I think the biggest disagreement I have with most of this thread is with commitment issues. Just like a guy with commitment issues with marraige. He wants all the benefits of marraige (sex and companionship) without the legalities and inconveniences and long term commitment of marraige but until you commit say I do you aren't actually married. People want the benefits of Heaven and God but they don't want to be tied down to the rules of religion(I mean the Bible, not the traditional rules many churches have added along the way). They want God on their terms. Pray when they need a pick-me-up but the rest of the time do want I want when I want. When I wanted a college degree I had to go to class and do all my work. Yeah I skipped and slacked from time to time but overall I had to try hard to finish the course. I couldn't show up when it was convenint to me. Same with God.
Not bashing on you or anyone, just building on your statements and adding my own...
I on the other hand view it differently. I am a believer and webster tells us that is all it takes to be a christian. I say no! I do not go to church even though there was a time that I was on fire for him and his word, got saved in my front yard on march 12 1996 during a "yardball" game by my neighbor who was a paster, baptised along with my mom and 2 brothers on Sept. 17 2002 at Riverside Baptist church ... Man that was one good revival. One night his sermon lead my mom and dad to throw out every bit of alcohol in the house and unplug every form of entertainment for days and days. I choose not to go to church because of conflicts with in me. I still pray, not for personal gain and personal problems but for family and those that need prayer. If I dont have the relationship I want with him what gives me the right to go to him with my struggles other than my struggles trying to resemble him. I also thank him daily for my blessings. To myself I am a believer and that is it. To me a christian is someone who is closer to him that just believing. He walks the walk, talks the talk, spreads the word but not in a boastful matter. I do not go to church because I have things that I feel are wrong with me that I need to fix before I go. I choose not to go to be just another hypocrite. To me I cant walk the walk good enough to put it on display at church. I dont want to be a luke warm christian, and be greeted at the gate with him telling me "you barely made it but welcome" I dont live that way. I am either 100% or I dont do it. So until I get my life in order and my personal conflicts, I have chosen not to be a hypocrite and chase something that I know I cannot be live up to right now. I know that is not the way to live because we are all sinners and being in church doesnt change that but I have been dealing with this for a couple years. I just dont want to fall into the hypocritical christian group. When I am ready, he will be there with open arms and it is then that I will submit again and be on fire for him.
Another personal conflict I have is that all 3 of my children were dedicated by 1yr old... Meaning that I vowed to raise them up in a Christian home and teach them "the way". My wife and I read the bible to them every night before bed. It is what I vowed to do infront of the church and my savior. The conflict is what gives me the right to share the teachings with them if I do not show them through actions. Yes I am a good guy, ask anyone that knows me, but I believe in my heart that I am failing my children and my savior for not living up to my promise. I do all that I feel I can do in this stage of my life with my kids, but I fell like I am doing it with an empty heart. The more I read to them the more I grow and the more I grow the more the bad habbits slip away. Church doesnt save you, and being a believer doesnt make you a christian in my book. To me it is sticking to what you asked him when you invited him to live inside of you and when you promised to live through him. It is walking the walk when noone, and everyone is watching. It is knowing your wrong doings and turning from them. Thanking him for the good before talking about the bad... Until you have done that and continue to do that you are no more than a believer to me. It is a daily struggle and a daily walk, he is there when you need him but if you only go when you need him you are no different than the hypocrites you despise.
Sorry if I rambled or contradicted my self in any way... Just alot of mixed emotions coming out. It is hard for me to admit failure and I have failed my wife and kids by failing in my faith.
