This Saturday, March 7, I have been invited to be a guest on Moody Radio’s “Up for Debate” show. This show, hosted by Julie Roys invites two people with opposing views to have a live call-in discussion about the topic. This week’s topic: “Is Attending Church Manditory.” It will air at 12:00 noon EST or 9:00 am PST. You will be able to stream it live from their website, or listen to the podcast at a later date if you wish. I have been assured that this is not an attack-show with people screaming at each other, but a reasoned discussion of conflicting points of view. I’m looking forward to exposing Finding Church to a wider audience.
It should be an interesting discussion, since my counterpart on the show has written extensively on this topic, including the Twelve Reasons Why Membership Matters. I hope the show can shine a light on the reality that people can still engage Jesus and his church without necessarily being a committed member of a local institution. It should at least be interesting.
Here’s how the producers of Up for Debate are promoting the show:
In conjunction with this appearance we are going to be re-offering our Finding Church get-one-free offer. Any one ordering Finding Church before March 31, 2015 will receive an additional copy free to share with someone they love. All you have to do is order one copy and an extra book will arrive with your shipment. We have been overwhelmed with the response to this new book and enjoy helping others share that message of hope in the new creation with others.
Really enjoyed the debate yesterday on Moody Radio. The moderator seemed pleased at how it all went, and I believe that she really, honestly would like to have had more time for the topic. All attitudes were pleasant and hearable. It helps so much to realize that we ALL are on a journey; even those holding opposed views. Haven’t most people on your own site held variations on all kinds of views in the past. You and I too! Sure makes it far easier and more pleasurable to listen and discuss and converse with others who come from everykind of background.
Some programs like this are blocked overseas due to whatever kinds of codecs are used or in use. However, no problems at all were encountered with getting it going here in Germany; at least for me. I imagine that you had a good audience in Europe.
Thank you for the all the podcasts and everything involved with loving the whole world, just like the Father does.
Robert
Really enjoyed the debate yesterday on Moody Radio. The moderator seemed pleased at how it all went, and I believe that she really, honestly would like to have had more time for the topic. All attitudes were pleasant and hearable. It helps so much to realize that we ALL are on a journey; even those holding opposed views. Haven’t most people on your own site held variations on all kinds of views in the past. You and I too! Sure makes it far easier and more pleasurable to listen and discuss and converse with others who come from everykind of background.
Some programs like this are blocked overseas due to whatever kinds of codecs are used or in use. However, no problems at all were encountered with getting it going here in Germany; at least for me. I imagine that you had a good audience in Europe.
Thank you for the all the podcasts and everything involved with loving the whole world, just like the Father does.
Robert
I really enjoyed the interview. It was very respectful and I came away with a lot. Now… where I am in this journey.. things make sense. Where I was… doesn’t make sense anymore. So when I listened to the interview, I wasn’t angry or sad… Just thinking to myself…. “that doesn’t make sense anymore”. Maybe I am finally getting beyond the defensive attitude. Listening to the interview helped me understand that being different is okay. The whole show is about debating topics that are NOT ” Not up for debate”. So it is nice to hear that even some “church going” people have respect to listen to the option of “not going to church.” … even if they don’t agree with it.
I want to listen to some more of those debates. I looks like more people are out there that are okay being different and it’s not a reflection on our ignorance or our salvation. We are human and most of the times… we will see things differently. I admire people who can meet those differences with respect.
Ruby from Edmonton
I really enjoyed the interview. It was very respectful and I came away with a lot. Now… where I am in this journey.. things make sense. Where I was… doesn’t make sense anymore. So when I listened to the interview, I wasn’t angry or sad… Just thinking to myself…. “that doesn’t make sense anymore”. Maybe I am finally getting beyond the defensive attitude. Listening to the interview helped me understand that being different is okay. The whole show is about debating topics that are NOT ” Not up for debate”. So it is nice to hear that even some “church going” people have respect to listen to the option of “not going to church.” … even if they don’t agree with it.
I want to listen to some more of those debates. I looks like more people are out there that are okay being different and it’s not a reflection on our ignorance or our salvation. We are human and most of the times… we will see things differently. I admire people who can meet those differences with respect.
Ruby from Edmonton
Thank you for your very encouraging comments on Moody Radio. My husband, Mark, and I happened to tune in while you were on.
We have been trying to find a church for many years. We honestly don’t fit in anywhere. Mark attended a non-denominational seminary for a year in 1995 and this changed everything for us. We grew up Lutheran but spent most of our young adult years in the charismatic/pentecostal movement. We embrace aspects of both “movements” (for lack of a better word) but have found that they are at odds with one another when it comes to these aspects.
In addition to sharing many of the sentiments you expressed on Saturday, we have also suffered a great deal of mistreatment in the Church (especially, the charismatic/pentecostal movement). This has not disuaded us from our convictions.
Twenty years ago, our family (including our elementary aged daughters) were shunned by our senior pastor and his family. Our children were classmates and neighbors and one day his six year old son told our six year old daughter that he could no longer play with her. No explanation was ever provided and no effort was ever made by our pastor to approach us with his concerns. He simply told me that he felt it was “better not to relate” .
The overseer of the church refused to lead us in reconciliation or Matthew 18 (a process which we offered to submit to fully in order to reconcile with our pastor) and many church members who were once friendly began to refrain from us and no longer accepted our invitations. The associate pastors seemed to disagree with the senior pastor and overseer (and one later apologized to us) but they were powerless in the system.
So devastating were the effects of this experience that I had night terrors several times a week for the next five years. Since then, we have been shunned from home groups and denied membership, prayer and ministry in several different charismatic/pentecostal churches. On no occasion have we ever been accused of an unrepentant sin. On every occasion, we have either expressed a different opinion than a leader or failed to meet the expectations of a pastor or minister.
At this point, we cannot function in a normal church setting due to fear, distrust and what some couselors consider post traumatic stress. We also have difficulty with the concert level volume of worship, the structure of most services (which feels more like a spectator sport than a relationship), and the expectation oft payment for church events, ministry and counseling.
How can we find a home church or fellowship that will allow us to express our differences and reason with us on the basis of Scripture? How can we find a fellowship of believers who understand their own weakness and do not rely on self-effort, self-righteousness or formulas for healing but on Christ? We don’t want to live in isolation for the rest of our lives.
We’ve spoken to a couple mainstream/traditional pastors but once they hear our story and realize that we still embrace the gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit, they withdraw and stop returning our calls.
Thank you for listening and God bless.
Thank you for your very encouraging comments on Moody Radio. My husband, Mark, and I happened to tune in while you were on.
We have been trying to find a church for many years. We honestly don’t fit in anywhere. Mark attended a non-denominational seminary for a year in 1995 and this changed everything for us. We grew up Lutheran but spent most of our young adult years in the charismatic/pentecostal movement. We embrace aspects of both “movements” (for lack of a better word) but have found that they are at odds with one another when it comes to these aspects.
In addition to sharing many of the sentiments you expressed on Saturday, we have also suffered a great deal of mistreatment in the Church (especially, the charismatic/pentecostal movement). This has not disuaded us from our convictions.
Twenty years ago, our family (including our elementary aged daughters) were shunned by our senior pastor and his family. Our children were classmates and neighbors and one day his six year old son told our six year old daughter that he could no longer play with her. No explanation was ever provided and no effort was ever made by our pastor to approach us with his concerns. He simply told me that he felt it was “better not to relate” .
The overseer of the church refused to lead us in reconciliation or Matthew 18 (a process which we offered to submit to fully in order to reconcile with our pastor) and many church members who were once friendly began to refrain from us and no longer accepted our invitations. The associate pastors seemed to disagree with the senior pastor and overseer (and one later apologized to us) but they were powerless in the system.
So devastating were the effects of this experience that I had night terrors several times a week for the next five years. Since then, we have been shunned from home groups and denied membership, prayer and ministry in several different charismatic/pentecostal churches. On no occasion have we ever been accused of an unrepentant sin. On every occasion, we have either expressed a different opinion than a leader or failed to meet the expectations of a pastor or minister.
At this point, we cannot function in a normal church setting due to fear, distrust and what some couselors consider post traumatic stress. We also have difficulty with the concert level volume of worship, the structure of most services (which feels more like a spectator sport than a relationship), and the expectation oft payment for church events, ministry and counseling.
How can we find a home church or fellowship that will allow us to express our differences and reason with us on the basis of Scripture? How can we find a fellowship of believers who understand their own weakness and do not rely on self-effort, self-righteousness or formulas for healing but on Christ? We don’t want to live in isolation for the rest of our lives.
We’ve spoken to a couple mainstream/traditional pastors but once they hear our story and realize that we still embrace the gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit, they withdraw and stop returning our calls.
Thank you for listening and God bless.
Katie, I’m so sorry for how you’ve been mistreated and the affect it has had on you. You are not alone. It’s amazing the depth of manipulation so-called religious leaders will use against God’s kids. But I’m also blessed that you’ve found your way through it and continue to hold to what you know to be true even if others are not supportive. That takes tremendous courage. How do you find a fellowship that will let you express your differences? It isn’t easy. By nature our religious institutions are conformity-based structures. Agreement or slience is almost the only option at most places. But that doesn’t mean you have to remain isolated. If you can’t find a group like that, just be people like that. Love those God puts before you. Let friendships grow with them and with the joy of sharing the journey. Watch how those friendships will become brothers and sisters with whom you can share your journey and let them share theirs. Living as the church is not so difficult. It grows from loving others God puts before us each day and seeing where those relationships go. It is rarely found by looking for a group. Just remember, it is the Spirit’s responsibility to place you in Jesus’ family just as he desires. (I Cor 12).
Katie, I’m so sorry for how you’ve been mistreated and the affect it has had on you. You are not alone. It’s amazing the depth of manipulation so-called religious leaders will use against God’s kids. But I’m also blessed that you’ve found your way through it and continue to hold to what you know to be true even if others are not supportive. That takes tremendous courage. How do you find a fellowship that will let you express your differences? It isn’t easy. By nature our religious institutions are conformity-based structures. Agreement or slience is almost the only option at most places. But that doesn’t mean you have to remain isolated. If you can’t find a group like that, just be people like that. Love those God puts before you. Let friendships grow with them and with the joy of sharing the journey. Watch how those friendships will become brothers and sisters with whom you can share your journey and let them share theirs. Living as the church is not so difficult. It grows from loving others God puts before us each day and seeing where those relationships go. It is rarely found by looking for a group. Just remember, it is the Spirit’s responsibility to place you in Jesus’ family just as he desires. (I Cor 12).
Katie, Do you not know I’m going to be in Florida for the next eleven days. You can check my travel schedule on the web site for contact information. But that’s a great way to meet people around you on a similar journey if you are nearby and have the time.
Katie, Do you not know I’m going to be in Florida for the next eleven days. You can check my travel schedule on the web site for contact information. But that’s a great way to meet people around you on a similar journey if you are nearby and have the time.
Anonymous, I hope you got the info you needed. If not email me direcdtly.
Anonymous, I hope you got the info you needed. If not email me direcdtly.