Alienated Church: Father's and Mother's day

[Charnock]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

*sigh*


And substantive discussion ends with the jump to hating the traditional family.

Oh well.

I certainly didn't mean to offend but I simply cannot believe that someone could be so petty and selfish as to stay home because one service didn't "meet his need."

There are lots of services that don't speak specifically to me but I go anyway. That's because all of life isn't about me. I sympathize and empathize with the needs of others.

Those who can't are sociopaths.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Charnock

I certainly didn't mean to offend but I simply cannot believe that someone could be so petty and selfish as to stay home because one service didn't "meet his need."

There are lots of services that don't speak specifically to me but I go anyway. That's because all of life isn't about me. I sympathize and empathize with the needs of others.

Those who can't are sociopaths.

Im not talking about a service. I am talking about a PROGRAM. I don't go to women's conferences either. Does that make me selfish too?

What kind of fool demands I have to celebrate THEIR father's day by sitting through an hour long program and watch their parade? Do I have to celebrate your birthday too?

Are Christians really that arrogant and self centered? I have to celebrate YOUR father's day by driving across down watching your parade then watching you dash out the door to a BBQ or Outback?

Are you guys really that insensitive to the people who are not parents or whose parents are gone, dead or in prison?

Honestly I don't know whether to be surprised or not. You talk as if you left the Pharisee mindset behind but then you sound as mean and judgmental as as the group you often come here and blast away at.

You are proving my point about alienating. Yeah it's SUPPOSED to be a community but it's more of a "I couldn't care less community"

[Charnock]

Im not talking about a service. I am talking about a PROGRAM. I don't go to women's conferences either. Does that make me selfish too?

Do you complain about women's conferences?

What kind of fool demands I have to celebrate THEIR father's day by sitting through an hour long program and watch their parade? Do I have to celebrate your birthday too?

So now your pastor is a fool? Nice.

Are Christians really that arrogant and self centered? I have to celebrate YOUR father's day by driving across down watching your parade then watching you dash out the door to a BBQ or Outback?

This is laced with jealousy.

Are you guys really that insensitive to the people who are not parents or whose parents are gone, dead or in prison?

Most churches honor all parents dead or alive. In fact, I would say that for many people Father's Day is very healing because it gives them a chance to share memories of their dads.

Honestly I don't know whether to be surprised or not. You talk as if you left the Pharisee mindset behind but then you sound as mean and judgmental as as the group you often come here and blast away at.

I didn't start this thread. I'm not the one whining like a pubescent little girl. I'm not the one throwing the tantrum.

You are proving my point about alienating. Yeah it's SUPPOSED to be a community but it's more of a "I couldn't care less community"

Your absence proved your lack of commitment to the community.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Charnock

Wow! I cannot imagine having so much hate in my heart for the traditional family that I despised churches who honor those roles. This seems like an extremely "me first" mindset which views church as a buffet.

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

*sigh*


And substantive discussion ends with the jump to hating the traditional family.

Oh well.

Thank you. And if anyone with half a brain really read what I posted I said

"I personally don't mind a "nod" to Mothers or Fathers but when the entire service is a celebration for Mothers and Fathers it's alienating to the rest of us. I have to also wonder about visitors when there is no gospel message but instead we have to endure an hour or so of pretty speeches, gift givings to only a special few and a 30 min video presentation."

So go ahead and honor them but good grief do we have to push Jesus and the rest of the church aside and turn the entire service into one hour long parade? No of course not! I've been to churches where the honor mothers and fathers but it was discrete and did not take over the entire church service. But instead they had CHURCH, preached a message to the entire church and had an altar call like any other day, giving place not only for fathers and mothers but the rest of us and most importantly VISITORS to do more than watch a parade but be prayed for.

[Whole Hearted]

Originally Posted by Charnock

Wow! I cannot imagine having so much hate in my heart for the traditional family that I despised churches who honor those roles. This seems like an extremely "me first" mindset which views church as a buffet.

[Charnock]

I would also say that this line of thinking makes one wonder about the issues which lead to a lack of any family relationships.

[Digging4Truth]

I thought only Superman could make such leaps. Amazing.

[Charnock]

What if everyone stayed home but children during revivals geared toward children?

What if no one but youth attended youth services?

What if we only attended the funerals of family members?

I thought church was about community.

Silly idea, I guess.

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by Charnock

What if everyone stayed home but children during revivals geared toward children?

What if no one but youth attended youth services?

What if we only attended the funerals of family members?

I thought church was about community.

Silly idea, I guess.

Unfortunately it's not always community that is at the root of some of these services... In our case the mother's day service was about raising money for the ministry and 'honoring' those who gave the most money... how is that about community or about anything wholesome or Christ-like?

Even if my family had all been in church, and even if my pockets were very deep (and actually at this place in my life I could afford to buy the mother of the year if it interested me)... I would still find it lame and disgusting to sell the mother of the year honor while so many others mothers selflessly, faithfully and quietly mother their children through trials that include poverty. It was the first service I started skipping on principle, and I know a lot of other women who did as well.

Absolutely vulgar...

Yes the church is about community... and ministry needs to remember that.

[Renee29]

This doesn't sound right at all! I would be very uncomfortable with this type of service. We have a mother's day service, but have stopped the gift giving. I can't recall what all the mother's received at the end of service. I think it was a cookie. I thought our Mother's Day service was very inspiring. It was about a mother's prayers, but praying applies to everyone.

Originally Posted by Titus2woman

Unfortunately it's not always community that is at the root of some of these services... In our case the mother's day service was about raising money for the ministry and 'honoring' those who gave the most money... how is that about community or about anything wholesome or Christ-like?

Even if my family had all been in church, and even if my pockets were very deep (and actually at this place in my life I could afford to buy the mother of the year if it interested me)... I would still find it lame and disgusting to sell the mother of the year honor while so many others mothers selflessly, faithfully and quietly mother their children through trials that include poverty. It was the first service I started skipping on principle, and I know a lot of other women who did as well.

Absolutely vulgar...

Yes the church is about community... and ministry needs to remember that.