To start, i think there is nothing inherintly wrong with a religion organizing itself. Any group of people that share anything (values, age, gender, affinity) eventually self organize and create a structure to work within. Religions organize, “labor” organizes to form labor unions, we belong to this club or that club, hobbie group, teachers organize, colleges “associate” with other colleges, the list goes on and on. PEOPLE organize around common interests and goals. So, what’s wrong when a religion does it? Based on my conversations and reading about it, it has to do with voluntary submission vs feeling “controlled”. If i voluntarily submit to follow a groups self-imposed rules or structure, it’s ok. If i’m forced into submission, that’s bad and leave. Christianity is a voluntary submission. However some misguided leaders might try to assert involuntary pressure. Or, focusing on “do’s” and “don’ts” can make people feel like it’s no longer voluntary. For me, Christianity is a voluntary choice to follow and submit to what God wants, instead of making myself a God and serving myself. Anyway, what do you think?
Spot on!! I cannot agree more. Many preachers today try to distort the whole thing in order to be accepted by the circular world. God is not a democracy but a kingdom. In a kingdom, there is no voting and the king’s word is law and so obedience is expected from the subjects. By taking up citizenship in that kingdom, one automatically subjects himself/herself to the authority/rulership of that king. In a kingdom, the king provides for all the needs of subjects, but because this circular world is so absorbed into the so called democracy and freedom to do virtually anything, priests twist scripture to fit paganism. So, we voluntarily take up the citizenship of God’s Kingdom thereby accepting and wishing to be subjects to the Kingdom and everything that comes with it.
It’s not about me or my personal feelings but my obedience to God and the hierchical structure that God set up in the New Testament and which has not changed its teachings in 2000 years. He didn’t leave me a bible whose cannon was not decided upon til the 4th century and say…hey little girl, read this and then go find a group of people whose personal opinions of scripture are like yours. That of course, is self centeredness whereby God revolves around my personal opinions and I can distort his commandments to fit me. He left us a teaching Church that cannot err. Thank you Lord!!! 1Timothy 3:15 – But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (The spotless bride cannot teach error) Ah, my Beloved! The real problem with Christianity is that there are thousands of differing opinions on scripture and it does nothing but confuse people, especially the youth. Can you imagine going into a store to buy a tv and you have 40,000+ tv sets to review? Wow, no wonder why Jesus prayed they would all be one. Matthew 16:18-19 And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the KEYS of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven. Isaiah 22:22 And I will lay the KEY of the house of David upon his shoulder: and he shall open, and none shall shut: and he shall shut, and none shall open. What about those KEYS? http://www.catholic-pages.com/pope/hahn.asp May God be with you and bless you on your pilgrimage!
I get tired of people bashing organized religion, especially when Jesus said He did not come to change one single thing about the law. It seems to me that for some, the spirit of anti-religion has become their religion. Christians are so out of focus these days and casual about what is int he bible that maybe a bit of religious reminders would be good here and there lest we forget judgment is for us, the Christians, and not for sinners.
p.s. but yes, I do think there needs to be wide spread church reform but not elimination of churches or ‘organized religion’ remember, our God is the God of order. He is organized.
I was raised in Church, the Assembly of God to be exact. It was not until I got older that I accepted Jesus as God for myself. I was completely turned off by the “Church” that I saw when I was growing up. Now that I am an adult, I can see a lot of it just had to do with the imperfection of people. Which is something that is not going away. However, I have still had a hard time making myself attend any church regularly. To me it is because of a lack of the leadership of the churches, pastors and worship leaders, in following the leading of the Holy Spirit. It all seems like a big society club and it sickens me. I understand things have to be some what organized but it just all seems very artificial most of the time. A lot of posturing and hypocrisy. WE are not perfect. That is why we need Jesus. No one of us is more important than anyone else. Why is it that pastors think it is THEIR ministry? It is Jesus’ church, His body. I have seen so many times pastors and ministers become offended when members of the congregation help another church or ministry with something..what is up with that?? Aren’t we all in this together? I do not believe in denominations, that means division!! A house divided against itself can not stand, and that is why the church is not standing!! WE squabble over petty issues. The main issue is we believe in Jesus! WE are to love one another in action and words. I just don’t see it in most churches. I do see it in individual believers. Just not organized religion as it is today.
i never got this whole JESUS thing god doesn’t have a SON the bible is 100 percent fiction why won’t everybody ADMIT it already there is no HELL except for what we all create can somebody please respond to me because ive been TORMENTED by this created idea of hell : at dariand7902@gmail.com please listen carefully to what im going to say now // here : it doesn’t matter BOTH wether you’re a good person OR believe in god or not either way // ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of human beings // including HITLER go to heaven PERIOD i don’t need to hear anymore about this im tired of WORRYING about this stuff i have autism // i don’t even understand the concept of sin
To start, i think there is nothing inherintly wrong with a religion organizing itself. Any group of people that share anything (values, age, gender, affinity) eventually self organize and create a structure to work within. Religions organize, “labor” organizes to form labor unions, we belong to this club or that club, hobbie group, teachers organize, colleges “associate” with other colleges, the list goes on and on. PEOPLE organize around common interests and goals. So, what’s wrong when a religion does it? Based on my conversations and reading about it, it has to do with voluntary submission vs feeling “controlled”. If i voluntarily submit to follow a groups self-imposed rules or structure, it’s ok. If i’m forced into submission, that’s bad and leave. Christianity is a voluntary submission. However some misguided leaders might try to assert involuntary pressure. Or, focusing on “do’s” and “don’ts” can make people feel like it’s no longer voluntary. For me, Christianity is a voluntary choice to follow and submit to what God wants, instead of making myself a God and serving myself. Anyway, what do you think?
Spot on!! I cannot agree more. Many preachers today try to distort the whole thing in order to be accepted by the circular world. God is not a democracy but a kingdom. In a kingdom, there is no voting and the king’s word is law and so obedience is expected from the subjects. By taking up citizenship in that kingdom, one automatically subjects himself/herself to the authority/rulership of that king. In a kingdom, the king provides for all the needs of subjects, but because this circular world is so absorbed into the so called democracy and freedom to do virtually anything, priests twist scripture to fit paganism. So, we voluntarily take up the citizenship of God’s Kingdom thereby accepting and wishing to be subjects to the Kingdom and everything that comes with it.
It’s not about me or my personal feelings but my obedience to God and the hierchical structure that God set up in the New Testament and which has not changed its teachings in 2000 years. He didn’t leave me a bible whose cannon was not decided upon til the 4th century and say…hey little girl, read this and then go find a group of people whose personal opinions of scripture are like yours. That of course, is self centeredness whereby God revolves around my personal opinions and I can distort his commandments to fit me. He left us a teaching Church that cannot err. Thank you Lord!!! 1Timothy 3:15 – But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (The spotless bride cannot teach error) Ah, my Beloved! The real problem with Christianity is that there are thousands of differing opinions on scripture and it does nothing but confuse people, especially the youth. Can you imagine going into a store to buy a tv and you have 40,000+ tv sets to review? Wow, no wonder why Jesus prayed they would all be one. Matthew 16:18-19 And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the KEYS of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven. Isaiah 22:22 And I will lay the KEY of the house of David upon his shoulder: and he shall open, and none shall shut: and he shall shut, and none shall open. What about those KEYS? http://www.catholic-pages.com/pope/hahn.asp May God be with you and bless you on your pilgrimage!
I get tired of people bashing organized religion, especially when Jesus said He did not come to change one single thing about the law. It seems to me that for some, the spirit of anti-religion has become their religion. Christians are so out of focus these days and casual about what is int he bible that maybe a bit of religious reminders would be good here and there lest we forget judgment is for us, the Christians, and not for sinners.
p.s. but yes, I do think there needs to be wide spread church reform but not elimination of churches or ‘organized religion’ remember, our God is the God of order. He is organized.
I was raised in Church, the Assembly of God to be exact. It was not until I got older that I accepted Jesus as God for myself. I was completely turned off by the “Church” that I saw when I was growing up. Now that I am an adult, I can see a lot of it just had to do with the imperfection of people. Which is something that is not going away. However, I have still had a hard time making myself attend any church regularly. To me it is because of a lack of the leadership of the churches, pastors and worship leaders, in following the leading of the Holy Spirit. It all seems like a big society club and it sickens me. I understand things have to be some what organized but it just all seems very artificial most of the time. A lot of posturing and hypocrisy. WE are not perfect. That is why we need Jesus. No one of us is more important than anyone else. Why is it that pastors think it is THEIR ministry? It is Jesus’ church, His body. I have seen so many times pastors and ministers become offended when members of the congregation help another church or ministry with something..what is up with that?? Aren’t we all in this together? I do not believe in denominations, that means division!! A house divided against itself can not stand, and that is why the church is not standing!! WE squabble over petty issues. The main issue is we believe in Jesus! WE are to love one another in action and words. I just don’t see it in most churches. I do see it in individual believers. Just not organized religion as it is today.
Jilda……excellent observation.
I agree with Jilda on this issue 100%
i never got this whole JESUS thing god doesn’t have a SON the bible is 100 percent fiction why won’t everybody ADMIT it already there is no HELL except for what we all create can somebody please respond to me because ive been TORMENTED by this created idea of hell : at dariand7902@gmail.com please listen carefully to what im going to say now // here : it doesn’t matter BOTH wether you’re a good person OR believe in god or not either way // ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of human beings // including HITLER go to heaven PERIOD i don’t need to hear anymore about this im tired of WORRYING about this stuff i have autism // i don’t even understand the concept of sin