In the last 3 years 4 churches I have gone to for a time or gone to things they have put on to support friends churches activities have had problems. 3 split and one just told their pastor to give up his outreach archery program or turn in his resignation. What sad times we are living in.

Spirit of the age corrupts everything.

A local Methodist Church just broke rank over recent considerations by “the church”.

What's "the church"? The US United Methodists, or the international one? I grew up United Methodist but since the US branch of that denomination is welcoming gays with open arms, I'll no longer be affiliated with them. The International United Methodist church still opposes gays though.

Same deal. They withheld funds for months waiting to see what their decision would be. They then parted ways surrendering the funds in exchange for the building and property.

Dont think that has ever worked. When this first started years ago, we stopped sending our apportionments for the same reason to the West Ohio conference. We ended up buying the property after they determined that there were too many other churches in the area to be feasible. Then they tried to sell off the church camp that served the larger area to fund refurbishing of other camps. Fortunately for us, they forgot about the contract made with the Bob Evans that when gave them the camp that if they decided to get rid of the camp, they had to sell it back to the family for $1.

I'm a Deacon's son so I always end up seeing more of the inner workings of the church then most.Just about every church around here is in competition with one another. Lots of people goin to this church to see what their made of for lack of a better word.who has the slickest preacher ,who dresses the sharpest, who has the nicest interiors, who's kids say the best speeches on whatever given Easter or whatever program (alot of kids getting whooped on for "making their parents look bad "for missin a word ) , the old woman folk harping on any of the younger women to the point they leave and don't come back, not to mention the internal hand changing of money..... O and lord forbid you do a sermon that steps on one too many toes..... Buncha horse and pony show pageantry most of the time

If you don't get your toes stepped on occasionally, the preacher isn't doing their job. Unless the only job is to pass the plate.

Is there anything more political today than religion? Not knocking it, only interested in honest opinions.

Wolfdog, you paint a great mental picture.
No such thing as a perfect church, however, some sure are a lot better than others.

And to that point,,many of America and abroad have went to a home church 5 to 25 people etc.
A lot of folks see something wrong Wrangler said best .
No perfect church because there comprised of unperfect people but we do have hope.
Come to think of it in the book of acts seem be held in folks homes hmmmm

Our preachers shut down church during COVId for almost a year. Then became the mask nazis. They have been canceling youth services and refusing funerals in the name of safety. We have 8 kids in our youth group. All but one have been vaccinated. Our preachers didn’t call or write or do any type of communication at all during their COVID hiatus. They did do a Church service every Sunday on Facebook. They did t want to start church back up. From my point of view they have had a year off and become lazy. Their salaries were not affected at all during this time. Our personnel committee is hearing from a lot of what’s left of our congregation and have started addressing the issues and we may be looking some new staff before it’s all over with. Our senior minister is near retirement age, our youth minister is in his mid 50s and doesn’t really connect with the kids and our music minute is a musical genius with the worst people skills you could ask for
Our church has dwindled from about 250-300 per Sunday down to 20-25 at its lowest. We have been averaging around 100 lately. We’re looking for change in our church(did I mention two of our ministers have been there for over 20yrs). Half the church left wants to chop heads. The other half can’t seem to find fault in anything they do.

Not just today - its always been that way.
Churches, and any other organization, are always going to have conflicts. It is not a sign of the times, its simply human nature.

ELCA Lutherans went woke about 10 years ago by allowing gays to be ministers. Our little country church lost a few members over it. My sisters ELCA church has a female pastor with blue or pink hair who drinks coffee and wears yoga pants during the service.

I reckon since we make up the church it's always going to stumble around. I myself ain't learned to walk on water yet and I don't reckon anybody else in the church has learned to either.
As for covid and the church, that did great damage. When the church closes when it is most needed it's just not good. The "fear not" message kinda goes out the window. However I don't blame pastor's, especially in the beginning of the thing, they didn't want to kill their congregations.
As for politics in church, much of what is considered political is just biblical. Abortion for example. Biblically thou shall not murder which just don't jive with a 'right to chose'. Of course that ain't really preached on anyways. Might hurt somebodies feelings.

You can't change Gods rules.When people try there will be conflict.

Gods rules are open to interpetation, it seems. Otherwise there would be no conflict.

The He is not God if He is open to interpretation.

Either He is or He is not there is no middle ground.

Either His word is absolute and correct in all parts or it is all rubbish.

You’re right, I don’t know anybody that goes to that church, not the worship leader or the pastor or any leaders in that church. I just made the whole thing up, as a matter of fact I guess they just changed the name of that church because they got tired of the old name.

You’re right again.
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You’re right again.......................................

I get what you are saying, warrior. What I mean is everyone interprets the rules differently, or puts their own spin on it. People believe what suits them best. What God says to you is probably way different than what He says to me. On most things in life I tend to take a pretty strong stand, but when it comes to religion I figure you do your thing, I'll do mine. As long as no one is harmed, worship the way you want.