Church

[crystaltips]

How many of you are avid church-goers?
How many of you want to go to church but never seem to have enough hours in the day?
I feel a great draw to our church - but with a young family it's a toss-up between making an appearance and a couple of extra hours in bed

Whenever I DO go I always get a kind welcome - and a few "welcome back" comments.

Is it enough to think kind, spiritual and "christian" thoughts ?

Robinw, I never said it was any human who decides what happens to a person after death, I was just stating what I happen to believe. It is absolutely down to God at the end of the day, he knows each of our hearts, but it still comes down to trusting Jesus as your personal Saviour - that's not me making a judgment over your SIL, it's how I read it in the Bible. Yes, I agree that God is a compassionate God, that is why he sent his son to die in our place for our sins - I don't see how He can work any harder than that!, we just have to accept Him into our lives, we don't have to work hard to earn our salvation, it's a gift for the taking.
But this and other similar topics were covered at length in the thread called Bibles, Religion and other Uncomfortable subjects (I think that was the title), it might we worth taking a look at that, too.

RobinW, if you look for a heartening and joyful quote from the Bible for every bad quote you either read or hear (and I get the feeling you hear these quotes rather than read them in context) you would find a great deal more joyful quotes in there. Remember please that God did not write the Bible, he inspired it, but man pencilled in the words and so a proportion of the Bible is subject to man's failings too. There are always going to be bigots and power-hungry people around who use the Bible as their 'tool', but they are subject to God's judgement as much as we are, and God DOES see what is in man's heart. God taught us never to judge, so next time a so-called Christian does judge you, remind them of this. It's mentioned loads of times in both Testaments.

Thanks for the congrats everyone!

I believe that it's possible to accept Christ in the next life as well as this. As for the point of the death of Christ and his Resurrection, well, none of us would be saved without it!

Robin, I am really concerned to hear of your sil's distress, it seems to me that she is being guided by her vicar and his views. I think that it might help her to speak to a vicar with a different take on Salvation, or perhaps find a book on the subject. Whilst faith isn't meant to be comfortable, it isn't meant to make someone feel like your sil does.

Robin, if your sil can't accept deathbed conversions then you should remind her of the parable where the employer gives the workers who start in the morning the same reward as those who start at the end of the day. Sorry, I'm hopeless at remembering where things are in the Bible, I'll try and get ch and verse when I have a minute.

Rhubarb, I do like the things you say.

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Fair dos RobinW Thanks Ionesmum - I'm glad someone does!

Robinw, I see more of the picture now; I sadly remember that your mil passed away earlier this year. Yes, your sil couldn't have known what her parents may have said in their hearts to God on their deathbeds - I believe it's never too late (none of dh's family are Christians) and I always draw comfort from the thief who was crucified next to Christ when he asked Christ to remember him, and his reassurance that he would be with him in paradise.

Robin, it must be very hard for you & your family. I can't imagine feeling as your sil does, it's so sad. Sorry about your mil, too.

Help! I've just been to Amazon to try and find a book about Christianity and family life. A bewildering number of books came up and I gave up when one of them appeared to be about spanking your children the Christian way Can anyone recommend a book on this subject?

Crystaltips, the site that you recommended is good, I might try her book too.

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We Got there! I am soooo pleased, I miss it so much, and dd was a total star - she might as well have been wearing a t-shirt saying 'I am cute!'

lets not forget that if it wasn't for the deathbed conversion of a roman emperor (was it constantine?), christianity wouldn't have been adopted as the official religion of the roman empire etc. etc. So they can't be all bad, can they?

Hi, manna. I hope that you don't think I'm being pushy but did you see my earlier post on this thread asking you about how you make your home more Christ-centred? I'd love to know more about this, I would like to make our home more Christ-centred but am not sure how. My faith really came to fruition through Celtic Christianity so would be interested to hear about that too. I know that you must be v. busy so don't worry if you don't have the time (or if I'm being nosy!)

I was so pleased that we went to church today but it put dd's naps out totally and I've only just got her down after 2 hrs crying. I don't think we can make this a regular thing atm.

Just wanted to get this off my chest. I belong to a small village church with a regular committed congregation. I put round a letter a couple of weeks ago telling everyone about an evangelism campaign I will be involved in during the winter. As my husband often works nights and we have no family around here, as well as giving details of prayer requests I asked if anyone would be available to babysit dd on one evening when dh wasn't available. This was 2 weeks ago and NO-ONE has offered to help with babysitting request. Feel so let down.

Wherabouts are you, Mog? What a sad response.

How sad, Mog, I'm surprised too. Especially as you are giving up your free time for outreach, I would have thought they would be more supportive. OTOH, maybe they didn't get around to reading the letter (I'm guilty of stuffing bits of paper I get given at church into my bag, which is like the black hole)- is it something that could be read out in the notices during next Sunday's service, you might get more of a response that way?

Thanks for replies Jodee and Ionesmum. I'm not very good at asking for help so would feel a bit funny asking for help again at notices next week. My next door neighbours (who are not christians) would babysit like a shot. I guess I feel more disappointed than anything that I can't rely on the church family.

Mog

As a total atheist I wondered what you think of church services today? Are they designed to encourage people like me to attend? Should they change and if so how?

Why do you ask?

Okay, having checked the other threads I get why.

Sorry to hear about your response Mog, but I think it's a mistake to assume that just because someone is a christian doesn't mean that they will necessarily adhere to christian "acts" and values. Just as one shouldn't assume (as you obviously don't) that just because someone isn't a christian they can't be helpful, kind and generous.

Well, I have been away from Mumsnet for a while and have only just found this thread. What a lovely surprise to find so many other Christians here too. I am actually a clergy wife (yikes, I've admitted it!) - are there any more of those here?

Hi, Hilary. I'm not a clergy wife but had just decided to put my name forward for the ministry selection process when I fell pregnant! So I've put that on the back burner for now! I love the fact that there are so many Christians here too, I've got so much from sharing here esp. as I can't make study groups any more.

Madonna - would you come to church for ice-cream sodas? '

I am - a clergy wife that is. What's an ice-cream soda?