I find it hard to go back to Church, here's why...

When I was growing up, I tried so hard to do the right thing, and then when I did one thing wrong I was met with extreme hatred. Plus, I don't think it's really right to tell people how to live and act when I myself struggle with this. So I don't go to Church and I pray to God in my own way. In the Bible, nowhere does it say I have to go to Church to be saved or to even be forgiven, when I can do it at home. Cause the thing of it is, I AM forgiven, of everything.

Does anyone have the same stance? That if you can't follow the rules of a religion than maybe you shouldn't follow it. I just really do not like hypocrites. This whole "Do as I say not as I do" is very misleading, I have a person I live with who is like this. I don't understand this way of thinking, and personally I believe there is no such thing as a self-righteous person. I feel and actually have seen some people use religion as a way of covering their "ego" just so they can look good in front of other people. To me none of that matters, and it never did matter.

I think, personally, we just need to love one another. Plain and simple. Love one another. If you look at every holy book on this Earth, the one common theme is love one another. Isn't that what we should be doing? I innerstand the fact that when a person is a baby, you have to teach them right from wrong. But, shouldn't the parents be Spiritually ready to conceive a child, cause if they're not ready, then they probably shouldn't have a child correct? Cause I know I will never have one, after what I went through.

Does anyone agree with this? Be real here, does anyone think that if you're going to affiliate with a religion that you should try to live your life that way and not tell others how to act when you yourself don't do right either? To me it just seems silly....

Do you have specific examples?

Christianity is not an easy religion to follow because we are called to live a holy lifestyle, as well as love and forgive others. People should try and not give up even if they fall short.

Perhaps start with some sort of fellowship like a Bible study. After you get to know some folks, you might want to check out their church.

Hebrews 10:24-25

Apparently you were going to the wrong church.....
You didn't learn much.
Everything you just said means you want the title but have no clue as to the responsibilities of what holding that title means.

Do you really want a positive and healthy relationship with God or just claim you have one?

Up to you. God's love is not completely unconditional. It is dependent upon YOUR attitude....and you don't have the right one yet.

Ok, let's take an example so in the past I masturbated and looked at Pornography for a very long time, and I broke myself of that addiction. However, it's ok for my brother to come home with Ninja Sex Party posters (when he was still living here). It's ok for one of my brothers to look at porn and masturbate (not sure if he still does it, but that's beyond the point). Plus the fact that I only had family my whole life and didn't really hang out with anyone outside of school or work (maybe like a few times but not an actual friend). My Father doesn't want me going over to someone else's house because he's afraid I'm going to get someone pregnant or have sex with someone of the same sex, but yet, it's ok for my brother to be living with his girlfriend. Do you see what I'm getting at here?

I'm not saying I'm a good person, but this is crazy! I feel like everyday I'm living a Sitcom. I can't do what I want, but everyone else around here gets to do what they want. I'm 33 years old and I'm watched like a hawk, but everyone else can do whatever they want and get away with it. I'm gay....but no, let's stay in the past and continually hurt the gay man, but let's have everyone else do their own thing.

I will never EVER be a parent. If this is the kind of things that go on in some households, count me out!

Just was wondering what your thoughts are. I've moved on, but I just want to make sure I myself am not going crazy, cause it sounds like I'm living in a children's book or something lol. You know, all I want is peace around here. Everyone else can do what they want, but let me do what I want.

I also don't understand the whole "looking good" type of thing. I feel like my Father hides behind his religion. And maybe he is trying to raise us right, but when you constantly show that being bad is good, what am I supposed to think? How am I supposed to function here? My Dad always says "My house my rules." Well guess what....you might want to reconfigure your rules, cause this is nuts!

Ok, I'm done. No further replies from me at this point. I just wanted to point out that if you're gonna be a Christian, you shouldn't play this game with people. It's not right, right?

Ok, not going to reply, cause again, I've moved on and am starting to forgive people, but this madness has GOT to stop. And they really need to change the name of the Holy Bible to something like the Wholly Book of Life and Love. Just saying...if you know you know!

It's true many Christians use their faith as a weapon, and those people will be held accountable for their religious actions.
But Christianity is first and foremost about the heart, not the actions. Because actions reflect the heart. If the heart is seeking God and growth and change, yet still not perfect in its obedience to scripture, this still pleases God. And that's where grace steps in and fills those gaps where we fail.
But the goal should not be telling others how to live, the goal is to spread the message of salvation. As well as building each other up. People who thrive off of telling others how to live have it wrong. Plain and simple.

I think it is time to stop looking at everyone around you and instead focus on the Word of God, and what it is saying to you specifically. And pray that God would reveal His message to you.

There has always been hypocrisy among church-goers and synagogue-goers as we read about it in the Gospels.

Kumbaya...

You may want to check out some of his other posts, I think it would explain a lot...

no. Hebrews 10:25 says, " not forsaking the assembling of yourselves as is the manner of some........" people who don't go to church are missing out on the teachings of Jesus by pastors whom have been talented by God. you're not connecting with other Christians, not sharing testimony, obviating yourself from learning, making friends, etc. ask God to show you what church to attend.

Stop looking for excuses not to go to church, and start looking a reasons to go to church.

You are right about the fact that you don't have to go to church to be forgiven.
Going to church is a good work as are over a hundred other commands given to believers in Christ. Let's face it, everyone has failed numerous times and committed sins worse than neglecting the teaching of God's Word in an assembly. That does put each one, including you, in a bad position. We all deserve hell. There's no amount of praying, church attendance, living and acting in a way that is approved by many that brings salvation. Here's what is needed on this subject.

The GOOD News

I pray that you will listen carefully and pray at the end to be saved and know it based on what the Savior did.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that, not if yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast "

Ephesians 2

Just wondering if you noticed OP was banned .

Of course he could still read your reply were he to view as an ousted member...

Although, given all he said, he is not likely, at this time, to heed your suggestion .

Thank you Magenta. I avoided this distasteful subject until I saw that notation under his name. That led me back here.
I only hope he read the gospel and the video out of curiosity of responses since he was banned and maybe the Holy Spirit is still willing to speak through it. I think the average person would read their thread afterwards. Perhaps Romans 1 hasn't occurred and there's still hope of salvation for him. . God only knows. It could be his last chance.

You are welcome . I did quote the pertinent part of Romans 1 to him in another thread, right away...

Relative to homosexuality. However, he basically claimed that being a practising homosexual was not sinning.

And he was also under the mistaken impression that all religions teach the same thing, in regards to love.

Including Buddhism, which is not even a religion, since acknowledging the existence of God is not mandatory.

Good for you Magenta!
I wish more believers knew that and had courage to speak that truth. Most mistakenly believe that virtue is kissing up to the LGPDQ crowd. Typical example....


Which one in those pictures look the "gayest?"

I did not know that the Dobson's son was gay... oh, I was thinking the Dobsons of Focus on the Family,
but it is a different family... still, for a prominent pastor to embrace a gay life-style because their son
is gay still seems wrong, even though the son says he finds nothing in the new testament to condemn
loving relationships between gay men (or women too, I suppose). Looks like eisegesis and not exegesis.

Perhaps it is time for a Romans 1 pertinent-to-the-gay-issue panel...

Here is the other thread I mentioned (closed now).

Pastor Bruxy legitimized the homosexuals' agenda virtue signaling, "look how loving we are!!" , "We even have gay groups in our church and a program to convert the traditionalists (fundamentalists) in the church to accept LGPDOS" ! Yippee, I'm soy boy extraordinare! "

I had questions about how thise calling themselves Anabaptists identify these days. They are nothing like those of hundreds of years ago if this is the modern example.

The first thing that came to mind is "Wonder when those homosexual crimes will surface?"

Then I found this article by a Canadian Mennonite publication.

Canadian Mennonite publication on The Gay Anabaptists

Bruxy Meeting house