@@misterturkturkle I know that perhaps you've been hurt by people you know who called themselves Christians. Perhaps you grew up in an organization that did that to you. Perhaps you simply grew up with people telling you that and you came to believe them. I don't know you. But whatever came to make you believe God either died or doesn't exist is wrong. God is real, he loves you, he wants you to be with him forever. Everything about how you look he made, and he loves every bit of it. Every struggle you've gone through is a struggle he wants to reward you for. He made you in his image, your likeness is that of God. He wants you to be his own. He wants to give you joys that you can't imagine. God loves you. If you don't want to read the Bible, there are many channels that will tell it to you. If you don't want to listen to those there are others that will give you brief rundowns of its events. God will always be there for you, even if you're not there for him.
When the churches shut down for the.pandemic it really bothered me. The job of the church is to look after the poor, widows, fatherless children and the sick. When they were needed the most they locked the doors. It really was disappointing. Me and a few of my cousins kept speaking out about it.
Agreed. That was absolutely devastating. It's good to remember that while God is almighty, the religions we use to worship Him are only as strong as the people within them
Yes, traditionally during epidemics, priests didn’t run away. They went to the people who were sick to minister to their souls so they wouldn’t die without the sacraments. The Black Death decimated the population of priests in Europe. Others went to care for the sick hoping to help them get well. Why would Christians be afraid of death? Isn’t that what Jesus came to save us from? Love casts out fear.
@@arjan2713churches are part of society. I think what you meant to say is 'it's the job of the government by means of taxation to help ...' and... no, it's not. sorry.
It’s sad bc church used to be a big part of a family’s life & community. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the decline in society matches the decline in church attendance.
@@karinland8533 except in most cases the community that ppl lost when leaving the church wasn’t replaced with something else. As this has increased over the years so has substance use & mental illness especially with women who needed that community. That saying “it takes a village to raise a child” is a real thing, mom’s were never meant to do it alone while husbands worked, they had support. If they were sick someone brought them meals, if one child was ill another mom might take over the carpool there are many examples. If you have a community like that then that is amazing & you’re lucky bc most do not.
@@CarrieJessThe village was the uncles, grandma's and the rest of the family. That saying is from Africa which till this day the family stays together in villages(blood related) and work together.
@@antoniomosley9410 that’s not the only place that saying has been applied to though. Even though it was an African proverb it has been widely circulated to include many other “villages” as well. Not to mention not every African tribe or village is a group of relatives it is often more diverse than that because of marriages that have happened etc. Idk why you responded with a comment that you felt was a gotcha moment. Sayings & proverbs can be applied to more than where it originated in fact that’s pretty common. A church community these days takes the place of villages & small communities that in the western world were more common. Without that community ppl are feeling the struggle of living life without the help of the community. Is that fair to say?
That’s because the people are the church. Mr. Bradshaw, make sure that any and all teaching, at whatever facility you gather together to worship God, is teaching and preaching the Word of God and not some other book.
@@TomBradshaw-ot9zbHere is older woman, grandma advice. Go to communicate with God. The people aren't the most important thing. It's not social, it's spiritual. You keep that attitude, you'll attract the best people. Maybe that's not what you're seeking. People who attend church aren't perfect. Don't be discouraged by the people. Jesus and his teachings and ways are perfect. People? No.
@@TomBradshaw-ot9zb First, find a church that is very Biblical. Don’t worry about how you dress, or how good of a singer you are. After the service, talk with the pastor and elders, expressing your desire to become a Christian and member of the Church. The first church you go to may or may not be the church you actually end up attending, but it should give you a good sense of what the church is like. Hope this helps! (Here’s a tip: take notes during sermons)😊
Yep, even though the Church may be shrinking in Western Europe and North America, the Church in China has millions of members, and the Church in Eastern Europe has been experiencing growth also
“The Church” is the body of Christ. The building is where christians gather to worship. Where 2 or more are gathered in My name, there I am also Matthew 18:20
“20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” It isnt. He is saying that He is with them when people gather together for worship.
Laying of the Hands. Who put the Bible together, who actually canonized which scriptures are to be deemed as inerrant and Divine? The Bible as we know it didn’t fall out of thin air
Right. My Mom used to tell me “You didn’t have to go to church to worship God”, but I just started going to church in the past few months, and I can say that nothing beats actually GOING to church. It’s just not the same feeling, the same experience. I come home, and I feel inspired and renewed, some thing I would never get with worshiping on my own.
My daughter & her mom go to church. My daughter gets the message then tells me her mom seems to completely ignore it & act in complete opposition to it. Just saw it this past weekend. Some get more out of church than others. I enjoy a great deal of alone time with my Creator. I probably wouldn't be dealing with everything I'm going through well without he guidance & support I get from knowing Him. Thank you Yeheshua.
From personal experience - the churches in my region of Germany went downhill many years ago when they started giving one priest too many churches. So one priest might have 5 churches to lead. So there wasn’t a service each week anymore at any of those 5 churches and obviously all gatherings and social opportunities started to die down from that point on as well. In our parish we had a thriving youth group for many years and within two of getting a new priest with 4 other churches to cover most of the children/teenagers stopped coming and many of their parents as well. I think if you neglect the chance to form a community with church life, people will stop coming. You can pray anywhere. But it’s community that draws people in.
@@jhenz1926 well basically ‚the German Catholic churches‘. It’s a bit difficult to explain for me, as English isn’t my first language. But in short many Catholic churches in my region of Germany started the practice of giving one priest multiple churches to lead.
@@JmarieD it really was/is. My husband and I were both quite active in our churches during our youth and then everything just kind of stopped. We didn’t know the priests personally anymore and we only had church about once a month maybe? So after a while most people just stopped coming around.
@@tany197so it was a poor management decision by the church. Just when people hear stories like this they immediately jump to government corruption. No offence but especially when it comes to Germany. What region are you from? My family came from Brühl. My dad was born there.
Without the Gathering of Believers, boldness of spirit will diminish due to individual isolation and loneliness that inhibits boldness. Church gatherings matter, and should not be skipped. Having a headquarters for any movement is critical.
The church shouldn't work like a gee-up club. We can accomplish different things as groups, but He can raise 30,000 followers an hour from one evangelist.
@@youbigtubership true. It is the less spiritually mature and the lone Christians that benefit the most from gathering together. It is not good for Christians to endure this world in isolation, just like people are happier after they spend time with a good group of relatives. That interaction, plus the knowledge that you're not alone because we have your back, is what God uses to bolster the spirit of those who need it.
Since the invention of the internet the fastest growing group concerning religion is non religious/atheist. By 2050 more than 1/2 of America will not be Christian. I can’t wait!!
The physical Church, much like a monastery, is the vehicle that preserves the traditions and rituals in time and space. This is literally WHY Catholicism has survived thousands of years. These institutions created a physical place for individuals to practice their faith. Precisely why our enemies are trying so hard to get rid of them.
"The Church" is the members not the building. However, fellowship is important! I'm disabled & cannot fellowship at the building. Thankfully we have Zoom worship services still! And I fellowship through phone, mail, visits to my home, & social media. For me, this works well.
The Body of Christ will always be in existence. It may not always be in fancy buildings or even large gatherings but the forces of evil can never stop the Church.
I struggle deeply with this as well. However, I know that praying to Christ, eating nutritious food (use a calorie calculator and add up the nutrients you get because I accidentally starved myself from dieting and lost 20 pounds in only 3 months. Which isn’t good because it aged me prematurely and made me sluggish), exercising, getting outside, reaching out to someone, studying basic math and reading the Bible helps a lot. Sorry this is poorly written I’m tired. Keep the faith. It’s what’s most important. EDIT: Ooh, journaling is very important as well
The Apostle Paul said, "Do NOT forsake the assembling of yourselves together". Though it is possible to admire the beauty of God's handiwork while at the beach, that in no way increases your knowledge or wisdom of God's Holy Word nor your faithful walk with Him. I would rather listen to skilled, knowledgeable teachers of God's Word than do anything else. My spouse was disabled and between going to the doctors and in and out of hospitals and rehab centers we had to stop going to church; but, I still listen to multiple sermons each week and wish I were well enough to attend church services. I don't drive anymore; because, I can no longer pass the Drivers Eye exam; but, my hunger for God's word has not abated at all.
if two are more believers are gathered together, that's the church. it's the gathering and Fellowship of Christians, it's not a building at all, based on what Christ and Scripture says at least
You do know in scripture there were houses of worship and that even Christ was involved in em, they were called synagogues though. Yes you can have people’s hearts come together but this ain’t the grinch where Christmas didn’t need presents. There were things that we could ONLY do at the temple/synagogue that just havin a bunch of people together couldn’t accomplish without…
@@kingrobotnik6950 yeah there was places like synagogues and temples but as we see all throughout the New Testament, people gathered in each other's houses, Pual talks about this so much times in his letters. those were not called synagogues, that was church. we can see this when Paul gives thanks to Aquila and Priscilla in 1 Corinthians 16:19 "The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord." and these Churches were not in buildings of Religion, they are in Homes. and this goes back to Mathew when Jesus says "where two or three are gathered in my name, I am among them." Jesus in fact had a lot of problems with the religion of that day.
@@cloud9comedy128 archaeologists have dug up these "house churches." They were Catholic churches with icons, relics of martyrs, and liturgies. They were placed within people's houses, since building a liturgical building was illegal. There have been a ton of archeological digs that discovered first and second century house churches, as well as writings of Christians living in the first and second century. All of them show and describe worship services along the lines of Catholic and Eastern Orthodox worship, and none of them show worship along the lines of Protestant worship.
Even if the church must be as in China, He will continue to build His church. The Church will see transformed lives beyond what we are able to imagine.
Hey Michael or Matt , i watch you both sll the time . I hope someone starts giving AOC this new nic name . I guess she was walking down an alleged New York street and what appeared to be a couple conservatives said " Hey ABC" , i think that's so funny and appropriate because she needs help with her ABC'S Anyway, i hope it catches on . I love it 😂
God will raise a standard For a minister to widows & orphans 15 years then retired 20 years I am back in church & will testify What the pastor teaches is extremely relevant Outside bible discussions are extremely relevant Being reminded of relevance is extremely relevant To keeping faith & hope
Sadly my dad stopped going because our church shut down. I tried to explain to him that the church is a body of the lord and a beacon to bring in new believers but he just can’t let it go
I must say, I am currently a catechumen in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and a part of my conversion was from the modernism infecting the Latin Church and other Protestant denominations. If any of you are looking for the church of the Apostles, come and see! God bless you all! ☦️
I would say that, in this trying times ,my faith in Jesus is growing day by day. It's no more for any blessings but because I want a true relationship with Jesus Christ . I am having daily holy mass, holy rosary, holy bible reading and reflections and I can see the changes in my life. I feel extremely joyful, and suddenly I can be with Jesus in all my circumstances. I used to blame catholic Church for not looking after their own and just degrading in standard when in reality I have never prayed for the growth of church as much as I have prayed for my wellbeing. So now i constantly pray for Jesus to send his abundant blessings and fill holy church with holy spirit to gain renewal and to overcome these trying times.
The most important thing to remember is this: when Christ said “ I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it”. He meant what he said from the God that cannot lie.
There are still a few Bible-believing churches in Germany, with mostly evangelical reformed free churches being alive and growing. Don’t know if Michael accepts us as part of the Church body. Yet the Lord has reserved for himself 7000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal.
The Church is being purified. Those who didn’t go back to the sacraments after things opened up again didn’t really believe in the first place. They were previously probably just eating and drinking judgement upon themselves. I hope the repent and believe before it’s too late, but without faith it is impossible to please God. I also have to question if the bishops and priests who cut off their flocks actually believe also? I don’t believe the sickness was a bad as dramatized (other than the fact they had a protocol to kill people in the hospitals). But even if it had been as bad as portrayed, THAT’S the MOST IMPORTANT TIME to administer the sacraments. Don’t they believe Christ has trampled death by death?
The churches never should have shut down. The fact they did proved they weren’t really of God - but rather of a spirit of fear. Those who returned like lambs to a reckless, cowardly shepherd can hardly be considered the purified.
I don't understand why this was a huge issue. I attended mass online and prayed the spiritual communion prayer. I prayed the rosary everyday. Later, they allowed us to receive communion outside the church after mass - you're supposed to watch the online mass first, then our parish sent out lay ministers to the various neighborhoods to give the Eucharist. (We only had ONE priest serving several neighborhoods.) Perhaps the people in power who shut down the churches were wrong, but so what? If you, an ordinary person, can't do anything about that, then do your best and God will provide the graces you need via other ways. You're right in saying that the people who stopped coming after Covid were probably just looking for an excuse to stop going.
@@krdiaz8026It matters because the “Word was made FLESH and dwelt among us.” Spiritual communion is good but not what Christ died to give us. It’s one thing to make a “mistake “. It’s something more to make a mistake because they don’t believe what they purportedly represent. And even worse yet, is to intentionally destroy the Church because they hate it. It’s become glaringly obvious that we’re mostly under wolfs in shepherd’s clothing doing the third.
@@ThanksStJosephI understand what you are saying. I am Catholic. My reply was to OP's comment about how the people who didn't return likely lacked faith. If you have a lot of faith, the closing of the Churches would not be a big issue, i.e. it would not affect your faith, because there are other ways to nurture your soul even if you are (unjustly) deprived of the Eucharist. Like I said, God will provide you His graces via other means.
God knows whats happening and whats going to happen. Through His word we also have a pretty good idea of whats to come. What we have to do is stay true to His teachings and keep the faith. Being a Christian already comes with hardships, and its only going to get harder. We just have to be ready to sacrifice what we have in the name of Jesus, who sacrificed everything He had for us.
I think a major reason for the plandemic was to destroy Christianity and the Church. My mother who is a devout Catholic doesn't even want to go anymore. Her old age makes it hard but even when someone offers to take her she simply doesn't want to go.
I recommend to all commenters here: read Scott Hahn’s book Rome Sweet Rome. About the origins of Church… excellent reading theologically and historically.
That’s why we specifically say it is not a building. Obviously when Christians are gathered together, that is the church as a whole. And it doesn’t matter where they congregate. But it is a place. So one could maybe say that a place is part of the church, however, we specifically say that the church is not the building. You can have church wherever, it doesn’t have to be the building. So when you look at an empty church building, it’s the building, not the church. When you look at it when it’s full, you can rightfully say that the church is within the building, it is not actually the building.
I think the people who stopped going to church during the pandemic weren’t the ones with authentic faith. They stopped going and that was it. For those of us dedicated to following Christ we did everything we could to get back in those doors and never stopped seeking God. I see new people coming to Christ every week in our church. The churches around me are growing again. I think God used the pandemic to weed out and build his church stronger with bold authentic faith.
Christ will protect His bride. It's not us as humans who keep the faith alive. Also, I know of many, many people who deepened their relationship with God during Covid. My dad was one of them. So we need to fight for the church, knowing it's in God's hand.
I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and about a year before covid we started a home-centered, church-supported program called Come Follow Me. We went from three hours every Sunday to two, with the intention that as a family you made up that hour with study as a family going over the chapters of scripture we read that week.This really helped when covid hit about a year later. Then every worthy Melchizedek priesthood holder(so men 16+) was temporarily given the authority to bless and prepare the sacrament at home. This gave us the ability to worship and partake in sacred ordinances at home. This was no longer allowed after covid restrictions were lifted(though we still have the Come Follow Me program), but it was a huge blessing to be able to have. Though I still much prefer to be able to partake and worship in our church building.
That can’t be so in the Catholic Church. There is an obligation to attend mass on Sunday. We believe that Christ is present in the Eucharist and we must be in his physical presence as well as to receive Christ .
@@den8863 We believe that our church houses are sacred buildings, we also believe that our temples are the houses of the Lord on the earth. We weren't able to go to either during COVID. We also believe in partaking of the sacrament weekly, we make covenants to the Lord at baptism and renew those when we take the sacrament. I believe the Lord provided us a way to do something he asked of us ,while also following the laws of the land, something he also asks of us.
Hey just a friendly reminder, anyone talking about the "end times" or "rapture" need to rethink their stance because its be 2000+ years of any day now...😂😂😂
With all due respect, Michael’s perspective is from a Catholic perspective. The Bible doesn’t teach anywhere that the church is limited to a building. We don’t need a building, we don’t need sacraments, we need a change of heart from the inside out…that can only happen by having a personal relationship with Jesus. Anything other than that is based off of church tradition, but not found anywhere in the Bible.
The personal relationship with Jesus is through the Eucharist, which he instituted and then commissioned to the church (John 6) . This notion of personal feelings and ideas being the be all and end all is rooted in the early heresies.
@@3Betanzos Whether the Catholic definition of Holy Eucharist is a "re-sacrifice" of Christ, or a "re-offering" of Christ’s sacrifice, or a “re-presentation” of Christ’s sacrifice, the concept is unbiblical. We need to understand that Christ does not need to be re-sacrificed. Christ’s sacrifice does not need to be re-offered or re-presented. Hebrews 7:27 declares, "Unlike the other high priests, He (Jesus) does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins ONCE for all when He offered Himself." Similarly, 1 Peter 3:18 exclaims, "For Christ died for sins ONCE for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God..." Christ’s once-for-all death on the cross was sufficient to atone for all of our sins (1 John 2:2). Therefore, Christ’s sacrifice does not need to be re-offered. Instead, Christ’s sacrifice is to be received by faith. Eating Christ’s flesh and drinking His blood are symbols of fully receiving His sacrifice on our behalf, by grace through faith.
Fun fact: Since the pandemic, there has been an overwhelming rate of protestants converting to 2 different streams, Catholicism and mormonism. I find this intriguing as I think it points to a desire for real, formal, and unapologetic religious worship, rather than the free-for-all relevantist version the non-denoms proport. I think the fruit of that relevant church is becoming quite obvious. One can't truly seek the Lord in spirit and truth, and accept a false gospel of calling doen fire from Heaven, parlor tricks, and unholy gathering.
The physical buildings calling themselves churches proved they did not have the Spirit of God in them when they shut down in fear because daddy government told them to. And also with how they have responded to work culture. John the Baptist stopped visiting the synagogue of Satan in his day. And besides flipping tables and lecturing Pharisees, so did Our Lord.
I was born a catholic, raised born again, then converted to LDS (Mormon to the world). I’ve read the Bible 20x+. It’s just interesting different religions and how they’re evolving.
I have idea how you can grow up Christian and then convert to believing the crazy stuff the Mormons believe. At least the Bible is a historical document, your Joseph Smith books are just his personal writings. You will never be a God
Conservative Christians need to stop shaming other conservative Christians who closed their church (building) and went online. I know multiple pastors who went online, and they did it for the people. One pastor closed after losing a member to covid. Not saying every church should have closed, but some were called to close. Different congregations have diferent needs.
Our church played nice the first full lockdown. We didn’t understand enough yet. The next lockdown we didn’t shut down. It was clearer then that what was being told to us was lies.
The communion is to be done when you break bread with the brothers and sisters in Christ. How many "churches" actually share a meal and have communion while eating as Jesus did with His followers? Jesus was having "the last supper" and in the middle of it, He created communion and said "do this in remembrance of Me".
The church is described as in the Bible as being a collection of followers or screaming Jesus Christ. The building is just words housed but I see your point.
As long as Minister's, Priest's, and Pastor's are Pimping $luts to the Men in their congregations church attendance for Men at least will continue to drop.
In contrast, the Eastern Orthodox church will be flourishing in 20 years. As Catholicism crumbles, I pray that my brothers and sisters in Christ will come to the One, Holy, Catholic, (by definition), and Apostlic Orthodox church which is eternal. ☦️
Thinking that Germany will have no churches ignores the reality of confessional Lutherans (tens of thousands of members) and various Evangelical groups. The state sponsored Lutheran churches may be gone, and Roman Catholics along with them, but that doesn't mean everyone is gone.
Such a mindset of entitlement manifesting in many. And, I won’t keep it exclusive to the younger generation. We have become lazy. For a church family to thrive, (not just survive), you must put the work in. Visit the sick, teach Bible Studies, serve at funeral dinners, decorate the sanctuary for Christmas… We saw during Covid that we could “do” church from the comfort of our own homes, in our pj’s. God’s Word will be with us forever. But, I am afraid we will see more & more churches closing their doors forever. Until all we see are huge Mega-churches-where entertainment is worshiped, everyone has a name tag on, and walks around with a latte. Is this what we want, church?
As far as I remember, Jesus didn’t build a church. He built a Community. A Christian Community. This is the Holy Place that we are carving for, and lost while labelling this or that church as the only one of salvation.
GOD will always protect the remnant. He can hide them . GOD always wins
if such a creature existed, it is deceased
Amen! Hallelujah!
@@misterturkturkle
I know that perhaps you've been hurt by people you know who called themselves Christians. Perhaps you grew up in an organization that did that to you. Perhaps you simply grew up with people telling you that and you came to believe them.
I don't know you. But whatever came to make you believe God either died or doesn't exist is wrong. God is real, he loves you, he wants you to be with him forever. Everything about how you look he made, and he loves every bit of it. Every struggle you've gone through is a struggle he wants to reward you for. He made you in his image, your likeness is that of God.
He wants you to be his own. He wants to give you joys that you can't imagine. God loves you. If you don't want to read the Bible, there are many channels that will tell it to you. If you don't want to listen to those there are others that will give you brief rundowns of its events.
God will always be there for you, even if you're not there for him.
@@spiffygonzales5160 which god?
@@misterturkturkle
The Christian God
If those no churches in 20 years, we will be with Jesus before then
What leads you to believe this?
@@stevet5379the voices in their head.
@@stevet5379the bible read revelations and Matthew 24 and it will tell you
Didn’t your Jesus say not to congregate ?
@@sonofednawelthorpe8609Where?
When the churches shut down for the.pandemic it really bothered me. The job of the church is to look after the poor, widows, fatherless children and the sick. When they were needed the most they locked the doors. It really was disappointing. Me and a few of my cousins kept speaking out about it.
Agreed. That was absolutely devastating. It's good to remember that while God is almighty, the religions we use to worship Him are only as strong as the people within them
@@Artbugthe job of society isto protect the poor the sick
Yes, traditionally during epidemics, priests didn’t run away. They went to the people who were sick to minister to their souls so they wouldn’t die without the sacraments. The Black Death decimated the population of priests in Europe. Others went to care for the sick hoping to help them get well. Why would Christians be afraid of death? Isn’t that what Jesus came to save us from? Love casts out fear.
@@arjan2713churches are part of society. I think what you meant to say is 'it's the job of the government by means of taxation to help ...' and... no, it's not. sorry.
There was a pandemic obviously they didn't want it to spread further and faster
It’s sad bc church used to be a big part of a family’s life & community. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the decline in society matches the decline in church attendance.
If you have an actual community you don’t need a church
@@karinland8533 except in most cases the community that ppl lost when leaving the church wasn’t replaced with something else. As this has increased over the years so has substance use & mental illness especially with women who needed that community. That saying “it takes a village to raise a child” is a real thing, mom’s were never meant to do it alone while husbands worked, they had support. If they were sick someone brought them meals, if one child was ill another mom might take over the carpool there are many examples.
If you have a community like that then that is amazing & you’re lucky bc most do not.
@@CarrieJesssociety doesn't have to raise my kids that's called communism
@@CarrieJessThe village was the uncles, grandma's and the rest of the family. That saying is from Africa which till this day the family stays together in villages(blood related) and work together.
@@antoniomosley9410 that’s not the only place that saying has been applied to though. Even though it was an African proverb it has been widely circulated to include many other “villages” as well. Not to mention not every African tribe or village is a group of relatives it is often more diverse than that because of marriages that have happened etc.
Idk why you responded with a comment that you felt was a gotcha moment. Sayings & proverbs can be applied to more than where it originated in fact that’s pretty common. A church community these days takes the place of villages & small communities that in the western world were more common. Without that community ppl are feeling the struggle of living life without the help of the community. Is that fair to say?
Church keeps me in step, I feel I’m with the Lord more in church than when I’m at home. Also the people are great to be around
please can you share some tips for going to church for the first time if you have any?
That’s because the people are the church. Mr. Bradshaw, make sure that any and all teaching, at whatever facility you gather together to worship God, is teaching and preaching the Word of God and not some other book.
@@TomBradshaw-ot9zbHere is older woman, grandma advice. Go to communicate with God. The people aren't the most important thing. It's not social, it's spiritual. You keep that attitude, you'll attract the best people. Maybe that's not what you're seeking. People who attend church aren't perfect. Don't be discouraged by the people. Jesus and his teachings and ways are perfect. People? No.
@@TomBradshaw-ot9zb First, find a church that is very Biblical. Don’t worry about how you dress, or how good of a singer you are. After the service, talk with the pastor and elders, expressing your desire to become a Christian and member of the Church. The first church you go to may or may not be the church you actually end up attending, but it should give you a good sense of what the church is like. Hope this helps! (Here’s a tip: take notes during sermons)😊
There will always be a remnant of people following God
Yep, even though the Church may be shrinking in Western Europe and North America, the Church in China has millions of members, and the Church in Eastern Europe has been experiencing growth also
That's the pattern.
I just finished a deep dive into the Minor Prophets. There is always a remnant.
“The rite and sacrament of the Purell and the face mantilla.” -Michael Knowles 🤣 That was pretty clever
“The Church” is the body of Christ. The building is where christians gather to worship. Where 2 or more are gathered in My name, there I am also Matthew 18:20
That's exactly right. The Church is not also a place. By definition of the word as used in the NT it is the body of Christ.
The term Church comes from the Greek word _Kurikon_ meaning "House of the Lord." Just sayin'...
donatien alphonse françois
“20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
It isnt. He is saying that He is with them when people gather together for worship.
Laying of the Hands. Who put the Bible together, who actually canonized which scriptures are to be deemed as inerrant and Divine? The Bible as we know it didn’t fall out of thin air
Right. My Mom used to tell me “You didn’t have to go to church to worship God”, but I just started going to church in the past few months, and I can say that nothing beats actually GOING to church. It’s just not the same feeling, the same experience. I come home, and I feel inspired and renewed, some thing I would never get with worshiping on my own.
My daughter & her mom go to church. My daughter gets the message then tells me her mom seems to completely ignore it & act in complete opposition to it. Just saw it this past weekend. Some get more out of church than others. I enjoy a great deal of alone time with my Creator. I probably wouldn't be dealing with everything I'm going through well without he guidance & support I get from knowing Him. Thank you Yeheshua.
From personal experience - the churches in my region of Germany went downhill many years ago when they started giving one priest too many churches. So one priest might have 5 churches to lead. So there wasn’t a service each week anymore at any of those 5 churches and obviously all gatherings and social opportunities started to die down from that point on as well. In our parish we had a thriving youth group for many years and within two of getting a new priest with 4 other churches to cover most of the children/teenagers stopped coming and many of their parents as well. I think if you neglect the chance to form a community with church life, people will stop coming. You can pray anywhere. But it’s community that draws people in.
That's so sad😢
Who is they?
@@jhenz1926 well basically ‚the German Catholic churches‘. It’s a bit difficult to explain for me, as English isn’t my first language. But in short many Catholic churches in my region of Germany started the practice of giving one priest multiple churches to lead.
@@JmarieD it really was/is. My husband and I were both quite active in our churches during our youth and then everything just kind of stopped. We didn’t know the priests personally anymore and we only had church about once a month maybe? So after a while most people just stopped coming around.
@@tany197so it was a poor management decision by the church. Just when people hear stories like this they immediately jump to government corruption. No offence but especially when it comes to Germany. What region are you from? My family came from Brühl. My dad was born there.
They treat the church like it's a museum.
In some places it is. England charges a museum fee to attend service in some of their "churches". 😐
2000 years of any day now jesus will come back...
Without the Gathering of Believers, boldness of spirit will diminish due to individual isolation and loneliness that inhibits boldness. Church gatherings matter, and should not be skipped. Having a headquarters for any movement is critical.
The church shouldn't work like a gee-up club. We can accomplish different things as groups, but He can raise 30,000 followers an hour from one evangelist.
@@youbigtubership true. It is the less spiritually mature and the lone Christians that benefit the most from gathering together. It is not good for Christians to endure this world in isolation, just like people are happier after they spend time with a good group of relatives. That interaction, plus the knowledge that you're not alone because we have your back, is what God uses to bolster the spirit of those who need it.
It's not the shutting down of the church that's worrying. It's the dying of the faith that's the real concern.
The church is the body of Christ.
Since the invention of the internet the fastest growing group concerning religion is non religious/atheist. By 2050 more than 1/2 of America will not be Christian. I can’t wait!!
The physical Church, much like a monastery, is the vehicle that preserves the traditions and rituals in time and space. This is literally WHY Catholicism has survived thousands of years. These institutions created a physical place for individuals to practice their faith. Precisely why our enemies are trying so hard to get rid of them.
"The Church" is the members not the building. However, fellowship is important! I'm disabled & cannot fellowship at the building. Thankfully we have Zoom worship services still! And I fellowship through phone, mail, visits to my home, & social media. For me, this works well.
The Body of Christ will always be in existence. It may not always be in fancy buildings or even large gatherings but the forces of evil can never stop the Church.
I live in a town north of Toronto that’s over 200 years old. Slowly but surely the churches are disappearing one by one
Smaller in number but much stronger is the future.
Prayers continue for the mystical body of Christ. For the Divine Mercy message to spread throughout the world. Jesus I Trust in You. Ave Maria 🙏🥰🌹
I'm struggling with communication, and having conversations, and I feel half brain dead or something.
I struggle deeply with this as well. However, I know that praying to Christ, eating nutritious food (use a calorie calculator and add up the nutrients you get because I accidentally starved myself from dieting and lost 20 pounds in only 3 months. Which isn’t good because it aged me prematurely and made me sluggish), exercising, getting outside, reaching out to someone, studying basic math and reading the Bible helps a lot. Sorry this is poorly written I’m tired. Keep the faith. It’s what’s most important. EDIT: Ooh, journaling is very important as well
After the pandemic, I felt feral. My social skills felt rusty. Although I'm an introvert, it really showed me that I should not isolate myself
@@HotSauce-fo6sfI have been told to journal but resist putting my deepest thoughts on paper. Tell me please why you think this practice is valuable.
There are many churches thriving that are not necessarily in the West. That’s the beauty of the Gospel. It will always prevail.
I think the church will have transitioned into more relational small groups either in homes or smaller communities…not too unlike the early church.
The Apostle Paul said, "Do NOT forsake the assembling of yourselves together".
Though it is possible to admire the beauty of God's handiwork while at the beach, that in no way increases your knowledge or wisdom of God's Holy Word nor your faithful walk with Him. I would rather listen to skilled, knowledgeable teachers of God's Word than do anything else.
My spouse was disabled and between going to the doctors and in and out of hospitals and rehab centers we had to stop going to church; but, I still listen to multiple sermons each week and wish I were well enough to attend church services. I don't drive anymore; because, I can no longer pass the Drivers Eye exam; but, my hunger for God's word has not abated at all.
"Forsake not the gathering of yourselves together", words quoted from Jesus Christ, the church is a HOLY place.
You beat me to it! Yes, big or small, it's important to have fellowship
if two are more believers are gathered together, that's the church. it's the gathering and Fellowship of Christians, it's not a building at all, based on what Christ and Scripture says at least
You do know in scripture there were houses of worship and that even Christ was involved in em, they were called synagogues though. Yes you can have people’s hearts come together but this ain’t the grinch where Christmas didn’t need presents. There were things that we could ONLY do at the temple/synagogue that just havin a bunch of people together couldn’t accomplish without…
@@kingrobotnik6950 yeah there was places like synagogues and temples but as we see all throughout the New Testament, people gathered in each other's houses, Pual talks about this so much times in his letters. those were not called synagogues, that was church. we can see this when Paul gives thanks to Aquila and Priscilla in 1 Corinthians 16:19
"The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord." and these Churches were not in buildings of Religion, they are in Homes. and this goes back to Mathew when Jesus says "where two or three are gathered in my name, I am among them." Jesus in fact had a lot of problems with the religion of that day.
@@cloud9comedy128 Do you actually think Matt Walsh and Michael Knowles believe that the Church is a building and not the followers of Christ?
@@cloud9comedy128 archaeologists have dug up these "house churches." They were Catholic churches with icons, relics of martyrs, and liturgies. They were placed within people's houses, since building a liturgical building was illegal.
There have been a ton of archeological digs that discovered first and second century house churches, as well as writings of Christians living in the first and second century. All of them show and describe worship services along the lines of Catholic and Eastern Orthodox worship, and none of them show worship along the lines of Protestant worship.
@@KEP1983- If you can find a link for this I would love to learn more.
Even if the church must be as in China, He will continue to build His church. The Church will see transformed lives beyond what we are able to imagine.
Hey Michael or Matt , i watch you both sll the time . I hope someone starts giving AOC this new nic name . I guess she was walking down an alleged New York street and what appeared to be a couple conservatives said " Hey ABC" , i think that's so funny and appropriate because she needs help with her ABC'S Anyway, i hope it catches on . I love it 😂
Hey remember when Ben was urging everyone to get The Jab? I do
There will always be The Church. ☦️
God will raise a standard
For a minister to widows & orphans 15 years then retired 20 years
I am back in church & will testify
What the pastor teaches is extremely relevant
Outside bible discussions are extremely relevant
Being reminded of relevance is extremely relevant
To keeping faith & hope
Sadly my dad stopped going because our church shut down.
I tried to explain to him that the church is a body of the lord and a beacon to bring in new believers but he just can’t let it go
Face mantilla😂 I love it!
I must say, I am currently a catechumen in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and a part of my conversion was from the modernism infecting the Latin Church and other Protestant denominations. If any of you are looking for the church of the Apostles, come and see! God bless you all! ☦️
"Where two or more gather, I will be in their midst" JC.
I would say that, in this trying times ,my faith in Jesus is growing day by day. It's no more for any blessings but because I want a true relationship with Jesus Christ . I am having daily holy mass, holy rosary, holy bible reading and reflections and I can see the changes in my life.
I feel extremely joyful, and suddenly I can be with Jesus in all my circumstances.
I used to blame catholic Church for not looking after their own and just degrading in standard when in reality I have never prayed for the growth of church as much as I have prayed for my wellbeing.
So now i constantly pray for Jesus to send his abundant blessings and fill holy church with holy spirit to gain renewal and to overcome these trying times.
Church buildings might be gone, but the body will assemble nonetheless. Like in homes, as it used to be.
The faith has died many times and risen again. For it has a God who know his way out of the grave. - G.K Chesterton
The letters to the 7 churches in the book of revelation is a starting point as to what the church should look like.
Some tough conversations right there
God's word will not die. Mark 16:16
The most important thing to remember is this: when Christ said “ I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it”. He meant what he said from the God that cannot lie.
Bars, public parks, taverns, campgrounds, pubs, community centers are also places.
O gosh breaking my heart in Germany
There are still a few Bible-believing churches in Germany, with mostly evangelical reformed free churches being alive and growing. Don’t know if Michael accepts us as part of the Church body. Yet the Lord has reserved for himself 7000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal.
The home church movement is huge.
The Church is being purified. Those who didn’t go back to the sacraments after things opened up again didn’t really believe in the first place. They were previously probably just eating and drinking judgement upon themselves. I hope the repent and believe before it’s too late, but without faith it is impossible to please God.
I also have to question if the bishops and priests who cut off their flocks actually believe also? I don’t believe the sickness was a bad as dramatized (other than the fact they had a protocol to kill people in the hospitals). But even if it had been as bad as portrayed, THAT’S the MOST IMPORTANT TIME to administer the sacraments. Don’t they believe Christ has trampled death by death?
The churches never should have shut down. The fact they did proved they weren’t really of God - but rather of a spirit of fear.
Those who returned like lambs to a reckless, cowardly shepherd can hardly be considered the purified.
I don't understand why this was a huge issue. I attended mass online and prayed the spiritual communion prayer. I prayed the rosary everyday. Later, they allowed us to receive communion outside the church after mass - you're supposed to watch the online mass first, then our parish sent out lay ministers to the various neighborhoods to give the Eucharist. (We only had ONE priest serving several neighborhoods.)
Perhaps the people in power who shut down the churches were wrong, but so what? If you, an ordinary person, can't do anything about that, then do your best and God will provide the graces you need via other ways. You're right in saying that the people who stopped coming after Covid were probably just looking for an excuse to stop going.
@@krdiaz8026It matters because the “Word was made FLESH and dwelt among us.” Spiritual communion is good but not what Christ died to give us. It’s one thing to make a “mistake “. It’s something more to make a mistake because they don’t believe what they purportedly represent. And even worse yet, is to intentionally destroy the Church because they hate it. It’s become glaringly obvious that we’re mostly under wolfs in shepherd’s clothing doing the third.
@@ThanksStJosephI understand what you are saying. I am Catholic. My reply was to OP's comment about how the people who didn't return likely lacked faith. If you have a lot of faith, the closing of the Churches would not be a big issue, i.e. it would not affect your faith, because there are other ways to nurture your soul even if you are (unjustly) deprived of the Eucharist. Like I said, God will provide you His graces via other means.
God knows whats happening and whats going to happen. Through His word we also have a pretty good idea of whats to come. What we have to do is stay true to His teachings and keep the faith.
Being a Christian already comes with hardships, and its only going to get harder. We just have to be ready to sacrifice what we have in the name of Jesus, who sacrificed everything He had for us.
Fun fact- Germany taxes people who go to church
Why?
Eastern Orthodox faithful never had to worry 2000 years of consistency
I think a major reason for the plandemic was to destroy Christianity and the Church. My mother who is a devout Catholic doesn't even want to go anymore. Her old age makes it hard but even when someone offers to take her she simply doesn't want to go.
I recommend to all commenters here: read Scott Hahn’s book Rome Sweet Rome. About the origins of Church… excellent reading theologically and historically.
If they shut down all churches, our churches will become streets , our churches will become towns.
Love for our lord will never disappear.
That’s why we specifically say it is not a building. Obviously when Christians are gathered together, that is the church as a whole. And it doesn’t matter where they congregate. But it is a place. So one could maybe say that a place is part of the church, however, we specifically say that the church is not the building. You can have church wherever, it doesn’t have to be the building. So when you look at an empty church building, it’s the building, not the church. When you look at it when it’s full, you can rightfully say that the church is within the building, it is not actually the building.
Steal sharpens steal. The best part of my week is taking my family to gods house.
I think the people who stopped going to church during the pandemic weren’t the ones with authentic faith. They stopped going and that was it. For those of us dedicated to following Christ we did everything we could to get back in those doors and never stopped seeking God. I see new people coming to Christ every week in our church. The churches around me are growing again. I think God used the pandemic to weed out and build his church stronger with bold authentic faith.
There’s not “some” truth to that. That’s literally what church means. It’s the assembly of people. Not the location they gather in.
When he says "the church" he's referring to the religion of catholicism
@@Artbug then he’s using the word wrong. It’s ok people can’t be right all the time
The Catholic Church has a much stronger base than people think. It's not looking for publicity. It's just solid and devoted.
Forget churches we need more mead halls, hail Odin!
I'd like to see that.
Christ will protect His bride. It's not us as humans who keep the faith alive.
Also, I know of many, many people who deepened their relationship with God during Covid. My dad was one of them.
So we need to fight for the church, knowing it's in God's hand.
A church is just a building. The faith comes from within.
You have that backwards 😘 The Church is the body of Christ who are the people. The building is where the Church meets.
I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and about a year before covid we started a home-centered, church-supported program called Come Follow Me. We went from three hours every Sunday to two, with the intention that as a family you made up that hour with study as a family going over the chapters of scripture we read that week.This really helped when covid hit about a year later. Then every worthy Melchizedek priesthood holder(so men 16+) was temporarily given the authority to bless and prepare the sacrament at home. This gave us the ability to worship and partake in sacred ordinances at home. This was no longer allowed after covid restrictions were lifted(though we still have the Come Follow Me program), but it was a huge blessing to be able to have. Though I still much prefer to be able to partake and worship in our church building.
So now you understand a book thst is made up better...congrats
@@vdoggydogg3922 I didn't know the Bible was made up
That can’t be so in the Catholic Church. There is an obligation to attend mass on Sunday. We believe that Christ is present in the Eucharist and we must be in his physical presence as well as to receive Christ
.
@@den8863 That's cool, I didn't know that.
@@den8863 We believe that our church houses are sacred buildings, we also believe that our temples are the houses of the Lord on the earth. We weren't able to go to either during COVID. We also believe in partaking of the sacrament weekly, we make covenants to the Lord at baptism and renew those when we take the sacrament. I believe the Lord provided us a way to do something he asked of us ,while also following the laws of the land, something he also asks of us.
AS THE BIBLE SAYS, THIS IS A PARTIAL VERSE: "DO NOT FORSAKE THE GATHERING OF THE SAINTS"
Come to Argentina. Church is booming here among the faithful
Hey just a friendly reminder, anyone talking about the "end times" or "rapture" need to rethink their stance because its be 2000+ years of any day now...😂😂😂
Holly God bless me and all 🌏😇😍🇺🇸🙌
With all due respect, Michael’s perspective is from a Catholic perspective. The Bible doesn’t teach anywhere that the church is limited to a building. We don’t need a building, we don’t need sacraments, we need a change of heart from the inside out…that can only happen by having a personal relationship with Jesus. Anything other than that is based off of church tradition, but not found anywhere in the Bible.
Bless!❤ Amen!🙏
The personal relationship with Jesus is through the Eucharist, which he instituted and then commissioned to the church (John 6) . This notion of personal feelings and ideas being the be all and end all is rooted in the early heresies.
@@3Betanzos Whether the Catholic definition of Holy Eucharist is a "re-sacrifice" of Christ, or a "re-offering" of Christ’s sacrifice, or a “re-presentation” of Christ’s sacrifice, the concept is unbiblical.
We need to understand that Christ does not need to be re-sacrificed. Christ’s sacrifice does not need to be re-offered or re-presented. Hebrews 7:27 declares, "Unlike the other high priests, He (Jesus) does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins ONCE for all when He offered Himself." Similarly, 1 Peter 3:18 exclaims, "For Christ died for sins ONCE for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God..." Christ’s once-for-all death on the cross was sufficient to atone for all of our sins (1 John 2:2). Therefore, Christ’s sacrifice does not need to be re-offered. Instead, Christ’s sacrifice is to be received by faith. Eating Christ’s flesh and drinking His blood are symbols of fully receiving His sacrifice on our behalf, by grace through faith.
I‘m German and Catholic and will still be in 20 years!
"The church isn't a place, its the people."
Do you every meet with,talk to, or learn from the people?
"Well no, but......"
Fun fact: Since the pandemic, there has been an overwhelming rate of protestants converting to 2 different streams, Catholicism and mormonism.
I find this intriguing as I think it points to a desire for real, formal, and unapologetic religious worship, rather than the free-for-all relevantist version the non-denoms proport. I think the fruit of that relevant church is becoming quite obvious. One can't truly seek the Lord in spirit and truth, and accept a false gospel of calling doen fire from Heaven, parlor tricks, and unholy gathering.
The physical buildings calling themselves churches proved they did not have the Spirit of God in them when they shut down in fear because daddy government told them to.
And also with how they have responded to work culture.
John the Baptist stopped visiting the synagogue of Satan in his day. And besides flipping tables and lecturing Pharisees, so did Our Lord.
Hey german christian here. You are wrong michael. The state churches are dying, but most other churches are booming and alive.
I was born a catholic, raised born again, then converted to LDS (Mormon to the world). I’ve read the Bible 20x+. It’s just interesting different religions and how they’re evolving.
I have idea how you can grow up Christian and then convert to believing the crazy stuff the Mormons believe. At least the Bible is a historical document, your Joseph Smith books are just his personal writings. You will never be a God
And you can do that all in your home… church is where the believers are. It doesn’t have to be a tax exempt building.
Underground church like China. There may not be public buildings. But the home church will always be there.
Life and death is in the power of the tongue, boys.
The LDS Church is growing exponentially in Europe
The church is the people, yes, but Jesus Himself said "do not forsake the assembling together of the believers. This is the strength of gathering".
Yeaaaahh, I'm still going to church.
Conservative Christians need to stop shaming other conservative Christians who closed their church (building) and went online. I know multiple pastors who went online, and they did it for the people. One pastor closed after losing a member to covid. Not saying every church should have closed, but some were called to close. Different congregations have diferent needs.
Church is 'the body of Christ'. We are in the ent times. Matthew 24. Read your Bibles to find out the future of the 'Church'. God bless you 🙏
I lost respect for any church that obeyed the orders to close during the pandemic
Our church played nice the first full lockdown. We didn’t understand enough yet. The next lockdown we didn’t shut down. It was clearer then that what was being told to us was lies.
….so all of them?
A lot of Catholics discovered the TLM, because they didn’t close
After church you were still going to go out in public and possibly spread it to everyone.
@@megankissinger8269 no, we were not going out in public, don’t you recall? It was mostly all shut down.
The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is always gonna be around.
The church has literally Jesus in the tabernacle and that's what sets us apart
From what...!all the other made up religions?
The communion is to be done when you break bread with the brothers and sisters in Christ.
How many "churches" actually share a meal and have communion while eating as Jesus did with His followers?
Jesus was having "the last supper" and in the middle of it, He created communion and said "do this in remembrance of Me".
Lot weren't going already. Kinda says it all. Church attendance was down before the pandemic.
Oh my - you really dont know how much underground Churches where found while the Pandemic.....❤😅
The church is described as in the Bible as being a collection of followers or screaming Jesus Christ. The building is just words housed but I see your point.
As long as Minister's, Priest's, and Pastor's are Pimping $luts to the Men in their congregations church attendance for Men at least will continue to drop.
The Bible defines the word "church" as "congregation". So you can have a church wherever two or more are gathered in Jesus' name.
In contrast, the Eastern Orthodox church will be flourishing in 20 years. As Catholicism crumbles, I pray that my brothers and sisters in Christ will come to the One, Holy, Catholic, (by definition), and Apostlic Orthodox church which is eternal. ☦️
Thinking that Germany will have no churches ignores the reality of confessional Lutherans (tens of thousands of members) and various Evangelical groups. The state sponsored Lutheran churches may be gone, and Roman Catholics along with them, but that doesn't mean everyone is gone.
In Ancient Rome, Christian’s would risk their lives to congregate to praise God together. How far we have fallen.
Believing that evolution and the Bible can both be true is what is killing the church.
The Bible is a historical manuscript. Evolution is a theory. You need more faith to believe in the latter
Such a mindset of entitlement manifesting in many. And, I won’t keep it exclusive to the younger generation.
We have become lazy. For a church family to thrive, (not just survive), you must put the work in. Visit the sick, teach Bible Studies, serve at funeral dinners, decorate the sanctuary for Christmas…
We saw during Covid that we could “do” church from the comfort of our own homes, in our pj’s.
God’s Word will be with us forever. But, I am afraid we will see more & more churches closing their doors forever.
Until all we see are huge Mega-churches-where entertainment is worshiped, everyone has a name tag on, and walks around with a latte.
Is this what we want, church?
Are they paying taxes as to why they're shutting down?
There are no church buildings in the New Testament. It’s the people.
Sedevacantists growing like wild
But the mosques in Germany will be brimming. Good one Helmut funny funny time.
Good. Way better than churches
As far as I remember, Jesus didn’t build a church. He built a Community. A Christian Community.
This is the Holy Place that we are carving for, and lost while labelling this or that church as the only one of salvation.
The worst problem the church is facing is the vatican fully embraceing WEF's ideology.