What's the point of a church?

[jakethebake]

I was thinking yesterday that the role of "The Church" used to be to tell people what to believe. But (in the U.S. at least) today many (if not most) people first figure out what their beliefs are (drawing on many sources), then go out and find a church with the same beliefs. They join and leave different churches regularly. They choose what parts of the teachings of any church to believe or not believe. So what's the point of the church?

[Darryl_P]

I'd say it's to strengthen people's beliefs and to energize them into being more true to those in their everyday lives.

A secondary reason is to have a chance to socialize with like-minded people -- something everyone needs from time to time.

[superleeds]

Control

[SheetWise]

For the people you describe, it's a place to get married and bury their dead.

[Dov]

[ QUOTE ]
What's the point of a church?

[/ QUOTE ]

The Steeple.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

I'm in a strange mood today.

[Dov]

It's how a lot of the business deals in the country are put together.

It also creates a bigger demand in the fashion market.

Wow, I really am in a strange mood today. Maybe I should stop posting for a while. [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[Stuey]

The church's point is to make money and they are very good at it. Longest running business I know of, forgot prostitution. [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[SheetWise]

[ QUOTE ]
Maybe I should stop posting for a while.

[/ QUOTE ]

Never! [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]

[fishsauce]

I'm pretty sure a church has different meanings and purposes for different people, and I do not know all of them. But I do know one purpose it has for many: it provides a way for people to feel good about not thinking for themselves.

[Quaalude]

The hypocrites need somewhere to go:

Matthew 6:5-6

"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]