Comments for Backstage with Pastor Moffett http://sjpcpastor.wordpress.com What happens behind the Pulpit Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:32:25 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Why Go to Church? by sjpcpastor http://sjpcpastor.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/why-go-to-church/#comment-24 sjpcpastor Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:32:25 +0000 http://sjpcpastor.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/why-go-to-church/#comment-24 Thanks for your response Sharon. I co-sign wholeheartedly. The question for me remains however, how does the church invite/persuade/influence persons who are not familiar with the church, that going to church is the right thing to do? Thanks for your response Sharon. I co-sign wholeheartedly. The question for me remains however, how does the church invite/persuade/influence persons who are not familiar with the church, that going to church is the right thing to do?

]]> Comment on Why Go to Church? by Sharon Smiley http://sjpcpastor.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/why-go-to-church/#comment-22 Sharon Smiley Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:49:25 +0000 http://sjpcpastor.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/why-go-to-church/#comment-22 Thanks for the opportunity to reflect on this question. I hope it will allow others to do the same. Thanks for the opportunity to reflect on this question. I hope it will allow others to do the same.

]]> Comment on Why Go to Church? by sjpcpastor http://sjpcpastor.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/why-go-to-church/#comment-20 sjpcpastor Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:49:51 +0000 http://sjpcpastor.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/why-go-to-church/#comment-20 Thanks for your response Shak. I agree that fellowship plays a significant role in why people come to church and also why they don't. If one does not feel a part of the fellowship, church attendance may slack. If you see this as a major reason for persons attending church, how would you meet the challenge of seeking to grow a congregation? Thanks for your response Shak.

I agree that fellowship plays a significant role in why people come to church and also why they don’t. If one does not feel a part of the fellowship, church attendance may slack.

If you see this as a major reason for persons attending church, how would you meet the challenge of seeking to grow a congregation?

]]> Comment on Why Go to Church? by Ludy van Broekhuizen http://sjpcpastor.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/why-go-to-church/#comment-18 Ludy van Broekhuizen Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:31:56 +0000 http://sjpcpastor.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/why-go-to-church/#comment-18 First and foremost, I attend church to have my eyes, ears, and mind opened up to new ways of worshiping and serving our God (and the opportunity to serve Him). Secondly, there is a sense of belonging even within this very motley crew of believers who manifest their faith in different ways. Some serve, some observe, some give, some take, some are vocal, others are silent. The bottom line is we all have a belief in Jesus Christ as our savior. So it is the target of our faith (Jesus) that draws us together. Somewhere in there is the desire to do better (i.e., improve ourselves) -- to become more like Jesus. First and foremost, I attend church to have my eyes, ears, and mind opened up to new ways of worshiping and serving our God (and the opportunity to serve Him). Secondly, there is a sense of belonging even within this very motley crew of believers who manifest their faith in different ways. Some serve, some observe, some give, some take, some are vocal, others are silent. The bottom line is we all have a belief in Jesus Christ as our savior. So it is the target of our faith (Jesus) that draws us together. Somewhere in there is the desire to do better (i.e., improve ourselves) — to become more like Jesus.

]]> Comment on Why Go to Church? by sjpcpastor http://sjpcpastor.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/why-go-to-church/#comment-17 sjpcpastor Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:43:32 +0000 http://sjpcpastor.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/why-go-to-church/#comment-17 Again, thanks for your response. I would ask another question–what happens at church that renews/inspires you to want to come. Again, thanks for your response. I would ask another question–what happens at church that renews/inspires you to want to come.

]]> Comment on Why Go to Church? by sjpcpastor http://sjpcpastor.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/why-go-to-church/#comment-16 sjpcpastor Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:43:01 +0000 http://sjpcpastor.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/why-go-to-church/#comment-16 Thanks for your responses, but I must push forward. What are some of the social, cultural and ideological identities that move a person to attend worship? How does one come to identify with the church? What is it about the fellowship of the church, that draws one to it instead of, for example, a sorority club? And what are the reasons people like attending church? Careful consideration of these questions may lead us to understand more fully the work of the church. Thanks for your responses, but I must push forward. What are some of the social, cultural and ideological identities that move a person to attend worship? How does one come to identify with the church? What is it about the fellowship of the church, that draws one to it instead of, for example, a sorority club? And what are the reasons people like attending church? Careful consideration of these questions may lead us to understand more fully the work of the church.

]]> Comment on Why Go to Church? by sjpcpastor http://sjpcpastor.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/why-go-to-church/#comment-15 sjpcpastor Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:45:05 +0000 http://sjpcpastor.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/why-go-to-church/#comment-15 Again, thanks for your response. I would ask another question--what happens at church that renews/inspires you to want to come. Again, thanks for your response. I would ask another question–what happens at church that renews/inspires you to want to come.

]]> Comment on Why Go to Church? by sjpcpastor http://sjpcpastor.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/why-go-to-church/#comment-14 sjpcpastor Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:43:55 +0000 http://sjpcpastor.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/why-go-to-church/#comment-14 Thanks for your responses, but I must push forward. What are some of the social, cultural and ideological identities that move a person to attend worship? How does one come to identify with the church? What is it about the fellowship of the church, that draws one to it instead of, for example, a sorority club? And what are the reasons people like attending church? Careful consideration of these questions may lead us to understand more fully the work of the church. Thanks for your responses, but I must push forward. What are some of the social, cultural and ideological identities that move a person to attend worship? How does one come to identify with the church? What is it about the fellowship of the church, that draws one to it instead of, for example, a sorority club? And what are the reasons people like attending church? Careful consideration of these questions may lead us to understand more fully the work of the church.

]]> Comment on Why Go to Church? by Rev. Keith O. Paige http://sjpcpastor.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/why-go-to-church/#comment-13 Rev. Keith O. Paige Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:55:32 +0000 http://sjpcpastor.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/why-go-to-church/#comment-13 I have wrestled with this question for years and it seems to me that "identity" is the real reason why so many people come to church. The church provides a social, cultural and ideological identity which provides comfort and security in times of change. We worship in church because it is a part of "who we are as individuals", not necessarily to seek a God who is beyond our understanding. There is a yearning for fellowship that dispells loneliness. Church people are "birds of a feather" who enjoy flocking togehter. There is a feeling of satisfaction that comes from being an integral part of a larger cause. The problem comes when we can only experience a boundless God through the narrow window of our identity. When I ask my members why they like our church, their answers are usually social, cultural, or traditional, not spiritual. Many times, these reasons have little to do with God, Jesus, Salvation or redemption. The tension always surfaces when we try to open minds and hearts ("raise the lid" to use your words) to a Divine reality that is outside of our present understanding. Usually the only time the salvific love of God is truly revealed is in times of crisis. Then we are forced out of our comfortable self acceptance and into the "Mysterium Tremendum" (Rudolf Otto) of true Divine relationship. Thanks for the opportunity to reflect on such a central question. I have wrestled with this question for years and it seems to me that “identity” is the real reason why so many people come to church. The church provides a social, cultural and ideological identity which provides comfort and security in times of change. We worship in church because it is a part of “who we are as individuals”, not necessarily to seek a God who is beyond our understanding. There is a yearning for fellowship that dispells loneliness. Church people are “birds of a feather” who enjoy flocking togehter. There is a feeling of satisfaction that comes from being an integral part of a larger cause. The problem comes when we can only experience a boundless God through the narrow window of our identity. When I ask my members why they like our church, their answers are usually social, cultural, or traditional, not spiritual. Many times, these reasons have little to do with God, Jesus, Salvation or redemption. The tension always surfaces when we try to open minds and hearts (“raise the lid” to use your words) to a Divine reality that is outside of our present understanding. Usually the only time the salvific love of God is truly revealed is in times of crisis. Then we are forced out of our comfortable self acceptance and into the “Mysterium Tremendum” (Rudolf Otto) of true Divine relationship. Thanks for the opportunity to reflect on such a central question.

]]> Comment on Why Go to Church? by Donna Spinks http://sjpcpastor.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/why-go-to-church/#comment-12 Donna Spinks Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:26:17 +0000 http://sjpcpastor.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/why-go-to-church/#comment-12 I too grew up in the church and know - no other way of life. I get a feeling of renewed faith when I worship on Sunday morning and now WWW. I pray and read my bible during the week, but it is something about being in the house of the lord that makes me whole. I too grew up in the church and know – no other way of life. I get a feeling of renewed faith when I worship on Sunday morning and now WWW. I pray and read my bible during the week, but it is something about being in the house of the lord that makes me whole.

]]>