I'm finished with religion and church

Good points! Sometimes the reason I was ashamed to tell people about God, because many associate Jesus with exactly the things you mentioned. I didn’t grew up in a Christian home and after my encounter with the Lord these were some of my mental stumbeling blocks, especially since 79 family members were murdered in Auschwitz and Sobibor. I said yes to Jesus but not His church, till I realized that not everyone or every movement operating in His Name was sent by Him under His name. In other words, everyone has to give an account one day of what they did in His, and to many He will say depart from Me I never knew you…
So besides fake church movements even if they started right but ended up in religion instead of relation to God, there is a genuine church existing out of true genuine believers and you’ll find them in every denomination. You’ll k ow them by their fruits Jesus said… not their confession…
Helped me a lot to just look at the church from the first centuries before Rome came into picture. The Reformation did some good stuff, like bringing back the message of salvation through grace and faith alone, but somehow got stuck along the way in loosen itself from Rome, nevertheless I know many true believers in Reformed churches. Throughout the centuries there were allways true believers and movements of God. Not your church, not your denomination but your relationship to Jesus determines if you’re a true believer or not. God has no grandchildren. People doing bad things in His name were probably raised in Christian communities, but never understood the meaning of following Jesus and never had the born again experience. Bad publicity for His real church. Having said that, we must all look to ourselves first. Am I following Jesus?

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Chris Endrizzi

My cousin is gifted and an atheist. He believes every war ever fought has to do with God. I believe every war ever fought has to do with money or oil nowadays. But each person has their opinion.

So it is when it comes to blaming this church or that church for violence against people. The people in charge... were they really Christians? Probably not. Most likely it was actually over money. Back in Jesus's day and afterwards people who were Christians were actually called " kind ones" and the name was so similar to Christians it stuck bc they lived up to it.

Religion has a sense of politics involved unfortunately. The idea of government is great compared to anarchy and living like in the west where Darwins theory of survival and the purge is completed. Yet politics suck and they are the greatest criminals of all. So it can be in the church.

Yet in other countries they worship outside the church bc they're not allowed in and they are killed for even going to church. There is this idea of living your life of faith by being with other Christians and helping more people in groups. When 2 or more gather in God's name he is there. Prayers are stronger together and that's huge. The energy from people worshipping together is so strong.

If you live the way you preach.... what would America be like with no churches? Would it be the same? Or is it still afloat because of the church. The church is of course "Gods people" not an actual place.

Welcome!

You speak much sense, I admit.
I shall put your points in my thinking.

I trust God but I have no faith in people. As I read more history, I grow more enraged at the bloody actions done in the name of Christianity. It makes me reluctant to be associated in any way with such people.

Jesus didn't harm anyone. All He did was heal. So why does anyone harm anyone in His name?

It is all about power. Money being but one means, the most effective means, of obtaining that power.
So much war and suffering inflicted to grab power over one's fellow man. Yet when we die, as each must, we take nothing with us.

I find it a little amazing that someone who makes sound arguments and good judgements would begin a post with your first sentence. It is just as easy to discount any other doctrine as it is to discount perceived errors in Catholic doctrine. I am not catholic but it breaks my heart to hear these types of statements made against anyone who accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Let it begin once again.....

As I understand it from what you've said previously, you're married to a Roman Catholic, so of course you're going to defend them.

I'm going to be honest here. I try not to cut anyone off. I want to see all come to God. I have been in many different denominations, even in Catholic churches. One year I attended a service with a friend who was visiting. She had several ladies with her and since it was Sunday and couple of them were Catholic, we went to the local church. This church is historical and simply beautiful. It was a few years after 9/11 and that day was Sept 11. They had a wonderful service, they played the organ, one of those huge old fashioned ones that surrounds you and the whole building in sound. I didn't feel out of place at all. The people were inviting, friendly and welcomed us to come back again.

In my travels I met two nuns once and we struck up a conversation. They were just sweet, sincere ladies and we had a wonderful talk. I often listen to Passion of the Christ actor Jim Cavezel and I have no doubt that he is utterly sincere and faithful. But, all of that said, there are beliefs that the Catholics have that just don't line up with the Word. If it's the difference between someone gaining heaven, we must tell them the truth. Not to tear people down, not to act superior, but from genuine concern. I would rather risk telling someone the truth and hurting their feelings if they come to the truth than losing them altogether.

I am guilty of your accusation...

Don't feel that way, pray for the opportunity to show him the truth. Gently. I would feel the same if it were my spouse.

If it's true it's not an accusation, just a statement of fact.

Except, they are.

No, there are things that they believe that are not in the Bible. They are not Christian.

Neo-evangelical standards have become so low they're willing to accept anyone who says I believe in Jesus as a brother or sister in Christ. They're not far behind the Catholics in the false Christian category.

They believe the essentials. They are Christian.

What man says are essentials and what God says are essentials aren't always in agreement. Man has condensed the gospel down to a list of "essentials"; if someone nods in agreement with the formula they're in the club. However, there are a lot of things in the New Testament that God considers essential which man ignores; like walking in truth and sound doctrine for example, and separating from those who do otherwise.

The road is narrow but it isn't a tightrope.

It's debatable whether Catholics even believe the "essentials." If believing in the true Jesus of scripture is the number one priority, Catholics are done before they even get started.