Where is "Church" now?

[MoreCoffee]

I saw a news report about millennials having dinner parties for the poor and for the lonely, helping others with rides to the hospital or air port when it was needed, and doing other kind things to people that they did not know well. The man presenting the report suggested that thousands of church buildings were being abandoned every year (in the USA) but that maybe the new spiritual centres were micro breweries in the towns with abandoned church buildings. I think he meant that millennials gather in the microbreweries instead of church buildings and that's where they experience their spirituality. Do you think that is true and is it significant?

 

[Josiah]

The church is where Christians are/were.

 

[~Jo~]

Over here many churches are being sold off, I assume from lack of people these days, everyone seems to be to busy doing stuff I guess or just dont like going there now sad really, I love the inside of churches just not to keen on the people that go there. Many churches are turned into private houses and are totally amazing after be renovated..

 

[Cassia]

It's a shame that churches are being vacated because where do wheats and tares go now? I used to live in the worst part of the lower mainland growing up and it was renouned for crime. Now ever place is like that crimeridden everywhere. The churches are like that because the tares have begun to rule in the churches that I used to attend when the sowing of money came in.

 

[Rens]

I saw a news report about millennials having dinner parties for the poor and for the lonely, helping others with rides to the hospital or air port when it was needed, and doing other kind things to people that they did not know well. The man presenting the report suggested that thousands of church buildings were being abandoned every year (in the USA) but that maybe the new spiritual centres were micro breweries in the towns with abandoned church buildings. I think he meant that millennials gather in the microbreweries instead of church buildings and that's where they experience their spirituality. Do you think that is true and is it significant?

Yes it's true. Lot of people have had enough of church and meet in small groups. The church is going outside the building, the last reformation.
It can also be dangerous. I see great stuff happening with some of these people, but there are also those who are so anti-established church here in Holland and they fall for the weirdest false teachings and there's noone to protect them. I think the church has to go outside of the building to reach the lost, no way they're going to a church, so meet them where they are, but to totally get rid of the church isn't good either. People have bad experiences with leaders, but now they have no good leader to protect them for wolves.
In the N.T. they did both, they met in small groups in houses and they went to the big meeting and had elders and overseeers.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Over here many churches are being sold off, I assume from lack of people these days, everyone seems to be to busy doing stuff I guess or just dont like going there now sad really, I love the inside of churches just not to keen on the people that go there. Many churches are turned into private houses and are totally amazing after be renovated..

I like the architecture of church buildings. They can be very beautiful. I think that the reporter was mainly talking about church buildings but he was interested in the spirituality of the Millennials too. Church is the people, the buildings are church [owned] buildings but the Church is the people no matter where they meet. What I was thinking as I watched and listened to the report is that being kind is a big part of living the faith but without having faith in Jesus Christ being kind may not be exactly what God wants.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Yes it's true. Lot of people have had enough of church and meet in small groups. The church is going outside the building, the last reformation.
It can also be dangerous. I see great stuff happening with some of these people, but there are also those who are so anti-established church here in Holland and they fall for the weirdest false teachings and there's noone to protect them. I think the church has to go outside of the building to reach the lost, no way they're going to a church, so meet them where they are, but to totally get rid of the church isn't good either. People have bad experiences with leaders, but now they have no good leader to protect them for wolves.

In the N.T. they did both, they met in small groups in houses and they went to the big meeting and had elders and overseeers.

I agree about being without a shepherd. In the old testament this is written I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight. Let me live that I may praise you, and let your ordinances help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek out your servant, for I do not forget your commandments. Psa 119:174-176 And Jesus sent out the twelve - These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: 'Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, "The kingdom of heaven has come near." Mat 10:5-7 - But but this is about the time before the crucifixion. Now we have one shepherd, Jesus Christ, and one flock.

Maybe this is applicable to the situation today for those without shepherd As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. Mar 6:34

 

[psalms 91]

I agree about being without a shepherd. In the old testament this is written I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight. Let me live that I may praise you, and let your ordinances help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek out your servant, for I do not forget your commandments. Psa 119:174-176 And Jesus sent out the twelve - These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: 'Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, "The kingdom of heaven has come near." Mat 10:5-7 - But but this is about the time before the crucifixion. Now we have one shepherd, Jesus Christ, and one flock.

Maybe this is applicable to the situation today for those without shepherd As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. Mar 6:34

Yes, a man of God, who hears from God, we all need that

 

[MoreCoffee]

Yes, a man of God, who hears from God, we all need that

I was thinking more along the lines of needing others - regardless of how special their gifts may be. Just having others who share the faith, travel the same road, wait for the same Lord to lead.

 

[psalms 91]

Yes that as well but we all need a shepard unless we are called to be one and even then we need someone

 

[MoreCoffee]

Yes that as well but we all need a shepard unless we are called to be one and even then we need someone

Is Jesus not the shepherd?

 

[psalms 91]

There is THE SHEPHARD and then there are shepards

 

[MoreCoffee]

There is THE SHEPHARD and then there are shepards

I think of the bishop as a kind of shepherd but he is also an administrative authority. The pope is quite distant so his shepherding is mainly by "pastoral letter" and they are fairly infrequent. The local parish priest is an elder and as such leads by example as much as by word. But it is always Jesus Christ who is shepherd and the others from the pope to the parish priest are helpers.

 

[NewCreation435]

I didn't see the news report and not sure what micro breweries have to do with anything. Many of the churches in my area are weak and having problems. I'm not completely happy with the church I joined recently, but wanted to start being more active. Going to church or being a christian is often equated with somewhere you go in this culture instead of understanding it as following christ and taking up your cross and following him. When a person actually starts to do what the Bible says they appear radical compared to others

 

[MoreCoffee]

I didn't see the news report and not sure what micro breweries have to do with anything. Many of the churches in my area are weak and having problems. I'm not completely happy with the church I joined recently, but wanted to start being more active. Going to church or being a christian is often equated with somewhere you go in this culture instead of understanding it as following christ and taking up your cross and following him. When a person actually starts to do what the Bible says they appear radical compared to others

The microbreweries are where the reporter alleges millenials gather for social and spiritual exchange.

 

[NewCreation435]

The microbreweries are where the reporter alleges millenials gather for social and spiritual exchange.

I seriously doubt that. Yes it is a social gathering, but I doubt it is a spiritual one.

 

[MoreCoffee]

I seriously doubt that. Yes it is a social gathering, but I doubt it is a spiritual one.

Beer is almost a spirit

 

[Lamb]

I haven't heard of many microbeer gathering church services where I live. There also aren't many megachurches (I'm not even sure there are any nearby). I drive about 30-50 minutes depending on if I speed, the weather and traffic (Amish in my way LOL) to get to a good liturgical church that properly distinguishes between law and gospel. But it is suffering as some small churches do. It happens and it's not God punishing. He sometimes has other plans for the sheep

 

[MoreCoffee]

I haven't heard of many microbeer gathering church services where I live. There also aren't many megachurches (I'm not even sure there are any nearby). I drive about 30-50 minutes depending on if I speed, the weather and traffic (Amish in my way LOL) to get to a good liturgical church that properly distinguishes between law and gospel. But it is suffering as some small churches do. It happens and it's not God punishing. He sometimes has other plans for the sheep

They are not church services, just young folk gathering and maybe deciding to be kind to strangers.

 

[Lamb]

They are not church services, just young folk gathering and maybe deciding to be kind to strangers.

Maybe the ones you've heard of are not but I have heard on the net that people are holding church services in non-church buildings such as bars, cafes, the open fields