Religion.

  • Thread starter Thread starter ElizabethPeter
  • Start date Start date
  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
James 1

[SUP]26 [/SUP]If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

[SUP]27 [/SUP]Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

That's how you look at it. I look at it different. The Lord God also said that if we drink poison, we can never die. Read the Bible with a spiritual mind, not a carnal one. That's all I can say.

God bless.
 
hi Elizabeth,

there are two types of religion just like there is two types of wisdom. one is from above and the other is earthly and demonic.

Pure religion centers about doing good works for the glory of God. Earthly religion is about form and pomp and fulfilling the desires of the flesh: pride, power, material possesions, greed, etc.

it is good to discern between the two. otherwise you end up talking about two totally different topics and people get confused.

James 3
[SUP]13 [/SUP]Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. [SUP]14 [/SUP]But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. [SUP]15 [/SUP]This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. [SUP]16 [/SUP]For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. [SUP]17 [/SUP]But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. [SUP]18 [/SUP]Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
 
hi Elizabeth,

there are two types of religion just like there is two types of wisdom. one is from above and the other is earthly and demonic.

Pure religion centers about doing good works for the glory of God. Earthly religion is about form and pomp and fulfilling the desires of the flesh: pride, power, material possesions, greed, etc.

it is good to discern between the two. otherwise you end up talking about two totally different topics and people get confused.

James 3
[SUP]13 [/SUP]Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. [SUP]14 [/SUP]But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. [SUP]15 [/SUP]This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. [SUP]16 [/SUP]For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. [SUP]17 [/SUP]But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. [SUP]18 [/SUP]Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
But God doesn't want me to do works for salvation. And I know what you're trying to say. I'll give my all to God. All my talents, and gifts. But based on faith, and faith alone. But I do understand your point. And I appreciate it. Than you very much. Honestly. God bless.
 
Religion isn't evil, mankind's interpretation is. Jesus didn't come to do away with religion but to offer hope to the lost. It seems the 'cool' thing to do today is say that religion isn't of God, but it is. You don't throw the baby (God's religion) out with the bathwater (the evils of religion), otherwise you only get half of the story.
 
Religion isn't evil, mankind's interpretation is. Jesus didn't come to do away with religion but to offer hope to the lost. It seems the 'cool' thing to do today is say that religion isn't of God, but it is. You don't throw the baby (God's religion) out with the bathwater (the evils of religion), otherwise you only get half of the story.

I love throwing the baby out with the bathwater. :) I lay a slip-n-slide in the grass and let 'er rip.

This is sarcasm. It makes me kind of sad that I have to say that, though I know that you, Tintin, know my personality already...right? I say it for...them.

bth_Sponge-Bob-with-Big-Eyes-psd56041.png
 
Religion isn't evil, mankind's interpretation is. Jesus didn't come to do away with religion but to offer hope to the lost. It seems the 'cool' thing to do today is say that religion isn't of God, but it is. You don't throw the baby (God's religion) out with the bathwater (the evils of religion), otherwise you only get half of the story.
I never said religion was evil. I'm saying religion doesn't bring you to Heaven.
 
Yes, but Ariel never said that. She said that pure religion centers around doing good works for the glory of God. That doesn't mean works salvation but that we obey Christ out of our love for Him and what he's done for us. We live our lives for Him (that's working for the glory of God).
 
I must admit I hate religion but I when I was young I grew up in a catholic school and church because that was my Dad's traditions. I never got saved but I thank them for planting the seeds into my life because I always believed in God and would turn to God knowing he was always there for me. Back then I hated it but today I can thank them for teaching me there was a God. :)
 
I agree, JoyofLord. Man-made (or man-defined) religion is horrendous. :) Once I realized that it wasn't about religion at all but about relationship, my whole life changed. :D
 
I agree. But, I don't call it religion. I call it worship, praise. You can call it religion. I'll call it serving the Lord. Religion nowadays is translated into so many things. I don't want to get caught up in that. A name is just a name. It's meaning is the real story.
 
I think Christians tend to hate the word religion because of pressure from atheists.

"Look, I'm just like you! I hate religion too!"
 
Non-Christian: Are you religious?

Christian: No it's about relationship, not religion.

Non-Christian: What do you mean?

Christian: I have a living relationship with God, and try to live for God.

Non-Christian: Meaning?

Christian: I pray/talk to God. Read his word. Go to church. Try to follow God.

Non-Christian: Oh ok, so you do do that religious stuff.

Christian: Huh?

Non-Christian: Well see, you just tried to draw a distinction between religion and relationship. But to me, all that stuff you just listed as relationship is still "religious stuff". When I use the term religion I simply mean people who do that God/faith stuff....like praying, reading the Bible, going to church etc. Drawing a distinction between religion and relationship really didn't change my perspective, because in my mind it's just a different label for the same stuff.

Christian: You mean reengineering labels on all my stuff didn't cause you to convert?

Non-Christian: Nope
 
I hate religion because of what it has become. Christianity today is all about appearances. Look good on the outside and who cares what is going on inside. Many people will tell you that the meanest people they've ever met, they've met in church. Or, they were people who professed to be Christians. I know of a man personally who was very shady in his business dealings and would tell me, "Yes, I'm a Christian, too." It would make me cringe.

I always think of this quote:

The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.
-Brennan Manning

This is what religion as it is practiced today is. Acknowledging with ones lips, denying with one's lifestyle/actions.
 
I hate religion because of what it has become. Christianity today is all about appearances. Look good on the outside and who cares what is going on inside. Many people will tell you that the meanest people they've ever met, they've met in church. Or, they were people who professed to be Christians. I know of a man personally who was very shady in his business dealings and would tell me, "Yes, I'm a Christian, too." It would make me cringe.
Don't bash Christianity for things that aren't Christianity. You wouldn't trash talk the Church would you?
 
Many people call themselves Christian and live a life that is anything but. That is a simple fact. Deal with it.
 
Christian: You mean reengineering labels on all my stuff didn't cause you to convert?

This reminds me of car commercials these days. "It's not a car - it's an experience." Which is a pity, because we need to replace a car.
 
Many people call themselves Christian and live a life that is anything but. That is a simple fact. Deal with it.

Don't blame Christianity for it. It's lke the whole, "I like your Jesus but not your Christians" trash. No one has asked you to follow Christians, or those who falsely say they are.

It's an excuse, and it's an attempt to not be associated with the term due to social condemnation. Instead of letting people believe Christianity is a bunch of trash, maybe we could redeem Christ's name instead of letting it be blasphemed among the nations.
 
Yeah. I'm so sick of the 'relationship not religion' psuedo-spiritual talk. Christians love to run around bashing Christianity to prove how spiritual they are. Its a joke. Rather than joining with the world in putting the church down why don't you do something to prove the world wrong? Christianity is my religion. And Part of that religion is the relationship i have with God. They are not separate to me.
 
Yeah. I'm so sick of the 'relationship not religion' psuedo-spiritual talk. Christians love to run around bashing Christianity to prove how spiritual they are. Its a joke. Rather than joining with the world in putting the church down why don't you do something to prove the world wrong? Christianity is my religion. And Part of that religion is the relationship i have with God. They are not separate to me.

So much truth to this. As I like to tell people, Christianity is the religion of Jesus, not about Jesus.
 
Don't blame Christianity for it. It's lke the whole, "I like your Jesus but not your Christians" trash. No one has asked you to follow Christians, or those who falsely say they are.

It's an excuse, and it's an attempt to not be associated with the term due to social condemnation. Instead of letting people believe Christianity is a bunch of trash, maybe we could redeem Christ's name instead of letting it be blasphemed among the nations.

If you would look closely at what I said, I said this: I hate religion because of what it has become. Christianity today is all about appearances.

Notice: what it has become.

You don't have to agree with me, but getting all condescending and snarky is just annoying.