Why is it so hard to return to Church?

[Musician]

I've been on hiatus for quite some time, and I find the longer I wait, the harder it gets to actually return. Is it inner guilt that you left in the first place?

 

[Papa Smurf]

I've been on hiatus for quite some time, and I find the longer I wait, the harder it gets to actually return. Is it inner guilt that you left in the first place?

Hello Musician, inner guilt could be behind it, or it could be something else. You know as well as I do that this world's prince would prefer that you'd never return, so if guilt is your problem in this case, you may want to consider who is actually driving some of those feelings.

I think you'll find that you are welcomed back with open arms once you get there, and the only feeling that you'll be left with then is wishing that you'd turned a deaf ear to your inner voice and gone back to church sooner

So, why not go back to church tomorrow and see?

God bless you!!

--Papa Smurf

 

[3 Resurrections]

I've been on hiatus for quite some time,

I know how that is. In my case, there is probably not a church anywhere in my area of SC that would accept me. I left a 16-year SB membership on amicable terms 7 years ago and have not attended anywhere since. I really don't think that there is a church fellowship in my district that exists with women sharing the preaching ministry, that teaches the doctrines of grace, and that has Preterist eschatology. These are all absolutes for me.

 

[Marilyn C]

I've been on hiatus for quite some time, and I find the longer I wait, the harder it gets to actually return. Is it inner guilt that you left in the first place?

Hi Musician,

I understand a little of what you are going through as many of my friends and myself and hubby have been through it also.

Now, we know that the believers are the `church, the Body of Christ,` so as long as you have relationships with other believers you are in good fellowship. The problem has occurred when we called the Sunday organizational meeting the `church.` It is NOT. It is just a meeting put on by an organization. Overtime it has usurped the authority of the Head, Christ and made people feel guilty, if they did not attend their man organzised meetings.

My suggestion is that you call a spade a spade, meaning that you call those public meetings, just that, public meetings. Then seek other believers and have fellowship, over lunch , a cuppa, and share of your lives and anything you have read in God`s word. We are to encourage and build up each other, and that is best done in the 2`s and 3`s where the Lord is in the midst.

My friend says she cuts out the middleman, (organization) and learns to look to the Lord, and learn of Him.