Post restrictions: Anti-Spam measures

Hey. Thanks for the message -
this isn't a forum to bash churches, nor is that at all what we are about.
What you'll find, however, is that the reality of these Last Days is that the Church is simply not what it's called to be. This isn't 'church bashing', it's reality. I'm not going to pretend for a second that it's okay, and I think it's important to acknowledge the truth that the Church has lost its first love, and as a result is casting people out left, right and centre, disillusioned, hurt, and poorly taught.

If you want to read my own take on that (and it's my thread that you referred to above), you can find it in the Contributions section, in an article entitled "Unity and the Laodicean Church".

Now, beyond that, I want to stress that you are absolutely welcome here.
The article you linked above is an exception, not the rule. I'm happy for people to be honest about their frustrations with the church, but we're not going to sit around in a circle bashing specific churches or specific people, either. If people's honest feelings and thoughts on that topic is something you can live with, please do sign up. We'd love to have you. If not, then I'm afraid there's not a whole lot I can offer you. I've been in plenty of places like this online, and haven't found anywhere that felt like home, as this place does. There are good people here; people who love the Lord and want to talk about Him, until He comes.

That's rare.
If you can find that kind of fellowship elsewhere, then you're blessed indeed - come back sometime and let us know so that we can sign up for that, too!

That's not how things work here.
Your posts express how you feel - they have a place here as much as my own do.

In response to what you've said, though:

- I do go to church. In fact, I've been in the same church for close to 20 years now, and attend regularly.
I know there are others here who do not attend a church building, but that's not what church is, regardless. Paul said "do not forsake meeting together". That simple. The church, the "ekklesia" in greek, isn't the building, it's the Body, and nobody here has forsaken that. Those who have left church (buildings) have done so in great pain, and with much sadness. They have left those places not willingly, but regretfully - because their churches no longer faithfully adhere to God's Word.

- My own criticism of the church as being lukewarm isn't aimed at any one church, but at the church globally. I feel that we as a church have lost our first love (Christ), and married the world instead... and that our lack of effectiveness is the direct result, or fruit, of that decision. As for worship... I would never presume to criticise someone for not worshipping "the right way" - and I say that primarily because, if my way is the right way, we're all in big, big trouble. It's not about what our worship looks like, but about where our heart is - and THAT is my criticism of the church, broadly; that our 'worship' is too often centered around self-aggrandizement and a false sense of 'encouragement', rather than centered around Christ.

If you think these are unjust critiques of the church, so be it. If, on the other hand, you see that the church has fallen far from what she was called to be, and long to see the church return to worshpping Jesus Christ in Spirit and in Truth, then this is absolutely the place for you.

...and if not? This is still the place for you.
None of us came here so that we could sit around, agree on everything, and pat each other on the back. Quite frankly, the past few years of reading God's Word have challenged me deeply - and many of the people here in this forum are a huge part of that; not because they've always agreed with me (or I them), but because they haven't. ...and that's really the point, isn't it?
Agree with me, or don't - I don't mind either way - but if you drive me to Christ? Drive me to read? Drive me to delve deeper into Scripture? I'll take that any day of the week.