john, you wrote: "If a person claims to be a Christian and has no desire to be in the house of the Lord, there is a problem." RE: i agree with you - there is a big problem, but why does it have to be with the person? why can't it be with the church? the idea that people who claim to be christian and never go to church are wrong - is wrong - because they may not go to church because they find that the people in the church are even worse then those outside the church :) i have had many a conversation with people not in the church, and i would say i understand their point of view - remember why i was asked to join this forum :) i think we need to be honest in our conversations here; what we mean is that "if they do not attend MY church" - the church "I" pastor, right? if a person leaves your church and attends the one i pastor whould you have a problem with that? knowing that i do not teach the same things you teach (on drinking, smoking, divorce, remarriage, dating, tithing, use of the "kjv," and other areas), my church structure is different, my doctrines are different, my ideas of "sin" are different, and all the other differences - would it be all right with you that they attend my church? i belive i am 100% right, supported in scripture and firm on the teachings - even though they differ greatly from yours - would it be ok for that person to attend the church i serve? pax jok --- CJohnThomas@... wrote: > Mickey > I understand your plight and sympathize with > you. I think most of us have > had to deal with this at one time or another. If a > person claims to be a > Christian and has no desire to be in the house of > the Lord, there is a problem. I > would be very concerned about this person. Is their > heart right with God, or > were they just playing church? Have they backslid or > were they ever saved in > the first place? (I won't get into the falling away. > That's been tried and > nothing was accomplished) The first thing I would do > is talk with them and find out > what is going on. It may be that they have a reason > (at least in their mind) > for not being there. I would consider purging the > list to be drastic measures. > I say this because I have known people who got out > of church for a while, but > are back and have become real assets to the church. > Find out if something has offended them. If so > maybe you can help resolve > it. Also, have someone else from the church talk to > them when you are not > present. None of us want to admit it, but there is > always the chance that > something we have said or done is the problem. If it > turns out that nothing within > the church is the problem, The person may just be > weak in his or her faith. If > that is the case they need to be lifted up in > prayer. > Here is acouple of verses that come to my mind. > Maybe they will help you > decide how to handle this. > Galatians 6:1 > 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye > which are spiritual, > restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; > considering thyself, lest thou also > be tempted. > > James 5:19-20 > 19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, > and one convert him; > 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner > from the error of his > way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a > multitude of sins. > > I hope this is helpful. I will be praying that > things work out. > > Your Brother In Christ > John T. Chambers > > -- > To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: > pastorsforum-unsubscribe@... > > "In essential things, unity; in non-essential > things, liberty; and in all things, charity." > ===== john o'keefe http://www.ginkworld.net __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - More reliable, more storage, less spam http://mail.yahoo.com