"Left behind" - Churches Rapture!

[horseshoe]

Just wondered what peoples take on this was. Im reading a book called Left Behind and it's prompted me to assess my faith!!! I'm intrigued at how specific the bible seems to be about this and although I have never taken much interest in religion I have always believed in a God. I'm thinking maybe I should take steps to begin learning and then I can make a decision on whether to accept christianity as my religion but i'm worried about how I can accept it fully without question!!!! I want to believe but I dont know how!!!!

Yes he is indeed a Baptist . He didn't seem at all radical by my personal standards but a little (at least) by what I assumed were the standards of the churches in my town.. although perhaps I was wrong. He had the whole congregation roaring with laughter with his tale of how he became involved with the church in the first place (because of a girl he was after, at age 14 (I think), when he was too "thick" to get go to the same school as her so her joined her church so he could get to see her! ).. and the fact that he was invited to attend must mean that there various clergy involved much have been in agreement.. so maybe I was doing them a injustice re their possible 'conservatism'.

SJ x

Sleepyjess, I had gathered that you wouldn't have found SC radical yourself! I may be doing them an injustice but I think if he came to talk here people wouldn't know if he was radical or not, unless he spoke out in favour of gay ordination - I don't think many in the church here really think about what they believe at all, it's all about tradition - can you believe that the church in our village banned a children's craft session from being held in the church on Good Friday as 'the church has to be silent out of respect'! They would think SC daringly trendy though!

Cripes N3.. they would have a field day with ours then!! The first thing I noticed about it is how everything is child friendly.. during services my DS (age 5 and who has cp, can't walk and doesn't 'do' self control of any kind! :)) has been known to almost climb into the pulpit... .. and no-one turns a hair.. they all love him! There are various sleepovers in the church itself (sleeping bags on pews and anywhere they wants to sleep!) for the youth groups of various ages.. and during summer holiday club we have picnics the church yard outside among the graves! My mums thinks its all a bit disrespectful.. I don't!

I agree re tradition. I think there is a great deal of blinding following what has been going on for generations and generations going on.

SJ x

Lucky you, SJ! Actually your ds would be very welcome - to be fair children shouting and climbing is one thing they don't mind - but they will not provide anything specifically for young children to teach them at their level about God or even just create a safe area for them to use - and our old buildings are so dangerous. The final catalyst that made me leave was when I gave a report to the PCC at the request of our priest as to how we could improve our provision for the under-fives and a group of women on the PCC got really personal - in the end they were laughing at me and every suggestion I made (really radical things like buying socket covers or looking out for trip hazards) - and as I'd left dd1 with a temperature of 39 to go to the b**y meeting in the first place, I just thought, wtf am I doing here? and walked out. And adult concerns and tradition always take presedence over anything to do with children. They are so frightened of change but people are leaving and the church will die unless it does.

What's a youth group?

for ds!

Oh crikey that's awful!! Ours has three different youth groups; Scramblers for the under 5s, Explorers for the 5-10s and Pathfinders for the over 11s. They meet during Sunday services and once a week after school.

Last Sunday (Easter Sunday) there was an Easter egg hunt in the church yard after the service and subsequently LOADS of children at church that day. Instead of individual groups there was a mass craft activity going on at the back of the church and they were SOOO noisy.. but the vicar just shouted into the microphone (and the kids were made to be quiet during prayers).

We have several youth ministers who are really great. They is youth Alpha too. Someone from your old church could sure learn a few things from them if they would open their minds a little!!! Makes me realise how lucky we have been to move to a town with a church community like this! And to think I was moaning about their lack of openmindedness (in some respects) earlier in the thread! (although that was re the actual worship)

I don't blame you for walking out of that meeting.. the way you were treated is unbelievable and ridiculously rude and unchristian to boot!! [shout]

I mean not shout ,lol! Crikey my typos have been bad today!

I'm sad to say I agree with you, SJ, there was little love in the room at that meeting. What really hurt me is that one of the women is dd1's godmother - not that she shows the slightest interest - since becoming Cwarden she has changed so much. The two priests we've had since we've been here are great but there are members of the congregation who believe that church is there to serve them and their way of doing things is the only way. There are some things that happen that are silly or narrow-minded, but I'm afraid there are also some things done by 'faithful Christians' here that are pure poison. I'm glad that my children and I are well out of it (although it does raise a dilemma re. our ds' baptism when he is born next month!)