Come as you are Church?

[Jenlyn]

Just saw a little story on the CBS Early Show about American’s need more out of their church. It needs to speak to them more so they can get more out of it.

One of them is Cowboy Church. The reporter asked the little girl riding the horse, “Why do you come here.” She responded, “because I get to ride a horse and wear what I want.”

Another one they showed was a Punk Rock Church. They talked about Christian tattoos and screamed the Lord’s praises.

The last one the showed, briefly, was the Biker Church. The guy being interviewed said, “You get to come as you are.”

Just thought I’d share just in case you missed it.

My :twocents:
I think people have lost their focus on the why we go to church. It’s not about “What’s in it for me.” :crying: It’s about praising and worship God!

 

[catsrus]

I think people have lost their focus on the why we go to church. It’s not about “What’s in it for me.” :crying: It’s about praising and worship God!

Amen!
Many treat their “churching experience” in the same way they look at their lives.
It’s about ME, what** I** want, what** I** think, what** I** want to wear.

 

[Celia]

I agree. I have friends that don’t go to mass because it’s “boring”…um it’s not supposed to be a rock concert, guys…

 

[Tibbar]

Celia:

I agree. I have friends that don’t go to mass because it’s “boring”…um it’s not supposed to be a rock concert, guys…

What is your Church doing to effectively reach out to your friends? Is it meeting them where they are at, or does it expect them to conform to a certain standard first?

 

[Celia]

Tibbar:

What is your Church doing to effectively reach out to your friends? Is it meeting them where they are at, or does it expect them to conform to a certain standard first?

I think it at least expects them to show up once a week. These are friends I have had all the way through years of Catholic school…they know what they’re doing and choose not to participate. The church I attend is very welcoming - they have special times after mass where visitors are invited to come downstairs and meet people and have coffee and talk with the priests. There is an opportunity there, in my eyes, but they think mass is boring because they don’t understand the importance of it, I believe. Then they wouldn’t be looking for entertainment, they would be there for the worship and for the Eucharist. I would think maybe it’s shyness, as I’ve had a problem with that and it took me awhile to get to know people at my parish, but they just have no interest in going at all.

I don’t think my friends are bad people, I love them, but in this issue they just don’t care. If the mass was ‘exciting’ I guess maybe they would show up but they would be there for the entertainment and not for it’s true purpose anyway so what’s the point in that?

Sorry for the long winded answer. I get that way sometimes.

 

[Jenlyn]

We are to meet people where they are and bring them up to where they should be. Very true. I think there are many people like Celia’s friends out there. Yet again there are those people that come to church for the music only. You can say that through the music they will learn and have a change of heart (it gets them in the door). Then again how long have you listened to country music or rap or rock? Have you done any of those things in those songs. Just because they are coming for the music, they may never have a real change of heart.

When their faith is challenged either by boredom or not knowing the faith people just give up and do what’s easiest. They don’t ask a priest questions, read the Catechism, or ask an apologetic, they just give up and take the “New” truth to heart.

This happens to so many. Then they need a “new” church for their “new” ideas. It’s the “what about me” attitude.

The Catholic church does need to offer opportunities for increasing understanding amoung the faithful. Bible study groups, coffee and doughnuts, youth ministry, woman’s club, men’s club, choirs, gardening clubs etc. are all ways that can increase understanding why we go to church.

 

[Eileen_T]

I think this breaks the First Commandment though. Thank God it is not a Catholic Church.

“Church Trades Religion For Rugby” (our Football)
Instead of its normal Sunday morning church services, a Bible Church is going to screen the All Blacks rugby test matches throughout November. It has long been a joke that Rugby is our national religion, I guess they decided to make it official.

"This “Big Screen Grand Slam Tour” series on Sunday mornings will also feature well-known rugby identities as guest speakers to provide an expert analysis of the game.

"As well as the game and guest speaker, each Sunday morning will also include a superb breakfast, children’s entertainment, a face painting competition for the kids, and prizes. “Philips and Simister Retravision are sponsoring the ‘Big Screen Grand Slam Tour’, and have provided us with some fantastic giveaways for each of the mornings,” says Russell, “There’ll be half-time entertainment, as well as a ‘guess the score’ game each week.” "

They are not totally sidelining God though, oh no, they are having their ‘usual’ Sunday services on Friday evenings until the Test Series is over. :banghead: :banghead:

 

[Wondering_Waif]

catsrus:

Amen!
Many treat their “churching experience” in the same way they look at their lives.
It’s about ME, what** I** want, what** I** think, what** I** want to wear.

All people are going to church to get something out of it. I can’t understand why anyone would object to someone getting something out of their church experience. As far as the clothes go, some folks get new clothes at Easter to wear to Mass, in my mind they’re no different from the person mentioned by the first poster.
If you don’t get something out of it, why bother to go to Church? And my question isn’t rhetorical, btw. And if you say you’re going to praise God, doesn’t praising God do something for you?
My problem with the Mass is that it’s too fast, in the part where we’re to pray for our Dead I don’t even have time to bring their names to God before we’re onto the next part about the living,
I KNOW that God knows their names already but for MY personal relationship with God it would be nice to have a little more time.
The Mass can be totally interesting and relevant but it’s all RUSH RUSH RUSH and I wish that we could slow down a bit.

 

[Jenlyn]

Wondering Waif:

And if you say you’re going to praise God, doesn’t praising God do something for you?

We go to church to praise God period. Any grace we receive is from God and He should get the praise from that as well.

 

[fellicia]

I think alot of these things to me are more like a praise group, praising god in theway they wish… I think its a good thing at the start because it gets people to at first recognise God and then secondly to actually go and praise God in a way in which they wish. The problem in my veiw comes when people see this as the ultimate thing (oh i have done my bit for god now coz i did praise) I think that these ideas of come as you are church should be done to bring people to learn and then from then on they should be told to also go to mass aswell.

This is one problem I have with alot of churches they are more like a praise group, not a church group. I went to an elim pentacostal church and i could’nt even understand how they could call it church… yes they had referenced to God but it was all 'God I love you ’ that was it … strange…

 

[Jenlyn]

Wondering Waif:

If you don’t get something out of it, why bother to go to Church? And my question isn’t rhetorical, btw. And if you say you’re going to praise God, doesn’t praising God do something for you?

Well first of all if you don’t go to Church it is a mortal sin.

We go to thank God, to praise Him, to pray for the community, to receive Him. We do get something out it. Obviously, but we go as sinners who need His graces.

The point of going to mass is for those things. Not because I like the music more, I dress the way I want, etc.

The focus is all wrong.

Our focus is on Jesus in the Eucharist. Are we truely worthy to receive Him. We pray that we are.

More of the focus needs to be on preparing our souls for HIm rather than, cool, I get to wear blue jeans or, cool, I really like the drum set in the music it really makes me feel good.

 

[Wondering_Waif]

Jenlyn:

Well first of all if you don’t go to Church it is a mortal sin.

===
Okay, I get it, you don’t go to Church primarily to praise God, you go because you’re afraid not to go.
Not a good reason.

 

[Jenlyn]

Wondering Waif:

Jenlyn:

Well first of all if you don’t go to Church it is a mortal sin.

===
Okay, I get it, you don’t go to Church primarily to praise God, you go because you’re afraid not to go.
Not a good reason.

Excuse me?

It is a sin not to go to church. Does that mean that I go in fear? No. I go because I want to praise Him and not offend Him. Why would I want a sin on my soul? why would I want to offend the God I love? I wouldn’t, plain and simple.

 

[Jenlyn]

Here is a CA apologist on the matter of missing church and that it is a mortal sin.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=62789&highlight=mass

 

[Wondering_Waif]

Jenlyn:

Wondering Waif:

Excuse me?

It is a sin not to go to church. Does that mean that I go in fear? No. I go because I want to praise Him and not offend Him. Why would I want a sin on my soul? why would I want to offend the God I love? I wouldn’t, plain and simple.

Okay, I’m glad that you’ve changed your primary reason for attending church, it’s not a punishment, it’s a requirement because it’s something wonderful.

 

[JessHav]

Waif,

would you please stop going to different forums and twisting people’s words around? goodness! if you can’t make your point without attacking others, then please remain silent!

Jess

 

[kaymart]

I learned this in First Grade, “To Know Him, To Love Him, To Serve Him” This is why I go to Church, this is why I live by the Church’s teachings. This is very simple, yet powerful. And this is how I live each day. I am not here solely for my enjoyment. I do not expect to go to Mass to for what I can get out of it, but what I can give.

 

[Wondering_Waif]

JessHav:

Waif,

would you please stop going to different forums and twisting people’s words around? goodness! if you can’t make your point without attacking others, then please remain silent!

Jess

Jess, would you please stop stalking me, I know that you’re intrigued by me, but it’s getting creepy.

 

[Jenlyn]

Wondering Waif:

Jenlyn:

Okay, I’m glad that you’ve changed your primary reason for attending church, it’s not a punishment, it’s a requirement because it’s something wonderful.

Wondering,
I’m wondering where you found found me contradicting myself. Please provide both quotes.

 

[Wondering_Waif]

Jenlyn:

Wondering Waif:

Wondering,
I’m wondering where you found found me contradicting myself. Please provide both quotes.

You said that your first reason for going to Church was that not to go was a mortal sin. I just thought that was fear rather than love.