Another poster’s blog regarding their Christianity, but their desire NOT to go to church got me thinking about how much I enjoy going to church and how I look forward to it.
It is one thing to say you are a Christian, but it is another thing to follow Christ. Regardless of your chosen religion or denomination church attendance should be something you WANT to do. Although some pastor’s do use the “hell and high water you will be condemned method” not all pastors do.
Why do I like church? I have a great pastor, he preaches from the Bible and he uses the messages of the Bible to help us apply it to daily life. He also has common sense. He knows that drinking alcohol is something that people debate. Some Christians believe that it is okay to have a drink, as long as you don’t get drunk. Other Christians believe that it is not okay to even have beer battered halibut. Because of this he will not speak against drinking from the pulpit. But, if you ask him his opinion he will tell you and back it up with scripture.
I am in a ladies only Sunday school class. We have had many talks about everything from raising kids, to sex, to wanting to shoot someone, but we can’t. I know these ladies are going to support me and it is great that once a week we can all come together and share in lives problems, using the Bible and each other as examples of what we can do to help each other.
The final thing that I love about church is that I want to make good decisions regarding my walk with the Lord. Being around my church friends and at church helps me stay on track. Some Christians may be strong enough to follow a right path on their own, but I am not. I NEED my church family to help me out.
The above is MY opinion and how I feel, attached is a link to answer the question “Why Should Christians go to Church?” http://www.christiananswers.net/q-acb/acb-t009.html
The overall answers are:
1. Use of spiritual gifts
2. Mutual ministry
3. Accountability
I hope this helps those Christians who do not go to church realize how important it is.
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As one of those Christians who don't go to church...nah, didn't help me at all.
A few years ago, I decided I was tired of being spoon-fed by the pastor and other Christians. So everyday after school, I studied the Bible for two hours, with the commentary texts and everything--from cover to cover.
It's almost ironic how that study is the main reason why I don't go to church anymore. Christianity is so far gone from what it was intended to be. I'm disgusted to even set foot in a church now.
I am sorry you felt you were being spoon-fed. I am fortunate enough not to have a pastor like that. There have been some churches I have visited and walked out thinking "know wonder people are against this."
At least you have chosen to continue to study the Word. Some people just give it up all together.
Shameless plug
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/almostdone
"A library is a hospital for the mind." Anonymous
I applaud your devotion towards your church going, although I don't think your perception of church can apply to everyone that chooses not to go. I spent nine years in a catholic school. every friday, and every sunday mass, and I don't see anything different you get out of the church experience that you cannot get out of talking with a therapist or psychiatrist. I can happily say that I no longer attend a catholic school, nor do I follow any form of Christianity or religion at all, because I see it as perceptions like yours, perceptions we are intended to agree with, that deteriorate from the initial one-on-one relationship with God.
as a side note, and serious question, Do you believe that one can be "a follower of Christ", yet dismiss Christianity and church and religion all together?
I am not ignoring you, I am just trying to figure out how to answer your question. I will get back to you on that.
Shameless plug
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/almostdone
"A library is a hospital for the mind." Anonymous
okay, well, when you have an answer, I am willing to listen
Do you believe that one can be "a follower of Christ", yet dismiss Christianity and church and religion all together?
Oh! Can I give an answer?
I believe you can. Jesus Christ existed; he walked the earth. He died. What happened after that is where religion comes in to play.
While he lived, he talked. He talked to everyone. He brought a message that was a call to action. Jesus never said one word about homosexuality or about which religion was the right one, and I'm fairly certain Harry Potter had nothing to do with his agenda.
He talked an awful lot though about helping the poor, about caring for the sick, and about loving your neighbor. He talked to and broke bread with lepers, poor people, prostitutes, tax collectors, and even the pig farmers across the lake (aka they were not Jewish). He obviously didn't care if people were going to agree with what he talked about or not; He spread his message without fear--and he was killed for it.
If you practice social justice, if you stand for what you believe in, if you treat others with the same consideration and dignity you would want them to give you, then, whatever religion you follow (or don't) you are a follower of Christ.
Just my $0.02.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/sawaboof
"...There is a crushing guilt that comes with being a Catholic. Whether things are good or bad or you're simply... eating tacos in the park, there is always the crushing guilt."
-30 Rock-
Oh, I completely disagree with you. Until you have concrete proof that he did exist, it is hard for me to believe that. Just as it is hard for me to believe in a bible that has been so scrutinized for validity and truth it is unbelievable. and your last statement, of practicing social justice being linked as a follower of Christ??? what in the world? If I now consider this so called Christ to be the devil, will that in turn effect my social justice?
I'm not what you would call a Bible-thumper, but there is soooo much evidence that Jesus actually existed - there is more proof of Jesus's existence than Julius Ceasar - okay, at least as much proof. For one, the Bible is actually an historical text (regardless of what has happened via translation and mis-inclusions, etc. - though the NRSV is as about as currently accurate as you can get), as in it was written by actual people at an actual time period with the intention of recording history, just like many people write historical accounts of major events, which is how we know about them now. You cannot blatently deny the existence of Jesus - it's just a fact of human history. Whether you believe he was Christ or not, that is up to your discretion.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/kariskoett
now, if you call this historical text, that would mean that real people documented the happenings from the bible as they went on, or as they were told. Now this whole scenario of God creating earth, life, etc in seven days, now who documented that? and our standards and measures of time did not exist back then, so this idea of "seven days" may, theoretically have been two hundred years. And this notion of Adam and Eve being the first beings, having two sons, Cain and Able, and Cain leaving to another city, and producing children with a woman. Enlighten me to how this "historical event" came about if there were only originally Adam and Eve. How can one accept and believe that "Jesus" existed, if half of what the bible states is questionable and illogical beyond belief.
I agree - the old testament is quite bizarre, but it is also a religious text. All religions have a story regarding the beginning of humanity (including atheists and agnostics...), so using that as an argument against the truth of Jesus's existence is completely invalid. If you really want proof that Jesus existed, go to the library. Look it up. Whether you like it or not, whether you believe he was the savior of the world or not, Jesus walked this planet. It's not just in the Bible. Most educated people, whether they accept the Bible or not, at least accept his existence, just like we accept the existence of Buddha and Muhammad. The stories of Jesus may or may not have been elaborated by devoted followers, but, in defense of the new testament of the Bible, I doubt that all the writers of all those different books (since they were written in isolation and not combined until years later) were making up this random human being. This isn't just some fundamentalist evangelical blowing smoke - though I know you'd like to think it is. It's historical. Do your research. Thoroughly. You know? Not just "anti-jesus.com," just like I don't read Focus on the Family for any religious information. Most text is bias in some fashion, so it has to come from, oh, seven or so (viable) sources before it's even close to being adequately acceptable.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/kariskoett
"anti-jesus.com" clever, except not really. Apparently, you make have overlooked the fact that I was a devout Christian, and I have read up on text, pro-Jesus existing, but again, there are so many things that can be questioned as to whether they really happened or not, aside from religion. And please, make a better word choice!!! you said it may be bizarre, but it is "religious text". Does that make it any more true? Now, if I believe the "religious text" of Scientology, does that make it logical and true? Say, for instance, I do accept Jesus, does that not mean I can correlate him to the modern day version of "Bob", a nobody, that has done nothing?
and your first statement : All religions have a story regarding the beginning of humanity (including atheists and agnostics...).
You do know you make atheism sound like a religion. and you do realize atheists are not "inhumane", no one is, so that first statement was irrelevant and unnecessary. It is not that we do not believe in a beginning, it is that we do not believe in a beginning that "god" or any other god created, it is as simple as that.
I didn't mean to offend, so I'll start from the beginning.
I meant to verify your statements about the old testament being strange. Many religious texts do sound strange. Since atheism is a system of non-belief, it is similar to a religion, like not choosing is still making a choice, it's just a choice to not choose, if that makes any sense. Anyway, my point is, because it is a religious text with a purpose to form a religion, it is bizarre, or perhaps sounds so fantastical as not to be believed, because it's purpose is to promote the supernatural. I wasn't verifying truth by strangeness. I apologize for my miscommunication.
Also, I had no idea that you were a Christian at one point - and how could I know? I have no idea who you are. Did you say that somewhere and I just missed it??
Obviously belief in something does not make it true. But there is still truth whether we choose to believe it or not. I am just saying that, although there are parts of the Bible that are so supernatural (such as much of the old testament) that we question whether it is there as a parable rather than a true story (such as many of Jesus's stories), the fact that Jesus walked the earth is proven. There is too much evidence of that. Perhaps we should just agree to disagree at this point.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/kariskoett
oh, yeah, I said I attended a Catholic school and attended church, and did follow Christ at one point in time. and I think the rephrasing of your last response cleared a lot because I did misinterpret what you said. Thanks for your time though, and I think we can agree for now
and your last statement, of practicing social justice being linked as a follower of Christ??? what in the world? If I now consider this so called Christ to be the devil, will that in turn effect my social justice?
I don't follow your logic.
You asked if one can follow Christ with out professing to be Christian. I answered yes; if you follow the teachings of Christ, you are following Christ.
I should have been more specific in what I meant by social justice--Life and dignity of the human person and preferential option for the poor and vulnerable. This is part of Catholic Social Teaching; Social Justice is a pillar in the Catholic faith. Jesus did teach social justice, and I'll refer back to my belief that following his teachings is being a follower of him.
I'm not sure what the devil has anything to do with it.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/sawaboof
"...There is a crushing guilt that comes with being a Catholic. Whether things are good or bad or you're simply... eating tacos in the park, there is always the crushing guilt."
-30 Rock-
I think I intended more if you followed him as a person, no strings attached, believing that sure he existed, but he may not have done anything type of deal.
and now also, I will ask, and I don't want so sound nit-picky, but are you only observing the Catholic faith, or the Christian one in lieu of Social Justice, because you clearly mentioned "Catholic" twice, but I want to know, if say, Lutherans are still included in this social justice deal.
I think I intended more if you followed him as a person, no strings attached, believing that sure he existed, but he may not have done anything type of deal.
OK, I completely misunderstood your question then. I was thinking along the lines of those people who are adamant that you cannot go to Heaven unless you believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, yada yada... I don't believe that. I believe that if Mother Theresa had been Atheist, and still doing what she did, it wouldn't make her any less of an example of Christ.
Islam and Muslim religions believe Jesus to be a prophet, though not the Son of God. Judaism believes he existed, but did not fulfill the prophecies that would make him the Messiah, and they don't believe he was a prophet either. Perhaps these are examples of how someone can follow Jesus in the sense that you meant.
I am observing the Catholic faith. I am Catholic, myself. I don't know what any other Christian denomination teaches about social justice. I do know that it is a large part of the Catholic faith; I would hope it is a part of other denominations' faiths as well.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/sawaboof
"...There is a crushing guilt that comes with being a Catholic. Whether things are good or bad or you're simply... eating tacos in the park, there is always the crushing guilt."
-30 Rock-
alright, thats cleared up now. and now your answer makes sense to my question.
and hey, I was a Catholic all my life, nine years of catholic school, I understood the whole social justice thing, I was just trying to be difficult.
Some Christians believe that it is okay to have a drink, as long as you don’t get drunk. Other Christians believe that it is not okay to even have beer battered halibut. Because of this he will not speak against drinking from the pulpit. But, if you ask him his opinion he will tell you and back it up with scripture.
See, I think a good priest/pastor/rabbi/etc. would address the issue from the pulpit. Their job is not to avoid controversy and sparing people's feelings--it is to lead.
One of my favorite people, Fr. Fred Lucci, speaks his mind every day in front of his congregation and backs up his claims from scripture, his religious studies, and his personal experiences. He is one of the greatest speakers I have ever known. He doesn't just talk at the people, he makes them think and he challenges their belief with each homily. Because, really, how can you grow in your faith if your views aren't challenged every so often?
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/sawaboof
"...There is a crushing guilt that comes with being a Catholic. Whether things are good or bad or you're simply... eating tacos in the park, there is always the crushing guilt."
-30 Rock-
23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
this is a passage found in Hebrews 10:23-25
if we believe that the Bible is the true infallible Word of God, it's pretty clear that God tells us to be a part of a church community.
Then... what is church supposed to be?
42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
This is a passage found in Acts 2:42-47
Again, this is what the Bible says that "church" should look like. If we have Christ in our hearts, then we ARE the church. The church is supposed to be people, not a building (see Matthew 16:13-17). People gathering together to share in teaching, sharing things they need, sharing in worship and prayer, sharing in fellowship, and sharing their faith with others. That is what church is.
I also love going to church, it gives me the opportunity to grow in my purpose. I am involved in the ministry of my church, working primarily in the media department and the publications department. It's really a lot of fun. In fact, just last night I wrote an article persuading teens to get involved and how it not only benefits the house of God, but them as well.
Being around other Christians is really great too.
-Amanda-
It's good that you feel support and friendship from your church. I just hope that you're reading the bible yourself and coming up with your own ideas about the world and not just listening to whatever the preacher says.
I love abortion. Read more here:
http://progressiveu.org/044921-i-love-abortion-even-if-it-murder