(Tom Sehmel)
Christian Underground
Church: Is It For Me?
There are all sorts of churches. Probably everyone could tell a different story about how church met their needs, or turned them off. The same church might be positive for one person, and negative for another. 
Make a short list for these two questions
- What is it you find are the biggest turn-offs of church? Is it the people,
the buildings, the music, the doctrine?
- What would you say it is about you that the church doesn't accept?
Now look over these two lists. Are the lists opposites of each other? Are there similarities? Which things are really important to you? Which things is Jesus turned off by? What does the Bible say about each thing on the lists?
What others think of us isn't really too important. What we think of others probably won't change anything either. Spending time getting to know Jesus could have a profound impact on our life. When we get bogged down on some silly thing the church is doing, or put off because we aren't accepted, try spending that time instead getting to know what God thinks.
Check these out
| "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." -- Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) |
| "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." -- Colossians 3:16 (NIV) |
| "All Scripture is Godbreathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." -- 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) |