Religion.

[mystdancer50]

The thing is, Jesus Christ didn't come to make us religious or bring us religion. He came to know us and redeem us and save us. From that, Christianity was born, because we choose to follow Him and we organized it into a religion. The nation of Israel were Israelites. It wasn't a religion. It was who they were. They served the one true God. Pharisees had religion. The disciples had relationship.

 

[alehandra]

Im trully agree with mystandancer.."Jesus didn't come to create religion, but to call us all to His family, to be like Him"
For me christianity its A LIFE STYLE, it is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I long for all the readers to encounter Him not merely as a God, but as a friend, soulmate, and future spouse. It would be the most intimate relationship you ever experience...

Jesus Christ came into the world not to be defended or justified, even until he died on the cross, he get himself to ridiculed and in abject. So he came to earth not for us fighting, he came to prove his love is so great for the creation, without any of the death of Jesus on the cross there will never be an Exchange in totalY..

BE BLESSING
-CILLA-

Christianity is a religion. We are not called to be religious, however, but to be disciples of Christ. To be Christ-like, if you will. So, I would say, if someone asked what my religion was, Christian or Christianity. But, if someone asked if I was a Christian, I would say, "I am a disciple of Christ" or "I am a follower of Christ".

Jesus didn't come to create religion, but to call us all to His family, to be like Him. The church is not a building. The church is a body of believers. I think we've forgotten this.

 

[maxwel]

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

Mystdancer,

I'm not going to beat you up; I understand your sentiments about the current state of Christianity in the world.
But we have to differentiate a couple of things.
1. We have to assess and recognize the state of things, and the real problems.
2. We have to decide what to do about these problems.

These are separate issues, and have to be dealt with separately and thoughtfully.
Assessing a problem, and deciding what to do about the problem, are completely different things.
God appeals to this difference throughout scripture.

God often says things like "love your enemies."
Here God is forcing us to break our thoughts into these two areas, and asses them separately.
1. You must recognize who is actually an enemy. (Enemies are real.)
2. You must then decide what to DO with your enemy.

So God is always telling us to separate our judgement into 2 aspects, then deal with each aspect of judgement separately.
1. What IS a thing (What is the true state of a person or situation)
2. What should we DO about the thing. (What ACTION should we take.)

We need to apply this principle to Christianity in general, and to churches and ourselves in specific.
1. What IS the state of Christianity and churches in your own particular culture.
2. What should you DO about it.

These are separate issues, and must be dealt with as separate issues.

Finally, regarding that quote above, it sounds reasonable, it really does...
but it isn't genuinely, technically accurate.
The greatest cause for atheism is ... SIN IN EACH MAN'S HEART.
People disbelieve in God because THEY WANT TO.
If every Christian on earth were perfect, we would still be outnumbered by atheists who hate God, and don't want Him.
When atheists point at bad Christians as their excuse for not believing... it's just an excuse.
NOTHING will convince a non-believer to believe... not facts, not evidence, not kindness, not love, NOTHING.
An atheist must experience a change of heart, and be willing to submit to the authority of almighty God...
and...
that just has nothing to do with you or me.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, I'm just trying to discuss an issue that gets clouded and confused by sincere well-meaning people.

 

[maxwel]

Teens,

Sorry, didn't realize I was in the teen forum.
I'm sure my boring post just put everyone into a coma.

Oops.

: )

 

[Richie_2uk]

God wants Spiritual Fruits, Not Religious Nuts!. However I do understand that things are needed to be told, but in today's society, even us Christians has to watch what we say and how we say it, and how we come across to people. We do need to get the gospel out there in the world, as there still people not even heard the word gospel never mind the meaning of it.

Religion are normally man made, However! you don't have to look far and wide to know who is behind all these religions. Anything to steer people away from the truth, that's were the enemy is. But saddly to say this, so many people are so stuck with there religious beliefs, I feel they are trapped and not free. But Jesus will set you free. not religious doings, God bless those who are out there preaching the true gospel, as many true christians are killed, persecuted, which God said would happen.

 

[mystdancer50]

Teens,

Sorry, didn't realize I was in the teen forum.
I'm sure my boring post just put everyone into a coma.

Oops.

: )

I like reading your posts right before bed. Helps me drift off.

 

[JoyofLord]

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.

Me too, so exciting - I always wish they had of taught me the love of God but it's too late now, but it helps me to know how other catholic people feel when I meet them I understand that the true conversion hasn't happened for them yet because they only know religion and I can pray for them really wanting them to experience it too. Taste and see that the Lord is good

 

[homwardbound]

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

So maybe, just maybe, we need to not live for god, because no flesh can ever live for God 100% perfectly, only Christ could and did. so maybe just maybe "I" die to me ask God to co-crucify me with Son Christ back at the cross where he died to flesh, and now me be dead to flesh and be raised back to life now today in the Spirit justified in the Spirit as Christ was and is:
1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

 

[homwardbound]

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:



This is what religion as it is practiced today is. Acknowledging with ones lips, denying with one's lifestyle/actions.

The taking of God's grace for granted, using this forgiven 100% forgiven as a scape goat, I know I did it in my past and
I was a man that held to faces one to the crowd and the other to self. And eventually I became perplexed as to which face was true? I saw my own evilness in my own flesh, and therefore asked God to kill it and make me alive in God in the Spirit which today is the only way God can truly be worshipped (John 4:23-24)
Praying for all of us to come to the end of the energy of our own flesh selves and ask God to co-crucify this flesh to death with Christ whom died in the flesh for us, so to become alive in the Spirit of Father after we decide to be dead to self.
Phil 3 shows the doorway as it is through death here and now. Ask God and read it asking God to show you this doorway, for you here and now today, forgetting what others are doing or not doing, asking God to do through you what God wants done through you, and trust me God takes over by your free will never by force, and does what you are wanting through you at no credit to you, all credit to God, thanking Christ, you become the news paper reporting truth that God reveals to you, no longer a religious editor
Bottom line
www.godjustloveyou.blogspot.com

 

[homwardbound]

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.

How about Ask God to show us how to walk as Son Christ walked? Oh I know no other way than to led by the Holy Spirit the same Holy Spirit that led Christ, you think? Maybe, or can we by our flesh nature that we were born with do this? Have we come to the end of the energy of our own flesh yet?

 

[mystdancer50]

Yeah. I've never believed in the whole "sin so that grace abounds" mentality that goes around today. It's like they read the Bible and read where Paul says we shouldn't do that and they shrug their shoulders and say, "Ah, the Bible is such a beautiful metaphor." In fact, I've had many Christians tell me that I'm too hard on myself. But, you know what, I need to be. Otherwise, I would find myself adrift from God due to compromises I didn't deal with harshly in my life.

 

[homwardbound]

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.

Cool is there a difference in relationship and religion?
Are we the creation and God the creator?
What makes true sense to be a responder to God the creator? That is relationship to me
Or a religionist trying to create, look at me and what I do, what did Christ say about that?

[h=3]Matthew 6[/h]Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)

6 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. [SUP]2 [/SUP]Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. [SUP]3 [/SUP]But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: [SUP]4 [/SUP]that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

and is I think wise to read on from there, your free choi9ce though, glad that you do believe

 

[homwardbound]

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.

And as it tries to bring out your dead flesh Sister see it for what it is and do as God leads in response, God's words not yours Sister as it is said for you to you in:
[h=3]Matthew 10:16-20[/h]Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)

[SUP]16 [/SUP]Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. [SUP]17 [/SUP]But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; [SUP]18 [/SUP]and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. [SUP]19 [/SUP]But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. [SUP]20 [/SUP]For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

It is for all that do put their Faith in God for it is God that knows what to say, not me nor you or anyone else.
100% trust are you ready it can be a bumpy ride consider self dead with Christ at the death and alive in the Spirit of God by Faith God is showing you this

 

[homwardbound]

The thing is, Jesus Christ didn't come to make us religious or bring us religion. He came to know us and redeem us and save us. From that, Christianity was born, because we choose to follow Him and we organized it into a religion. The nation of Israel were Israelites. It wasn't a religion. It was who they were. They served the one true God. Pharisees had religion. The disciples had relationship.

So glad God is showing you this truth Sister continue in the Faith leaving your mown works behind, it is amazing and freeing

 

[homwardbound]

Mystdancer,

I'm not going to beat you up; I understand your sentiments about the current state of Christianity in the world.
But we have to differentiate a couple of things.
1. We have to assess and recognize the state of things, and the real problems.
2. We have to decide what to do about these problems.

These are separate issues, and have to be dealt with separately and thoughtfully.
Assessing a problem, and deciding what to do about the problem, are completely different things.
God appeals to this difference throughout scripture.

God often says things like "love your enemies."
Here God is forcing us to break our thoughts into these two areas, and asses them separately.
1. You must recognize who is actually an enemy. (Enemies are real.)
2. You must then decide what to DO with your enemy.

So God is always telling us to separate our judgement into 2 aspects, then deal with each aspect of judgement separately.
1. What IS a thing (What is the true state of a person or situation)
2. What should we DO about the thing. (What ACTION should we take.)

We need to apply this principle to Christianity in general, and to churches and ourselves in specific.
1. What IS the state of Christianity and churches in your own particular culture.
2. What should you DO about it.

These are separate issues, and must be dealt with as separate issues.

Finally, regarding that quote above, it sounds reasonable, it really does...
but it isn't genuinely, technically accurate.
The greatest cause for atheism is ... SIN IN EACH MAN'S HEART.
People disbelieve in God because THEY WANT TO.
If every Christian on earth were perfect, we would still be outnumbered by atheists who hate God, and don't want Him.
When atheists point at bad Christians as their excuse for not believing... it's just an excuse.
NOTHING will convince a non-believer to believe... not facts, not evidence, not kindness, not love, NOTHING.
An atheist must experience a change of heart, and be willing to submit to the authority of almighty God...
and...
that just has nothing to do with you or me.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, I'm just trying to discuss an issue that gets clouded and confused by sincere well-meaning people.

And so let's discern:
Galatians 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

So bottom line no matter what, what is the actual Battle
And what are 2we to seek in belief?
[h=3]Romans 8[/h]Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)

8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [SUP]2 [/SUP]For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. [SUP]3 [/SUP]For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: [SUP]4 [/SUP]that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Law of sin and death is the flesh period and when born of the Spirit of God one sees the kingdom of true love form God through Son, here and now today, but it takes agreeing to die to flesh and be alive to God in the Spirit of God, and God gives this new life to the one's that do believe and want to be dead to their rotten selfish self's for Christ is the way, the truth and the life performed and done through the cross, includes resurrection for you in the Spirit of God
All thanks be to God, never of self that is dead if you believe Romans 6 starts out with so
how can one sin anymore or don't you know you are dead to it, by the Baptism from God through Son at Son's death. the very first day you believed?

 

[homwardbound]

God wants Spiritual Fruits, Not Religious Nuts!. However I do understand that things are needed to be told, but in today's society, even us Christians has to watch what we say and how we say it, and how we come across to people. We do need to get the gospel out there in the world, as there still people not even heard the word gospel never mind the meaning of it.

Religion are normally man made, However! you don't have to look far and wide to know who is behind all these religions. Anything to steer people away from the truth, that's were the enemy is. But saddly to say this, so many people are so stuck with there religious beliefs, I feel they are trapped and not free. But Jesus will set you free. not religious doings, God bless those who are out there preaching the true gospel, as many true christians are killed, persecuted, which God said would happen.

Thanks Richie, do you know how they catch monkeys in Africa? They take a Coconut and cut a hole in it and put beans in it, place it in the open on the ground, and the Monkey comes along sticks his hand in it grabs the beans and when this happens the Monkey has a closed fist he can't get his hand back out of the hole in the Coconut, and so he just sits there trapped, and is caught by those that set the trap. The Monkey could have gone free if he would have let go of those beans, but could not let go of just as we as Humans can't let go of and be free.

See the Allegory between religion and relationship, maybe time to let go of those beans, and be free in Christ to do as God leads not Man.
Just a little milk to drink with the steak to eat if we let go of those beans?

 

[homwardbound]

Yeah. I've never believed in the whole "sin so that grace abounds" mentality that goes around today. It's like they read the Bible and read where Paul says we shouldn't do that and they shrug their shoulders and say, "Ah, the Bible is such a beautiful metaphor." In fact, I've had many Christians tell me that I'm too hard on myself. But, you know what, I need to be. Otherwise, I would find myself adrift from God due to compromises I didn't deal with harshly in my life.

When really wanting to know God we go through the fire, ad stay steadfast to the point where God shows us it is all him, as we are working hard to enter his rest, not to be righteous in and of ourselves A good read Hebrews 3 and 4 about entering his rest, but read it in KJV and the newer ones and see the changes made to think we do it by works and not by belief.
And let God do the sorting out for you in this Sister not me or anyone else
Thank you

 

[Richie_2uk]

Thanks Richie, do you know how they catch monkeys in Africa? They take a Coconut and cut a hole in it and put beans in it, place it in the open on the ground, and the Monkey comes along sticks his hand in it grabs the beans and when this happens the Monkey has a closed fist he can't get his hand back out of the hole in the Coconut, and so he just sits there trapped, and is caught by those that set the trap. The Monkey could have gone free if he would have let go of those beans, but could not let go of just as we as Humans can't let go of and be free.

See the Allegory between religion and relationship, maybe time to let go of those beans, and be free in Christ to do as God leads not Man.
Just a little milk to drink with the steak to eat if we let go of those beans?

Uhhm Yeh! lol

 

[MySavior]

Religion. One word, but so much power. Christianity is known as one of the world's top religions. But open up your Bible, and show me one verse that says that Christ came to bring a new religion. He never said that, nor did He intend that. And the Word of God is taken out of context too often nowadays. And to be honest with you, when it comes to religion, Christianity isn't the first one. There were many religions before Christianity. So when it come to debating about religion, we'll always lose. And that's good. Because God didn't send His son so that you can debate about Him. God didn't give us His one and only begotten son so that we we could fight with other people about Him. Christianity isn't a religion. It's a faith. So please stop making a mockery out of it. Cause really, what do you have to gain from it? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
I can go on, and on. But, I think I've made my point.

God bless.

amen, Praise God