₦airaland Forum

I know this topic will offend some people before they even read the first paragraph. That's fine.

This isn't an attack on Christianity or on pastors. It's just my story.

Do I hate church

No. I'm just not interested enough to commit. That's different. Some people love football. Some love politics. Some love church. I never caught the bug.

My parents tried. God bless them. They invested heavily in a project that refused to appreciate. They dragged me, encouraged me, motivated me. At some point they realized: this boy is physically present but spiritually buffering.

What turns me off?

The routine. The structure. The expectation.

Stand up. Sit down. Clap. Dance. Turn to your neighbor. Tell your neighbor. Touch your neighbor. At this point, leave my neighbor alone.

I'm an introvert. I came to observe, not to join a flash mob.

What about worship?

Some people genuinely connect through dancing. Good for them. For me, the whole thing sometimes feels like a fashion runway with a touch of nightclub energy. Fresh suit, fresh perfume, fresh wig, fresh dance moves. Everybody looking blessed and moisturized. Nothing wrong with that I'm just saying let's call a spade a spade. Some people came to worship. Some people came to showcase software updates.

Do I believe in God?

More than most people think. That's the funny part. I've felt God's presence outside church more times than inside it. Sitting alone. Walking. Thinking. No keyboard, no microphone, no offering basket. Just me and my thoughts. Sometimes God feels louder there.

Is church useless then?

Not at all. Church is important. Mosque is important. Humans need gathering points, reminders, structure somebody to tell them "calm down before you destroy yourself." God knows this. That's why those places exist.

Then why don't I go?

Because I don't need it the same way other people need it. Not rebellion. Not bitterness. Not church hurt. Just honesty.

My personal theory

God tried direct management once. Adam and Eve happened. Since then, He delegates — Abraham, Moses, Jesus, pastors, imams, prophets, anybody available. Humans have a long history of disappointing God face-to-face.

On "God use me"

Nigerians need to be careful with that prayer. Use you do what? Have you read the job description? Moses was minding his business. Abraham was minding his business. Jesus... let's not even start.

Everybody wants purpose. Nobody wants the assignment.

God says, "You sure?"
You say, "Yes Lord."
God says, "Noted."

So money, though?

If it's ₦10 million once, keep it. If it's ₦10 million every month... bring the clipboard. As long as when the contract expires, I can leave peacefully and return to my natural habitat. Because money can buy attendance. It can't buy conviction. It still wouldn't change the fact that I don't need church attendance to feel connected to God.

If you have peace of mind, that's usually a good sign. If you're not at peace, return home to yourself.

Final answer

I never truly belonged there. I respect it. I support people's right to love it. I occasionally visit it — I even drop money when I come. But I've stopped pretending I need it the way others do.

Some people find God in a congregation. Some find Him in silence.

I've always been a silence guy.

@Saleslourd, I think a more interesting topic would be why you think your choice should be a reason for the attention whoring? Many folks out there no longer attend churches and don't feel they need to apologize for or explain it to anyone, as though they give a sheet, but you do. Why is that?

Kobojunkie:
@Saleslourd, I think a more interesting topic would be why you think your choice should be a reason for the attention whoring? Many folks out there no longer attend churches and don't feel they need to apologize for or explain it to anyone, as though they give a sheet, but you do. Why is that?

Fair question
For the same reason people write about why they attend church, leave church, change careers, get married, stay single, or start businesses.
People share experiences.
This happens to be one of mine.

Saleslourd:
➜Fair question For the same reason people write about why they attend church, leave church, change careers, get married, stay single, or start businesses. People share experiences. This happens to be one of mine.

I know lots of religious folks do that much. And it is usually those who share the same attention-seeking mentality that are wow-ed by such. People like me, who don't give a sheet, wonder what the point is to posts such as yours. Are you simply looking for likes then?

Kobojunkie:
I know lots of religious folks do that much. And it is usually those who share the same attention-seeking mentality that are wow-ed by such. People like me, who don't give a sheet, wonder what the point is to posts such as yours. Are you simply looking for likes then?

If I was looking for likes, I probably chose the wrong section. 😄
People write about experiences. I shared one. You're free to find it uninteresting, just as I'm free to write it.

You need to know the difference between true and false religion before you can appreciate the gathering of faith!

Saleslourd:
➜If I was looking for likes, I probably chose the wrong section. 😄 People write about experiences. I shared one.
➜ You're free to find it uninteresting, just as I'm free to write it.

That write-up isn't about experiences; it is more along the lines of personal preferences and opinions, something that belongs maybe in a profile or diary.

2. That is why I said a more interesting topic would be you explaining why people who don't give a sheet should pay attention to what your private choices and ideas are on church attendance?

U go to church is 4 ur good!! U don't go to church is 4 ur own good, church na deliberate choice we choose for our good

Kobojunkie:
@Saleslourd, I think a more interesting topic would be why you think your choice should be a reason for the attention whoring? Many folks out there no longer attend churches and don't feel they need to apologize for or explain it to anyone, as though they give a sheet, but you do. Why is that?

The God of the Bible is actually the devil, the ignorant God, the demiurge

Jesus Christ descended from the pleroma, from the father of lights, and the mother the dove, the Shekinah

Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene are twin flames, two halves of the same soul, eternal soulmates.

He never asked you to go to church, he said the universe is a computer simulated reality, and the only way bto escape the simulation is by inner knowledge,

Escape death , escape the reincarnation cycle.

Tboy222:
The God of the Bible is actually the devil, the ignorant God, the demiurge.

Please what changed?😟

Tboy222:
God is interested in you, so he sent his son Jesus Christ to die for your sins, are you born again, have you given your life to Christ?
If you haven't kindly call on him, go down on your knees and ask for forgiveness of sin, God loves you in a way you can ever imagine.
It says in his word in the book of Isaiah 55:7
Isaiah 55:7 (KJV) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Tboy222:
Jesus is coming soon,the world is at its wits end, a lot of Christians have gone cold,many have fallen away from the way of truth and holiness mainly due to life challenges,setbacks and failures.

As a Christian aspiring to make heaven you may have thought you have failed God,life is too challenging to scale through and you find it difficult to cope with your walk with God.

The hardness of life demands that you move in certain areas that demands that you do certain things that contradicts your christian faith.

You have relapsed or fall back into sin over and over again, and you think you can no longer walk the christian race or that God is disappointed with you, my brother or sister please do not give up, stand up and fight the good fight,for only he who endures till the end his or her soul would be saved.

And if you are a sinner and have not yet repented of your sins,now is the time you don't know when the rapture would happen or you don't know when your time would come in which you would leave this world and if you die without Christ,there is only outcome, eternity in Hell, so please my brothers and sisters go on your knees now and confess all your sins to Jesus Christ who loved you that He died for you,he has purchased eternal life in heaven with his blood , because we were all destined for eternal suffering in Hell as a result of the disobedience of Adam and Eve.

In the book of Romans 3:23 it says "for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

Proverbs 28:13 says "He tha covereth his sins shall not prosper,but whoso confesseth and forsakes them shall have mercy."

In the book of Isaiah 55:7 it says " let the wicked forsake his ways and the unrighteous man his thoughts,let him return to the Lord,and he will have mercy,and to our God for He will abundantly pardon."

So brothers and sisters if you are still in sin ,lying, stealing,immoral or extra marital affairs, fornication,forgery,bribery,armed robbery and so on the list is endless, there is no little sin or big sin all sins bear the same weight before God and carries an eternal punishment.

So please I beg of you go down on your knees and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, don't be ashamed of letting him know of the things you are ashamed of because he already sees and knows it all, ask Him to forgive you,tell him to cleanse you with His blood which He shed on the cross of calvary,tell him to give you his grace and keep you and make you a new creature ,ask Him to come into your heart and also give you the power to overcome sin and temptations. Then congratulations my brother or sister you are now a child of God and have been ushered into His new kingdom,you are now a bride of Christ whose name has been written in the book of Life,get a bible if you don't have one, look for a bible believing Church where the true Word of God is preached where holiness and Christ Jesus is the center of the message.
Make sure you pray and read your bible daily every morning and late at night before you go to bed.

To my backslidden brothers and sisters,it is not too late to come back to Christ,you have now to come back, you don't have all the time in the world, time is running out. dont be among those prophesied to fall away,please no sin you have ever commuted is too big or too grievous that God can't forgive. The israelites kept rebelling against God yet God kept sending His prophets to bring them back to Him, Christ is calling you now through His Holy Spirit,He loves you no matter how deep in sin you might have gone,go on your knees now after reading this and cry out to Him for forgiveness He won't deny you,He will gladly accept you back,after doing that make sure you read your bible daily and pray daily early in the morning and late at night.

God loves us all that He sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die for us,He doesn't want us to die in sin so please accept Jesus Christ now at this hour of grace,God bless you as you do I will be praying for you all.

Here are some YouTube channels that will motivate and keep you in your walk with Christ Jesus.

1: Randy Kay ministries (YOUTUBE)
2:TBN (YOUTUBE)
3: 700 CLUB INTERACTIVE (YOUTUBE)
4: DEEP BELIEVER (YOUTUBE)
5: TRAILBLAZER (YOUTUBE)
6: ABOVE INSPIRATION (YOUTUBE)
7 : GREAT MIRACLES AVENUE (YOUTUBE)
8: GRACE FOR PURPOSE (YOUTUBE)
9: 100 HUNTELY STREET (YOUTUBE)
10: DAYSTAR (YOUTUBE)
11: SiD ROTH IT IS SUPERNATURAL (YOUTUBE)
12: VLAD SAVCHUK (YOUTUBE)
13: DAVID DIGA HERNANDEZ (YOUTUBE)

GOD bless you as you subscribe to the above channels,I put it out there so you will get enriched in the knowledge of Christ Jesus and be strengthed to follow on his path till the day He comes for our souls,God bless you as you do so meet you in the clouds.

MaxInDHouse:
Please what changed?😟

Nothing changed my friend, the great awakening has begun.

The return of holy Sophia, the return of Mary Magdalene, not as an harlot , but as goddess.

The great deception Jesus warned about already happened 2000 years ago at Nicea.

Jesus will not be mocked, now Mary Magdalene returns as the Divine feminine, the lost Wisdom of the ages.

The return of Atlantis, the seven mountains where the LovePeddler sitteth (Rev 17)

The return of the galactic fleet, of the galatic federation of lights led by commander Ishtar.

The return of the kingdom, the holy kingdom on Earth.

Tboy222:
Nothing changed my friend, the great awakening has begun.

And this?😟

Tboy222:
The God of the Bible is actually the devil, the ignorant God, the demiurge.

MaxInDHouse:
You need to know the difference between true and false religion before you can appreciate the gathering of faith!

That's possible.
But my issue was never whether religion is true or false.
My point was that even if it's true, church attendance doesn't automatically create a connection with God.

Saleslourd:
That's possible.
But my issue was never whether religion is true or false.
My point was that even if it's true, church attendance doesn't automatically create a connection with God.

That is why you need to know the difference between true and false religion.
First of all Christianity is the only true religion approved by our Creator today but sadly Satan has multiplied false religions in the name of Christianity so that if you don't know what Christianity supposed to achieve you won't know the difference between true and false churches! 2Corinthians 11:12-14
For instance the gathering of Christians is for a purpose that's not clear to most churchgoers yet it's vital we associate with the church because of that purpose! Hebrews 10:24-25
Jesus commissioned Christianity so that his disciples can continue doing the work he assigned to them which is PREACHING and TEACHING in order to carry the message of God's Kingdom to the whole world! Matthew 28:19-20

So it's through our gathering/meeting that we strategize how to carry out that work from house to house and door to door! Matthew 10:11-13; Luke 10:1-7

Today Satan has misconstrued all these things and turned it into some type of singing and dancing drama in fact most people don't even know the main purpose why Christians have to meet together! 😟

MaxInDHouse:
And this?😟

Jesus emphasized this to his disciples that Satan is the God of this world.

He emphasized it that the sons of darkness are in this generation wiser than the children of light.

The gnostics were right
The cathars were right
Leonardo da Vinci was right
The Jewish kabbalist were right
The Renaissance father's were right
The Freemasons we're right

They understood that Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene are in fact both one and the same person.

The logos (word) and Sophia (wisdom)

Tboy222:
Jesus emphasized this to his disciples that Satan is the God of this world.

The world in this context means people who has been alienated from God that is why apostle John said:

Do not love either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever. 1John 2:15-17

Now replace world with people alienated from God and you'll get the sense of what Jesus said.

Each time you see that term WORLD in replace with PEOPLE ALIENATED FROM GOD!
Check these verses as well:
John 3:16-18
2Corinthians 4:4
1John 5:19

Tboy222:
(Jesus) emphasized it that the sons of darkness are in this generation wiser than the children of light.

The people who sold their souls to the devil are wiser in the sense that they'll have everything their eyes can see in their lifetime and perish thereafter but majority of those who refused to sell their souls keep on envying them simply because they are seeing what these ones are enjoying whereas those who have sold their souls have no share in everlasting life which is the real life God purposed for mankind!🙂

MaxInDHouse:
The world in this context means people who has been alienated from God that is why apostle John said:

Do not love either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever. 1John 2:15-17

Now replace world with people alienated from God and you'll get the sense of what Jesus said.

Each time you see that term WORLD in replace with PEOPLE ALIENATED FROM GOD!
Check these verses as well:
John 3:16-18
2Corinthians 4:4
1John 5:19



The people who sold their souls to the devil are wiser in the sense that they'll have everything their eyes can see in their lifetime and perish thereafter but majority of those who refused to sell their souls keep on envying them simply because they are seeing what these ones are enjoying whereas those who have sold their souls have no share in everlasting life which is the real life God purposed for mankind!🙂

The testimony of truth
The apocalypse of Adam
The Sophia of Jesus
The apocryphon of John
The gospel of Thomas

All say the same thing, salvation is earned through esoteric knowledge or knowing.

Not by religious rituals

The Elohim Annunaki are the creators of mankind, led by Enki, and Enil,

Jesus is Lucifer, the light bringer, awake to your cosmic origins.

Check out the following YouTube channels below for more insights

Mind unfettered (YouTube)
4bidden knowledge podcast (YouTube)
Samuel blee MD (YouTube)
Morgue Official (YouTube)
Annunaki ancient mystery with Lucas M Kern (YouTube)
GFL station ( YouTube)
The real Ismael Perez (YouTube)
Greg Braden official (YouTube)
Emspiracy official (YouTube)

Tboy222:
The testimony of truth
The apocalypse of Adam
The Sophia of Jesus
The apocryphon of John
The gospel of Thomas
All say the same thing.

Now i understand what you meant.

I'm one of Jehovah's Witnesses we only believe in the 66 books called BIBLE.

So i can see the reason!🤔

MaxInDHouse:
Now i understand what you meant.

I'm one of Jehovah's Witnesses we only believe in the 66 books called BIBLE.

So i can see the reason!🤔

The Bible was corrupted at the council of Nicea, you guys are reading a corrupted bible

Tboy222:
The Bible was corrupted at the council of Nicea, you guys are reading a corrupted bible

What does the council of Nicea have to do with corrupting the bible?

Thanks for sharing your experience, @Saleslourd

Glad you made it clear it's your experience

As an introvert myself, I find the performance that goes on in much of what is called Christianity today frankly tiring

"Tell your neighbour..."

"Go round and shake 15 people and say..."

"Bring out your handkerchiefs..."

"Bend down low..."

"Let me hear you say 'uh-huh, uh-huh'..."

The good news is these things are not Scriptural. And do not have any basis in saving anyone.

Let me give an example with Nairaland.

Are there posts here that are plain brain-numbing? Sure

But does that make Nairaland an evil platform?

Some may jump to that conclusion.

I am not one of them.

I have personally connected with great people through this same platform where the prevailing noise on the front page can make you wonder about the future of our Nigerian youth

Here's my point:

If we want everyone to be like us, the world will be exceedingly boring.

See the performance stunts for what they are, but don't let them dictate your relationship with GOD through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanks again for starting this conversation

Lucifyre:
What does the council of Nicea have to do with corrupting the bible?

Certainl books were omitted from the Bible

Saleslourd:
I know this topic will offend some people before they even read the first paragraph. That's fine.

This isn't an attack on Christianity or on pastors. It's just my story.

Do I hate church

No. I'm just not interested enough to commit. That's different. Some people love football. Some love politics. Some love church. I never caught the bug.

My parents tried. God bless them. They invested heavily in a project that refused to appreciate. They dragged me, encouraged me, motivated me. At some point they realized: this boy is physically present but spiritually buffering.

What turns me off?

The routine. The structure. The expectation.

Stand up. Sit down. Clap. Dance. Turn to your neighbor. Tell your neighbor. Touch your neighbor. At this point, leave my neighbor alone.

I'm an introvert. I came to observe, not to join a flash mob.

What about worship?

Some people genuinely connect through dancing. Good for them. For me, the whole thing sometimes feels like a fashion runway with a touch of nightclub energy. Fresh suit, fresh perfume, fresh wig, fresh dance moves. Everybody looking blessed and moisturized. Nothing wrong with that I'm just saying let's call a spade a spade. Some people came to worship. Some people came to showcase software updates.

Do I believe in God?

More than most people think. That's the funny part. I've felt God's presence outside church more times than inside it. Sitting alone. Walking. Thinking. No keyboard, no microphone, no offering basket. Just me and my thoughts. Sometimes God feels louder there.

Is church useless then?

Not at all. Church is important. Mosque is important. Humans need gathering points, reminders, structure somebody to tell them "calm down before you destroy yourself." God knows this. That's why those places exist.

Then why don't I go?

Because I don't need it the same way other people need it. Not rebellion. Not bitterness. Not church hurt. Just honesty.

My personal theory

God tried direct management once. Adam and Eve happened. Since then, He delegates — Abraham, Moses, Jesus, pastors, imams, prophets, anybody available. Humans have a long history of disappointing God face-to-face.

On "God use me"

Nigerians need to be careful with that prayer. Use you do what? Have you read the job description? Moses was minding his business. Abraham was minding his business. Jesus... let's not even start.

Everybody wants purpose. Nobody wants the assignment.

God says, "You sure?"
You say, "Yes Lord."
God says, "Noted."

So money, though?

If it's ₦10 million once, keep it. If it's ₦10 million every month... bring the clipboard. As long as when the contract expires, I can leave peacefully and return to my natural habitat. Because money can buy attendance. It can't buy conviction. It still wouldn't change the fact that I don't need church attendance to feel connected to God.

If you have peace of mind, that's usually a good sign. If you're not at peace, return home to yourself.

Final answer

I never truly belonged there. I respect it. I support people's right to love it. I occasionally visit it — I even drop money when I come. But I've stopped pretending I need it the way others do.

Some people find God in a congregation. Some find Him in silence.

I've always been a silence guy.

I think your disappointment comes from not really knowing the truth and you seem to have been attending a church that does not really know what worship is. Worship is not really about singing hymns or praises, it starts with having a personal knowledge of him (the truth).

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24.

If you have not come to that point of knowing the truth or the teachers there don't know the truth to teach you, then its actually useless going there.

Church is not about routines or rituals. Having a personal relationship with God is the ultimate thing.

Your point about God delegating thorough Moses and up to Jesus, says it all. There's a serious disconnect. That's where I understand the problem better. When you come to the point when you know God beyond the same level that demons know him and tremble, you will be interested in the gathering of saints. Note, I didn't say church which is a different thing.

James 2:19
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well. The devils also believe — and tremble.

Tboy222:
Certainl books were omitted from the Bible

First off Nicaea had absolutely nothing to do with the canon, much less removing or omitting books especially when there was no universally settled christain canon at the time. How can you remove when there's no official list.

Tboy222:
The Bible was corrupted at the council of Nicea, you guys are reading a corrupted bible.

You don't know the purpose of the Bible that's why you can be deceived with false stories! 2Timothy 4:3-4

Please what has the stories you've gotten achieved among those believing it?🙂

One thing I've noticed is that many replies are trying to convince me that I attended the "wrong church."
Maybe that's true.
But what if my point isn't about the quality of the church at all?
My question is simpler:
If someone genuinely believes in God, prays, reflects, tries to live decently, and feels spiritually fulfilled outside organized religion...
what exactly is missing?
I'm not asking sarcastically.
I'm asking because many people seem to assume church attendance is proof of spiritual health, while non-attendance is proof of spiritual deficiency.
Is that actually true?
Or have we quietly turned attendance into a substitute for connection?
Curious to hear people's thoughts.

safarifarms:
I think your disappointment comes from not really knowing the truth and you seem to have been attending a church that does not really know what worship is. Worship is not really about singing hymns or praises, it starts with having a personal knowledge of him (the truth).

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24.

If you have not come to that point of knowing the truth or the teachers there don't know the truth to teach you, then its actually useless going there.

Church is not about routines or rituals. Having a personal relationship with God is the ultimate thing.

Your point about God delegating thorough Moses and up to Jesus, says it all. There's a serious disconnect. That's where I understand the problem better. When you come to the point when you know God beyond the same level that demons know him and tremble, you will be interested in the gathering of saints. Note, I didn't say church which is a different thing.

James 2:19
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well. The devils also believe — and tremble.

@safarifarms I hear you, and John 4:24 is a fair scripture to bring in.
But here's where I pause you're telling me the problem is I haven't "known the truth" or had the right teachers. That's still the same conclusion everyone else is reaching, just dressed differently: if you don't feel it, you're doing it wrong.
What if that's not always the answer? What if some people can know the truth, love God, and still not need the gathering the way you do? You even separated "gathering of saints" from "church" yourself so by your own logic, isn't it possible I'm already in the first category without qualifying for the second?
That's really the question from my follow-up post. Not "was my church bad" but "is non-attendance automatically evidence of spiritual deficiency." I don't think you've actually answered that one yet.

werisetogether:
Thanks for sharing your experience, @Saleslourd

Glad you made it clear it's your experience

As an introvert myself, I find the performance that goes on in much of what is called Christianity today frankly tiring

"Tell your neighbour..."

"Go round and shake 15 people and say..."

"Bring out your handkerchiefs..."

"Bend down low..."

"Let me hear you say 'uh-huh, uh-huh'..."

The good news is these things are not Scriptural. And do not have any basis in saving anyone.

Let me give an example with Nairaland.

Are there posts here that are plain brain-numbing? Sure

But does that make Nairaland an evil platform?

Some may jump to that conclusion.

I am not one of them.

I have personally connected with great people through this same platform where the prevailing noise on the front page can make you wonder about the future of our Nigerian youth

Here's my point:

If we want everyone to be like us, the world will be exceedingly boring.

See the performance stunts for what they are, but don't let them dictate your relationship with GOD through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanks again for starting this conversation

@werisetogether this is exactly it. Thank you.
The "tell your neighbor, shake 15 people"
stuff I used to think something was wrong with me for finding it exhausting. Turns out it's just not how I'm wired, and that's allowed.
Your Nairaland comparison is sharp too. Noise on the front page doesn't make the platform evil, performance in church doesn't make the faith fake. I just know which one I show up for and which one I don't.
Appreciate you actually reading it as an experience and not a doctrine to correct. Rare on this thread 😄

Saleslourd:
My question is simpler:
If someone genuinely believes in God, prays, reflects, tries to live decently, and feels spiritually fulfilled outside organized religion...
what exactly is missing?

This question is what i always expect from anyone who is truly sincere!😟

Praying to God, reflecting, trying to live decently and feels spiritually fulfilled but not part of any religion.

This is what Jesus told a man who had the same mindset as you do.

Please open your Bible to Matthew 19:16-24

There a young Jewish ruler came to Jesus, he was a prayerful man who did everything manly possible to please God then he asked Jesus:

“I have kept all of these; what am I still lacking?” verse 20

Jesus' response threw the young man off balance when he said:

“If you want to be perfect, go sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come be my follower." Matthew 19:21

Not being one of follower Jesus' followers is what's missing!

He needs to continue associating with them and doing the work Jesus assigned to them which will be at the expense of his material possessions because he must set his minds off such things and focus on doing the work just like Jesus' disciples! Matthew 19:27-30

That is why i told you there is only one organization doing this today but Jesus said everyone else will hate them not because they have done anything evil but due to their faith {Matthew 10:22} but everyone will continue saying about them "this religion is weird for sure but they have love among themselves" John 13:34-35

We are JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES.

Apart from us no other religion can make members have that attachment to their group like us because we know why we must associate together as fellow believers! Hebrews 10:24-25

Saleslourd:
@safarifarms I hear you, and John 4:24 is a fair scripture to bring in.
But here's where I pause you're telling me the problem is I haven't "known the truth" or had the right teachers. That's still the same conclusion everyone else is reaching, just dressed differently: if you don't feel it, you're doing it wrong.
What if that's not always the answer? What if some people can know the truth, love God, and still not need the gathering the way you do? You even separated "gathering of saints" from "church" yourself so by your own logic, isn't it possible I'm already in the first category without qualifying for the second?
That's really the question from my follow-up post. Not "was my church bad" but "is non-attendance automatically evidence of spiritual deficiency." I don't think you've actually answered that one yet.

If you love God, some things come naturally to you. You will love the things that pertain to God. You will love your brothers and enjoy being with them.

I don't know what your intension for this thread is, but going by this action and claim, I will assume that your are actually interested in God but have not been satisfied with the practices you see which bores you. Your focus seems to be on the practices. But I wish you could focus on the essence of the gathering. The essence is what many churches get it wrong. If that is misplaced them it becomes useless rituals.

God loves us and wants us to know him and have a personal relationship with him. If you don't know him, then you can't have that relationship. The messengers you mentioned that failed, they did their best according to the level of knowledge they had and they were mostly misunderstood even till today. Its that same misunderstanding that makes you unsatisfied. There's something missing that creates the void.

I used to attend church as a ritual that is expected to look good amongst others. And then too the church was also in misunderstanding of the truth. But when revelation came and the truth was now taught I now saw meaning in following God.

I hope you someday find the truth too. If you truly seek it, then you will find it.

TRUTH versus FALSEHOOD!

I have heard many people say God just revealed Himself to them personally so the question that comes to mind is:

If God had to reveal himself to someone instead of allowing Jesus' disciples to do the work of preaching and teaching {Matthew 28:19-20} does that mean everyone should wait for God to contact us PERSONALLY so that each person now deals directly with his or her own CHI? 2Corinthians 11:14🙂