"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
Best thing I heard last sunday was a pastor asking his congregation if they believed people who never come to their or any other building but stay at home can receive the same blessings from God that they feel they receive by showing up each week - then he said its a personal relationship - wonder how many "pastors" say this openly to their brothers and sisters these days ?
Born a rebel, mom of 9, former ER/NICU/PICU/Peds nurse, now M.Ed. Spec Ed, anti-vax, off grid lover, Christ follower, won't tolerate BS...
You don't have to go to church to have a personal relationship with God. God blesses you even if you stay home and never set foot in a church (and many churches are actually evil now).
When I got married 36 years ago, my husband changed the day after the wedding. He refused to allow me to go to church (I grew up similar to Amish, very tight knit church family) and kept me and our children as they came along, very very isolated. Not allowed to have friends or family or church or homeschool groups. He went with us to every medical appointment to make sure no one said anything to alert medical staff.
God still blessed me and my children in many different ways - even thru all that abuse, violence and extreme anger. Your relationship is based on YOU and GOD, not on a church building, a church family or a pastor in your life.
Not everyone can go to church, and not everyone feels comfortable in most churches today - God is still with them. He was even with Jonah, He is everywhere.
NOT mad at the folks, but was in a christian band and told I was "too sexy" WHICH I am not the least bit sexy, never have been, I said SOUNDS like YOU got a problem with lust. I dressed appropriately. ANOTHER time, was studying to at least be in a form of ministry since I do not believe in female pastors, and was told "I needed to stop wearing shorts" WELL ffs they were the ugliest like down to my knees shorts you ever saw. AND my legs looked like twigs, I was so skinny. SO there is that. BUT I love all of God's for sure.
Fook em all
The other one was assembly of God, and I think the REAL christians didn't understand the intent of the others. Used to take the ones I taught "life skills", "mentally handicapped" likely death shot injured, to Church there, and that happened. Sad, even the lady who told me mentioned it was those folks problem not mine. I think back to secret orgs in the pulpit unbeknownst to well meaning christians.
I was already eyeballing that "pastor" sure looked like secret org to me, with them "beady mason eyes" "umbrella term".
Other folks were awesome. Later years which I already sensed, thru Christ, that it was ate up in porn, found out, not one of the originals either. The rest were God's kiddos. THAT one, showed up late in the situation, others didn't understand....I still say that one. SHAME on it for marrying someone I cared for and that is how I found out, it was ate up with it. Porn, devils. all that. Trying to be around real christians.
