Religion...

[Noah]

I may get strung up on this site for my opinion on this... but here goes...

I grew up in a hard line, HEAVY Christian upbringing...  from birth until college I was bombarded with exclusively "one sided" idealology.... in essence "brainwashing" me to believe what my family had been "taught" to believe and those before them...  "Tolerance" for me was the choice to decide between "burn in hell" Baptist, "no emotion allowed Christian Reformed", or "Born again crazy as hell" Charismatic Penecostels... all else, well, SORRY 'BOUT YOUR LUCK... You goin' to hell.....

Well... for 19 years I went along with the game... what always felt "right" was the underlying "good" that came with each sect.... Leading a moral life, helping one another, thanking GOD for what he has given us... THAT makes sense...

It took me until my college years to finally question my "faith"...

"Why" do I believe what I believe?  Is it because "I" believe it for myself because of my life experiences, or is it because I was "taught" to believe... I ask you to take a moment and consider this for yourself.








Imagine this for a moment if you will... let's just say, you were not born in the united states as a Baptist... Let's, for the sake of this point, say you were born in Israel... one of the Bible's most Holy references....   And now let us imagine, that you were born to a Hasidic Jewish family... Indoctrinated in the faith, you would most likely not believe that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, and therefore... by default... be going directly to HELL....

It took me until 19(Humanities 101) to truly understand this concept... I did not believe what I believed because I believed it... I believed what I believed because I was TAUGHT to...

FROM THAT POINT....

I have become indescribably less judgemental... I live the best life I can, try and bring joy to as many as possible... and thank GOD(whom I truly believe is holding this whole experiment together) every day for the opportunity to be here in this utterly amazing life while I can.

.... "and that's not all I got to say about that".... 

.... Let the "public stoning" begin.... 

[djhogdogger]

 No one can rightfully "stone" you for being honest. I think that everyone has the right to believe or disbelieve what they feel is right. 

[Noah]

For the record, I refuse to accept that any person that lives every day of his or her life in the intent to please the one and only GOD.... shall go to HELL because they do not believe in the same "name" that humans chose to place upon the almighty...

I believe that all humans have the innate desire/understanding to appreciate that there is a God who has created us, to respect that, and live accordingly...

RELIGION, in my humble opinion, is man's feeble attempt to describe.... CONTROL... what is not his to do so.....

Religion is man's corruption of what should be very simple...

[Jared H.]

To me religion has just turned into something else for people to argue about. My whole life depends on faith...but I've always wondered how Jesus would feel about these big lavish churches that cost more than most will make there entire life.  I feel that if you believe Jesus died and rose  for our sins and "that who so ever believes in him shall not parish and will have everlasting life" then you are my brother.  I believe Jesus said it best " you are either with me or you are against me" (Luke 11:23).  That's just how I feel.

[sfboarbuster]

I agree with you in sooo many ways Noah.....

[jdt]

i beleive it does not matter so much where you go to church on sunday as much as how you operate the rest of the week .

[tnhillbilly]

Thats true jdt, 
Noah, I asked my self those same questions 100 times over. But it wasn't til I truly felt the presence of GOD and he opened up MY blinded eyes that I could see GOD for who and what he was.
   I went to ALOT of churches before settling. Not all churches teach straight out of the bible, some leave out what they want, and some add too it.
    You have to read the bible yourself to know whats right and whats not. We will ALL stand before GOD and give account for ourselves, and ourselves only. The bible says there will be no excuses.  Such as being taught something thats wrong.
    I believe what I believe NOT because of what someone told me was the truth but, by reading the truth for myself and asking the LORD for guidance.
   I too have so much more to say, its just hard for me to type into words. GOD BLESS

[tnhillbilly]

After re reading, sounded like I might have come across a little cross, but in no way intended it at all.
   Didn't mean that you didn't read your bible, was not actually directed at Noah, but in general. Like i said, im terrible at typing what im thinkin.
   Just meant, I knew where you were coming from.

[Amokabs]

Tom, that's very well said. Noah really has me thinking, and i always ponder several thoughts about God. first, and most basic,,, is God real!!! if you answer "no" , then, smoke em if u gottem! When you're dead, thats it, so enjoy yourself while you are here.
However, If you answer "yes", now it gets complicated.  NOW,  Who is God,,,??? Which religion represents the Truth?
If there is God, there must be Heaven, so, is there also Hell? If so, then how is it decided where you go when you die?  
Then,,,,, if there is a God, is there a devil?  If God has a plan laid out for salvation, would the devil want to keep u from going to Heaven by a massive assault, or is he smarter than that and just use the TRUTH, twist it just enough where you are confused, or slightly off the mark,, and keep you from Salvation ,,or,,, as a Christian  powerless to lead others to Dalvation.
Sorry, Noah got me thinkin,,, mainly , if God and the Christian ideal is real,  and this is to me , primarily, why arent I talking more of Christ, is it enough to try to live a "good life" as an example, or should  we (I) be witnessing without to people so as they don't suffer the seperation from God after we die,,, wow Noah, u started a thread and a half!

[tnhillbilly]

Its all in the book. We all have a choice as how we choose to live and what we choose to believe.
   Adam and Eve had a choice also.

[Amokabs]

Yessir, that's exactly right, the Old testament, God spoke directly, Then Jesus arrives, now we have the Holy Spirit and God's playbook He left us, the Bible.

[TexasHogDogs]

Myself I dont think it matters which religion you believe in to me they are like cars on a lot and a lot of salesmen trying to sell them to you.  When I go to church I go for one thing to serve God the one and only,  the religion dont matter to me .  When I talk to God I talk to him one on one I dont need no go between ,

Its whats in your heart thats going to save you not what religion you go by.

[waylon-N.E. OK]

Wow I'd love to jump in and give all my answers to your comments Noah, but they wouldn't change your mind and it would most likely get ugly and neither of us need any part of that. I'm not sure how I got here to where I am being, methodist as a kid, saved in non-denom. tongue talking hands laid on type of church, got licensed through the Assembly of God, Go to a Baptist church now ( non Calvinist type ) consider myself a Bapticostal partial Calvinist though myself. Sounds to me like you were run through the ringer by some people who meant well, also sounds like you got just enough college freedom to sew doubt into you. You seem to me to carry a little bitterness towards it all, and rightly so if all that happened to you. I do know Jesus Christ is the ONLY WAY though, just like the song say's " The Bible tells me so " . Noah I got my beliefs from my bible not some preacher or my parents, God has proved to me his love and there is no heavy burden, HIS yoke is easy and HID burden is light, anything else other than that came from man. I've tested and tried what I believe, asked the tough questions to God, not some man and came away with the peace I now enjoy.

I believe this 100%,  so I'll digress after this scripture that explains to me why some people never come into the relationship I am blessed to enjoy.

John 6:44

King James Version (KJv) No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day

[Noah]

"It's all in the book"...   I've heard that for a long, long time.... but what about "before the book".... and what about "after"...

Before the Bible was written, God existed.  Each culture has tried to describe it in their own way...



For example.  Let's take the Greek/Roman mythologies...  Gods/half gods.... far fetched no?

I ask you to ask your most trusted pastor to explain this(I assure you that you will get MANY jaded responses to it). 

Genesis 6:4,  "There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the son's of God came unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them,  the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown."  (New King James Version)  (other versions if you so wish....
http://bible.cc/genesis/6-4.htm )  (Now I just had a several hour long discussion of this text with a renowned student of Hebrew translation... HE COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE TEXT.... I.E. IT SAYS WHAT IS SAYS.... EXPLAIN THAT.)

Sounds a bit like "Hercules"/ Greek demi-gods does it not?   

Many different cultures over 10's of THOUSANDS of yrs telling the same story... and FIGHTING over who is right...  THAT is religion for you...

[ked]

Noah, I am not going to type a book, but it is not only your family that has been teaching you what to believe. They may have been more direct and insistent but we are bombarded daily with "brain washings" from humanities 101, the Disney channel, ABC, CBS,Fox and so on.

There is one way. That is not being a baptist, a Pentecostle or any other denominational title. That way is Jesus Christ and Him alone. That can get lost in religion today but that/He is the One Truth.

We all have the right to form our own opinion but not our own truth. God is the author of Truth. By faith we understand the worlds were formed by His hands. The preaching of the cross is foolish to those who are perishing but to those who believe it is the power of God unto salvation.

I had to leave my folks legalistic doctrine because through the Holy Spirit and searching Truth in the written word of God, He taught me the error of that doctrine. Toughest thing I ever did was telling them. He has blessed that faithful decision ever since even though there has been some rocky roads along the way.


 

[matt_aggie04]

I believe that God sent His Son, Jesus, to live and die on the cross for all of our sins.  Through grace I am brought to that faith and through that faith alone can I be saved.  I believe that doing good and helping others is great and I encourage it but I dont believe that you are saved by works, I believe you are saved by faith and repentance of your sins.  I was raised Lutheran and my wife is Baptist and I go to a Baptist church mainly now but I am not so hung up on where I go to church as I am what I do and believe the other six days out of the week.  I believe that a firm faith should be the foundation of how I do everything on a daily basis and I should strive each day to be more Christ like, but we are all humans and fall short of the glory of God and because of that we have to ask God for His forgiveness so that we can let down our burden and go on to the next day.  I am not perfect, never have claimed to be anything close to it, but at the end of the day I know where to turn.  This is my belief since we are all sharing tonight  

[waylon-N.E. OK]

Noah I can explain how all those fallen angel offspring were killed in the flood, I can explain where Cain got his wife,I can explain how there were other peoples outside the garden of Eden all the while Adam and Eve where in it. I can explain 100 different technical issues about Biblical history. But that's stuff for the theologians to argue over, not unlike the Pharisees and Sadducees did back then and wouldn't bring you one tenth of step closer, The bible is a spiritual book, hidden from some as it says. I have no ambitions to try and convert you, the way I honestly believe either you are bound for salvation and God will see it come to pass or you are not. I believe in the doctrine of election in so much as to say what I said here. I know unless God begins to draw your heart no words from my mouth would do any good.

God Bless, Waylon

[waylon-N.E. OK]

Noah God Bless, I'm always willing to talk deeper via PM if you ever want to.

[Heaven Sent Kennel]

WOW Noah!!!!!! You have hit the finish nail right on the head with a 20 lb sledge right here man. It's a lil late for me to be thinking real hard so I may be replying more on this topic but awesome statements and in my opinion you couldn't have said it much better. Holy Ghost must be in them fingers tonight lol. My opinion....Religion is DEAD. Like stated before...living a God fearing, humble, love for others kinda life is so SIMPLE. Our thoughts tend to try and take us other directions and instead of looking to the creator God for answers we try to hold a person on a pedastool and play follow the leader. Sure you can look at others lives and learn for yourself but when you start to get the thought of "I love to be just like him/her" is when we as humans get ourselves in trouble. We were created as individuals created to be what God wanted us to be. There is no one like us therefore we can never be just like anyone else. God created ME for Me and we are all made in His Image.

Genisis 1:26 Then God said,"Let us make man in Our Image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." AKA wild pigs lol

[Amokabs]

Wow, wow, and WOW. This is  good Church right here, you guys are saying it so much better than I ever could,,, Amen.