Church or Club?

[Menotu]

It's Sunday. We see many people going to church. Once there, they socialize, sing, laugh, eat, cry...compare hats, ask where he bought that blazer.

But are they there for the right reasons?

It seems, in many churches these days, it's more of a social club than a place of worship.

I've been to churches where people literally in front of me were talking bad (gossiping) about the people a few pews away.
I've seen people 'hit on' others for dates.
I've seen people cursing immediately afterwards (or before) service. I see people singing their hearts out for 1½ hours or so, but later, you wouldn't be able to tell they were Christian much less part of a church once the service is over.

To be fair, I've also seen much love and compassion. But it seems this is the exception many times more than the rule.

It makes me wonder: are churches today more of a social gathering and less of a place of worship?

What's your opinion?
What's your experience?

[Yahwehismywitness]

Churches today more of a social gathering and less of a place of worship?
Signs: Follow Catholics Sunday worship. Named after the Sun
Sign: Not established by Yeshua's Church structure
Sign: Tithing is not biblical
Sign: Mammon
Sign: Easter to Goddess Estre
Sign: Christmas to Roman Gods

Jesus said go teach, heal and cast out demons
Give what you have to the poor

Sign:Just getting richer
http://churchandstate.org.uk/2016/06/th ... the-world/

[Red Wolf]

It's Sunday. We see many people going to church. Once there, they socialize, sing, laugh, eat, cry...compare hats, ask where he bought that blazer.

But are they there for the right reasons?

It seems, in many churches these days, it's more of a social club than a place of worship.

I've been to churches where people literally in front of me were talking bad (gossiping) about the people a few pews away.
I've seen people 'hit on' others for dates.
I've seen people cursing immediately afterwards (or before) service. I see people singing their hearts out for 1½ hours or so, but later, you wouldn't be able to tell they were Christian much less part of a church once the service is over.

To be fair, I've also seen much love and compassion. But it seems this is the exception many times more than the rule.

It makes me wonder: are churches today more of a social gathering and less of a place of worship?

What's your opinion?
What's your experience?

When I was attending Church the guy who ran the yearly golf outing died. We were assured by the Pastor that this man was now in Heaven because he did such a great job of organizing the golf outing every year. He will be surely missed.

[Menotu]

It's Sunday. We see many people going to church. Once there, they socialize, sing, laugh, eat, cry...compare hats, ask where he bought that blazer.

But are they there for the right reasons?

It seems, in many churches these days, it's more of a social club than a place of worship.

I've been to churches where people literally in front of me were talking bad (gossiping) about the people a few pews away.
I've seen people 'hit on' others for dates.
I've seen people cursing immediately afterwards (or before) service. I see people singing their hearts out for 1½ hours or so, but later, you wouldn't be able to tell they were Christian much less part of a church once the service is over.

To be fair, I've also seen much love and compassion. But it seems this is the exception many times more than the rule.

It makes me wonder: are churches today more of a social gathering and less of a place of worship?

What's your opinion?
What's your experience?

When I was attending Church the guy who ran the yearly golf outing died. We were assured by the Pastor that this man was now in Heaven because he did such a great job of organizing the golf outing every year. He will be surely missed.

That's hysterical!
I remember sometimes growing up, everyone was so much more concerned with the super bowl than Sunday night service.
Priorities!

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 1 by Menotu]

I dont like to judge people and I cannot read hearts, so I feel it would be rather pretentious for me to judge the motives of individuals. Jesus said by their fruits you shall know these men, so if people are insincere this will eventually be evident by their actions and I believe God will jugdge what he wants done about it.


The rest is just gravy,


JW

[brunumb]

Churches, in particular the megachurches, have evolved into revenue collection centres. After collecting money, reinforcing indoctrination and socialising, worshiping God runs a distant last.

[onewithhim]

[Replying to post 1 by Menotu]

Yes, I believe that most church services are social gatherings rather than true worship services. I think that 95% of church-goers don't even know the Bible but go to church that they really think of as a social club.

I belonged to the Methodist Church, then the Southern Baptist churches, then independent groups, and attended many more denominations and genre. My experience was that who you knew depended on what you got out of each meeting or gathering; the young people were one person in church and someone else outside of church; racism was rampant; oftentimes the pastor didn't even know what Bible passages really meant.


.

[onewithhim]

[Replying to post 3 by Red Wolf]

Hahahahaha. Hahahahahaha. Ain't it the truth.

[MattHoppy]

Too often we see church lose its original purpose for glorifying God, becoming a social gathering, a club and like others have mentioned a money collection center. Some things I believe we have lost in church.
1. Purity of ecclesiastical separation in the local church.
2. Genuine caring for people, as well as telling people about the gospel.
3. Worship and adoration of the Savior as the supreme head
Side note, money has corrupted many a church.

[MattHoppy]

Too often we see church lose its original purpose for glorifying God, becoming a social gathering, a club and like others have mentioned a money collection center. Some things I believe we have lost in church.
1. Purity of ecclesiastical separation in the local church.
2. Genuine caring for people, as well as telling people about the gospel.
3. Worship and adoration of the Savior as the supreme head
Side note, money has corrupted many a church.