Church Attendance Mandatory
If you had a ministry and wanted to hire Christians to work for you, would you make their church attendance a MAJOR prerequisite for the job? If yes,please explain why. If no, please explain that also.
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---Donna on 2/26/08
Helpful Blog Vote (2)
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No. Churching is important, but churching should not be obligatory for hiring a Christian for work. Both Christians and nonChristians attend church, so attendance does not make a person a Christian or a nonChristian. And if the truth be known, many churches today are filled with people whom do not know Christ and many church attendees are nonChristian. |
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---Eloy on 3/5/08 |
No. Churching is important, but churching should not be obligatory for hiring a Christian for work. Both Christians and nonChristians attend church, so attendance does not make a person a Christian or a nonChristian. And if the truth be known, many churches today are filled with people whom do not know Christ and many church attendees are nonChristian. |
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---Eloy on 3/5/08 |
When the bible mentions "the church of..." it does not mean it as a denominational, non-profit organization. It simply means a group of people/Christians in a certain area/city. This is how Christians distinguished one group of Christians with another. When Jesus comes for his bride, He is not coming to marry a building or a denomination or a non-profit organization, He will marry Christians. |
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---Steveng on 3/4/08 |
Amen to that Susie...and the more discernment you have, the more you can tell when the truth is not being taught or is being manipulated to the congregation to benefit the agenda(s) of the church. You see it all the time during the taking up of the tithes/offerings...such manipulation (which is witchcraft). It is getting harder and harder to find a church that teaches truth, lays aside their own agenda and is not afraid to lose a large portion of their congregation because they ARE teaching the truth. |
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---Holly4jc on 3/4/08 |
Donna....Please forgive me for being so blunt on my answers. The Holy Spirit has dealt with this question and reminded me that the time will be coming when we won't want to be in churches as they turn away from the truth. It is getting harder and harder to find churches that are teaching the truth. |
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---Susie on 3/4/08 |
Rhonda>>You made some good points. A lot of good pointers today. |
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---catherine on 3/4/08 |
**several people I have known who say that God took them out of church, everyone of them thought they had a special gift**
every one of them??? many stay within their church because they like the preacher, people, building, & goodies - it's called COMPLACENCY - non-spiritual loyalty to a man
Christ said FOLLOW ME NOT MEN ...many churches spiritually dead ...flock is too busy liking the preacher etc to notice the changes ...they're passive ...letting a man lead them astray |
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---Rhonda on 3/3/08 |
If a person isn't where they need to be for the Lord, he will surely show them. But as to say he would "yank" someone out from something, that just doesn't seem right. It is possible that God opened up a door for you and you walked through that door. But God don't "Yank" someoen out of a church or anywhere. |
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---Rebecca_D on 3/3/08 |
Rebecca: could you please show me in our Bible where it says that there is something wrong with a person if he/she doesn't have a desire to attend a church? I am trying to figure this out. Thanks. |
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---sue on 3/3/08 |
God will "yank" you out of anywhere He does not want you to be...that is if He has been trying to tell you to leave somewhere and you are not listening. I know from experience...the Lord was trying to tell me to leave a certain job many years ago, but I kept making excuses why I should stay there...until one day...I got fired. God had His way when I did not listen and He got me out of there...He "yanked" me out alright! |
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---Holly4jc on 3/3/08 |
God will lead a person to go to the right church. If they listen to him. God won't yank someone out of a church. He will let that person know if they shouldn't be there if they ask. But God is a gentleman and he won't "yank" anyone out of his house. |
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---Rebecca_D on 3/1/08 |
If a person is able to go to church but don't it is for one reason as to why they don't go. They are lazy. If one is unsure where God wants them to go, they need to go to different churches and God will put them where he wants and can use them the most. If your able to go to church, you should go to church. But it boils down to one word, Desire. If a Christian doesn't have a desire to go to church, something is wrong with them somewhere. |
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---Rebecca_D on 3/1/08 |
Where I attend the elders are not paid ,but voulunteer, & yes they work outside of the service , the way a true chrisitan should be.The apostles had jobs outside of preaching Gods word & so should we. We donot have a set pastor because the elders chosen by bible standerds are qualified to teach,they too must attend the majority of the time unless illness takes place. |
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---candice on 2/29/08 |
Donna, it sounds to me that you already have a ministry. If you run a home-church you already attend church and you minister. However, if you decided that you needed someone to help you you would want them to definitely be a Christian and be a church attender but the church they attend could be yours. Regarding the original question, I don't think that the church attended need necessarily be a registered one with a denominational title. |
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---RitaH on 2/29/08 |
Donna...Does this question have anything to do with your other question regarding your current job? Are you contemplating working for a ministry? I would advise that if you have a stable job now, don't leave it to work for a ministry. You might be surprised how unchristian that ministry might really be. I retired from a so-called Christian organization which did not operate at all in a Christian manner. |
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---Susie on 2/28/08 |
If God wants you in church He will put you in church if God does not want you in church then God will YANK you out of church. |
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---catherine on 2/28/08 |
Its not about whether to go or not go its about what is Jesus Christ telling you to do this second!!! Stop thinking and start listening to the Holy Spirit. Mans idea of right and wrong is so backwards so listen to the the only one who is good - Jesus! Stop doing works and start listening!!!! |
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---rosalie on 2/28/08 |
The Scriptures say," seek ye first the kingdom of heaven" not seek ye first a church.-- is there no way to find the kingdom of heaven, except by close abiding, blindly following,and for sure tithing, in the church?
If that is the case how did the young church turned the world upside down? There were no buildings for the first 200 years. |
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---Mima on 2/28/08 |
YES GOD DID. HE MOST CERTAINLY DID. AND I HAVE JOY AND PEACE, jack. |
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---catherine on 2/28/08 |
If the restrictions are too much, don't deal with it.Usually church attendance is a prerequisite for church leadership. I don't like it so I don't deal with it.The leaders are called to be examples to the others in the church. More is required of them,for some reason. I would rather be a plain old christian serving God in some small way rather than serving with a lot of restrictions. |
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---Robyn on 2/28/08 |
Donna, it is my understanding in God's word that charity is the greatest of faith and hope. Therefore, the work of the lord should be done seeking spiritual gifts. The more good these individuals are doing for the kingdom, the more they will want to serve him rightfully. We all have a choice and the word tells us to fellowship with our brothers and sisters under one house. |
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---Regenia on 2/27/08 |
1) I am currently not attending "church" services on Sunday, but the Lord has led me to participate in classes on Thursday nights (3 hours per session) that are led by pastors, with intensive teaching on how to live in the supernatural realm of God. I have gotten more out of these classes in the last 2 months that I have in the past 3 years sitting in dead churches that do not teach the entire truth of God's Word, but distort it and leave out alot of important truths. The bible says... |
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---Holly4jc on 2/27/08 |
2) Do not forsake the gathering of the brethren...it does not say you have to sit in church every Sunday, afterall, a church is just a building, but we believers ARE the church, the body of Christ. I prayed for God to show me where He wanted me and a week later, these classes opened up. I am meeting weekly with my brethren, learning the deeper things of the Holy Spirit, not just the surface stuff, so I can fulfill my destiny in Him and do even GREATER things than Jesus did, just as HE SAID. It's awesome! |
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---Holly4jc on 2/27/08 |
Jack....You are so right. The only person who ever takes someone out of church is themselves. Jesus made it a habit of going to the synagogue. In fact, one of the stories of him as a child is when he was in the synagogue and his parents couldn't find him. Jesus set our example. |
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---Susie on 2/27/08 |
Of the several people I have known who say that God took them out of church, everyone of them thought they had a special gift that wasn't being used in the church. This is also true of many on this blog who call themselves prophets. They don't attend church because they have been called on it by the pastor. Just more of that "charismatic" movement going on which is not of the Holy Spirit, but of the flesh. |
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---Susie on 2/27/08 |
** God took me out of the church. **
Someone replied that God didn't - well I say OH YES HE DID ...Donna NEVER FOLLOW A MAN ONLY FOLLOW CHRIST ...when a church leader is off path RUN DON'T WALK ...Christ did not want His Flock sitting passively while the sheppard was spiritually asleep ...read Gods Word, pray to God The Father through Christ everyday with faith that He will deliver instruction for you ...Frances is right on ...there is NO mediator between you and Christ |
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---Rhonda on 2/27/08 |
Donna: Church is not what you think it is. church is simply believers, christians, not denominational buildings or non-profit organizations. You don't HIRE people. You bring together a small group of people that nurture each other. When it's time to go and grow your vine, you start another home-based group. You grow your vine much like one of those multi-level marketing companies. Reread Acts about building a church. |
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---Steveng on 2/27/08 |
** God took me out of the church. **
No, He didn't.
This is just another example of how you demonstrate the depth of the spiritual delusion in which you live. |
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---Jack on 2/27/08 |
The idea, Donna, is you get in line with everyone else or you might be in danger of Hell's fire. Bless you, Donna. You are no rebel. There is no mediator between you and God, but Jesus Christ. You can meet Him in the Bible. If you meet with others for fellowship in your home, you are fulfilling the requirements of faith. The reason people disapprove is that an underground disorganized Church is 'out of control'. (Whose control?) |
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---frances on 2/27/08 |
Donna....It looks to me like you have dropped out of church because you don't want to hear what the preacher has to say. I've seen this many times when someone wants to rebel because they don't want to hear the truth. Of course, you get more out of your home meetings because you get to say what you want to say whether it is right or not. I would not give you a job in our ministry even as a volunteer with this rebellious spirit. |
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---Susie on 2/27/08 |
It is a prerequisite because of the fact that every christian needs a pastor. I don't knock home groups, but I do say don't neglect a church. |
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---Rickey on 2/27/08 |
Alan I know just what you mean. Because of political correctness and other (sometimes) ridiculous rules in the U.K. it is becoming very difficult for people to hire who they choose. If a cross section of people, one black, one gay, one straight woman, one single mother, one very fat person, one very ordinary straight, slim, white man all applied for the same job and the 'ordinary white man' got the job ALL the others could try to shout discrimination and their voices would probably be heard. |
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---RitaH on 2/27/08 |
2. The poor employer would have a difficult time PROVING that he wasn't racist, homophobic, sexist, against single mums, fattist (if there is such a word) etc. but if any of the others got the job that would be considered O.K.and fair and no interest would be shown in why any of the others, including the ordinary white man did not get the job. Its a crazy land in which we live aint it Alan? |
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---RitaH on 2/27/08 |
God took me out of the church. So how could I possibly ever make it mandatory? With so many false preachers and teachers, some are in my family. I would warn them to be careful if they attend church. Very careful. Also, if they had been bought by the Blood of Christ, does it really matter? Your salvation and the people that works for you are not based on church attendance. Many people sitting in church who has never been saved. For fifty years some has been sitting. |
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---catherine on 2/27/08 |
All of you have made great points. Here is my dilemma. I have meetings at my house just like they did in the book of Acts. My ex-husband goes to church and still tells people he will never rest until he sees me dead. So who is the real Christian here? I don't attend church in a building, but rather I have meetings at my home and we've grown more from these meetings then going to church on Sundays. See my point? So why should it be a pre-requisite that you must attend church to get a job in a ministry? |
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---Donna on 2/27/08 |
I think in the UK, if the church advertises for a church secretary, we are not permitted to say we reuire a Christian, and would be accused of discrimination if we refused to employ an atheist ... because he/she could be just as good as a Christian in doing the office & admin work.
Clearly if the job was one where Christian counseeling for example was concerend, the atheist would be unable to do the work, so would not be qualified for the job.
RitaH, have you come across this issue? |
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---alan_of_UK on 2/27/08 |
**A staff member should be required to attend, if nothing else it will be a testimony to others.**
What a WONDERFUL testimony--to be forced to attend church as part of a job requirement!
How God is so greatly glorified in this! |
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---Jack on 2/27/08 |
Donna, I take it you mean hiring Christians to work for you in your ministry. The main requisite would be you find out with God whom He has chosen...not evaluating by outward superficial standards, but trust Him who knows the heart > consider what happened when the Jewish leaders judged by what seemed like obvious evidence, "but they did not ask counsel of the LORD." (in Joshua 9:14). |
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---Bill_bila5659 on 2/26/08 |
By the way, if the ministry is large enough they would be covered by anti-discrimination laws and would not be allowed to have this kind of rule. In fact, they could not exclude hiring anyone regardless of their "lifestyle" orientation. I use that term because this site doesn't seem to want to use the real words. |
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---Susie on 2/26/08 |
I wouldn't hire anyone who didn't go to church to work with me in the ministry. If anyone wants to just help out then no problem. If they are going to be hired then I would only look for someone who had a proven track record that could be verified by others. Pastors who are hired probably all had to be part of a church too didn't they? Who would hire a pastor that didn't go to church? |
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---john on 2/26/08 |
First of all you don't hire anyone to do the Lord's work. If a person wants to work in the church, they must be a true Christian and yes they must have a desire to come to church. If they don't have a desire to come to church, then they won't have a desire to do the Lord's work anywhere. If one doesn't have a desire to be in the house of God, then why bother coming at all? All they will be is an hinderance to the church. |
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---Rebecca_D on 2/26/08 |
Before I hired an employee for a ministry, I would know that person well enough to know how they are with the Lord and whether or not they attend church. I would not hire someone who was not a regular church attender. If a ministry represents Jesus, then anyone affiliated with it should do the same. |
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---Susie on 2/26/08 |
Since our ministry is strictly volunteer without donations and we are self-supporting, anyone who works in our ministry would be doing so as a minister and not an employee. We would not allow anyone to minister with our team unless they were born again and regular church attenders. I believe that all ministry should be done this way and not for money. |
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---Susie on 2/26/08 |
As an administrator of a medical mission for 33 years, can see the purpose of requiring a staff member to attend church. Since our mission work was inter-denominational, we did not require a nurses to attend a particular church, except it be evangelical, but we did encourage it. The church we attended had a Youth Director who didn't like Sunday evening services, so he was required to attend. A staff member should be required to attend, if nothing else it will be a testimony to others. |
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---wivv on 2/26/08 |
I don't think that it would be unreasonable to expect someone hired by a Christian ministry to be a regular church goer. If an applicant states that they are a Christian they should be able to show that by some form of testimony at interview and you might want a reference from the person's pastor. However, if you havn't made church attendance a prerequisite in the advert and job description it could be more difficult to enforce. |
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---RitaH on 2/26/08 |
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