Does anyone else feel like an alien when it comes to other people?

[Christianbookworm]

Understandably so. Tweb is bettet than nothing. One can still converse with believers, though it is not the same as in person.

[Thoughtful Monk]

Understandably so. Tweb is better than nothing. One can still converse with believers, though it is not the same as in person.

Yes. It's good to be able to get the fellowship here. I am finding though I am more and more missing corporate worship. What my wife and I can do at home is just not enough.

[Christianbookworm]

Yeah, I missed being able to go to church physically back when it switched to virtual only.

[Thoughtful Monk]

Yeah, I missed being able to go to church physically back when it switched to virtual only.

So what is it about church? I probably miss the fellowship. Teaching is always good. Yet these are possible without church.

It must be God that makes church different. Yes, He is ommipresent. Yet somehow it's the effort I have to make to go to a place to met with Him that helps my spirit connect to Him. It's being around other people, who at least in theory, are like me - working to connect with God. I think this is the reason God calls us to meet as a group. The group helps each member to make that connection with God.

I think virtual church ultimately only would have an entertainment value. I hope as churches reopen, the leadership put more emphasis on connecting with God and less on entertainment and life counseling.

[Christianbookworm]

So what is it about church? I probably miss the fellowship. Teaching is always good. Yet these are possible without church.

It must be God that makes church different. Yes, He is ommipresent. Yet somehow it's the effort I have to make to go to a place to met with Him that helps my spirit connect to Him. It's being around other people, who at least in theory, are like me - working to connect with God. I think this is the reason God calls us to meet as a group. The group helps each member to make that connection with God.

I think virtual church ultimately only would have an entertainment value. I hope as churches reopen, the leadership put more emphasis on connecting with God and less on entertainment and life counseling.

Corporate worship is what I miss.

[Thoughtful Monk]

Corporate worship is what I miss.

We both do.

[Christianbookworm]

We both do.

Probably should have put that in past tense. Since June, we've been able to meet for worship, but we have to wear masks and no hugging or shaking hands! So, still no fellowship.

[footwasher]

Why do people do unethical things like steal money from their place of work or shoplift? Why do I often feel as though I'm a foreigner in the country I was born in? Is it because I've been a Christian since childhood?

[Christianbookworm]

Uh, Paul is talking to the Greeks in Athens. He is contrasting God versus their gods/idols. It's a gospel presentation, not a lecture against materialism. Comtext is always important.

[footwasher]

Uh, Paul is talking to the Greeks in Athens. He is contrasting God versus their gods/idols. It's a gospel presentation, not a lecture against materialism. Comtext is always important.

Any religion with a pantheon will have a domain for each God. They pray to Ares/Mars for power, Diana/Artemis for fertility/ascendancy for women, etc. etc. for success in love, wealth, health. The unknown God was setup for living a virtuous life, probably by Stoics: what suitable offering can you place on the altar? How can you represent righteousness? Any object would be wrong. Therefore Paul's criticism.

Any prayer that benefits you is idolatry. The opposite of idolatry is unselfishness, serving God and humanity:

Colossians 3:5Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

[Thoughtful Monk]

Probably should have put that in past tense. Since June, we've been able to meet for worship, but we have to wear masks and no hugging or shaking hands! So, still no fellowship.

Well, you're doing better than me. Another Sunday without a worship service. I have some favorite YouTube video which do some ministering to my spirit but it's still not the same. It sure seems that God has placed me in an arid land devoid of churches that proclaim Him. I still remember a survey from a few years ago about how much a city believed the Bible was a good guidebook for life and my city came in near the bottom. I don't need to go to the mission field anymore - the mission field has come to me.

[Christianbookworm]

Well, you're doing better than me. Another Sunday without a worship service. I have some favorite YouTube video which do some ministering to my spirit but it's still not the same. It sure seems that God has placed me in an arid land devoid of churches that proclaim Him. I still remember a survey from a few years ago about how much a city believed the Bible was a good guidebook for life and my city came in near the bottom. I don't need to go to the mission field anymore - the mission field has come to me.

And there aren't enough workers for the harvest. So, pray for more workers?

[Thoughtful Monk]

And there aren't enough workers for the harvest. So, pray for more workers?

I'll admit that I've never been a fan of the saying that goes something like "Be the answer to your own prayer." In this case, it does look like that is the answer. Not that I am happy with how it would change my life but history is full of examples of God taking people where they don't want to go.

I know this would mean I have to deal with some personality traits I have like fear of conflict, how I spend my time, and my concerns about caring for my wife. I know God would be with me and guiding me but it still won't be pleasant. I have been around enough to know serving God doesn't mean you'll be comfortable. It's not excluded either but it does seem the more comfortable you are, the higher the chance you're not really serving God.

The most frustrating to me is I don't even know how to start down this road. But it does seem to be the road God wants me to take.

[Christianbookworm]

I'll admit that I've never been a fan of the saying that goes something like "Be the answer to your own prayer." In this case, it does look like that is the answer. Not that I am happy with how it would change my life but history is full of examples of God taking people where they don't want to go.

I know this would mean I have to deal with some personality traits I have like fear of conflict, how I spend my time, and my concerns about caring for my wife. I know God would be with me and guiding me but it still won't be pleasant. I have been around enough to know serving God doesn't mean you'll be comfortable. It's not excluded either but it does seem the more comfortable you are, the higher the chance you're not really serving God.

The most frustrating to me is I don't even know how to start down this road. But it does seem to be the road God wants me to take.

It may be cliche, but pray about it? And ask any mentors in your life?

[Thoughtful Monk]

It may be cliche, but pray about it? And ask any mentors in your life?

One should always pray about everything. However, I have seen Christians use a need to pray as an excuse not to do anything. I don't want to fall into that trap.

No mentors in my life. I've looked around at Christian spiritual counseling in the area but they definitely not conservative. So once I can go church hunting again, I have to find one that also does this sort of mentoring. Please excuse me while I

I'm definitely in a no fun situation.