a religion thread.

glad i could share! :) any opportunity to talk about Jesus and i'm game. :D

and i couldn't agree more with everyone about how respectful this forum is! you girls amaze me with your loving ways!!

hugs to you too corey!!! :)
 
When I wake up on a Sunday morning, I cannot WAIT to get to church. I love walking in the doors and seeing the people around me that I've known most of my life, and meeting new faces of people I've yet to become friends with - we're all there to learn, to love one another, we're all there knowing that we're not what we want to be - that there is a piece of us that has started to become what we will be but it's not there yet. I believe that Jesus found me and is changing me into what I will be. This is something that God has been teaching me. Living live with God isn't just about Sundays though, I read the Bible (and I've fallen in love with it!), I pray (all the time) and since I began my relationship with Jesus when I was really young, I've never been alone even though I've been through some really horrible things. I definetly believe that God is in control of EVERYTHING that nothing is outside of his plan, and that I am his child, and he is teaching me what love really is. I believe we are all searching for something, and I'm so happy I found Jesus! Jesus is what makes my life, this world, every desire of my heart make sense.
My pastor (who I've known my whole life - dedicated me, baptised me, married me...) teaches from the Bible and I never leave a sermon without something new to apply to my life, or something new I have learned about God. I don't ever feel yelled at. My kids LOVE going to Church. My three year old asks all the time if it's 'church day'! They have events and programs and big fun things for the kids all the time, and every week my daughter can tell me what she learned about, and wants to read the story again, and tell me what she learned. I LOVE that.
I'm with Lizzy and the others here who go to more laid-back teaching/searching style churches. I can understand those of you who might think church is scary - I don't think I'd find myself walking into a mosque or temple without a bit of fear since I wouldn't know what to expect, and I'm sure there are things that would throw you off. There are a lot of home churches, churches that meet in movie theatres, groups of believers that meet and pray together in coffee shops all around me. I think that's great, and I think church doesn't have to look a certain way, but I do believe that meeting together with others is not just important, but mandatory for becoming who God wants you to be!

If anyone is curious about Christianity, I would suggest reading the Gosple of John. It's just a story about what Jesus said and did, and will tell you what Christians really believe. Also, I really love talking with people who believe different things than me, and answering the 'tough' questions if anyone's just wondering what a Christian might say to tough questions, so anyone PM me if you like. :)

I really love hearing everyone's 'story' here by the way!
 
junebug said:
thanks girls for your insight. i forgot to add, that there was this guy that kept coming to our house asking us to attend his church. he would come out every weekend. i don't like to be pushed, but i'm very friendly and not rude. DH and i talked with him and one day, he asked us if we had invited Jesus into our hearts and to forgive us for our sins (or however he put it). so, i humored him. not thinking much of it. but being way to nice to say no, lol. he recited and i repeated after him. when we were done, he said not be be surprised if a feeling of peace came over me and i felt 'right with the world'. i was skeptical. but you know what? i did get a feeling of peace. i was very surprised. and a little freaked, lol. but amazed. so maybe, in my own way, i do have a peace with God. i do believe overall that there has to be a Creator of us. i just like to learn about other ideas and theories. but i also believe that i don't have to attend church to be a believer. that the part that makes me wonder. am i wrong for not going, if i do believe? i just don't think i'd fit in, lol. i've been to a few services. i don't like a lot of singing, some is okay, but i've been to afew where it seemed all they did the whole time was sing sing sing. i went to the service of the preachor that married us. i know him from growing up and he lived near me. his arre very nice. he read from the bible, and told stories that related to what he read, it was very calm and laid back. thats what i like. not a lot of shouting and yelling, lol. i went to one of those 'holy roller' sermons (i guess thats what they call them?) while i was in Alabama with Chad once. Scared the CRAP out of me. they sung and then it started to storm and the lights went out and this lady kept talking in tounge and shouting Hallelujah! freaking wierd, i'm sorry, lol.
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It sounds to me like you just havent found the right place for you. Not all churchs or preachers speak to you the same. If they did there would only be one church of each denomination in every town. I used to live on an island in Alaska - we had maybe 8,000 people - not only was there one church of every kind there, some had more than one!
 
I agree that Church is too often what people do to "prove" they're Christian. But what church is really about is learning new things about your faith and being able to apply them to your life. It's like a free set of guidelines to being the most that God wants you to be. It's solutions and help for all problems from marital to financial, parenting and everything in between, To me it's valuable LIFE SKILLS, kwim?

Corey I don't think you're wrong or bad to not go to church, I just think you'd be missing out on all that a good, loving church that speaks to you has to offer :)
 
I don't normally respond to topics like these, but...lol. I'm very personal in my feelings and my religion. I was brought up in a Baptist Church my entire life. My dad was brought up Catholic (even went to a Catholic School) but he's not very religous now, nor does he attend church. My mother was lutheren, then changed to Methodist, and now she's a member of the Baptist Church. I was baptized when I was 15, and I'm 30 now. I'm not a preacher, I try not to push my beliefs on anyone...There are plenty more people out there that are more "schooled" or knowledgeable in the area of religion and belief and God than I am. My husband and I were married almost nine years ago, and when we asked the then preacher of my church to marry us, he said that he wouldn't marry a Christian (Me) with a non-Christian (my husband) -- all because my husband doesn't profess his faith and doesn't attend church. The preacher had never met my husband before that day. Since then, we don't attend church. That doesn't mean that I don't read the Bible or that I don't pray. Everyone has their own way to worship. I'm not one for all those "Praise God, Halleighlula, Amen" type of Churches. Yes, when I feel the need after hearing someone voice an opinion that I believe in, I may say an occasional "Amen"...but...lol. You don't have to attend church to worship God.
 
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." It's that simple for me. I believe that the Bible is the absolute Word of God and take it literally and try to apply it to my life daily. I have a daily relationship with Christ, He is always close and I couldn't make it through a day without Him.

I have that blind faith and it is wonderful to have :). I'm Southern Baptist but more important than that I am a child of God and a member of the most important church..Christ's. I grew up in a Christian home, went to church every Sunday and still do. Church is important in the life of a Christian b/c we are instructed in the bible to gather together and worship...it is how we grow in our relationship with Christ. My husband and I have the same beliefs, and when he is home we have a daily devotional time together. It is what helps keep our marriage strong and our relationship with Christ strong as well.

Salvation is so simple...and the price has been paid for us already..all we have to do is accept it. That's how much God loves us.
 
That's very true Amanda! Church is just a way to learn more like I said previously. I'm so sorry you had a jacked up pastor say that to you, that is a minority not a majority! LOL
 
This summer has been a hugantic turning point in my life and I am soo excited about it all! lol So bare with me if this gets a bit long. lol (If you want to skip my book about my past you can go down to the * lol but it does explain why I am where I am today.)

When I was about 8, my mom started taking my sister and I to vacation bible schools of different churches around town. (My dad had long been out of the picture.) My mom decided to join one of those churches. It was a VERY conservative church (Seventh-day Adventist) with many many dos and donts. I tried my hardest to be the best I could and do all that needed to be done to be a "good person." Through my teen years I had my doubts about certain things and interests in other things that were taught to be "satanic" but I learned to bury them for the sake of following the "right path." I married my husband that I met in the church.

His father had been studying alot and came to the conclusions that one of the church doctrines were flawed. It was one of the big doubts that I had had for a long time. He along with my family were thrown out of the church over this one doctrine. I actually felt a huge feeling of relief, no longer being a member of that church!

So a few years went by and gradually other aspects of that church that had been ingrained into me slowly faded. I had a constant feeling of guilt baring down on me for not doing all those things I was brought up having to do. Throught all this, I knew there was a God that was taking care of me.

*This summer a friend sent me a link to a set of videos on youtube talking about the origins of christianity and it just clicked for me. Christianity was just not the right path for me (and soon found that my husband thankfully was feeling the same). I cannot tell you the relief and freedom I have felt this summer. All the guilt and shame has melted away and for the first time in my whole life I feel complete peace with where I am.

To tell you the truth, this also sent me spinning a bit! Almost like all that I had ever been taught had been ripped out from under me like a rug. If I wasn't going to follow the bible as God's only word, then how will I know whats truth. My mom (who had a similar realization a while back) helped steady my spinning and told me to just listen to my heart. That God speaks to us and leads us if we are willing to listen.

The best thing about this is learning that you don't have to be christian to be a good, spiritual, God (he/she/other) believing person. Not saying anything against all you beautiful Christians! I don't think there is a one perfect path for everyone. The path each of you are on right now is the perfect one for you whether you stay on it the rest of your life or if it changes tomorrow.

It has truly been wonderful to kind of start over this summer, truly listen to my feelings and my heart, read about different beliefs and really define what I believe for myself and not what someone else tells me I should believe. And really this is all so new, I don't have any concrete beliefs yet other than love and respect for everyone, I am still learning. I am leaning toward Pagan beliefs a bit. This process is completely exciting to me! So my biggest encouragement to everyone is to truly listen to your heart, and think outside the box! :)

Sorry this is so darn long! lol
 
Corey, I'm just like you. When I was little though *I* made the choice to go to church, my parents didn't force me, in fact, I used to go by myself. It was a decision I made on my own, partly because my mom had it shoved down her throat and didn't want to do that to us. She wanted us to find out own way.

Right now, I'm having a lot of inner conflict about a lot of things, a feeling that something in my life is missing (what I don't know) and I just don't feel "right". I'm not sure what the solution is. We don't go to church either, I let my kids choose their own path in this life, the same as I was allowed to do, and I hope they make the right decisions for themselves.

I still don't know where I am or what I believe in this life yet. And I do believe I need more time.
 
I totally believe Jesus Christ is The Way, The Truth and The Life. I have be a born again Christian my entire life (my dad is a pastor, so I have been raised all my life in church). I had to decide for myself who would be my God and I choose Jesus.

One thing that i have noticed, is that people get mad at God for human mistakes in the Name of God. My God is a God of love. Does he have "rules", yes, but they are for our good. If we mess up, does he forgive us? Yes. Does he expect us to do better next time? Absolutely. Unfortunately, man gets in the way and condemns instead of loving the person through the mistake. That person is then turned off and gets mad at God for something that was a mistake (sin) of man. This happens a lot in the Catholic church (although, every denomination is as guilty). My husband and his family came from that background and it took him realizing it was a relationship with Jesus to get over the Catholic rules and actually believe in God again.

One of my all time favorite books is called "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers. It is a wonderful picture of how much God loves us.

That is my short "two cents" opinion. ;)
 
this is all so beautiful to read everyones thoughts. Sara, your story is wonderful! i'm so happy you've become happier as a result of your new realizations.

i don't know why this has been on my mind a lot lately. i also sort of feel like i'm missing something. i'm happy, but i could be happier. if someone asks me if i am happy, i stall, not knowing really how to answer. i love my kids and my family. but something else is missing. i know nothing is going to happen overnight, but i have some searching to do, inside myself. i'm actually getting emotional reading a lot of this, jealous sort of at the relationships some of you have with God. i don't know exactly what will come of this, but i'm eternally grateful for the insight everyone has given me!
 
junebug said:
i don't know why this has been on my mind a lot lately. i also sort of feel like i'm missing something. i'm happy, but i could be happier. if someone asks me if i am happy, i stall, not knowing really how to answer. i love my kids and my family. but something else is missing.
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junebug said:
i'm actually getting emotional reading a lot of this, jealous sort of at the relationships some of you have with God. i don't know exactly what will come of this, but i'm eternally grateful for the insight everyone has given me!
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it's the tug of Him wanting in on what's in store for your life, corey. there is no mystery, no secret relationships some of us have with God that you don't or can't have. Jesus is just as much your father as He is mine and He wants so badly for you to run to Him with open arms like he did for you some 3,000 years ago on a cross. as i type this in tears, i know what it's like to be lonely and feel abondoned, but that is they beauty of putting your faith and trust into the God who created you. He knows all your triumphs and all your flaws and yet his love is so pure and forgiving and so gentle. that's why your curious. that's why you don't know what's missing. He won't ever stop whispering into your heart, but i promise that he'll wait an eternity for you if He has to.
 
junebug said:
Wicca really fascinates me! i don't know much about it, but i think its very interesting.i've always been a nature lover and isnt' Wicca sort of about nature? not sure, sorry.
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Yes, Wicca is very nature oriented. The Earth is our Mother, the God planted the seed and the Goddess gave birth to all life. We believe the Divine is present in every living thing therefore we are all connected - people, animals, plants. Our holy days are seasonal based on the solstices and equinoxes and planting and harvest times. The elements play a big part in our rituals. Because we (meaning my coven) spend so much time indoors doing techie things in our daily lives, reconnecting with nature is a focus of our rituals (even when it means standing outside bundled to the eyebrows in the freezing February winds to celebrate the coming of Spring:))

If you have any questions please ask. I love to talk about it:)
 
lizzyfizzy said:
i think a lot of people are in the same boat as you corey. i would say if your curious about God, Jesus his son and maybe want a more blind faith, try a church in your area. i would say the ones that seem to teach straight out of the bible would be a more non-demoninational church. seems to be more upbeat and offer a lot for the kiddos. i love science!! love love love. but when it comes to my creator there is nothing scientific about it...to me. yes, Jesus can be proven in history, so can biblical facts so as far as what happened in the Bible i don't really question it. i read the Bible and take it for what it is. i guess i don't have much to offer up other than the fact that when i accepted Jesus to be the ruler of my life at a young age, i have never once doubted his love for me or his presence in my life. He's just there and that is not really something that can't be explained. if you have more specific questions...feel free to pm or something. oh and just had to add that God isn't really mysterious to me...i guess a lot of people have this 'all mysterious God thing'...i don't have that. Jesus is like my bff...i talk to him like i do everyone else.
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Me too. It's hard to get into these sorts of discussions on a scrapping board. I have strong opinions and don't always know when is the right time to say something and when is not. This is so hard to explain. Errr....let's see....I don't care for "religion". It's relationship with Jesus Christ, not rituals. Nikki already posted a verse earlier and i would just like to add 1 John 5:12. I truly believe there is good and there is evil in this world with not much in between. I'm a bible believing christian (as in, God knows more than I do so I'd rather listen to him than my own sneaky self! LOL!) so if you wanna talk I'm always willing via messenger or pm or something.
 
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wow, what a great thread! Thanks so much for writing with so much heart! I can't tell you everything about me in English, this is one part I can't explain good in English and I have to say "DITTO" and wow, well said in so many posts here.

I was raised in a christian family and I'm member of protestant church! After hard time in my youths were I left Christ I came back around 10 years ago. I believe that god is my father, my best friend and the helper in my life!

About going to church! I search for a church! I haven't found a home yet, but I still search and there will be my home!

Thanks again, for this wonderful thread
 
I've avoided this thread....

I tend to not talk politics or religion with anyone other than family or very close friends. It always strikes up....debate. But seeing as how nothing has gotten out of hand...

I was raised Southern Baptist. I believe whole heartedly in God, in Jesus, in heaven and hell and everything in between.

At age 19 I gave up on God because I felt like he had given up on me. And the last 5 years have been a rekindling of that relationship.

And that is exactly what I think it should be. A relationship, a dialogue, a belief a blind faith. Not a religion. Religion is a scary word. So many "religions" get in the way of what is really right. If you look at world religions no matter what you call it...Baptist, Catholic, Muslim, Protestant...whatever....we all believe in a higher power. We all believe in a moral code. We all believe in doing what is right by our selves, our families and our fellow man. Who cares what we call it? If you look at so many different languages and the interpretations of those...why cant the interpretation of God's word be different as long as the core belief is there?

I have the upmost respect for any person who has a core belief no matter what name they put on it. As long as they have that relationship and that inner dialogue with God.

That's my soap box :)
 
I'm studying "The Truth Project" right now in my Bible Study. And it's fascinating. It's given peace to all my doubts about science and how it fits in with my belief in God and his creation.
Basically science will always end up pointing to God because God created science.
For me, I want to rely on God and on his way and his teachings, because I sure as heck don't know everything!
 
amystoffel said:
I've avoided this thread....

I tend to not talk politics or religion with anyone other than family or very close friends. It always strikes up....debate. But seeing as how nothing has gotten out of hand...

I was raised Southern Baptist. I believe whole heartedly in God, in Jesus, in heaven and hell and everything in between.

At age 19 I gave up on God because I felt like he had given up on me. And the last 5 years have been a rekindling of that relationship.

And that is exactly what I think it should be. A relationship, a dialogue, a belief a blind faith. Not a religion. Religion is a scary word. So many "religions" get in the way of what is really right. If you look at world religions no matter what you call it...Baptist, Catholic, Muslim, Protestant...whatever....we all believe in a higher power. We all believe in a moral code. We all believe in doing what is right by our selves, our families and our fellow man. Who cares what we call it? If you look at so many different languages and the interpretations of those...why cant the interpretation of God's word be different as long as the core belief is there?

I have the upmost respect for any person who has a core belief no matter what name they put on it. As long as they have that relationship and that inner dialogue with God.

That's my soap box :)
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this is how i feel too! probably why i have such a hard time finding my place. because deep down, all religions do have the same core beliefs, so its like, why do i have to declare a specific religion? why can't i just believe and have that relationship and not worry about what i call it?
 
I lost my way as a teenager, although I was raised in the methodist church....my neighbors took us kids, my parents didn't attend. In my early 30's, a girl moved into my neighborhood who was a born again Christian and led me back to the Lord. I lost my way again 8 and a half years ago when my DH was killed, but yet again, God reached out to me and saved my life. My grief was (and still is to some degree) so debilitating that I became deathly ill (kidney failure, resperatory failure, congestive heart failure) and was put on life support for 9 days during which my chances of survival at times were only 27%. When the Dr's wanted permission to pull the plug (actually from what I'm told, they were very insistent), one of my DS's instead called the very same Christian friend who helped lead me back to the Lord. She came to the hospital, she prayed and layed hands on me and I started breathing on my own. I know that some may say that it just wasn't my time, but I believe that God gave us a miracle that day and although I was angry (I truly wanted to be with DH) I slowly began to remember His love and be thankful for His mercy and grace.
I don't go to church, but only because I am agoraphobic and cannot leave my home without one of my close family members by my side. I have tried and have horrible horrible panic attacks.
Anyway, thats the abbreviated story of my relationship with God and I am so grateful for His forgiveness because without it I don't know where I'd be.
 
sannajeannine said:
I lost my way as a teenager, although I was raised in the methodist church....my neighbors took us kids, my parents didn't attend. In my early 30's, a girl moved into my neighborhood who was a born again Christian and led me back to the Lord. I lost my way again 8 and a half years ago when my DH was killed, but yet again, God reached out to me and saved my life. My grief was (and still is to some degree) so debilitating that I became deathly ill (kidney failure, resperatory failure, congestive heart failure) and was put on life support for 9 days during which my chances of survival at times were only 27%. When the Dr's wanted permission to pull the plug (actually from what I'm told, they were very insistent), one of my DS's instead called the very same Christian friend who helped lead me back to the Lord. She came to the hospital, she prayed and layed hands on me and I started breathing on my own. I know that some may say that it just wasn't my time, but I believe that God gave us a miracle that day and although I was angry (I truly wanted to be with DH) I slowly began to remember His love and be thankful for His mercy and grace.
I don't go to church, but only because I am agoraphobic and cannot leave my home without one of my close family members by my side. I have tried and have horrible horrible panic attacks.
Anyway, thats the abbreviated story of my relationship with God and I am so grateful for His forgiveness because without it I don't know where I'd be.
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i'm sorry for your loss, hon. :(

But glad you found your way again.
{{hugs}}
 
Finding a good church home is difficult. I'm so lucky that we have moved back to my hometown and can attend the small country church I grew up in. We have a wonderful new pastor who is really bringing life back into our church. But we spent several years searching for a good church home when we lived away. It's hard. I think you have to really focus on what is being taught and how...there are many churches out there that do not follow the Word of God and to me that's just sad...you can't just pick and choose which parts of the Bible you will base your teachings on..it's all or nothing ya know? Our church/pastor teaches about a relationship with Christ...you don't have to jump through hoops or give tons of money for that relationship and salvation..no act on your part will get you into Heaven. Jesus paid that price for you once and for all and once you accept him into your heart you are FILLED with the Holy Spirit who will help guide you on your journey through life. You will still sin, you will still stumble, you may go through periods in your life where you feel like your relationship with Christ isn't there anymore (I had sucha period myself)..but he's always there once you let him in and he will always wait for you to come back. Once you are forgiven you can't be unforgiven kwim? He forgives ALL your sins...past, present and future..He knows every minute detail of your life and loves you anyway. It is overwhelming to me at times...how He can love so many including me that much. My God is an awesome God! :)

Oh I don't want to sound "preachy", I just get excited when I see the Holy Spirit working :)
 
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