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How kind and gracious that young man was. I hope Ray has helped him.
Let me just start off by saying here it's why I stopped going to church,.. not why I stopped being a Christian. Sure I believe that God won't put up with sin, (like homosexuality) but if you argue with the fact that God isn't full of love or that you should be afraid of Him (as what I do believe He's saying here) it really makes me mad.
You don't need the church to find Jesus. He'll welcome you as long as you accept him in your heart.
In My opinion, and it is ONLY My opinion, the church is dogma to further the leaders of the church's control over the flock.Exactly and I should say that I left my first church for such horrible preaching,.. the second one,.. personal changes I don't like and I say at the end of the day a church is a building so unless I find a good one,.. the rest of the world can be my church as God is everywhere not just in one building.
FJB said:but I don't always agree with his evangelizing methods as I already put in my OP
How so? I'll go back and check but i didn't catch what it is about his method you don't like.
I hear all this stuff about 'control' people are supposed to have. As a pro-lifer, I hear that my real motive is to 'control' women. What a ridiculous notion! How is that 'control' supposed to manifest itself for me? Do I get a harem? Haven't seen one yet.In My opinion, and it is ONLY My opinion, the church is dogma to further the leaders of the church's control over the flock.
Don't get Me wrong, there are preachers, pastors, and fathers; who truly believe and love those they tend to. But they are forced to follow the dogma.
I have My own understanding of God, Jesus, and how it all fits into the tangible world in which we exist.
You misunderstood.I hear all this stuff about 'control' people are supposed to have. As a pro-lifer, I hear that my real motive is to 'control' women. What a ridiculous notion! How is that 'control' supposed to manifest itself for me? Do I get a harem? Haven't seen one yet.
And as for the Catholic Church having 'control' over me, what does that mean? I have free will to do what I want. But I use RCC teaching as my guideline on how to live because every single one of their teachings as to how you conduct yourself makes 100% perfect sense to me.
Let me just start off by saying here it's why I stopped going to church,.. not why I stopped being a Christian. Sure I believe that God won't put up with sin, (like homosexuality) but if you argue with the fact that God isn't full of love or that you should be afraid of Him (as what I do believe He's saying here) it really makes me mad.
Let me just start off by saying here it's why I stopped going to church,.. not why I stopped being a Christian. Sure I believe that God won't put up with sin, (like homosexuality) but if you argue with the fact that God isn't full of love or that you should be afraid of Him (as what I do believe He's saying here) it really makes me mad.
Mashmont said:But I use RCC teaching as my guideline on how to live because every single one of their teachings as to how you conduct yourself makes 100% perfect sense to me
So you are mad at the actual doctrine found to exist in the Holy Scriptures and quit because that was the message being preached? Because God is the God of love does not prohibit hate from existing.........there are sins that are deserving of hate, hate so severe its called an abomination to the same God you claim can not hate. (Prov. 6:16-19) God hated the perverted acts of Homosexuality so greatly that He had Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18,19)
Next you claim you quit church because it propagated hate........then you end your message by declaring it MAKES YOU REALLY MAD? Mad = Anger.......Anger = one of the supposed deadly sins.
But of course everyone can hate and become angered without losing their Christianity. Jesus called the Jewish Leaders vipers and hypocrites, (Matt. 23:33) He became so angered because He hated seeing the Temple being used as a place of business by the money changers (Matt. 21:12)
In fact it is proclaimed throughout the Holy Scriptures that the beginning of Wisdom comes from Fearing God. Example Prov. 9:10
Is it "wise" to leave church because The entire Word of God is being preached and you hate some portions of that word? God's word is sharper than any 2 edged sword. (Heb. 4:12)
We are to allow the Word in its entirety to mold our character........we don't attempt to mold the word of God around our own personal character.
I don't think i could snuggle up to God. And frankly sometimes it scares me how i pray. This is a holy, ancient, eternal, living God and when he returns...he will not be a loving God for a fallen world. He will be a judge and a Conqueror.
Rules regarding interpersonal relationshipsI am not catholic but we have catholic family members. To what are you referring when you say, RCC teaching as my guideline....what is that specifically?
Life is about a lot more than sitting and looking up at the stars. There is the messy work of dealing with people. Not everything that is right is obvious. For that, you need a church's guidance.Btw, I really am more of a one with nature kind of gal anyways. Sometimes I think enjoying the beauty of God's creation of nature and actually going out there and experiencing it is somewhat better than sitting in a pew for an hour anyways. As whenever I go out for a nature hike or to the beach I feel close to God's presence and the closest I feel to Him than currently anywhere else I go.
mashmont said:Rules regarding interpersonal relationships
