But I don't want to be where it's so clear they aren't even trying to head toward it.
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Desire to be a vessel of honor unto the Lord Jesus Christ?
Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
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Taking the time to pray? Christ is the answer in times of need
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
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he appeared to be catholic, but what he said isn't what I wasn't saying. baptism and communion and free mentioned the poor and the tounge. funny how simply it is now.the torah had that poor thing and in part from the writings the tounge. baptism and communion are shadowed in the torah as well.
Jesus used every opportunity to blast the religious leaders of His day for carrying out vain traditions that meant nothing. Just read Matthew Chapter 23, where Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for saying one thing but doing another and for following blindly after rituals and Law-based traditions done only to make them look good. Religion is made up of man’s ideas, interpretations, and prejudices based on selfish desires, attempts to control others, and a stubborn determination to be right. Where is God in that? Religion completely takes God out of the equation and replaces Him with the god of “self” in the form of self-effort, self-righteousness, and self-gratification. True Christianity is not a religion; it is a relationship with Christ. Now, that I love!
like it or NOT every church has traditions that may not be bad but aren't in the bible.
ie what songs aren't allowed in worship depending the style the church like.
the one i don't care to do, one must dress up for jesus.
where is that in the bible? don't wear a hat in church if you a man.
no jeans to church if a lady.
if one is divorced and saved after the fact or repented and didn't remarry. one cant be a pastor.
most of that is from churches nearby. some of that i don't like. some i don't mind. i wouldn't care for rap in church worship. some do. more power to them.
pentacostals like to say that stuff but often have their traditions. seen it.when one baptizes is in the church or the catholic? if you think i meant the rcc, then really look up what catholic means. it means universal. for everyone. some pentacostals add to the bible the idea of one NEEDS to be saved via the HOLY GHOST baptism as evidenced by tounges. where is that in the bible? some add that one must tithe to be saved. rare but i think i heard that from one group once.
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poetofparables
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Maybe thats all Jesus was trying to do, but everyone turned into something more than love.
the Pharisees went overboard on the torah and also were hyprocrites. Jesus was pointing that out to them and also to repent. He also did use the torah to teach love.
the idea of love thy neighbor is in the torah first. so is a lot of things he said. he just said you have lost the proper focus. it was always was a command to help the poor.
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poetofparables
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Religion is very dress up, I wonder if thats because some people never grow out of being a child.
even if one doesn't attend a church. bar hopping has a similar manner to it or any other such like meetings. not all but its our nature to show off. im not saying tis a sin, but it can go to far. im not into suits. the only suit i have are army issue.
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poetofparables
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Sometimes I feel somethings are a sin even if they are not wrong, but I cant explain why.
Which in no way whatsoever meant that Jesus was against religion or that religion was or is a bad thing. Jesus was correcting them where they were wrong.
While some of those things may be in various religions to varying degrees, none of that means Christianity is not a religion or that "God isn't in it". Your reasoning here is very poor.
Are you not going to address the passage I gave from Scripture?
Completely and utterly false.
All I have to ask is Who is the Christ? and you'll have to appeal to religion. Christianity is a religion which has as one of its tenets that one can have a relationship with Christ.
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poetofparables
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But I admit after reading ILoves post I felt a connection to that idea. But amazingly I feel connected to your idea at the same time.
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poetofparables
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poetofparables
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Yes its true, and not excluding myself.Well some folks talk in circles .. round and round...
Are you religious or do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ? Are you simply a Christian or have you grown to become a Disciple of Jesus Christ?
Making this connection is very very critical so that we understand God doesn't just want religion, He wants a relationship. It is time for Christians to move from religion to relationship.
It is possible to have a artificial Church. It's possible to be a artificial Christian...but look real. And that is because of a connection far to many of us fail to make and that is the connection between religion and relationship.
2 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’ Revelation 2: 1-7 NKJV
If you are busy religiously and growing cold spiritually there is a disconnect there. Jesus says, "You have left your First Love." First Love is the passionate pursuit of the pleasure of another. Religion without relationship is functional duty.
Example: When a wife feels like she has to be intimate because it is her duty, rather than the overflow of her passion, there is a disconnect.
Let me be clear, God is not saying give up religion. He is saying connect religion to relationship. The scripture says, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'. The bible says, "If you love me keep my commandments". It doesn't say keep my commandments because you are suppose to. Why? Because He connects duty with devotion. Jesus goes on and say my commandments are not burdensome. So why do they feel so heavy to Christians? Because they are commandments without intimacy...and they become weighty.
Jesus gives Christians the three "R's" how to get back the First Love what has been lost; Revelation 2:5 NASB
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
Remember why I died. I died for a relationship not for religion.
Repent to change your mind in order to change your direction. Note - throughout the bible we are told to "repent" for your sins. Jesus tells us it is a sin to leave your First Love...The Lord.
Repeat and do the deeds you did at first.
Example: When a wife feels like she has to be intimate because it is her duty, rather than the overflow of her passion, there is a disconnect.
Let me be clear, God is not saying give up religion. He is saying connect religion to relationship. The scripture says, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'. The bible says, "If you love me keep my commandments". It doesn't say keep my commandments because you are suppose to. Why? Because He connects duty with devotion. Jesus goes on and say my commandments are not burdensome. So why do they feel so heavy to Christians? Because they are commandments without intimacy...and they become weighty.
Jesus gives Christians the three "R's" how to get back the First Love what has been lost; Revelation 2:5 NASB
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
Remember why I died. I died for a relationship not for religion.
Repent to change your mind in order to change your direction. Note - throughout the bible we are told to "repent" for your sins. Jesus tells us it is a sin to leave your First Love...The Lord.
Repeat and do the deeds you did at first.
It isn't a matter of either being religious or having a relationship with Jesus, it's a matter of either being religious without Jesus or being religious and having a relationship with him.
Of course.
Of course but that is not what you have said. What you have said is: "Religion is worthless"; "Religion completely takes God out of the equation"; "True Christianity is not a religion". So who is right, you or God?