I'm Pagan, do you think a Christian church would allow me to join the choir and attend Bible study?

I have an excellent voice and I really enjoy Gospel music. I'm also very well read in the Bible and I would undoubtedly add an element of excitement to any Bible study. Do you think Christian churches should only be there to serve Christians or can Pagans join in on the fun, too (as long as we're not being purposely disruptive)?





I grew up in the 1st Baptist church, and I've been hankering for some of that Wednesday night potluck potato salad. You don't have to worship God to love potato salad!





I have tried the U.U. churches, but those people DO NOT know how to make proper potato salad and not a single one of them had a decent gospel choir!

I'm Pagan, do you think a Christian church would allow me to join the choir and attend Bible study?
They had better allow you. Jesus taught to "let the children come to me , and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. You are his child %26amp; no matter your profession of Pagan. I would welcome you with open arms. Who knows, you may change your heart %26amp; embrace the Lord Jesus?!
Reply:I must know what it is about st. paul you do not accept! Why? Report Abuse

Reply:I must know what it is about st. paul you do not accept! Why? Report Abuse

Reply:sure. The guy who wrote the melody to O holy night, was Jewish
Reply:I see no good reason why not. I know I would be happy to have you.
Reply:well I'm a sinner and they let me in church okay, even though tomorow I'll most likely sin just as badly as i did yesterday.





People will say believing in other gods is a far worse sin than me thinking bad of someone who annoys me at work. But i think all sins unacceptable in gods eyes, one sin being less offensive to god than another i think is just a human attribution.





Anyway, Just remember if you want to place yourself in an Christian environment you can't be upset if people disapprove of your beliefs. But remember, they love the sinner but hate the sin. So i would hope yes, they would include you.
Reply:My dear and good friend,





Wow, this is hard for me to answer and be honest with you, so I will take a deep breath and tell you what I think.





I think a Christian church would probably welcome you. I also think they would do everything they could to convert you back to them. I think that wanting to sing is a wonderful thing and that potato salad is great.





But... I think that to sing the words of songs that you disagree with is being dishonest. If I were to sing songs that praised the Lord God Almighty again ( I did in my childhood) I would become so sick to my stomach at the hypocrisy that I would collapse. I wouldn't be able to sing a note. I wouldn't even consider doing so.





If you actually believe in what those songs say, then go ahead. If you don't, then, with all gentle love and respect, I would suggest that you go out there and find a secular singing group that sings another kind of music that you like, and bring your own wonderful delicious potato salad to the rehearsals.





There are other places to have fun singing and other kinds of music that is also fun to sing, and good potato salad is no excuse for putting on a show that you believe in their god when you don't.





Be true to your beliefs, they are important.





I hope I have not offended you, and I really like you and your questions, and I offer this, again, in friendship and respect.





Sincerely,


Lady Morgana
Reply:Any group of Christians would welcome you with open arms.....to lead a person to Christ is a God sent privilege which no Christian would want to miss.
Reply:I'm Pagan, do you think a Christian church would allow me to join the choir and attend Bible study? %26lt;%26lt;==Why not? But you have to appreciate to sing praises before you join the choir.





You don't have to worship God to love potato salad!%26lt;%26lt;==I believe the right attitude is, you're lucky there'll be potato salad
Reply:You're a pagan. I'm a Christian. You are not yet allowed to join the choir because you are not yet a believer. On the other hand, you are invited to know the Lord Jesus Christ so you are welcome to join Bible studies.





If you died tonight, can you be sure you will be in Heaven?





We are all sinners destined for Hell





*Romans 3:10 "As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one."


*Romans 3:23- "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."





However God made a solution so you don't have to go to Hell





*Romans 5:8-9- "But God commends His love towards us that while we were YET SINNERS, Christ DIED for us. Much more then, being now JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD we shall be SAVED from wrath THROUGH HIM."





Receive Jesus Christ as your Savior





*Romans 6:23- "For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."





*Romans 10:9-10- "If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in your heart that God has risen Him from the dead, you shall be saved."





*Romans 10:13- "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."





Jesus Christ is the ONLY WAY.





*John 14:6- "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes unto the Father EXCEPT through Me (Jesus)."





If you have accepted these facts, then you are ready to be born again.





1 John 5:13- "These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the SON OF GOD (Jesus) that YOU may know that YOU have eternal life and that ye may believe on the NAME of the Son of God."





What to pray: (Mean this with your heart)





Dear Jesus,





I know I am a sinner. I know if I die right now, I would go to Hell. I ask you right now to be my Savior, save me from my sin. I want to go to Heaven when I die. Thank you Lord for your death, burial and resurrection. I accept your free gift of eternal life right now. Amen.





If you've meant it with all your heart, you are saved. It is that simple to be saved.





*Ephesians 2:8-9- "For by grace are you saved through faith and not of yourselves so no one can boast."





**Scriptures taken from the King James Version.





If you have been saved right this moment, I'll thank God for it and will provide you with the next guidelines.
Reply:You grew up in church so you know that Jesus is the only way to eternal life. Accept Christ and be born again. Receive the Holy Spirit and be sealed for the day of Redemption.


John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life."
Reply:After awhile, they'll want you to get "saved".


No potato salad would be worth the constant bombradment of "Devil Worshipper!"
Reply:I know my church (United Methodist) would welcome you with open arms. The Church is not just about fellowship, it's also outreach.





I hope you realize, someone who is openly a nonbeliever in a church is opening themselves to a LOT of proselytizing, in person and in prayer. Plus, the more you learn the more accountable you are for what you know. If you aren't at least willing to be willing to be willing to accept Christ as your Savior, you might find yourself in a very frustrating position.





That said, I hope you follow through! That you would even ponder this is a good sign. I was only able to attend for so long without believing (I was secular humanist, went to church to make my folks happy) and I barely paid attention most of the time. In the end, God got to me, and I've never regretted my conversion. Maybe someday you'll be able to tell me about yours.
Reply:I can't see any problem with it. Almost every church now practices open communion. If you can partake of the lords communion, why would they object to you singing in the choir or eating potato salad on Wednesdays? There might be some cost associated with choir uniforms or study materials for the bible study, and if that is paid for by the members of the church, you might offer to chip in a little.
Reply:A true body of believers, welcomes everyone. Go to the church of your choice on Sunday, if they don't accept you, go to another one, and keep going until you find one that will accept you.
Reply:Well, my experience is that most churches do not have Wednesday night potlucks anymore. If anything, they might have a catered or cafeteria type meal.





Now to the choir and bible study. You should be welcomed to join any bible study, however, some churches view the choir as 'worship leaders' as well, so you might not be able to just 'sign up' for that without them getting to know you.





Since you grew up baptist, start with that so it will be familiar. If you don't want alot of pressure, be 'vague' about your situation. Don't lie, but walking in saying your a pagan just wanting some fun and food may not go over very well to those who take their faith seriously.





Don't get me wrong. If you were my friend, I'd gladly take you along with me!





Best of luck! and by the way, you can't hid from God........ ;-)





Jennifer
Reply:True Christians should welcome you with open arms even though you are non Christian in the hope that you will find god.





The sad truth nowadays is that the majority will not just reject you but be very vociferous about doing so!!





Christianity is all about exclusivity and ego nowadays and nothing whatsoever to do with a loving and forgiving god!!!!
Reply:I feel as Christians that are following our Lord Jesus's example that we should welcome you with open arms with the hope and prayers that you would eventually open your heart up to Jesus but at the same time, a lot of churches have certain rules as to who participates in ministries as is biblical. You mentioned wanting to sing in the choir, not a bad thing to want, but none the less a ministry in the church. So, you may not be allowed to participate in that ministry for the reason of not being a born again believer.