Somethings wrong...........

Does anyone sit in Church in a bit of a daze and just think to yourself "Somethings wrong here, somethings just not right about this anymore" ?

Yep. Been there and done that.

You know..., the Lord tells us that His House shall be a house of prayer.

Not a house of preaching; or a house of singing; or a house of Sunday School; or a house of missions; or a gathering place..., but a House of Prayer.

Is it any wonder that way too many folks sit in the pews and doze off mentally for an hour each Sunday Morning?

Seems to me that with a mature and serious approach to our Prayer Life the Lord would provide all those extra curriculum activities along with the motivation to make 'em happen, but because we don't, he won't.

Our Lord loves to hear us praise Him.

 

Things definitely aren't improving on the spiritual front, but that's plain old scripture.

I went way off for a bit a number of years ago and even doubted my belief, withdrew from the church community, and thought I'd be okay on my own. Didn't realize how far downhill I was sliding for a while...sneaks up on ya!

New perspectives helped though. I don't let myself hold humans up as role models for Christianity because we all fail too often. Respecting other believers is another matter, along with realizing that my shortcomings are probably just as repugnant to them and Christ as mine are to others and Christ.

But yeah. Looking back, that was a horrible time. I couldn't feel the Holy Spirit even though I prayed and begged, then later I just didn't much care. But...it was amazing when things went back to right so I think that was meant to be. I definitely appreciated salvation and Christian living a lot more afterward and it made me realize that it isn't okay to stay at one level, even if I'm not doing anything "wrong." I still need to keep stretching and growing and reaching and not feel all holy just because I manage to stay somewhere within the safe zone.

 

To the OP...do you serve in the church, or do you just attend? Involvement is the key. Our spiritual gifts are there for a reason.

 

We were faced with a situation much like you describe. As an ordained pastor, and double grad of SBTS, I was limited to serving in really weird ways, like never... Pastor was aligning everyone with his rather Pelagian view, and I did not qualify.

We found another church and are SO blessed.

In your area, there are multitudes of churches with which to unite. Take the family and friends with you if need be!

 

Praying you find peace there, or God directs you where to go from here. From the little you have posted here, I would have to question if he should even be a pastor in the first place. That might be the major problem right there. There are many of those kind of pastors on this very sight...one sent me a PM basically saying he would meet me "any time, any where"...and not for prayer if you know what I mean.

 

Maybe try a small vacation from church.

Dont go for 3 weeks or so. Stay home and watch TV ministries, visit some other churches, etc etc. You dont have to worry about "forsaking the assembling of yourselves together"...because you are not "forsaking" anything, you are just skipping a few services.

Then go back. You might have your enthusiasm restored, and you are impacted greatly by the teaching again.

If not...consider other options.

 

Nothing wrong with this advice at all. I recently walked away from a church after nine years of membership. Stayed away for about three months and finally decided that was it and surrendered my membership.

It got to where it was a total burden to attend. Not because of the Pastor but because of the total and complete idleness of the members.

Now attending another church and totally energetic over the change.

 

If you ever find yourself in California, I'll invite you to my church! Its a great church, with loving people, and an amazing pastor & pastor's family..he preaches straight from the word and does not try to twist or change anything around. He's lovingly firm

 

Tater77, there's an old joke about this guy who was picking cotton one hot afternoon and after a few hours of work he says,

"Lord, it sure is hot out today."

...a little while later he said,

"Lord, this row sure is long."

...he picked a bit more cotton and said,

"Lord, this bag sure is getting heavy."

...and after a bit he jumped straight up in the air and said,

"Praise the Lord I've been Called To Preach." :tongue3:

In real life there are men in the pulpit that just were not really called to preach. They might have been called for real, but to serve in a lesser role.

I don't think the Lord will bless over and above if his man isn't where he ought to be. Perhaps that's were your Pastor and friend is right now.

 

Tater, anyone who has this feeling is showing a sense of spirituality.
Scripture has some advise for the spiritual, one could expand the scope of this passage to the whole congregation:

Galatians 6:1
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Feed my sheep He said. You can help Tater.
Bottom-line: Prayer is something anyone of us can do and we don't need discipling to do this as the Spirit knows our infirmities and helps us to pray.
We do need to enter the holy place however as an act of the will.

Often, folks like to focus on the pastor. However he may be in pain as well over the condition of the church. Or he may just be unaware, it happens.

We don't blame the pastor (and I'm not saying you do BTW) for a literal drought but get on our knees and pray for rain.

We have an abundance of the word of God in America but we may need a shower of the hearing of the word of God. He can open our ears.

Feed my sheep, He said. Pray for the under-shephard who guides the flock through God's green pastures.

James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

HankD

 

Tater, we attended a church where the Pastor had been run off from every Church he'd been in. Not because he's a bad preacher or doesn't know the Word, but there was just something about him that absolutely did not translate to the membership. The Church he's at now hasn't grown one member in 15 years but he does have complete control over all aspects of that ministry and what few members they have are just lemmings.

He told once of having served with a World Wide Missionary Group (in their home office) but one day decided that "HE WANTED" to preach. So, he resigned his 'job' with this group and went to pastoring. Hence, every church he's ever been in..., ran him off.

Perhaps your current Pastor would consider throwing himself into the Music Ministry if someone would suggest it. If you approach him with a kind heart the Lord would do the rest. Don't be afraid to offer help here. Perhaps he just needs a little encouragement.