> But moreover, as you mentioned people want a sense of community without and of the accountability that Church asks.
Do churches ask for accountability or conformity?
> You want community without the worshiping God part. You want total freedom without guilt. And you want everything you do to be accepted without judgement.
I believe you are strawmanning here. People who don't attend church experience guilt and have a moral compass likely in equal measure to churchgoers. The judgement that people wish to avoid is the kind that denies LGBTQ people's humanity, among other issues.
Accountability is a core tenant of Christianity. In the end you are accountable for everything you say and do, or don’t do.
There’s bound to be conformity in the way people grow or change under a given framework which is what Churches provide for everyone attending. Conformity as a whole is not the goal otherwise we wouldn’t have different denominations and expressions of worship.
It makes me sad that many online conversations become the Church vs. LGBTQ. I know this is a sensitive subject and the source of much pain. My main point is not to discuss that at length but rather to point to what this article and thread address which is ways the Church can help with loneliness.
I did not mean to intentionally straw man, if I did forgive me. When I spoke of ‘you’ it was a metaphorical as a general person who might not want church and less targeting the OP directly.
I agree with their points I mainly wanted to provide another perspective in hopes that readers might give the Church another chance. We have failed and will continue to in many ways, but I’ve seen the good outweigh the bad.
Do churches ask for accountability or conformity?
> You want community without the worshiping God part. You want total freedom without guilt. And you want everything you do to be accepted without judgement.
I believe you are strawmanning here. People who don't attend church experience guilt and have a moral compass likely in equal measure to churchgoers. The judgement that people wish to avoid is the kind that denies LGBTQ people's humanity, among other issues.