personal definition of a church, in an author's point of view?
489956
Church is the place where people in formal cloth do a brainwash to a foolish people\nhttp://wade3.jeeran.com/How.htm
638372
Does that mean you are looking for a sound church?
1177923
Okay, I'll try to answer but the fact that you're jim_darwin2 is really blowing my mind, haha\n\nReligion:\n1 a : the state of a religious <a nun in her 20th year of religion> b (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance\n2 : a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices\n3 archaic : scrupulous conformity : CONSCIENTIOUSNESS\n4 : a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith\n\nSpirituality:\n1 : something that in ecclesiastical law belongs to the church or to a cleric as such\n2 : CLERGY\n3 : sensitivity or attachment to religious values\n4 : the quality or state of being spiritual
990313
I think the term is indeed applied to liberally. It seems that everyone is a "good Christian" if they attend church. I find this extremely funny, as most of those "good Christians" in church, live anything but a Christian life the other 6 days of the week.
1030990
well, I was a bible thumping christian for 23 years-old. Then one day I woke up and realized that all Christian's do is judge and say how everyone is going to hell if they don't believe in GOD.  Who gives them the right to say that.  I also realized that you can't force others to believe in what you  believe in.  I was always being asked by fellow church members on why I didn't have a visitor at church or why I wasn't persistent on sharing my faith with others.  I just got tired of it and left.  No one should tell you how your relationship  with god should be like, even if it's not to their standards.   I also realized that the money I thought I was giving to god wasn't going towards his work it was going into the pastors pocket, There were single mothers in our church who could barely feed there families and the pastor has five kids and a two story house and he is able to write off food and bills when it comes to taxes, cause the Church pays for it.  Yeah the CHURCH me and my money pay him so he can live like a king.  so F***religion.  I couldn't be happier with out it.
684089
I do not attend church because of all the false teaching that spews forth from most pulpits.\n\nThe doctrines of men have replaced the pure and simple doctrines taught by Jesus Christ and the Apostles in most churches.  People in the pew believe and trust whatever comes from the pulpit, without studying scripture for themselves.\n\nWe are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, scripture says.  Therefore, I meet with a small group in my home.\n\nI would not recommend most churches to anyone.  It is sad that mainstream Christianity has become so paganized and steeped in the world's system.\n\n"Church" is not the answer anyway.  Jesus Christ is.
273536
You don't need a church to be a Christian. You can stay at home an read the bible an pray to the Lord be a good Christian. All a church is so that people can congregate an worship the lord together in one spot.
1063743
Christ speaks about being the Head of the Church. Notice that He says in Matthew 16:18 ...I will build "MY" church. In several other verses (to find them just look in the concordance of your Bible), He refers to "a" church or "the" church. These words are singular. He never says anywhere "all the churches" or "all the different congregations". I think God only intended for there to be one church. Man has created his own church to suit his own needs. I think it is important to find a church that preaches what the Bible says. ONLY what the Bible says. So many today add to the words of God and take from them as well.
709495
Dear Mitchell:  Actually, the dictionary states that cults have the stigma attached to them of being "misguided and unorthodox."\n\nI think we need to consider main stream religions and doctrines as not falling into that category.  Perhaps, spirituality or non-denominational traditions could be called that by some people, but as long as it is not Occult, the above should not be a stigma attached to these traditions, either.  The great prophets of the ages have been mystics meaning they delve into the Truths of soul or spirit-mind (which is what God Created).  Spiritual experiences come from strengthening the position of our souls within us, and bringing the soul to the Center of Mind.  These spiritual experiences bring God to us more potently, as in the Prophets, and are thought of as Mystical experience.  Perhaps not main-stream, but not Occult.  Certainly not misguided, either.  \n\nThis is why I find it difficult to think of most all religions as cults.  \nI think Interpretations have fragmented the original Church Jesus had in His Mind; and,  that would take the word of a singular God out into a Pagan world.  He aimed to teach the Nature of that God and to demonstrate that the physical world of matter and brain is a type of reality that can be overcome by the Ultimate Reality.  The fragmentations of His Church are so numerous as to divide mankind more greatly than the babbling of different languages confused mankind's ability to communicate - at the Tower of Babel.  Interpretations led to the adding and subtracting from what Jesus had taught.  So religion contains impurities ; for mankind's Intellect has turned His beloved singular Church into a literal Tower of Babel, itself.\n\nIn all religions there are certain unalterable truths.  Perhaps, the wording sounds a bit different; but, when examined more closely, at least some of the basics that Jesus taught are present.  The soul recognizes those Truths and witnesses to them despite the human Intellect's logic and deductions.  \n\nBest regards, Lana
650613
It's not a religion.  It refers to the type of governance the church uses.  Congregational means the the local church chooses its leadership.  Ecclesiastical is like the Catholics who have a central leadership.
281186
You're writing about two things (neither a book):  one a sermon and the other a short story.  You want to start by laying out the terms of comparison.  This is especially important since the things you are comparing are different in a number of fundamental ways.  They're different genres, their authors were born a century apart, they were written a century apart.  So, readers definitely need to find out why you think they are comparable, what categories you intend to compare them in, and what standard(s) you will apply in that comparison.
1177697
Church, and church related functions.
585822
The Church is the Body of Christ.\nIt's not a building made of stone & glass.\nYou are BORN into it.\nYou cannot join it by siging a membership book.\nBut the Word of God tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together.\nIt also says we must be in subjection one to another.\nYou cannot make it on your own.\n\nEPHESIANS 4:11-16\n   11    And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; \n   12    For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: \n   13    Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: \n   14    That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; \n   15    But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: \n   16    From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
970621
Follower of God\nLeader of everything else
1077327
I've never thought of it that way. I'm in between religious beliefs at the moment, but yours has given me an entirely new perspective on Christianity. Thanks for putting it out there!
60063
Take your church with you, in your deepest heart...it is but the manifestation of your seeking and finding the truth of you.  You are loved unconditionally whether you enter a church, or not.
607005
Just don't follow what others tell you is right.  Find what is right for you.  If Christianity is what you find to be true, follow it the way you think you should. The church is just a building after all.  I relate to what you are saying..I've seen it myself and yes, it was part of why I started searching for my own meaning.  Set yourself as an  example of your faith but remember, others have the right to believe or not believe.