I'm looking to see if there are any Christians who have the same faith as me...because looking through these threads I haven't found anyone.
So here goes:
I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and I believe we are all born into sin, and totally corrupted and a slave to it, unless we reach out to Christ and are saved by grace, not works.
I don't go to church. I totally believe almost all churches, unless they are like small home gatherings, have been corrupted and taken over by pretenders who enjoy the power of leading a group and being able to manipulate these people. I don't believe any true christian goes to church or continues to go to one. They are devoid of Grace. Either you eventually leave, or you lose your faith in order to continue. The early churches were formed as small house gatherings, to read letters from those chosen to write gods word (such as the apostles and Paul etc). In those days there was not a printing press, so it wasn't possible to read gods word on your own. Now it is, so we don't need to go to a church building to be lectured as if we can't read or buy a bible. I also believe the most toxic person is a fake Christian, and we need to avoid them like the plague. Everyone else, other non-christians are find to be friends with on a light level. True Christians are a breath of fresh air.
I never read 'Christian books', those self help style ones devoid of grace that attempt to explain the bible and how it helps us in modern times, as if we don't even have the spirit of God to translate his word for us. They are actually a good indication of a fake Christian, those who read them a lot or continue to read them.
I love reading the bible, at least once per day, and these days as I am going through a trial I read it multiple times. The word is alive to me, it breathes, almost dances on the page it's incredible, so full of grace. And even when I don't read anything specific to my situations, I still feel more peace afterwards and can do more in my day than I could have without it.
When I read the bible, it confirms what I have found in Christ....it doesn't teach me in the way most books teach rules and things to do. It confirms the grace I have received. I never read the bible before I knew god, I don't believe people really find God through reading it specifically, I think they first have to find God, and then the bible confirms in their hearts what they have received. I also don't think people find god through proving his existence, you have to actually want to do his will, and give up your own. You also have to be willing to see you are a sinner, and need saving.
Because the lgbt thing is so big right now, and it is seen as such a loving thing to embrace it (and now is the in thing for fake christians to use as a way to make them look like nice people), I should clarify I do believe that the sexual acts between two men or two women, are sin, and as we are all born into sin I believe gays are born with that tendency, just as we are all born with different sinful tendencies. I certainly don't discriminate against these people though, we should treat them as we do any other person. They are no worse than anyone else or me in fact.
I have never met anyone outside my family who have become Christians. I have met plenty of fakes, and had several guys pretend to become one to try and get me to marry them. It is a lonely world for a Christian, we a re few and far between, but I am truly blessed both my parents and two sisters now (not my brother, yet) actually know god and have the spirit. I am truly blessed they aren't fake christians who would attack my faith.
Anyway, there is more I am sure, but if you can relate to what I have said above, let me know! I'd love to hear from you and perhaps you want to hear from me.
