RE: How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body?
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[Poll]
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How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body?
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| 1-2 Times A Week |
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| Once A Month |
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| Never, But A Pew Sitter |
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| I'm Not A Member of Any Church |
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Total Votes : 32
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(last vote on : 8/14/2008 4:35:10 PM)
(Poll will run till: -- )
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RE: How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body? - 7/23/2008 8:15:27 AM
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CoeurdeLeon_
Posts: 9469
Joined: 9/4/2005
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I really don't understand the question. Really. Could someone explain it to me, please? Is this thread about listing what we do to serve in the church or about something else?
I don't get the whole 'criticism of singles' thing? Criticized where? And for what?
Good grief, we're all old enough by now to know that backbiting is what goes on in some churches no matter what our "status" is. Moms get criticized when they don't help "as much as they should" with the nursery. Men get criticized when they don't show up for a "work day" or when they don't volunteer to teach the teenagers Sunday School. Who cares WHAT backbiters say??????
It'll be a cold day in the nether regions before I make ANY excuse to anyone for what I don't do or list for anyone how I do serve. Therefore, you can consider my vote "NEVER, BUT A PEW SITTER" (tell us how you really feel, OP) because I wouldn't deign to give any other answer.
_____________________________
This morning I was awakened by the sound of purple
colliding with the fragrance of laughter.
Eutychus
10.13.08
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RE: How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body? - 7/23/2008 9:03:24 AM
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.Pammy
Posts: 3951
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: PA, USA
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quote:
ORIGINAL: CoeurdeLeon
I really don't understand the question. Really. Could someone explain it to me, please? Is this thread about listing what we do to serve in the church or about something else?
I don't get the whole 'criticism of singles' thing? Criticized where? And for what?
Good grief, we're all old enough by now to know that backbiting is what goes on in some churches no matter what our "status" is. Moms get criticized when they don't help "as much as they should" with the nursery. Men get criticized when they don't show up for a "work day" or when they don't volunteer to teach the teenagers Sunday School. Who cares WHAT backbiters say??????
It'll be a cold day in the nether regions before I make ANY excuse to anyone for what I don't do or list for anyone how I do serve. Therefore, you can consider my vote "NEVER, BUT A PEW SITTER" (tell us how you really feel, OP) because I wouldn't deign to give any other answer.
Fritz, I had trouble with this one, too. In fact, in an earlier post, I wrote:
quote:
I dug this out of the OP, and I think this is the real question in the OP. I've never heard of someone serving (whether in the church or elsewhere) being used as an excuse for not pursuing a relationship. I imagine, though, that someone could claim that. If so, that would be a very particular situation, and that person would have a definite avoidance problem. Nothing to do with serving, as far as I'm concerned.
In response to this part of the OP:
quote:
single christians being involved in ministry being one of the excuses of not coping with singleness and that one of the excuses of not finding a man or a woman.
And what I meant by that is that I imagine a person who was looking for an excuse to avoid the whole dating situation could say "well, I'm just too busy". Maybe that's what Gayle meant.
_____________________________
Pam
"Sweet-talkers win at singles' bars and in politics ... often with similar outcomes for the listener."
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RE: How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body? - 7/23/2008 1:48:24 PM
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gaylel1
Posts: 1245
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Southern California, the land of Fruit and nuts...
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quote:
ORIGINAL: CoeurdeLeon
I really don't understand the question. Really. Could someone explain it to me, please? Is this thread about listing what we do to serve in the church or about something else?
I don't get the whole 'criticism of singles' thing? Criticized where? And for what?
Good grief, we're all old enough by now to know that backbiting is what goes on in some churches no matter what our "status" is. Moms get criticized when they don't help "as much as they should" with the nursery. Men get criticized when they don't show up for a "work day" or when they don't volunteer to teach the teenagers Sunday School. Who cares WHAT backbiters say??????
It'll be a cold day in the nether regions before I make ANY excuse to anyone for what I don't do or list for anyone how I do serve. Therefore, you can consider my vote "NEVER, BUT A PEW SITTER" (tell us how you really feel, OP) because I wouldn't deign to give any other answer.
Fritz, are you having a bad day there? 
Ok, the reason why I started this thread is because I had a concern about one of the postings in the "Coping With Singleness Thread". And yes it was a valid concern because it made me and perhaps some others feel that because you are single, because you are in a local church body and involved in that local church, you are not being proactive in finding someone.
In my opinion, it makes me feel (and perhaps others who are involved in their local church and para church ministries) that you are worthless because you are single and not have a man or a woman. And to be honest, I'm getting sick and tired of it of all the criticisims from believers that people who are ministry are masking the fact that you are lonely and all the perks that comes from singledom and because you are serving people expect singles to be all about "them", which is not anyways. I feel and always felt that instead of complaing what you have, get out and get up and make a difference in the lives of others, whether you are working in the the church and encouraging others, or getting involved with our youth (that's a ministry in itself) or other opportunities instead of whining what you don't have and saying that "Its so hard not having a other person to not share things with."
The church is also at fault also because they do not encourage singles, and if you are in a church that does not encourage singles to reach their godly potential in Christ, there is a problem. Maybe God may want you to get out of that fellowship and go to somewhere that you can be loved and nurtured and help you give you some survivial skills to how to live as a single in these ungodly days. (That's another thread in itself)
I'm sorry if this thread made people mad or angry or even people take offense. But like I said before, I'm sick and tired of Christians who are single and married being critical of us singles being servants in our local churches. We're the ones should be getting encourgement from fellow believers and need the prayers because we are on the front lines.
_____________________________
Hear "The Truth" with the "other"l Jeff Johnson(http://www.calvarydowney.org)
Visit me at http:www.gayleplace.blogspot.com or http://www.myspace.com/gaylel121
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RE: How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body? - 7/23/2008 3:27:20 PM
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CoeurdeLeon_
Posts: 9469
Joined: 9/4/2005
From: Inside my head
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quote:
ORIGINAL: gaylel1
quote:
ORIGINAL: CoeurdeLeon
I really don't understand the question. Really. Could someone explain it to me, please? Is this thread about listing what we do to serve in the church or about something else?
I don't get the whole 'criticism of singles' thing? Criticized where? And for what?
Good grief, we're all old enough by now to know that backbiting is what goes on in some churches no matter what our "status" is. Moms get criticized when they don't help "as much as they should" with the nursery. Men get criticized when they don't show up for a "work day" or when they don't volunteer to teach the teenagers Sunday School. Who cares WHAT backbiters say??????
It'll be a cold day in the nether regions before I make ANY excuse to anyone for what I don't do or list for anyone how I do serve. Therefore, you can consider my vote "NEVER, BUT A PEW SITTER" (tell us how you really feel, OP) because I wouldn't deign to give any other answer.
Fritz, are you having a bad day there?
No. Should I be?
quote:
Ok, the reason why I started this thread is because I had a concern about one of the postings in the "Coping With Singleness Thread". And yes it was a valid concern because it made me and perhaps some others feel that because you are single, because you are in a local church body and involved in that local church, you are not being proactive in finding someone.
In my opinion, it makes me feel (and perhaps others who are involved in their local church and para church ministries) that you are worthless because you are single and not have a man or a woman. And to be honest, I'm getting sick and tired of it of all the criticisims from believers that people who are ministry are masking the fact that you are lonely and all the perks that comes from singledom and because you are serving people expect singles to be all about "them", which is not anyways. I feel and always felt that instead of complaing what you have, get out and get up and make a difference in the lives of others, whether you are working in the the church and encouraging others, or getting involved with our youth (that's a ministry in itself) or other opportunities instead of whining what you don't have and saying that "Its so hard not having a other person to not share things with."
The church is also at fault also because they do not encourage singles, and if you are in a church that does not encourage singles to reach their godly potential in Christ, there is a problem. Maybe God may want you to get out of that fellowship and go to somewhere that you can be loved and nurtured and help you give you some survivial skills to how to live as a single in these ungodly days. (That's another thread in itself)
I'm sorry if this thread made people mad or angry or even people take offense. But like I said before, I'm sick and tired of Christians who are single and married being critical of us singles being servants in our local churches. We're the ones should be getting encourgement from fellow believers and need the prayers because we are on the front lines.
What Above_All said. I just have never heard any of this stuff. Whose business besides my own is it whether I'm proactive about finding someone?
quote:
And to be honest, I'm getting sick and tired of it of all the criticisims from believers that people who are ministry are masking the fact that you are lonely and all the perks that comes from singledom and because you are serving people expect singles to be all about "them", which is not anyways.
Do you think it's just singles who feel unappreciated and misunderstood? It's the human condition! Most everything we feel isn't because we're single. It's because that's how PEOPLE feel.
And I don't get the whole "the church should encourage singles" thing either. The church should encourage people. I'm a person, therefore, I'm encouraged.
I dunno. I guess since being single isn't what defines me that makes me a little dense about this. I've said it before, I am a WHOLE lot more than a divorced woman with kids. I'm responsible for getting my own encouragement as a Christian (not a single Christian, just a Christian) out of church. And what somebody else thinks about my motivation or what I should or shouldn't be doing or whether I have a mate or not really doesn't concern me.
_____________________________
This morning I was awakened by the sound of purple
colliding with the fragrance of laughter.
Eutychus
10.13.08
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RE: How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body? - 7/23/2008 3:46:43 PM
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gaylel1
Posts: 1245
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Southern California, the land of Fruit and nuts...
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quote:
ORIGINAL: CoeurdeLeon
quote:
ORIGINAL: gaylel1
quote:
ORIGINAL: CoeurdeLeon
I really don't understand the question. Really. Could someone explain it to me, please? Is this thread about listing what we do to serve in the church or about something else?
I don't get the whole 'criticism of singles' thing? Criticized where? And for what?
Good grief, we're all old enough by now to know that backbiting is what goes on in some churches no matter what our "status" is. Moms get criticized when they don't help "as much as they should" with the nursery. Men get criticized when they don't show up for a "work day" or when they don't volunteer to teach the teenagers Sunday School. Who cares WHAT backbiters say??????
It'll be a cold day in the nether regions before I make ANY excuse to anyone for what I don't do or list for anyone how I do serve. Therefore, you can consider my vote "NEVER, BUT A PEW SITTER" (tell us how you really feel, OP) because I wouldn't deign to give any other answer.
Fritz, are you having a bad day there?
No. Should I be?
quote:
Ok, the reason why I started this thread is because I had a concern about one of the postings in the "Coping With Singleness Thread". And yes it was a valid concern because it made me and perhaps some others feel that because you are single, because you are in a local church body and involved in that local church, you are not being proactive in finding someone.
In my opinion, it makes me feel (and perhaps others who are involved in their local church and para church ministries) that you are worthless because you are single and not have a man or a woman. And to be honest, I'm getting sick and tired of it of all the criticisims from believers that people who are ministry are masking the fact that you are lonely and all the perks that comes from singledom and because you are serving people expect singles to be all about "them", which is not anyways. I feel and always felt that instead of complaing what you have, get out and get up and make a difference in the lives of others, whether you are working in the the church and encouraging others, or getting involved with our youth (that's a ministry in itself) or other opportunities instead of whining what you don't have and saying that "Its so hard not having a other person to not share things with."
The church is also at fault also because they do not encourage singles, and if you are in a church that does not encourage singles to reach their godly potential in Christ, there is a problem. Maybe God may want you to get out of that fellowship and go to somewhere that you can be loved and nurtured and help you give you some survivial skills to how to live as a single in these ungodly days. (That's another thread in itself)
I'm sorry if this thread made people mad or angry or even people take offense. But like I said before, I'm sick and tired of Christians who are single and married being critical of us singles being servants in our local churches. We're the ones should be getting encourgement from fellow believers and need the prayers because we are on the front lines.
What Above_All said. I just have never heard any of this stuff. Whose business besides my own is it whether I'm proactive about finding someone?
quote:
And to be honest, I'm getting sick and tired of it of all the criticisims from believers that people who are ministry are masking the fact that you are lonely and all the perks that comes from singledom and because you are serving people expect singles to be all about "them", which is not anyways.
quote:
Do you think it's just singles who feel unappreciated and misunderstood? It's the human condition! Most everything we feel isn't because we're single. It's because that's how PEOPLE feel.
Yes, I understand what you are saying. But you see, with the body, singles are felt to be "second class christians" because either you are not dating or not attempting to find someone, and then they are made to feel guilty because if you are not dating or neither finding someone, you are less of a Christian. It is not only the community of believers who think that, there are authors that feel that Christian singles are second class citzens not understanding the reasons.
quote:
And I don't get the whole "the church should encourage singles" thing either. The church should encourage people. I'm a person, therefore, I'm encouraged.
I agree, the body of believers, which make up the church (not the physical building, not the name) should encourage people and you are right.
quote:
I dunno. I guess since being single isn't what defines me that makes me a little dense about this. I've said it before, I am a WHOLE lot more than a divorced woman with kids. I'm responsible for getting my own encouragement as a Christian (not a single Christian, just a Christian) out of church. And what somebody else thinks about my motivation or what I should or shouldn't be doing or whether I have a mate or not really doesn't concern me.
I agree whole heartily....
_____________________________
Hear "The Truth" with the "other"l Jeff Johnson(http://www.calvarydowney.org)
Visit me at http:www.gayleplace.blogspot.com or http://www.myspace.com/gaylel121
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RE: How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body? - 7/23/2008 4:44:27 PM
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CoeurdeLeon_
Posts: 9469
Joined: 9/4/2005
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quote:
Yes, I understand what you are saying. But you see, with the body, singles are felt to be "second class christians" because either you are not dating or not attempting to find someone, and then they are made to feel guilty because if you are not dating or neither finding someone, you are less of a Christian. It is not only the community of believers who think that, there are authors that feel that Christian singles are second class citzens not understanding the reasons.
Well, Gayle, this is where our outlooks differ. I've never felt like a second class anything. Not because people haven't tried to make me feel that way but because I know I'm not second class. If someone calls me something that I know I'm not, what difference does it make? I don't need to justify myself to them. For anything.
As for being made to feel guilty, again, you have the option to ignore those attempts, too. Want to talk about guilt trips in the church? Try being DIVORCED. But, see, I KNOW I'm not guilty so what do I care what others say? And authors? I guess anyone can be published today. I wouldn't waste my time on that. Not on reading it and not on getting my knickers in a knot about it.
_____________________________
This morning I was awakened by the sound of purple
colliding with the fragrance of laughter.
Eutychus
10.13.08
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RE: How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body? - 7/23/2008 4:46:39 PM
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.Pammy
Posts: 3951
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: PA, USA
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quote:
Yes, I understand what you are saying. But you see, with the body, singles are felt to be "second class christians" because either you are not dating or not attempting to find someone, and then they are made to feel guilty because if you are not dating or neither finding someone, you are less of a Christian. It is not only the community of believers who think that, there are authors that feel that Christian singles are second class citzens not understanding the reasons.
Huh? Who does that? I've never been made to feel that way, nor have I seen it.
_____________________________
Pam
"Sweet-talkers win at singles' bars and in politics ... often with similar outcomes for the listener."
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RE: How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body? - 7/23/2008 4:48:41 PM
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Prairiehiker
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I'm not sure if this is the post that precipitated this thread. This is the post I made to the thread "why are you still single". It's post #61. My point was to get us to look at some of our excuses, defences, rationale for doing what we do and how we're contributing to our situations, bad or good. It wasn't a criticism of single people serving in a church. If this is what you're referring to, Gayle, I'll explain further why I made the post if I need to.
quote:
I think a lot of us are single because of our own doing. Perhaps it's a belief system that's not really biblical, perhaps, it's issues, socials, psychological, emotional, etc, that we have that we refuse to work on, perhaps it's because of choice, perhaps it's "false contentment", or we could be single long enough and we don't know how to let someone else in our lives even though we profess with words that we want to. For me, the longing is deep but my actions don't seem to reflect that I want to be married. It's something I have to work on. There's been a lot of men that's been attracted to me, but the moment they get close, I ran away. I can't blame that on God. It's my issue to work on. I believe that if I wasn't like that, I'd never be single for a long time, but as it is, I go years without even dating.
I think at times, we pretend that we're content with being single, but in reality, we're not. We're using those those as an excuse to move and pursue a relationship. We use the "waiting on God" excuse, the working for the ministry excuse, the 'not wanting to make a mistake" excuse. We use the Jeremiah 29:11 verse about God knowing the plans he had for us, but if you look at the context of the verse, it's about God's very specific promise to a specific people to bring them out of captivity in His time. What did God say to the Jews before those verses?
Jeremiah 29:5-9
Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." 8 Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them," declares the LORD.
There it shows how God commanded people to live their lives. This is His instructions. He didn't tell them to passively wait for every little instruction to come from him regarding how to do this. We have the bible for that. I really think we are trying to live our lives like God is micro managing us, when in reality, we are given so much freedom. No doubt that deciding to get married requires a lot of wisdom and discernment from God, but I don't believe that it's one of those things that God will drop in my lap in His chosen time. Marriage is part of living, like finding a job, or going on a mission. It's a decision we make and finding a mate is an action we pursue. Within the will of God, or course.
_____________________________
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power through out the universe displayed
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
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RE: How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body? - 7/23/2008 6:32:23 PM
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9drtr
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Right now I'm a pew sitter. In part that's because I went from a small church to a large one where there are more people to handle things and a more formal system for handling things. In part it's because I have no time to make a 45-minute trek more than once a week.
_____________________________
Edwin
When we know who is coming, how can we worry about what is coming? When the last hour belongs to us, how can we worry about the next minute?
Ross Crighton
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RE: How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body? - 7/23/2008 7:01:39 PM
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jika
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Attending and being active in my local Church is a spiritual life line for me in many ways. Yes I enjoy being a servant, but the funny thing is, in the process of doing so you end up being served the more, its fulfilling. Iam learning to trust God and desire for all my life concerns to be secondary to my spiritual, for when Am planning my week my Church calendar becomes my measuring stick. Its a blessing that my church has several programs a week, thats if your schedule does not permit on one day then you have an opportunity for another.
And if you feel that serving God has prevented you from finding the "ONE" then you surely dont deserve her or him. This is simply because the relationship will be ministry as well, because if what you are involved in Church makes you forget your desires, then when you get married you may end up neglecting your spouse because you are too busy in Church, we need a balance.
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RE: How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body? - 7/24/2008 9:56:10 AM
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offtheisland
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In the sixteen years I have worked as an administrative assistant in church and involved in one ministry, it is difficult to balance a social life with family life being a single parent. With a 50 hour work week and only Saturday off, you feel like you live at the church. Balance and boundaries have to be placed in order to recharge.
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My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul.
Psalm 108:1
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RE: How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body? - 7/24/2008 10:15:24 AM
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sunshinesoprano
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I've always been heavily involved. At my previous church, I played piano for Sunday School, sang solos, was our youth pastor's assistant, and taught VBS.
At my current church, I joined the church in a choir robe, 2 months later started directing youth choir, and of course, did solo work and taught VBS. I started playing string reduction on keys shortly thereafter.
Then the youth choir dissipated, and I stopped that. They busted up the Sunday School structure and I really had no place to go, and about that time PH started travelling heavily, so I haven't attended SS since then. It's too hard to get involved when you're gone a lot. I also stopped teaching VBS.
Now, I'm a choir member, soloist, fill-in keyboardist and pianist, and our minister of music's "Hey, I need you to do this" girl.
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Pure Heart-Fresh, Progressive Southern Gospel
Sing, laugh, love, PRAISE!
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RE: How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body? - 7/24/2008 11:27:59 AM
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iwillfearnoevil
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quote:
ORIGINAL: CoeurdeLeon
And I don't get the whole "the church should encourage singles" thing either. The church should encourage people. I'm a person, therefore, I'm encouraged.
I dunno. I guess since being single isn't what defines me that makes me a little dense about this. I've said it before, I am a WHOLE lot more than a divorced woman with kids. I'm responsible for getting my own encouragement as a Christian (not a single Christian, just a Christian) out of church.
i agree. i don't serve my church or denomination, i serve God. what is a church? i guess it's different things to different people but i primarly view it's purposes from Acts 2:42 (teaching, fellowship, communion, prayer) and the Great Commission (Acts 1:8 for example). however it is also called to take care of people in need such as orphans and widows (James 1:27). there are just too many groups for every church to reach out to every one: physical abuse, divorced, widowed, substance abuse, family of alcoholics, musicians, college students, high school students, single parents, parenting ministry, financial classes, etc ... i could list them all day so i totally agree that just because my church doesn't focus on singles ... it doesn't mean it's not focusing or encouraging me.
i seriously would like to hear one someone discriminated against for being single at church, like told they can't teach a sunday school class or sing in the choir because they are single (with no other factors such as new at church or their must be multiple leaders present)
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Photoblogging My Life
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RE: How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body? - 8/8/2008 8:12:16 PM
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onthewayray
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I enjoy helpping out at my church ......I am doing something most of the time anything from greeting at the door to going on mission trips. And everything in the middle.
Thats whats being single is nice I dont need to check with anyone to see if it ok if i help with whatever it may be ........
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I am still being shaped by God.
Isaiah 64:8
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RE: How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body? - 8/9/2008 5:02:50 PM
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9drtr
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Above_All
I also find it hard to believe that fellow believers would actually put a single down for serving G-d vs. finding a mate. How can one condemn a person for faithfully serving the L-rd? Even if a person is not called to serve, there can be no condemnation for serving, not unless you are abusing the body.
On the flip note, if you really desire to meet someone then free up your time a bit to meet new people. There is such thing as over doing it. A good balance is the key. Serving G-d is NOT limited to serving in a church.
Hang around and you'll find that anyone can be put down for anything.
_____________________________
Edwin
When we know who is coming, how can we worry about what is coming? When the last hour belongs to us, how can we worry about the next minute?
Ross Crighton
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RE: How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body? - 8/10/2008 3:26:48 PM
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rgod
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It is interesting how we have different experiences. Gayle - my experience has been a bit of the opposite. As a single person, I've often been expected to help out - sometimes above and beyond what I can do - because sometimes there seems to be an unspoken assumption that if you are single - then you always have more time to devote to church work. Or if you are female, you've got to love working in the nursery.
I think the bottom line, which many have stated here, is that we have to just trust God in all things and follow his direction. You can easily become unbalanced working in church all of the time - I did in the past and sacrificed a lot. I was miserable and nothing was really accomplished. Now, I take my time - I don't care what anyone says. I refuse to get myself into long commitments apart from the Lord.
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RE: How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body? - 8/10/2008 3:37:24 PM
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thedivabrat
Posts: 560
Joined: 6/15/2008
From: North and South
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: rgod
Or if you are female, you've got to love working in the nursery.
I have found this to be so true--but it is a mystery to me. The nursery is the last place I volunteer--I only go there if there is no one else available.
_____________________________
This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it. Ps 118:24
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RE: How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body? - 8/11/2008 8:39:43 AM
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offtheisland
Posts: 479
Joined: 7/17/2008
From: Central Florida
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Above_All
quote:
ORIGINAL: 9drtr
quote:
ORIGINAL: Above_All
I also find it hard to believe that fellow believers would actually put a single down for serving G-d vs. finding a mate. How can one condemn a person for faithfully serving the L-rd? Even if a person is not called to serve, there can be no condemnation for serving, not unless you are abusing the body.
On the flip note, if you really desire to meet someone then free up your time a bit to meet new people. There is such thing as over doing it. A good balance is the key. Serving G-d is NOT limited to serving in a church.
Hang around and you'll find that anyone can be put down for anything.
If the majority of people in that local body are that judgemental then I would certainly not be there.
Are Christians so spiritually ignorant that they don't know how to be kingdom minded?
Unfortunately, some are there to be fed and not serve.
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My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul.
Psalm 108:1
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RE: How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body? - 8/11/2008 10:00:43 AM
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sunshinesoprano
Posts: 903
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: Georgia
Status: offline
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I used to be extremely active in my church. As I think I posted before, I joined the church with a choir robe on, shortly thereafter starting directing the youth choir, taught VBS, etc.
Sadly, because I was working and going to school, too, I seemed to be standing still while life whirled around me. I had very little "alone" time with God, and my life suffered because of that.
Because of the ministry I'm in now with Pure Heart, I'm only involved in Choir. Too many times I'm away on weekends when I'd need to be there and I refuse to become involved in something I cannot fulfill.
I love my choir, and am there every time I possibly can be.
However, I'm one of the only singles in my age range. There are, of course, lots of widows and widowers, and college age kids, but I'm all alone out there in my range.
We have a singles SS class, but I'd be the oldest member there other than the teachers, and I just feel that would be awkward. There's a big difference in college age kids and me.
While I don't think singles are looked down upon at my church, there's just not a big focus on us because there are so few...and this is a pretty large church.
_____________________________
Pure Heart-Fresh, Progressive Southern Gospel
Sing, laugh, love, PRAISE!
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RE: How Often Are You Involved In Your Local Church Body? - 8/11/2008 11:48:08 AM
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gaylel1
Posts: 1245
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Southern California, the land of Fruit and nuts...
Status: offline
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I agree with some of you about being a balance, and I understand there is so much you can do in ministry. I don't have a problem with that.
You know, when my husband was alive, he allowed me to be involved in ministry at my church--why? because he felt that I should use my talents unto the Lord and share with others. He felt that even though that the family and himself was the first ministry, we also felt that there is a whole other world that need God's love and he felt that we both share the gospel to others.
Then too, he encouraged me be involved in this particular ministry, the avitar shown to share with people after they come forward and accept christ the things they should be doing because the going forward part does not stop there.
_____________________________
Hear "The Truth" with the "other"l Jeff Johnson(http://www.calvarydowney.org)
Visit me at http:www.gayleplace.blogspot.com or http://www.myspace.com/gaylel121
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