"Christians Who Don't Attend Church Are Lazy"

[Wrangler]

I guess Ive always thought of the term sins of omission as too vague.

I rely on the Holy Spirit. No, I do not evangelize at every moment. Rather, I believe building a relationship with the person is a vital pre-requisite. I have to work to earn the person's trust and confidence. How I know this is not a sin is that I do not feel convicted by the Holy Spirit.

Hope this helps.

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

Many Christians around me locally and online have claimed that Christians who don't attend church are lazy or don't truly love Jesus.

Still, there are plenty of Christians who refuse because their local churches refuse to faithfully teach Scripture.

The actual efforts they make in their faith, you may not hear about it. There are plenty of services and spiritual disciplines that ought to be done in private and not to be seen by others.

Here are my husband and I's top reasons for not attending church at this time.

1. Lack of faithfulness to Scripture in favor of tradition, popular sayings, and profiteering. This is the biggest one.

2. Unbiblical tithing systems that distract members from chances to help their families and neighbors directly.

3. Confusion and false teaching about God's plan for families and the roles of men and women.

4. Anti-works hyper grace false teaching. If grace is not teaching us to deny ungodliness, then its not grace. Christians are more likely to say that we can't ever stop sinning, yet making effort to do good works is somehow detrimental to salvation. This is the opposite of what Jesus and the Apostles taught.

Disclaimer: I reserve the right to not directly respond to anyone for any reason, especially if I feel tempted to be argumentative.

I am not a Teacher on Scripture and am not here to gatekeep doctrine as someone above anyone else. I believe women are not to be the primary defense of truth and agree with Paul's teaching on that. Please seek Scripture as the authority.

Feel share thoughts on whether you agree or not.

I disagree with the disclaimer!

No, just kidding, that made me laugh though.
I think the longer we avoid going to church, the longer our list of reasons not to go get.
I am lazy, but we do slow down when we age. Retired and just don't feel like it. 33 years ago I was hungry for the Word, couldn't get enough sermons from my Pastor and on the radio too - it was nourishment. But after a dozen years or so we sort of got it, know the basics and it's repetitious. "Win, Equip and Send" was the motto of my church. The Holy Spirit guides us, knows what we need. I always attended teaching churches and had a great Pastor. I do not live in the same area and so haven't found one that is satisfactory and I'm not hungry ... I guess I'm full. Every time I attempt to visit a new church, it's either "Oh, I've heard this teaching before" or the teaching doesn't seem to measure up to my Pastor and so I leave feeling I didn't really get much out of that. I guess that is my problem, I am now not supposed to get, I am supposed to give. Emmm ... thanks for bringing this up, I will reconsider finding a church BECAUSE there are more reasons to attend church then just to be educated and personal growth -- there's fellowship, serving ... giving back.

 

[Wrangler]

But after a dozen years or so we sort of got it

I serve where I can now. I don’t go primarily for me anymore. I’m an elder and love to mentor those new in Christ.

Funny thing. I get more out of going now that I don’t go for my benefit.

 

[Nancy]

I guess Ive always thought of the term sins of omission as too vague.

How do you know which things you aren't doing count against you?

You said knowing to do something but then neglecting it. I agree that's what it is. But to me that says were being held accpuntable for a conscious decision.

Im not saying you were saying this, but if sins can sneak up on you behind your back, than Id concede that its impossible not to sin.

I believe were not expected to do everything at once. Jesus prayed, helped others, and was well versed in Scripture. But he spent plenty of moments just eating a piece of fish or camping somewhere with the disciples.

What if the sin isn't neglecting the possible good we know we could have done in theory but consciously ignoring opportunities to follow our convictions as time and situations allow?

Is it a sin to take a nap or gaze at a cloud when you could have been actively ministering? I don't really think it is.

Is it a sin to look your homeless neighbor in the eye and go out of your way to not encounter her when you can easily assist her in some way? I think so.

There's only so many choices we can make at one moment. We overcome sin by keeping our minds on the Lord and things above at all times. If we sin is not the same as when we sin. It doesn't have to be inevitable.

Sin is transgressing the law. In our case, its the law of Christ. There's no Christian laws against sleeping, eating, napping, or typing at a computer. Neither against love or service or gentleness. Freedom in Christ is not about never being able to overcome the bondage of sin but the opposite.

I haven't overcome but I know its because of being double minded and feasting my brain on junk rather than setting my mind on things above. When my mind is set on Godly things, I can't operate in both lanes...the sins fall off. Ive gone plenty of days with a clear conscience and so can any other Christian.

I guess Ive always thought of the term sins of omission as too vague.

How do you know which things you aren't doing count against you? <---- IMO, our conscience and our knowledge of what is right and wrong.


"You said knowing to do something but then neglecting it. I agree that's what it is. But to me that says were being held accpuntable for a conscious decision". <---aren't we accountable for every conscience decision? An example of not neglecting would be: Behind someone who is a couple dollars, or change short of their grocery bill. If you are behind them and have the couple dollars for an ice cream cone on the way home...?

"Im not saying you were saying this, but if sins can sneak up on you behind your back, than Id concede that its impossible not to sin." <--- God always gives us an out if we are tempted TO sin. Satan is so crafty he as you know well, can put thoughts in our minds, especially if we are at a weak point and, to me the battle is always in the mind! Yikes, what an intricate part of His creation. There are times my thoughts can take a U-turn and "remind" me of what someone did to me and anger starts to flare up even though I KNOW I had already forgiven them. It is not always easily shaken off.


"I believe were not expected to do everything at once. Jesus prayed, helped others, and was well versed in Scripture. But he spent plenty of moments just eating a piece of fish or camping somewhere with the disciples." <--- Of course we are not expected to do do do everything, couldn't if we tried! Jesus did a whole lot of healing, teaching, preaching and feeding people. We all need to get alone with God at times throughout the day.

"What if the sin isn't neglecting the possible good we know we could have done in theory but consciously ignoring opportunities to follow our convictions as time and situations allow?" <---Agreed!

"Is it a sin to take a nap or gaze at a cloud when you could have been actively ministering? I don't really think it is." <---That would not be something expected of us, we would be so burned out we would have no energy to take care of loved ones, friends and especially other Christians...IMHO :)

"Is it a sin to look your homeless neighbor in the eye and go out of your way to not encounter her when you can easily assist her in some way? I think so." <---Not certain what this means.

"There's only so many choices we can make at one moment. We overcome sin by keeping our minds on the Lord and things above at all times. If we sin is not the same as when we sin. It doesn't have to be inevitable." <---This is not a do do, do thing, it is when opportunity arises that we should follow the leading of the Spirit...?

"Sin is transgressing the law. In our case, its the law of Christ. There's no Christian laws against sleeping, eating, napping, or typing at a computer. Neither against love or service or gentleness. Freedom in Christ is not about never being able to overcome the bondage of sin but the opposite". <--- Agreed, we are "overcoming" this bondage, we have the authority of Christ Himself to ward off the enemy...but we can sometimes have tiny cracks...at least I do.

"I haven't overcome but I know its because of being double minded and feasting my brain on junk rather than setting my mind on things above. When my mind is set on Godly things, I can't operate in both lanes...the sins fall off. Ive gone plenty of days with a clear conscience and so can any other Christian." <---Amen.
xo

 

[Bob]

I've attended many churches where the message from the pulpit is that tithing 10 percent of a members income each week is a spiritual issue.

The pastor or a ministry leader will say that not tithing ten percent to the church is robbing God and that it withholds God's financial blessing on their lives.

However most of the tithes collected will go to the general fund, where the pastor's salary comes out of. So who are they robbing, really?

Let's say a pastor and his staff wanted to imitate Paul and those he mentored by working to support themselves and their families. I think this is how its supposed to be but lets just say for example.

Paying to keep the building functioning would be the only thing for the members to cover, and the rest could go to the urgent needs of the poorest members of the congregants first, then the needs of those in the area.

I know several church attending Christians who say they can't get financial help from their church or refuse because the stigma against them would be so strong.

Interestingly, I think Catholics are the closest Ive seen to imitating the importance of meeting needs I see Jesus talking about. They will help you with your light bill, give you clothes, etc etc. The last church we were members of were headed by a couple that said no to everyone who asked for money or resources , but spent weeks charging us to give to a bookbag school supplies drive to make a public show of "caring for the community" with plenty of pictures.

In America, I hardly ever hear of churches being the go to spot for resources. Better go to the government for that.

I have no problem with ministers having a lot of money, so long as they earn it themselves and don't use false teaching to pressure members into feeling guilty if they don't tithe. Which is what happens when salaries are tied to members tithing.

Thank you for your detailed response. I generally concur, with one little point, which is important to me. Charity for those who need help with food, drink, shelter, clothing, health care . . . should be a personal responsibility, and not a government responsibility. In our area, for example, there are a number of well-run charities that provide all those service: that is where I “tithe“ (and then some). (My former church did not do nearly as well.)

Thanks again for engaging. Peace and blessings.

 

[Dan Clarkston]

Many Christians around me locally and online have claimed that Christians who don't attend church are lazy or don't truly love Jesus.

That's what the fake "christians" say to try and guilt others to come attend their church.

And of course they'll tell you that their church is the only place one can find truth.

Not sure I agree with the lazy card as such, although sometimes being part of a church can be too demanding at times

Calling people "lazy" is part of their guilt trip. It's OK to ignore them.

 

[Dan Clarkston]

How do you know which things you aren't doing count against you?

James 4:17
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

 

[Wynona]

Thank you for your detailed response. I generally concur, with one little point, which is important to me. Charity for those who need help with food, drink, shelter, clothing, health care . . . should be a personal responsibility, and not a government responsibility. In our area, for example, there are a number of well-run charities that provide all those service: that is where I “tithe“ (and then some). (My former church did not do nearly as well.)

Thanks again for engaging. Peace and blessings.

Thank you, also. I actually strongly agree that charity is not the government's responsibility. I was more being facetious. I think its shameful that people perceive government programs as more helpful than churches.

 

[Wynona]

<---This is not a do do, do thing, it is when opportunity arises that we should follow the leading of the Spirit...?

I'd say so.

 

[Stumpmaster]

Many Christians around me locally and online have claimed that Christians who don't attend church are lazy or don't truly love Jesus.

Forgive them, they know not what they do.