Would you go?

[rev-arb]

Originally Posted by Ishpeck

I'm curious to know how any church can hope to increase its attendance and hold true to typical Christian values.

The point is to hold to values.....change in method.

[Majk]

Originally Posted by CountryShooter

I think most of you all need to go to a GOOD, that being the key word, Pentecostal,Holiness,or Church of God type church. I was raised Baptist an can't go back to that type church now. Once you have truley felt the power of God, you will know it. NO DOUBTS. Some of you need to remember that man is not going to get you into Heaven, so the "I'm as good as so and so" does not matter. You and you alone determine your destiny. If you are truly saved(you know that you know, not someone told you that you are) and following God, Heaven awaits. If not then you get the other place, point blank. NO grey line. Read the Bible for yourself. I think you will see what I am saying.

Well good point but I go to a fundamental, bible believing church. Just a regular baptist church. We stick to the fundamentals of the bible and thats it. Your right though, to many people think "good works" or being a "good person" will get you into heaven. To many times I've had that discussion with people and they totally belive as long as they are a good person and do good deads that's all they need to do.

Originally Posted by jednp

t]who is to say what exactly is the christian life though? I know people who go to the typical church every sunday, they sit in the front row. They are "good christians", but they are some of the most bitter, mean and nasty people I know. They only care about themselves.

I'd much rather have someone living in a "gray area" with the messages they learn and doing their best to live a good life, than someone who listens to the "christian" message, and is an ass hat outside of the church.

That has no relevance on christians. Not all christians are that way. Thats wrong to blanket all churches and church goers that way.

Your statement "who is to say what exactly is the christian life?" Read the bible and it will tell you everything you need to know to lead a good christian life and what you need to have a relationship with god. If too many of the people in the church you attended were "cranky" or only cared about themselves then they probably really didn't have a relationship with god. If you truly are saved there is a change in that person. But even the best saved person can drift away from god over long periods of time. God will usually correct that person to bring them back into the fold. But some people say they are saved and are not really saved.

Go to a good bible believing church and see those people, see how they are outside of church, you will see the difference.