Church Attendance

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shittim

Senior Member
Dec 16, 2016
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#41
The whole counsel of God includes taking all things to Him and perceiving Holy Spirit guidance who will guide, speak and show all truth.:)(y):unsure:
 
Jan 23, 2025
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#42
Sounds nice, but niceness never saved anyone. Whatever it was you said.

"But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil." Hebrews 5:14

"Distinguish" is a synonym for "discern". NKJV uses discern, Berean (my preferred version) distinguish. I don't rely on others to teach any more than I expect my words to teach others. The Holy Spirit is the Teacher, using the means of those who teach God's word to lead the hearer into the truth.

Love rejoices in the truth and it is truth that sets us free. We need both. (Ephesians 4:15)

Scripture is "riddled" (not a word I'd use) with reassurance. Yes. It is also for "....teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness....."

It is unacceptable to cherry pick scripture to fit your pet doctrines. We need the whole counsel of God.
If you believe man’s devices/doctrine teach discernment then you’re sadly mistaken.
Humanity’s enslavement to canon can be understood as an attachment to rigid, institutionalized interpretations of divine truth, rooted in religious frameworks that prioritize doctrinal authority over the direct, living experience of the Logos.
Malachi 1:6 (KJV) A son honoureth [his] father, and a servant his master: if then I [be] a father, where [is] mine honour? and if I [be] a master, where [is] my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
Canon, while serving as a guide for understanding spiritual matters, becomes a constraint when it limits the potential for personal spiritual discernment. When individuals are bound by canon, they are subjected to fixed, often literal interpretations that restrict the fluid and transformative nature of the Logos. These religious structures, while initially helpful in guiding the faithful, can overshadow the living word that speaks directly to the heart and soul of the elect.
Matthew 6:19-24 (KJV) 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great [is] that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
In this sense, enslavement to canon means allowing human-made systems, rules, and texts to dictate the boundaries of spiritual understanding, rather than seeking the deeper connection to the Lord through direct, personal communion with the Logos. Acts 17:24-29 (KJV) 24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
Indoctrination leads to a static, narrow view of truth—one that is confined to the interpretations of men rather than the infinite wisdom of God.
 
Jan 23, 2025
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#43
Furthermore…
While distinguish, discern, and Berean all involve examination or understanding, their nuances and usage differ:

1. Distinguish is more about identifying differences between things or making something stand out.

• Synonyms: differentiate, separate, categorize.

2. Discern refers to perceiving or recognizing something, often requiring insight or intuition.

• Synonyms: perceive, detect, recognize.

3. Berean is not commonly used as a synonym for the other two. Instead, it specifically refers to a diligent, truth-seeking approach, particularly in studying or examining something (often biblical or scholarly).

• Related idea: thoughtful, meticulous, truth-seeking.



Conclusion



While there is overlap in their focus on careful observation or understanding, they are not interchangeable in all contexts. For instance, you would not use Berean in place of distinguish or discern in most modern settings.
 
Jan 23, 2025
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#44
Proverbs 2:2 (KJV)
So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply thine heart to understanding;Proverbs 3:3-6 (KJV) 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths
 
Jun 13, 2014
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#45
I have noticed that our attendance has developed an unusual pattern. It seems to developed an every other Sunday cycle. This Sunday we had about half the attendance that we had week before. If things follow the pattern of the last few months, we'll have a full house next Sunday.

Has anyone else had this problem, and what are you doing to deal with it?
I look at everything with spiritual significance. The bible gives examples on what is important to us vs the priorities of God. People have more memorabilia and sentimental values packed in their garage to the point where the car is unimportant. There is absolutely no room in the garage. My point? Church is an option to always replace it with something albeit weather, gender revealing party, work, an argument the night before with a spouse, the list goes on needless to say health concerns and disabilities might be exempt! People will sync up hyper mentally and agree that it is raining so let's all stay home. Thank God that God understands! But lets see what Jesus take on this....[Luk 14:18-20 NKJV] 18 "But they all with one [accord] began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.' 19 "And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.' 20 "Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'

However missing church doesn't make you the bad guy if you have something to do let me clear that up. But I bet it drives the pastors crazy.
 
Dec 16, 2016
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#46
Sounds like you are where He wants you to be in your relationship with Him., He too looks at everything with spiritual significance!(y):unsure::coffee::)

We are to give Him first place,if we are called and guided by Him to do something else during church time, we can see where that would be His priority for us.
Corporate worship often takes the place of vital, one on one relationship with our Creator.
blessings
 
Aug 22, 2014
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#47
I have noticed that our attendance has developed an unusual pattern. It seems to developed an every other Sunday cycle. This Sunday we had about half the attendance that we had week before. If things follow the pattern of the last few months, we'll have a full house next Sunday.

Has anyone else had this problem, and what are you doing to deal with it?
Bring a feather, I heard tickling ears works.