When The penny drops.

[Lamb]

I did think baptism was important because shortly after I was saved I had a strange dream where I was going to a church to get baptised and I woke up hearing some interesting words that were Biblical in nature, including a particular word I did not know at that time. When I looked it up later I recognised it was a Biblical word. But as the years have gone by I have thought differently about that. I certainly don't need to be baptised really but being part of a church would be helpful to me I think. In truth, I believe that having spiritual company is really all it means. I'm not of the belief that I have to attend some building just to gather with people, but that wouldn't be a bad thing in any case.

I don't know what Church you are referring to that is in London. But I'm interested in why you think Church is valuable. Nothing in this present life is worth bothering with as much as God in the ultimate scheme of things. If I am going to attend a church I would want to know what I would get out of it spiritually. I don't just want to go into a building to meet people. I want to actually experience God. And since I can do that by myself anywhere I am, what would be the purpose of going to a church?

For Lutherans, the purpose of going to church is to receive what God wants to give us in His word and sacraments. His word feeds us, and when we have confession/absolution we receive forgiveness, in the Lord's Supper we receive His body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins and we in turn give praise and thanksgiving to Him. God wants to give to us, He is a giver.

As for baptism, I didn't read everything, but if you haven't already been baptism, God wants to baptize you (and He does so with water + His word, the promises of washing your sins away, giving you the gift of the Holy Spirit and clothing you in Christ's righteousness).

 

[Can't think of a name]

For Lutherans, the purpose of going to church is to receive what God wants to give us in His word and sacraments. His word feeds us, and when we have confession/absolution we receive forgiveness, in the Lord's Supper we receive His body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins and we in turn give praise and thanksgiving to Him. God wants to give to us, He is a giver.

As for baptism, I didn't read everything, but if you haven't already been baptism, God wants to baptize you (and He does so with water + His word, the promises of washing your sins away, giving you the gift of the Holy Spirit and clothing you in Christ's righteousness).

I'm not Lutheran and I don't believe water baptism is salvific. It's just H2O. I've read a lot about this subject.

I don't believe in confession to priests. The Bible doesn't teach that. It does say that you can confess to others at church.

I get fed by the Word at home as well as I would at a church.

I don't believe takin the Lord's supper gives forgiveness of sins. Your sins are forgiven when you are first saved and if you sin and repent after that time God forgives you.

 

[BruceLeiter]

I did think baptism was important because shortly after I was saved I had a strange dream where I was going to a church to get baptised and I woke up hearing some interesting words that were Biblical in nature, including a particular word I did not know at that time. When I looked it up later I recognised it was a Biblical word. But as the years have gone by I have thought differently about that. I certainly don't need to be baptised really but being part of a church would be helpful to me I think. In truth, I believe that having spiritual company is really all it means. I'm not of the belief that I have to attend some building just to gather with people, but that wouldn't be a bad thing in any case.

I don't know what Church you are referring to that is in London. But I'm interested in why you think Church is valuable. Nothing in this present life is worth bothering with as much as God in the ultimate scheme of things. If I am going to attend a church I would want to know what I would get out of it spiritually. I don't just want to go into a building to meet people. I want to actually experience God. And since I can do that by myself anywhere I am, what would be the purpose of going to a church?

I experience God in church, even though sometimes the pastor's application of the Bible doesn't relate to my life. Why? It's because God's Word says that we must gather together with other believers. It's also because God can use me to build up other Christians' faith with my testimonies.

I was going to bed Saturday night for a while too late to go to my church, and I watched the service on the Internet instead. But as I have done many, many times, I was reading through the whole Bible. I read 1 and 2 Chronicles and Ezra, everybody's favorite passages, of course, , when God impressed on me the need for me to gather with other believers, because of those passages' emphasis on the temple. I have also been part of a small group who discuss the pastor's sermons and pray for each other's needs, a very spiritual experience!

In addition, I'll give you two other inspired verses:

Heb 10:24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
Heb 10:25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

 

[Can't think of a name]

I experience God in church, even though sometimes the pastor's application of the Bible doesn't relate to my life. Why? It's because God's Word says that we must gather together with other believers. It's also because God can use me to build up other Christians' faith with my testimonies.

I was going to bed Saturday night for a while too late to go to my church, and I watched the service on the Internet instead. But as I have done many, many times, I was reading through the whole Bible. I read 1 and 2 Chronicles and Ezra, everybody's favorite passages, of course, , when God impressed on me the need for me to gather with other believers, because of those passages' emphasis on the temple. I have also been part of a small group who discuss the pastor's sermons and pray for each other's needs, a very spiritual experience!

In addition, I'll give you two other inspired verses:

Heb 10:24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
Heb 10:25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

It's good you say you experience God. That's what church should be for. Otherwise what is the point in going? You can have company with people anywhere at any time.

I'm not going to ask you what the details of your experiences are. But it would be nice if you could give some kind of general outline of them.

 

[jswauto]

It's good you say you experience God. That's what church should be for. Otherwise what is the point in going? You can have company with people anywhere at any time.

I'm not going to ask you what the details of your experiences are. But it would be nice if you could give some kind of general outline of them.

Here's the church I go to if you need something temporarily till you find a congregation:

Church on the Rock - Watch

www.churchontherock.org

 

[BruceLeiter]

It's good you say you experience God. That's what church should be for. Otherwise what is the point in going? You can have company with people anywhere at any time.

I'm not going to ask you what the details of your experiences are. But it would be nice if you could give some kind of general outline of them.

@Can't think of a name, first when you "have company with people," does that "company" involve spiritual conversations about your believing experiences of what God has done in your life and discussion of the Bible? Our church small group's discussions are of that type. Usually, I've found that such kinds of "company" are very secular, even among Christians', casual conversations.

By the way, second, I posted my response to you on another thread; it's important that you read it for your emotional benefit! Also, you can send your responses to people's email inboxes by putting @ in front of and with their forum "name"; mine is my real name.

 

[Can't think of a name]

@Can't think of a name, first when you "have company with people," does that "company" involve spiritual conversations about your believing experiences of what God has done in your life and discussion of the Bible? Our church small group's discussions are of that type. Usually, I've found that such kinds of "company" are very secular, even among Christians', casual conversations.

By the way, second, I posted my response to you on another thread; it's important that you read it for your emotional benefit! Also, you can send your responses to people's email inboxes by putting @ in front of and with their forum "name"; mine is my real name.

Well, yes, my point was not that church is a place to go to experience God. It could be that but experience of God is a subjective experience no matter where you are. I'm not endorsing hanging around with unbelievers - even though you cannot avoid them because they are everywhere in the world and home - but that if you need company - and everybody does - you have plenty of it in this world whereas knowing God seems to be a lower level endeavour of most people and personally I do not like casual conversations but much prefer talking about God.

The utter ignorance of people around me and the world is astonishing to me, most people do not care what happens to them when they die and their soul and spirit leaves their body. This earth and planet is full of evil, suffering and pain, and people are HAPPY here! How utterly ignorant is that? It's only when they experience some pain they eventually realise there is a God. But even lots don't get to that stage. This is a complete failure of the education system. Everybody knows God exists but they aren't running towards him - they are running away from him. And that is because people prefer the bondage of fear to the reality of morality. Modern life is no more stressful than ancient life, but people have been taught that it is by a secular media and artful imagination.

 

[BruceLeiter]

Well, yes, my point was not that church is a place to go to experience God. It could be that but experience of God is a subjective experience no matter where you are. I'm not endorsing hanging around with unbelievers - even though you cannot avoid them because they are everywhere in the world and home - but that if you need company - and everybody does - you have plenty of it in this world whereas knowing God seems to be a lower level endeavour of most people and personally I do not like casual conversations but much prefer talking about God.

The utter ignorance of people around me and the world is astonishing to me, most people do not care what happens to them when they die and their soul and spirit leaves their body. This earth and planet is full of evil, suffering and pain, and people are HAPPY here! How utterly ignorant is that? It's only when they experience some pain they eventually realise there is a God. But even lots don't get to that stage. This is a complete failure of the education system. Everybody knows God exists but they aren't running towards him - they are running away from him. And that is because people prefer the bondage of fear to the reality of morality. Modern life is no more stressful than ancient life, but people have been taught that it is by a secular media and artful imagination.

@Can't think of a name, I like talking to secular people but will not adopt their lifestyles. But I will witness to them when God gives me the opportunity. That is, I share what God has done in my life without at all expecting them to experience similar things in theirs. We are seed-scatterers, in which we scatter, while God will plant the seeds of the gospel.

What you describe about people is true, but we can't change them. However, God can make a beginning in their lives with our witnessing.

 

[jswauto]

Is that on the theory of "Jesus is the answer"?

And, do not forget the old blessing: God bless you!