Church

As a former preacher's daughter, I had some pretty tough experiences wth "Christians" and churches. I'm still a Christian, but I don't like to be in a church of the denomination that I pretty much grew up in. I still believe those beliefs, for the most part. But I just got burnt out by those churches. What's the worst church/ "Christian" experience you've ever had?

I grew up in the Methodist church. Aboout 6 years ago me and my family decided to leave our church. We we getting nothing. We started attending a Independant Baptist Church. We felt quite at home there. We all got involved . My wife did some teaching, We worked in the bus ministry, food pantry, church news paper, home visitaion, alot of stuff. My wife suffers from seizures some times and with 2 girls at home, jobs, a farm, and just everyting going on in our lives, we needed a break from the bus ministry. We did our visiting on saturdays and then picked up kids and adults on our school bus on sundays, so our weekends were pretty much full just working the bus. Our high attendance on a sunday was 53 on the bus. During VBS we had a high of 67.I informed the pastor we were going to take 8 weeks off this past summer to just relax some , get refreshed and see what we were supposed to be doing. WE missed 2 services because my daughter was graduating from high school and we had things to do. The next service we went back and from the pulpit the pastor stated that there were people here who turned their backs on the bus kids, there were people who were putting THEIR family ahead of serving God, that no one was a busy as he was and there was no reason that, as the pastor, he should have to take a bus route but it was his now and no one had better try to take it from him. This was said from the pulpit and everyone knew who he was referring to. Although, we just needed a small break after working almost 4 years in the bus ministry, every weekend.

I could go on and on but thats the jist of my hurt in the church.

Man, I didn't know that people actually believe lefties are the Devil's children. That's kind of horrible. And I hate it when a pastor or someone with a position within a church calls someone out. Problems should be discussed in private.

My sister was receiving Holy Communion and failed to eat the bread within ten seconds or receiving it...and one of the nuns snatched it out of her hand and ate it for her. We found out later that if you don't eat it immediately, some people feel you're insulting God.

Then again, that was in a different country. I found it quite funny. :) I think my worst was probably almost mucking up my Confirmation. In front of a bishop and everything.

That really is a great answer, moonlitgirl. I may have lost faith in some chuches and even that denomination but I never lost my faith in God.

I was told by a preacher that the reason why I got ran over by a bus was because I'm an agnostic and I "deny God's love".

That's really insane. Sorry about all the bad experiences!

I went with my family to a church until a few years ago and we decided to leave. The services weren't really well-done and none of us were getting anything from the church.
We switched churches and now, as we meet with those from the old church, they look down upon us. We moved to get more from God and they think that we turned our backs on them
They say rude and upsetting things to us....
It's pretty ugly.

I don't think they are as many Christians in churches as there are members.

MY Worst "Christian" experience is where someone was trying to convince my family to be christian and how it is the only way to go. After they gave up they just screamed that we are sinning.....

Other time I just keep on hearing that Gays are going to go to hell and they are sinning but doesn't God Love everybody???? This is wat partly caused me to be non religious.

I find it sad that people have to go through such things. But, in a way we have 'no right' to say they are or aren't christian for their actions. Everyone sins - christian or not.

I haven't had bad church expierence. I no longer attend regularly but when I do attend it's between one or two churches. I get the most from those two, therefore that's where I go. But, I don't hardly believe in bad or good ones as long as they're churches someone is bound to get something out of it.

I don't go to churches and I've not been raised a christian, but I do concider myself Christian.

I don't experience a lot of nice things with other christians as I find most of them hypocrite and nonconfirming. I believe in a lot of things in a different way than other christians and they usually don't except that and they usually frown upon my believes. They don't accept me and that's bad.

I have had a lot of bad experiences with churches. I have come to believe that my own personal relationship with God is what matters and how I treat my fellow man.

I could not agree with you more =D

"I have come to believe that my own personal relationship with God is what matters and how I treat my fellow man."

^ That's what I've always said & believe too. :)

I no longer feel comfortable in traditonal churches. I wish you all the best if you do, but they aren't for me.

I know :). I feel with him at the oddest times and places.

"I was in the first grade, a nun stood me up in front of the class and broke a ruler over my left hand because I wrote left handed, she said it was devilish and I was a child of the devil......"

It's a shame you are left handed, Sluvious.

"I have had a lot of bad experiences with churches. I have come to believe that my own personal relationship with God is what matters and how I treat my fellow man."

^^ That's a good thing. I sometimes feel obligated to go to church, but that's me. The church(es) I attend (and have attended) are decent churches. I've never been through such things, which I find quite refreshing right about now. But, if you have been through this and deal with these problems then this is a good way to feel. I feel that way regardless, but I still feel obligated to go to church. (Even though I don't...)

Well, the way I see it he's not teaching you about God's love ... God is. People hear what they want to hear. They take what is said how they want to take it. If you take the words he preaches the correct way instead of the wrong way, then you're liable to have a good church experience.

I'd have to disagree.But think as you wish. (:

If you have a great church experience, then tell us:). I love having that little bit of extra faith.:) I'll start. After all the other bad experiences, I found a great place where I feel so at peace. The people are amazing. I haven't gone in a while because of some issues with my dad, but I really miss it.

I've found a few places where I felt at peace. I was at a church that consisted of 30 people, on a good day, for quite awhile in my previous town. The people there were so kind and utterly in sync with God. The had a Cookie Ministry which I absolutely adored the idea of and helped out as much as possible. It was for students, on wed. afternoons in junior high school. They would come and eat cookies, some would only come for the cookies then leave, but majority of them stayed for a fun activity involving God.

The church I was attending before my mother was put on third shift (we're sharing a car at the moment, which stinks) was a huge difference from the one I had been attending. There were quite a few more attendants and the preacher preached completely differently. He was loud and exciting, the songs we sung were written by the choir directors themself - not from CD's or Hymnals. But, I felt at peace there and felt a connection with God. The people weren't as inviting but it's not about the people, unless they're doing you harm.

I am also christian but i really have not been to church that much..

I was kicked out of catholic school because i kept asking questions and demanded evidence. I got " the evidence is all around you" and then they proceeded to kick me out.

I had to go to a girlfriend's church and when everyone was dancing and singing I did not, so i was kicked out.

But, the worst "chrsitian" experience i have ever had i guess would be living in Texas. The religious people here are on such a higher plane of ridiculous that it's pretty annoying to deal with them.

ROFL - One time i had a christian gir tell me that the reason i my skin was brown was because i came from a family of sinners and thast only white people were freed from sin becasue of jesus's sacrafice.

Living in the South, the Bible Belt, there are some pretty ridiculous churches and people. I've never been to any other church other than my own, and I'm quite glad. I can honestly say I've never had any bad church experiences, yet. The thing I love about my church is that no matter where you go, whether it's the one I attend now, the one near my dad's house, or the ones we go to when we're out of town, the church is still the same, and I always have the same strong feelings.

Don't let the people in church effect you and your decision of going. My father stopped going to church years ago because he felt that the people there made my mom divorce him, which isn't true. He's now inactive and is the saddest man I know.

I'm a preacher's daughter and I love Jesus.

My worst experience would have to be the most recent one. See, my father doesn't like to stay in one place for so long, that's why we're always traveling. Anywho, when we go to different churches my dad like to help out, give and receive many advise from other preachers/pastors. But at the church we recently left, the services would be wierd and it always felt like something was wrong. He preached on things that were not even church related. Whatever it was that was bothering him, he couldn't take it anymore and just flat out "preached" on if anyone has something against his family, they will have to deal with him. What?! I'm like I don't see that written anywhere.. So yea.. I didn't too much appreciate that (not on a personal level). I don't believe that personal problems should be confronted like that.

"It's a shame you are left handed
Sluvious"

Okay, how is that a shame? No offence, but we don't choose whether we're gonna be right handed or left handed. It's all in the genes of you. It's basically predetermined. It's not like you wake up one morning and say gee, I think I'll be left handed! It's not your choice to be right or left handed. It's no shame to be left handed.

My worst church experience is...
My dad was a preacher from when I was 6 till I was 9. When my parents divorced, my dad lied to his congregation, left them to move with his parents in another state, and had his minister's license taken away. We started going to a new church in the place we had moved to, but it just never felt right. When we visit my dad, the people at his church look at us funny. We don't go to church with my mom, and the people at my dad's church basically say we've sinned.

"It's a shame you are left handed
Sluvious"

Okay, how is that a shame? No offence, but we don't choose whether we're gonna be right handed or left handed. It's all in the genes of you. It's basically predetermined. It's not like you wake up one morning and say gee, I think I'll be left handed! It's not your choice to be right or left handed. It's no shame to be left handed.

^^^ Pretty sure she was joking.

My English teacher, who was a priest, failing me for 3 years because I was female. He didn't think girls needed education, but I got an A in my state exam so showed him. :)

I have often wondered about how much has changed in Ireland since the time that Frank McCourt wrote Angela's ashes it seems he had bad and good memories of priest

Have you heard of him or that book?

Haha I have indeed, I also loved the film.
Its one that was still as good as the book it was based on.

But it depends where in Ireland you go to, really.
Theres a lot of problems atm because we once fought for our religion, and now people have problems accepting new religions in the more rural areas of Ireland.

Have you ever seen the Butcher Boy?
Another touching film.

Haha I have indeed, I also loved the film.
Its one that was still as good as the book it was based on.

But it depends where in Ireland you go to, really.
Theres a lot of problems atm because we once fought for our religion, and now people have problems accepting new religions in the more rural areas of Ireland.

Have you ever seen the Butcher Boy?
Another touching film.

I have not seen Butcher Boy but I seen the film Angela's ashes before a friend lent me the book

Well most priests I know are living in the past and can't accept the change in society, or the fact Ireland has changed a lot.

Most of the priest I know seem to be moving into the future yet reluctant to face the bad mistakes of the past authorities. Many are more like the compassionate priest that heard Frank's confession after he confessed to stealing a chip from a passed out drunk while he was looking for his father who had stole the money meant for his babies milk

I think its a disgrace how everything is being covered up and hidden. A priest from my school years and years ago was found to of molested students only within the last few years, and he hasn't been in the school for 20 odd years. But instead of a sentence, he's put in a home?! If it were any random person on the street they'd be sentenced.

It is a disgrace

I would rather see myself as spiritual than religious

There is much reform needed
I was raised Roman Catholic and feel there is something beautiful about Catholicism at its purest
though it is sad that many authorities do not reflect a lot of Christianity in a pure sense

Its become politics.

I was raised catholic, go to a catholic school run by franciscans but still don't consider myself catholic.
I adore religion, learning about it, about different religions and how they compare etc etc.
But I just don't have the faith, or innocence, of when I was younger.

I believe the innocence of religion may have been lost even before religious authorities crucified Christ

I have added you to my favorites because I believe you are deep and have a love for the truth