May | 2010 | Done with Religion

Archive for May, 2010

Frustrated with Christianity

Posted in christian living, tagged America, Christ, Christian, Christianity, church, God, guide, Holy Spirit, love, preacher on May 25, 2010| 4 Comments »

Have you ever felt frustrated with the Christian world today? Obviously the church today isn’t what God intended and in America, the church has become a big corporation more than anything.

On the other hand, no matter what church or Christian group you belong to, it seems we just can’t accept each other as we are. We always have groups that say one thing and then along comes someone else who says something completely different. Then one group gets mad and argues their point and it just seems fruitless to continue debating one another. One groups says this is the way to do it, the other says no, your way is wrong but our way is the way to do it.

I’m at a point where I’m pretty well frustrated with Christianity as a whole and just ready to say forget it. God loves me. There is nothing I have to do or stop doing to receive God’s love. I am saved through faith in Jesus Christ and I have the Holy Spirit living within me. I don’t have to listen to this group or that group, this speaker or that preacher. God can guide me in the way He wants me to go and I no longer have to worry about my reputation or what others think. Does anyone else feel this way too?

I really think if we accept God’s love for us the way we are, follow Him and be willing to do what He wants us to do, then listen to the guiding of the Holy Spirit within us, we will be OK no matter what others say. We no longer have to be tossed to and fro by listening to all the different voices in Christianity today. We just need to listen and trust God and enjoy the fellowship we have with Him through Christ.

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Televangelists

Posted in christian living, Missions, tagged Christianity, christians, church, fellowship, gospel, ministry, pastors, televangelists, television on May 24, 2010| 2 Comments »

I have seen some emails talking about a bill that would remove pastors and Christian programming from TV and radio. I’m not sure if there is any truth to the emails, but it does bring a thought to my mind. Now I don’t want to sound like I’m against the Gospel message, but just maybe this is a good thing. Before you get the wrong idea, let me explain what I mean.

The majority of non-Christians won’t turn on a TV Gospel program. Taking these pastors off of TV and radio might cause more Christians to have personal one on one fellowship with both believers and non-believers. Can you image 4, 6 or 10 people in a living room, or a small group meeting at a restaurant for fellowship and getting to know one another in a more intimate way?

In the US, we tend to think our pastors are the only ones to carry the Gospel to the world, when in reality the true ‘Church’ ( us ) are to allow God to work through us to spread His love to a hurting world on a one on one basis with those we come in contact with every day.

Taking the pastors off TV may just cause Christians to find the fellowship they need with other Christians, and to take the gospel message to people who would not turn on a gospel program or attend a religious meeting. Again I don’t mean to step on the toes of the elderly and shut-ins, but maybe that is another area where the ‘Church’ could go out and minister to those who are unable to get out.

Speaking in financial terms, we all know that TV and radio programs require a lot of money to stay on the air waves. What we usually see on these programs are the pastors begging for more and more money to build up their ministries with multi-million dollar facilities and private jets. What is wrong with this picture?

Why not use this money to help feed and take care of the poor, the homeless and the needy.

The way I see it, taking the televangelists off the air waves may be the best thing that could happen to the Christian world today.

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Homeless

Posted in christian living, tagged believe, concern, food, homeless, love on May 24, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Recently my wife, a daughter, son-in-law, two granddaughters, in-law, friend and I did something new. The girls all cooked food, then all of us went out to several homeless camps and gave the food out and spent a little time with some of the homeless people.

I wasn’t sure I was going to like doing this, but after the day was over, I have to admit I had a good time. We all felt a sense of accomplishment in doing something that helped someone else out.

The people were all friendly and seemed to enjoy talking with us. I found it interesting talking with them and finding out where they were from, how they came to the camp, what they used to do and what their plans were for the future.

I was glad a couple of my granddaughters went along to see what life was like from a homeless perspective. Our kids today have never known hardship or doing without. I think it really opened their eyes and made them more thankful for what they have.

It is hard to believe the conditions these people live in, but due to those conditions, we found a sincere sense of concern for each other and a willingness to enjoy a time of fellowship with us.

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Politics

Posted in christian living, tagged acceptance, Bible, church, denomination, fellowship, God, Jesus, love, political, politics on May 24, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Each time election time comes around, I get aggravated seeing churches endorse candidates and allow politicians to come to their service and talk or be recognized. This is just another sign to me that the modern-day Christian church is off base and involved in things they shouldn’t be.

I’m not saying we as individuals shouldn’t be informed and that we shouldn’t vote. Each person should take the time to know what the candidates stand for, and then get out and vote for the ones they feel would do the best job. That doesn’t mean churches need to be the ones to endorse candidates and issues.

The Church (“Church” meaning each individual believer) is here to love one another and show the love of God to all we come in contact with. The church (church: organized religion/building) is just another big business today. Its time the church stops allowing politicians to come in and be recognized as another way to get their name in front of voters. The church needs to stop being just another big corporation in America, and time for the “Church” to start being what God intended.

Denominations and organized religion is NOT what God intended. Fellowship among believers, love for God and for one another is what we need more of today.