"Two statements that will revolutionize the way you think!"

[rhine16]

Sunday morning the preacher from the church our new preacher was an associate pastor under came and preached. He preached just a general sermon, but our chairman of the deacons had given a report on a thing we're doing where a guy comes in and helps with our Sunday School program. So i'm gonna quote the preacher for a sec.

"If you're wandering how to better your sunday school, have class and stop talking about other things. I've stuck my head into a men's sunday school class fifteen minutes after class was suppose to start, and they're still talking about that 8 point buck that Johnny missed. Now you say Preacher, what's wrong with that? Well what is wrong with that is you are fifteen minutes into class and you're still talking about deer...... You wanna know two things that will revolutionize the way you think? Yeah, you need to get out your pens and bulletin and write this down.

Deer........are not eternal.... I'm seeing some guys whose eyes are popping out of their heads(yes, i was one. )
College football.... is not eternal and God doesnt care who wins the SEC.

Now you say preacher am i not suppose to dothese things? Yes you are suppose to, just not more than you love God."

I'll stop quoting him there. this is in the main Baptist church in town. Probably two hundred in the congregation that morning.

I liked the guy. He preached a very good sermon, and was gutsy enough to keep us thirty minutes late , but this guy put hunting down so to speak. There are plenty of other stuff you could get people about, but he chose hunting.

You're probably thinking that he just did it once, and he probably would say something about something else, but theres more to it. Our preacher that was under him, has a habit of putting hunting and baseball down (yes, i feel like i'm two inches tall when he starts that.). He's mentioned how people love to hunt or play baseball more than they love God several times.

I may be making a big deal over nothing, but they both put down the same stuff. I just dont think they should do that. I know i rambled here, but i just needed to vent a little and maybe hear some of yall's thoughts.

[Jeramie]

Honestly, I dont disagree with them one bit. I use to miss Church to hunt, I wont anymore. God is far more important to me. He is the one that carries me through life in his safety. He sent Jesus to the cross to pay a debt none of us could. The Bible doesn't say anything about deer promising eternity...

Do I think its wrong to occasionally miss Church? Absolutely not! Everyone needs to take a breather from time to time but Church is a KEY part of keeping your focus on God.

Baseball is a major deterrent from Church on Sunday mornings. I know girls in our Church that play softball and they are gone the majority of the time. Granted it may help to make them well rounded individuals but everyone needs to take the steps to follow after Christ. The old saying, "What would Christ do?" fits into both of these situations.

Sunday Morning, 36deg., no wind. The deer are in full rut. Christ rolls out of bed. What would he do? Go hunting?

The same scenario applies to baseball. Eternity is by definition forever. Giving up a few things or participating more moderately is well worth the price Christ paid as he hung on that Cross.....

[Dawg]

Well Jeramie pretty much hit the nail on the head!!! I have also compared how much we put our "extra-cirricular" activities before God, and yes even though I am an AVID hunter, I use it and fishing most of the time. Why? It helps me to stay in check!! Whatever convicts us through the Word of God, given by the man of God, isn't the man stepping on our toes, it's THE MAN and I believe it's worth praying about and seeing what God is trying to tell you. Are you wrong for feeling this way? I think not. I've felt the same way when I sat under a pastor. Take this with an open heart don't go into it with your conclusion already made. Like that old hymn says "Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there." Let God speak.

[Mathews XT Man]

I missed church once last year...YUP,... to go hunting...I'll keep working on that!!

[spyderpancake]

it's all about balance. and if 15 minutes into the time dedicated for Bible study, baseball and hunting are all that is being discussed, then the balance is off and he had every right to say something imo

[Jeramie]

I missed church once last year...YUP,... to go hunting...I'll keep working on that!!

Sinner!

[Andrea]

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me"

I believe that not only does this mean we shouldn't believe in Buddha, Allah and whatnot, but that we shouldn't allow the "things" in our lives to become "god" like.


Like hunting, football, WORK, money, etc.

Nothing wrong with working hard, makin money, going to a football game and hunting deer. As long as it doesn't rule your life and you have no more time for the Lord.

[Dawg]

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me"

I believe that not only does this mean we shouldn't believe in Buddha, Allah and whatnot, but that we shouldn't allow the "things" in our lives to become "god" like.


Like hunting, football, WORK, money, etc.

Nothing wrong with working hard, makin money, going to a football game and hunting deer. As long as it doesn't rule your life and you have no more time for the Lord.

AMEN to that sister, preach on!!!!!!

[wtnhunt]

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me"

I believe that not only does this mean we shouldn't believe in Buddha, Allah and whatnot, but that we shouldn't allow the "things" in our lives to become "god" like.


Like hunting, football, WORK, money, etc.

Nothing wrong with working hard, makin money, going to a football game and hunting deer. As long as it doesn't rule your life and you have no more time for the Lord.

Very well said Andrea.

[Jeramie]

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me"

I believe that not only does this mean we shouldn't believe in Buddha, Allah and whatnot, but that we shouldn't allow the "things" in our lives to become "god" like.


Like hunting, football, WORK, money, etc.

Nothing wrong with working hard, makin money, going to a football game and hunting deer. As long as it doesn't rule your life and you have no more time for the Lord.

On the nose girly.......

[wtnhunt]

Not to highjack the thread, debated starting a new topic, but this kind of goes along with your post, so I will just post it here.

This post kind of brings to mind that if you are in church and there physically, but distracted with other things and not so focused, would you not be better off elsewhere away from the church(the physical building) where you were able to fully concentrate and focus on God? I mean when it comes down to it, for me anyways, my time in the woods whether it be on a Sunday or any other day for that matter, I find myself reflecting and thinking about and thanking God for all he has given us. I do occasionally carry a small bible with me and read in the stand, much easier to read there and concentrate than it is with three kids running around the house. The quality of my focus in general is better when I am out there. If you are sitting in a Sunday school classroom or in a church pew and your mind occasionally wanders, how devoted is that really in comparison to the time alone, and so long as it is not in a disruptive nature who here on this earth really has the right to tell you it is wrong to spend time thinking or talking about other things not knowing what you think about elsewhere? Is there really a set defined time limit you have to devote yourself to God and do you have to manage your other time accordingly, an hour of Sunday school with nothing but bible studies, an hour to an hour and a half of worship every Sunday in church? Is that it? Guess I am kind of confused, does your preacher maybe think your thoughts and praise and worship are confined only to those times you are at the physical place and that you are not discussing God outside those times.

While I understand the point of the preacher, maybe it is just me, but I think I might be maybe just a bit leery of a preacher who tries to control someone by telling them that they are doing wrong by devoting too much time to what they enjoy without them knowing fully where that persons heart and mind are.

Guess my point is know where you are, others can assume and try to tell you how or what to do, so long as you know where your heart and mind are, that is what really matters.

[Andrea]

I think that only God knows what's in a person's heart. But for many people, being in church and learning with others is what keeps them close to God. And once those people get out of the habit of going to church......they are less likely to read the Bible or live like they should. ( Sins of the flesh, so to speak....or "living in the world")

If for some people, the only way to worship is by being alone or out in nature or what have you....then that is between them and the Lord.

[Jeramie]

While I understand the point of the preacher, maybe it is just me, but I think I might be maybe just a bit leery of a preacher who tries to control someone by telling them that they are doing wrong by devoting too much time to what they enjoy without them knowing fully where that persons heart and mind are.

Guess my point is know where you are, others can assume and try to tell you how or what to do, so long as you know where your heart and mind are, that is what really matters.

If you take the Bible has the whole infallible truth read on,
"Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it" (Deut. 31:12-13).

The bible commands us to assemble in the name of the Lord for both our sakes and our Children's. This law was written for Israel but we are grafted into that blood line as Christians which gives us the same privileges, responsibilities, and duties as the Israelites. Assembling is one of those...


Now, on a more personal note. Church isn't, and shouldn't be, a half to. Its a "get to." Do this. Carry a note pad and every time something worldly (lies, sex, smut, theft, etc) enters your day, even for a brief second make a line and run a tally. You'll be amazed at the barrage of junk in this world. If you do that same thing, accounting for Christianity, you'll see a vast drop in those lines. This world is full of pain, suffering, smut, debt, and everything that causes you to stumble.

Church is a place to stay grounded. Its a place that helps keep your focus on the Lord. You will also learn FAR more in Church than you ever will reading the Bible alone. These forums are the perfect example of Learning through Assembly. Everyone on here is better in many ways because of the wealth of knowledge. Church is no Different. You'll be a better Christian because of Church.

Also, just like Soldiers, you need each other. Just like Chris and his Cancer battle. Granted you can reach out in an Internet forum but nothing will replace a heart felt cry from those who worship and love the Lord with you. A Good Marine wouldn't fall away from his line and try to win a battle on his own. A Christian is exactly the same. Having a host of God Fearing Christians at your disposal is a POWERFUL tool.

Teaching others to live by example is HUGE. You can live as a devote Christian for 15-years and then get caught once on a street corner with a Beer in your hand, in the wrong company, and that 15-years of example is hard to rebuild. A Christian not attending Church isn't much different. The Bible calls for assembly, therefore as Christians we need to do so. Also, there are people watching your EVERY move. Leading by example (even though you may not know those people) is very important. Attending a house of God has never given the wrong example.

God can and will use you in a Church for his benefit, others benefit, and your own. Imagine the story you can share with someone on the fence. There are a lot of people out there that have lived the same life (or very similar) that you have. Your testimony may very well help people to walk through Heavens Pearly Gates. To not share that just doesn't seem right.