the rest of James' admonition in verse 1:27 to visit orphans and widows in their affliction. We tend to look around our congregation and maybe there's a couple elderly who we talk to at services or even visit them at home and that's it. And there are no orphans, at least no young ones in our midst, so we conclude there's nothing to be done. The world isn't being called now, so we don't help widows and orphans who aren't a part of our Church. Maybe there's an occasional sermon mentioning we should do this on our own, but there's no Churchwide event where we collective help widow/orphans. So we stay in our comfortable pews feeling satisfied that we're practicing the whole gospel because we're there on a Saturday. Meanwhile, we're living in cities where there's a multitude of homeless people, people struggling with addictions, people struggling with various mental illnesses and various other social problems that stem from personal abandonment. Why don't we as self-proclaimed real Christians do more?
  • SWHNLY
    John, I hear what you are saying. It seems that your congregation, along with many others out there, are failing in Gods Mission and His Work to care for and spread the Gospel among His Children and the needy among them. I recently read an article about five things the church “Cannot Do” in our current climate. It seems as though yours is failing in at least one area. That area is hiding behind the closed doors of your church. Basically shutting out the outside pretending there is nothing happening outside the pew or front door of your congregation. It sounds as though your church leadership has let you down and it is up to you and others within the church to make them see the truth. I I feel that this is part of the reason we are in our current situation. Church leaders, our ministers, pastors, elders people we looked to for guidance failed to see the signs of decay happening around us. They allowed Satans message of Immorality and homosexuality to infiltrate our churches and dilute the message. You need to meet with church leaders and make them see what is happening and get them involved. Make them see the truth take a video with you to church inSaturday
  • KARS
    Hi Mr. Vick! As you know we have our Spring cleaning every year before the Days of Unleavened Bread. This is the time to get rid of your clutter. This is the time to give to charities or hand-me-downs to family, neighbors, friends in need. You will find as a lot of us do that we are creatures of habit and collect a lot of things over the year. So you may want to consider a yard sale or once a month de-cluttering of your home and give it away. This is the way we can help and give to others not in the church.
  • Gary Petty
    John, Every person has different gifts and opportunities to serve God by serving others in a local congregation and in their community. We can't always think of service in terms of organized church activity. It may be a wonderful blessing to others to work with fellow members of a congregation at a Thanksgiving food bank, but it may be of greater service for one person to take time to serve a neighbor who is sick and needs regular visiting and encouragement. Christian service must be a way of life that finds expression in everyday actions in the kindness we show to all people whether in participation of a church activity or because we see a private opportunity. to simply help someone.
  • John Vick
    Thanks for your answer. By the way, I really love your Agape series. Have you ever tackled the subject of imputed or accounted righteousness that God gives to us?
  • Malachi 3_16-18
    Hi John, Good question, and good topic! Here is a link to a sermon given on the topic recently: https://www.ucg.org/sermons/imputed-righteousness and a link to an article talking about this topic: https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/the-new-covenant-does-it-abolish-gods-law/rightly-understanding-justification-and-righteousness There are probably many other references to this on our ucg.org website, but hopefully these two will be helpful to you for starters.
  • Skip Miller
    Hello John, I see that you are "sometimes dissatisfied" with your local United congregation. If that motivates YOU to do something more, then that dissatisfaction is Good! What should each of us be doing? The very first responsibility that we each have is to care for those under our immediate responsibility : 1 Tim 5: 8 So do that first. If you have done that, then move on to the household of God : Gal 6: 10. If that has been adequately covered (you need to ask your Pastor if there is something more You could personally do. Most of the Pastors I know can point you in the right direction), and then if you still have extra time and money, You can move into the local community to help out. United has a robust Good Works program that you may (or may not) know about. They always appreciate extra help up to and including suggestions for future projects. I have always wondered about one statement by Jesus: "The poor you will have with you always..." (But you will not always have Me.) Jesus was implying that WE can and Should help others But that there are some things even more important to do (or need to be done first.) Mr. Vick, your heart is in the right place! Don't give up on UCG.
  • John Vick
    I'm sometimes dissatisfied with my local United congregation because we seem to focus entirely on keeping ourselves "unspotted" from the sins of the world while seemingly ignoring the rest of James' admonition in verse 1:27 to visit orphans and widows in their affliction. We tend to look around our congregation and maybe there's a couple elderly who we talk to at services or even visit them at home and that's it. And there are no orphans, at least no young ones in our midst, so we conclude there's nothing to be done. The world isn't being called now, so we don't help widows and orphans who aren't a part of our Church. Maybe there's an occasional sermon mentioning we should do this on our own, but there's no Churchwide event where we collective help widow/orphans. So we stay in our comfortable pews feeling satisfied that we're practicing the whole gospel because we're there on a Saturday. Meanwhile, we're living in cities where there's a multitude of homeless people, people struggling with addictions, people struggling with various mental illnesses and various other social problems that stem from personal abandonment. Why don't we as self-proclaimed real Christians do more?
  • djhixson
    The only churches within a 2-hour drive near me are the Seventh Day Adventists. After watching this program I feel as though I am committing a horrible sin by just keeping the Sabbath at home. I do no work, I watch your programs and study my bible. Should I attend a Seventh Day service instead? I am old and handicapped and cannot drive very far and on freeway traffic and like I said the nearest church like you teach is a 2 hr trip. This ways heavily on my mind and would enjoy the company of a church but cannot drive for 2 hrs on a freeway.
  • Gary Petty
    Dorthy, Sometimes it can be impossible for a person to travel to a place where they can attend Sabbath services. Modern technology allows us to bring Sabbath services to you. Through the UCG website you can connect to live weekly services and watch recorded sermons anytime. You can also request for a minister to come visit you at your home. God understands our limitations. Ultimately, the Sabbath is about us spending time with Him.
  • djhixson
    I do watch every week. Thanks
  • Dawn Hagen
    I think most of us miss Mr Armstrong’s delivery. He put the fear of God into us and it was very motivating. I can see why we’re becoming Laodicean.
  • I.Believe921
    I have the same question as cynthiajwilliams63. I stopped attending church because ALL churches in my area hold services on Sunday. I also live in a area with a lot of 'new age' congregations which I discovered the 'hard way' by attending one of their services. Then felt guilty because I participated in what I would call 'pagan worship'. Ugh!!
  • KARS
    Greetings Krista & Dorothy! Go to ucg.org and on "Congregations". When you find out where the nearest congregation is contact the minister. I know of others that have been offered rides to services by nearby brethren in their areas. Try that.
  • djhixson
    I feel the same way Krista. The only Sabbath keeping church within a 2 hr drive is the Seventh Day Adventists and they have different doctrines than that taught here on this site So I try to keep the Sabbath by watching the sermons from this site, reading my Bible and praying, but this program makes me feel really bad that I cannot attend their services. I am old and handicapped and cannot drive 2 hrs on a freeway. I am wondering if I should attend one of the SDA churches.
  • Gary Petty
    Cynthia, God expects us to obey Him. When a pastor changes a fundamental truth, like Sabbath observance, then you have no choice but to seek another church.
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