How do I handle getting offers to attend studies and other programs from my friends who attend denominational churches? The conflict is them saying “no” when I invite them and me saying “no” when they invite me. I know it’s not worship. Would I be able to attend those Bible studies to get them to come with me? Or is that not an option? I come across this a lot and don’t always know how to handle it.<\/p>\n
Does this fall into the same category as weddings and funerals? Although at a denomination I still can participate since it’s not worship.<\/p>\n\t
I’ve gone to studies held by groups who don’t follow the Bible as they ought. I don’t really enjoy it because I can see where the flawed reasoning is, yet I’m limited in being able to respond because the teacher isn’t interested and wants to keep his class moving. Going to a class gives you what the teacher thinks, not what your friend thinks. So rather than going to a study where both of you are in an environment that limits your discussion, why not say, “I appreciate the invitation, but I rather study where there are no restraints on the discussion. I’d really enjoy studying with you personally instead of a group with all its dynamics.” This way you can deal with that person’s misunderstandings and questions.<\/p>\n
There can be times when going to a class can be useful, such as learning what a particular denomination teaches on a topic so you can examine it on your own. It is rare to be able to make an impact on the entire class except to ask pointed questions that help other people realize that the teacher isn’t telling the full truth. But you have to realize that the teacher holds control over the class and what gets discussed, therefore you are always at a disadvantage in a class situation.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: How do I handle getting offers to attend studies and other programs from my friends who attend denominational churches? The conflict is them saying “no” when I invite them and me saying “no” when they invite me. I know it’s not worship. Would I be able to attend those Bible studies to get them…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[34],"class_list":["post-27468","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-false-teaching"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":8953,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-a-sin-not-to-attend-wednesday-night-bible-study\/","url_meta":{"origin":27468,"position":0},"title":"Is it a sin not to attend Wednesday night Bible study?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 9, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I'm a member of the church have been all my life. I was wondering how important you think Wednesday night services are? Some people don't think you have to go on Wednesday night, some say when the Bible says not to forsake the assembly it means Sunday morning. I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":43665,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/which-is-more-important-secular-studies-or-bible-class\/","url_meta":{"origin":27468,"position":1},"title":"Which is more important: secular studies or Bible class?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 18, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: When brethren choose to attend secular classes or because of their secular studies schedule are unable to attend Bible study on evenings, do you think it's fair to them to say that secular studies are more important? Answer: The secular world is always less important than the spiritual world.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":22056,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-doesnt-going-back-to-church-remove-lust-from-my-mind\/","url_meta":{"origin":27468,"position":2},"title":"Why doesn’t going back to church remove lust from my mind?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 21, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Why is it that when I turn to God and I have gone back to church to try to release lust from my mind it returns and I constantly have to ask the Lord for his forgiveness? Answer: You didn't give me much to go on. I'll make some\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":20724,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/are-you-telling-me-i-wont-make-it-to-heaven-because-i-have-to-work\/","url_meta":{"origin":27468,"position":3},"title":"Are you telling me I won’t make it to heaven because I have to work?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 6, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have been struggling with this question, and I'm constantly being made to feel guilty for not making Wednesday evening services. I used to go to every service that I could until I got my current job where I work at least ten-hour days and I am on call\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":18062,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/a-young-man-wants-to-attend-church-but-his-father-is-interfering-how-do-you-handle-the-situation\/","url_meta":{"origin":27468,"position":4},"title":"A young man wants to attend church but his father is interfering. How do you handle the situation?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 2, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: In the youth Bible class, one of my students (an 18-year-old young woman) asked a question I wasn't sure how to respond to. 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