Would you not attend church simply because you know others who do and don't live

I like to see everyone go to church, the good people and the bad people. The only problem is we have tried all of the local churches and the people who go there have mistreated our handicapped son and us. I do not wish to expose my handicapped son to bad people and have his feelings hurt.

The reason that I stopped going to church and started questioning my belief system was because of the hypocrites as well. For me, it was seeing these people stand up on Sunday mornings and spout the Christian rhetoric and then see them the following weekend doing the very same things that they claimed to be against on Sunday. I call those people "Sunday morning Christians." For them, it is more about being seen at church than actually practicing what they preach.

Church is a place to learn and do better. It is a place for sinners and those who want to rehabilitate their lives. It is not for those of us who worship to judge others sins but to have compassion and grace. To Show love as God does. It is up to us to know that we are not perfect and not to judge others. Especially if we only know them cursorily.

I'm always amused when people tell me this excuse. "I could never be a Christian because there are so many people who say they are, but don't live it" or "I don't go to church because there are too many hypocrites there." In the end, we're all responsible for our own choices, and I don't think these excuses will hold up well on judgment day. I say who cares what others may do -- live your life to your greatest potential. Don't let the hypocrites keep you away from the best thing that could ever happen to you!

My father use to use the same excuse. Everybody has their reasons on why they go and why they don't he use to say that he didn't need to be lick the other hypocrits that went to church never to change what they were asking to be forgiven for. He could worship in his own house without it. It doesn't mean his beliefs are any less. He reaised all his kids catholic. But he is very much against people going against there words that they will better thenselves and then once they walk out they start bad mouthing or gossiping it really annoyed him. So he doesn't go.

I agree with you if you go to Church it is your own personal opinion. I go to Church each Sunday and you do see a lot of People sitting there at gossiping. They forget what they came to Church for. I just sit there quietly and just trying to reflect and pray. These women that gossip are so noticeable it is actually sick. I wear jeans to church they are nice jeans clean and no holes in them. Women will comment that people come in jeans and not in "good dress clothes". To me that is rude. It does not matter what you were to Church as long as it is decent. The reason you go to Church is to pray and to me be closer to GOD.

I go to church and I have made friends with a lot of the people who go to my church but I would never condemn anyone there , It really is no one else's business why they go or do not go to church , we go to church to be closer to God not to worry about the other people there xx

well yeah some people have that kind of reasoning..i jsut wonder how do they come up to that conclusion on people its not right i guess..going to church is really a personal one its bet you and God or your faith in him..

No... I don't judge other people for their lifestyle choices and I certainly don't believe that god is into the whole "guilt by association" thing. I don't think god would really accept the reason that "Oh, so and so goes and they were out partying the day before, so I'm not going to go"... Sounds more like an excuse not to get off your butt and go!

We have to remember the Church is a place where sick people come to get healing. Christians are not perfect but we strive to please God. Be encouraged as you go to Church and learn more as you develop a closer relationship with Jesus.

even i also wont stop to go church

I'am sorry to hear that. Hypocrites are in anywhere, just because he is a hypocrite. I hear about one church have acouplet," hate sin, love sinner " , love is the greatest thing, receive and give it to everyone even he is a "hypocrite"!

i think that this is an excuse. a person goes to church because they receive spirtual guidance and peace. you are there for you, and not to judge other people. a person who says they don't go to church because of the hypocrites are just using that as an excuse. and you are right, if they are hypocrites, then church is where they belong.

I feel very similar. I attend church and would welcome anyone who would like to come to mine. I will always attend church reguardless of how others feel about it.

I think this is just a good excuse for not going. Most people won't admit they don't go because they don't want to. Yes the church is full of sinners and hypocrites, that why we have church. It is a place for sinners and hypocrites. I use to use this same stupid reason thinking it was a good reason. It is best to just say I don't because I don't like it, or I don't want to.

Yes well for a start your neighbour is right that there are too many hypocrites but that does not mean that I would not go to church just because of them,. I do not attend church any more due to all that they seem to do these days is want money and with them accepting bi-sexuals which is not allowed according to the bible but I do love God and pray to him every day and night.

I do agree with you. I dont think, we have any moral right to judge anyone and the Bible itself has said so. We have our ouwn account to handle on the Judgement day, so live your live and faith. Rest to God to handle

I had never been to church, except when I was in trip.(I'm Hindu by religion). But I will never bother about going to temple,simply because other people go there.Infact I hate to go places (temples)which r too much crowded. How can we realize god there. God is the thing/its feeling we have to realize with mind. We will not meet him with a driven force of somebody else. I go to sacred places whatever it may be, when I need piece of mind,& i get that.

I do too feel that going to church is a personal thing. Oh but there's a but, but, if someone were to attend church on a regular basis then it most cases it does reflect your life style to an extent.If going to church is truely something you are committed to because of your relationship with God then you will think a little harder about your actions and try a little harder to be a better christian or whatever else you may be. Other people who attend church are going to notice how you really are and for some who just think that they should have that right to know who attends that same church and get to make a personal dececion about their life. No I don't think that is right and if those people feel so disgusted by what other people do then fine stay home. That's my feeling on the matter. :)

No, although it would probably affect my respect of the people inside it to some extent. I was raised my whole life in church, and with my parents involved in the leadership of the church I've seen a lot of dark,deep, hypocritical secrets that a lot of churchgoers carry. But that doesn't stop me because church is not supposed to be about judging the people who go there. When we judge like that, we're sort of missing the point.