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Posts Tagged ‘faith’

Why God! Is God Responsible For My Suffering?

Posted in christian living, Love of God, tagged , , , , , on November 26, 2025|

by Mike Edwards

Many religions — like Christianity, Islam, and Judaism — hold that God is all-powerful and all-knowing. That creates the “problem of evil” – If God is good and powerful, why does suffering exist? Different religions respond in various ways:

  • Free will defense: God allows suffering because free will is necessary for genuine love and moral choice. If God prevented all evil, we’d be robots without moral agency.
  • Soul-making theodicy: Suffering helps develop virtues like courage, compassion, and resilience. Without challenges, we couldn’t grow spiritually.
  • Divine mystery card: Some argue that God’s reasons are beyond human understanding — that we can’t see the full picture from our limited perspective (as in the Book of Job).

God can’t be all-power and all-controlling

  • Open Theism rejects the idea of an all-controlling God. Instead, God works with creation through influence. In this view, God suffers with the world and works to heal it, but can’t unilaterally prevent all suffering. See A Loving God Can’t Be All-Powerful!

When it feels like God is responsible or allows suffering

Others come to see suffering not as something caused by God, but as something used/allowed by God. They might say: “I don’t believe God wanted this pain, but He met me in it.” That view may work for some, but I believe many hold onto this view because convinced God must be all-powerful. It can be natural to ask, “If God could stop this, why didn’t He? Many feel betrayed or abandoned by God. Some find it hard to pray. This reaction isn’t a lack of faith — it’s an honest human response to suffering. Feeling angry with God can be part of a genuine relationship — it means you still believe. God can be questioned!

If we maintain that God limits their Power, this suggests God can do something but doesn’t. We must come up with a better explanation that God simply allows – thus controls – evils but isn’t responsible for such evils. A God who can prevent evil but doesn’t is counter-intuitive to love. No loving parent or God sits idly by when they could prevent tragedies such as rape or murder. We feel God leaves us clueless – are we to believe God doesn’t care, God is punishing us, or God has abandoned us and left us ignorant about the grand plan? God doesn’t just allow your suffering!  

Maybe God doesn’t cause or allow suffering

Please know there are alternative views of God if currently struggling what claims you have heard. Accepting God is not all-powerful has helped me deal with brain cancer. See Why Did God Allow This Cancerous Tumor In My Brain?

Mike Edwards was added as a writer and has been a great addition to the site. Mike provides many interesting views and various ways of looking at things. He is not afraid to ask questions and he keeps an open mind as to teachings of the institutional church. Mike also has his own site where he writes at What God May Really Be Like

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Is It Wrong To Say I Don’t Know

Posted in Bible, christian living, religion, tagged , , , , , , , , on August 27, 2025|

by Michael Donahoe

For those of us who grew up church, we usually had the feeling that we were not to ask questions. I can remember I felt odd if I had a question about God or my faith, and if I actually asked it, I felt I would be seen as someone who did not have enough faith. Worse than that, people may think I was not even a Christian.

I know I am not the only one. Have you ever felt that you needed to know all the answers? When a non-believer questions your faith or asks something about the Bible, do you feel you have to know the answer and be able to explain it to them?

I know I have always felt that I needed to know all the answers and I should not question my faith. Although the more I think about it and the more I run into people who have all sorts of questions, I have come to realize that I certainly do not have all the answers.

Even my wife and I talk and we have questions we cannot answer. We have come to realize that God is too big for us to have it all figured out. If we do not have all the answers for ourselves, how could we have all the answers for everyone else?

I now realize that there is nothing wrong with admitting we do not have all the answers. Basically, questioning is not wrong. Even though many of us have been taught that we should not question the pastor, the Bible, our faith, even God, I now believe that God is not afraid of our questions. So, what is wrong with us saying ‘I don’t know’?

Admitting that you do not know does not mean you are not a good Christian. Admitting that you do not know does not mean your faith is shallow or we do not believe God.

If we knew everything, what kind of a God would we be serving anyway? The Spirit will be teaching us during our entire life here on earth, and we still will not begin to know it all.

While Jesus was on earth, he basically told stories and parables. A lot of the time, he did not give a direct answer. He usually asked another question rather than give a definite answer. I suppose if he gave a specific answer, we would have made it a basic doctrine by now anyway.

Do not be afraid to ask questions. Do not feel guilty when you do not know the answer. The best way to learn is to be open to asking questions and seeking answers. God is perfectly capable of guiding us to the truth in proper timing.

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Michael Donahoe was added as a writer for Done with Religion as his views fit perfectly with those that are shared on this site. He and his wife have been outside the walls of religion for fifteen years. He enjoys writing about his experiences and thoughts, and he wants to encourage others who are going through the religious deconstruction process. He also writes on Substack at https://deconstructiontrail.substack.com/ and https://personalmeanderings.substack.com/

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Deconstruction, Reconstruction, Transformation

Posted in christian living, deconstruction, Love of God, religion, tagged , , , , , , on August 6, 2025|

by Michael Donahoe

The word deconstruction has become popular in recent years, and for me, it has become personal. What exactly do we mean by deconstruction?

First, I can honestly say that twenty years ago I would not have any idea what deconstruction was, other than tearing down a house or building. I can also say, if I had found out back then what it was spiritually, I would have wanted nothing to do with it.

Fifteen years later, everything changed. Deconstruction became very important to me once I realized that I was already starting to go through it. I had been having many questions about the church and the things I was taught growing up. Many things were not making sense and it seemed there had to be more than just sitting in church once a week.

The definition of deconstruction is the analytic examination of something (such as a theory) often in order to reveal its inadequacy; spiritually speaking it is questioning, re-evaluating, and even dismantling aspects of faith or religious practices. It does not actually mean demolition, instead it means breaking down or analyzing something to discover its true significance, which is supposedly almost never exactly what the author intended. 

Over the fifty-five years I spent going to church, I had many questions. Unfortunately, I felt I could not ask those questions because people would think I did not have enough faith. Yet, in time I got to a point that I started asking questions anyway and searching for answers, which led to me to start my deconstruction process.

Of course, in time, I came to a point where I started to rebuild my faith with new ideas and new ways of looking at things. I had a kind of faith that was freer and made more sense. Not that I had all the answers, but now I was not afraid to ask questions and admit my doubts. I found out there was a term for this, which is reconstruction. A rebuilding of my faith without the church doctrine and the certainty I felt I had to have while in the religious organization.

Reconstructing our faith is rebuilding some of the interpretations and spiritual ideas without destroying our faith foundation. It is seeing things differently, being open to asking questions and admitting we do not know everything. It is a faith of uncertainty more than being closed-minded and set in our ways.

I was now free to walk with God outside of set doctrines and some of the ways I was taught in church. I could now follow the Spirit without the religious requirements, all the while learning to love and accept all people.

Deconstruction and Reconstruction all lead to Transformation, which is a profound and lasting shift in self-concept, mindset, and overall way of being. I now felt comfortable not knowing all the answers and not feeling guilty because of it. I could accept people from different walks of life and different faiths without the guilt that religion sometimes puts on me. I was free from the doctrines and religious interpretations that kept me in submission. Now I depend on guidance from the Spirit that lives within me rather the views and opinions of other human beings.

Although deconstruction can be an important part of our life, I do not think we should stay there. Yet, I do believe we should be continually going through deconstruction and reconstruction, and continually being transformed. We should not become stagnant, but constantly changing as the Spirit leads us day by day.

God is so much bigger than we can realize. Part of deconstruction for me was realizing after all the years within the church and the years following God outside the walls of religion, there is always more to learn. God cannot be contained in a building nor a book. I realize that we need to focus more on the leading of the Spirit that lives within us and less on the doctrines and views of religious systems.

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Michael Donahoe was added as a writer for Done with Religion as his views fit perfectly with those that are shared on this site. He and his wife have been outside the walls of religion for fifteen years. He enjoys writing about his experiences and thoughts, and he wants to encourage others who are going through the religious deconstruction process. He also writes on Substack at https://personalmeanderings.substack.com/ and https://deconstructiontrail.substack.com/

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Are We All People of Faith?

Posted in Acceptance of Others, Bible, christian living, Community, Love of God, religion, tagged , , , , , , on July 11, 2025|

by Michael Donahoe

It has always amazed me how we Christians can be so argumentative. We just do not know how to accept one another’s differences in doctrine or interpretation.

Following Jesus is obviously based on loving God and loving others. Yet we have nearly 40,000 different denominations, mainly because we cannot agree and accept one another.

We argue and defend our doctrines and interpretations, and we get mad when others disagree or have a different viewpoint. Even when we partly agree, we feel the need to point out where we differ because we think that our way is right, and everyone else is a little off.

I understand that we are not going to agree on everything, and each of us have a little different way of seeing things and understanding things, but we go too far when we let these differences separate us. We want to keep in our own particular group, which we usually feel is the more correct way to believe, and we do not want to associate with some of the others. This should not be, we can have our differences yet without separating ourselves from others.

We are all people of faith, especially in regard to spiritual things. We have faith in God, or faith (belief) there is no God. We have faith (trust) in science, in doctors, in common every day life things. We flip a light switch and have faith the light will come on. Whether we are Christian, Atheist, Muslim, Buddhist or whatever label we place ourselves under, we all live by some type of faith. That does not mean we are all followers of Christ, but we are all people of faith. We do not have to be afraid to associate with people who do not have a faith in God. We just may be the only view of God they get to see, and love and acceptance should be what they feel through the power of the Spirit within us.

None of us can prove beyond a doubt that our way is right. People have faith there is a God, or there is not a God, faith in the after-life and heaven, or faith in reincarnation, faith there is no hell, or faith that there is just an end to our existence. We cannot prove any of it either way you look at it, yet we all seem to fight and argue amongst ourselves trying to defend our viewpoint.

No matter what we believe, how much we love God, or how much we are convinced there is or is not a spiritual side to life, we cannot prove our point, it is all by faith.

As mentioned in the Bible, we walk by faith, not by sight. I am glad I have a faith in a God who I believe created me and loves me, a God who has provided freedom from my sinful nature, and a God who has come to live within me.

I also respect the rights of others to feel differently. I do not think it is my responsibility to expect anyone to believe the same as me, or to put their faith in the same things that I do. It is the Holy Spirit’s place to draw others to God. I believe it is the Spirit who teaches us and leads us into truth. My responsibility is to love and accept everyone as they are, and be ready for God to show love through me.

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Michael Donahoe was added as a writer for Done with Religion as his views fit perfectly with those that are shared on this site. He and his wife have been outside the walls of religion for fifteen years. He enjoys writing about his experiences and thoughts, and he wants to encourage others who are going through the religious deconstruction process. He also writes on Substack at https://personalmeanderings.substack.com/ and https://deconstructiontrail.substack.com/

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Acting in Faith

Posted in christian living, Love of God, tagged , , , , on June 11, 2025|

by Michael Donahoe

What is acting in faith? It is taking action even when we cannot see or prove that something is there. I remember when I was a little boy, I would wake up in the middle of the night and call out in the dark to my mom. I could not see her but I knew she was there. If I went by sight I would never have called out to her and I would not have received the comfort I needed.

The same with God, we cannot see God but we know God is there. We must realize that we live by faith or we will never call out to God and receive what we need.

In certain ways, I see all people as people of faith. That is not saying that all people have faith in God but all have faith. Some people have faith in science, some in various religions, some in humanity and others have faith in God.

God loves each one of us no matter what we put our faith in. God accepts us, loves us and has restored fellowship with us through grace, and that is all through faith.

None of us can prove beyond a doubt that there is a God or that there is not a God. None of us can prove Heaven or Hell, it is all by faith. Just as it is by faith that we flip a light switch and expect the lights to come on, or sit on a chair and expect it to hold us, it is by acting in faith that we accept God and know God is there.

Do not worry about trying to prove God to everyone you meet. Live your life daily by acting in faith in God. Allow God to live through you and touch others by loving them with godly love. It is by us acting in faith that we can show the love of God to others.

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Michael Donahoe was added as a writer for Done with Religion as his views fit perfectly with those that are shared on this site. He and his wife have been outside the walls of religion for fifteen years. He enjoys writing about his experiences and thoughts, and he wants to encourage others who are going through the religious deconstruction process. He also writes on Substack at https://personalmeanderings.substack.com/

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Yes I Am A Christian….But

Posted in Bible, christian living, Jesus follower, Love of God, tagged , , , , , , , , on May 28, 2025|

My Idea of Being A Christian is Different than You May Think

by Michael Donahoe

When I say I am a Christian, people usually stereotype me as a Christian that is something different from what I mean.

People tend to equate Christianity with certain beliefs, doctrines and actions. People who are Christian usually believe certain things, participate in certain things or avoid certain things.

Yet, for me, I do not fit into the normal mold of what people think of as Christianity. A few of those things are as follows:

I do not attend church

I do not believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God

I do not believe the world was created in 6 actual days

I do not believe the USA is a Christian nation nor God’s chosen nation

I am not Republican (nor a Democrat)

I do not claim to be evangelical. I really do not even like using the term Christian because of the negative thoughts it creates

I love and accept people, all people, male, female, black, white, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Atheist, LGBTQ. I believe Jesus said to love God and love one another. I believe we all are created in the image of God.

I am patriotic, but not nationalistic. America is not a Christian nation nor is it God’s chosen nation. It is not OK to force religious beliefs on everyone. We are free to choose for ourselves what we believe and who we follow.

I do believe in science

I do believe the Spirit of God lives within us and we are guided by the Spirit not a book

I do believe in the freedom of choice for all people in all matters. We cannot legislate morality nor a particular version of faith.

I believe that my spiritual life and secular life are not separate but intertwined. We are not spiritual one day but secular another. Living each day is a combination of being spiritual and secular.

There are many other topics in regard to traditional Christianity I could cover, but you get the idea. When people hear the word Christian, all sorts or stereotypical ideas come to their thoughts. The main point to think about is based on a Bible verse, by their fruits you shall know them.

Rather than automatically think all Christians are the same, wait a while and watch how they act and treat others. It will be clear soon if they are loving, kind, inclusive and accepting; or if they are judgmental, condemning, exclusive and force their faith on others.

The bottom line is, we all have some type of faith. If my faith does not lead me to love, help, encourage and allow others the freedom to have their own views and faith, then I need to keep my opinion and faith to myself.

Rather than forcing my way of faith on others, my goal is to be Christ-like day by day by being loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good and faithful. Forcing your faith on others, judging and condemning those who have a different kind of faith or a different view and opinion is not loving and certainly not Christ-like.

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Michael Donahoe was added as a writer for Done with Religion as his views fit perfectly with those that are shared on this site. He and his wife have been outside the walls of religion for fifteen years. He enjoys writing about his experiences and thoughts, and he wants to encourage others who are going through the religious deconstruction process. He also writes on Substack at https://personalmeanderings.substack.com/

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Differences Among Christians

Posted in Acceptance of Others, christian living, Love of God, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 5, 2024|

by Jim Gordon

When we think about our fellow Christians, we should think about the love, acceptance and fellowship we can have with other believers. Unfortunately, with all the different religious doctrines, denominations, interpretations and various versions of the Bible, it seems there are always times when we run into conflict and are not so loving to one another.

Each of us as brothers or sisters in Christ seem to want it our way. Our church, our interpretation, our version of the Bible. We each feel that we are right and feel the need to distance ourselves from those who feel differently.

Have you noticed how religion wants to set the rules so each of us know what it takes to be a good Christian, all according to a particular doctrine or church organization? Do this, don’t do that, stay away from this and make sure you participate in that. We think we have to be in every service and be active with this group or that group. If you are not reading a particular version of the Bible, you are just wasting your time, or if you are not part of a church you are backslidden, at least that is the way some fellow Christians make you feel. Rules, rules, rules.

Maybe it is time to stop arguing over versions, interpretations, church attendance and such and start focusing on Jesus, who is to be our first love. If we can focus on what Jesus told us to do, love God and love others, we should be able to love and accept others even in our differences.

Focusing on Jesus and following the guidance of the Spirit can often lead us into ways we did not expect to go. Many of us begin to ask questions, have doubts and deconstruct our faith. This does not mean we lose our faith or walk away from God. No, we actually draw closer to God because we depend on the leading of the Spirit that lives within us.

The thing is, when we find common ground in our faith in Jesus, when we love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind, we become able to look past the minor differences, the different religious doctrines, denominations, interpretations and various versions of the Bible. We look at each other as fellow believers following the Spirit on many different paths, yet continually moving forward in a close fellowship with God. Keep in mind we are all children of God trying our best to follow the Spirit and be pleasing to our God. It is time to stop fighting against each other and begin to love one another as Jesus loves us. Do not let the minor differences come between the love we can have for one another and the things we can learn through fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Jim Gordon and his wife left the institutional church after spending over fifty years within the system. Jim wanted a way to express his thoughts and concerns about the religious system and why he and his wife decided to leave the institution but not their faith in God. Jim can be contacted by email at: jimgordon731@gmail.com

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My Christian Leadership Story

Posted in Bible, christian living, institutional church, religion, The church, tagged , , , , , , , , on October 2, 2024|

by Michael Donahoe

I grew up in the traditional, organized church. I was always taught that the pastor was head of the church, and he had all the answers and so much more knowledge than anyone else in the church. I mention the pastor as a ‘he’ because when I was young and growing up in the church it was unheard of to have a woman pastor.

I remember scheduling meetings with the pastor so I could ask him questions and find out all the answers to Christian living. It almost floored me one time when I asked the pastor a question and he actually said he did not know the answer.

Looking back, I can see that I certainly looked to the pastor rather than looking to the Spirit. I was putting my hope in a man that I thought could tell me everything about God, yet I was not seeking to know God himself.

Next in line were the board of elders. Each of them were so much more holy than I or anyone else in the church or else they would not be in that position of authority. At least that is what I thought at the time. I have a friend who thinks prayers have more authority when she goes to the board of elders and has them pray.

Questioning Christian Leadership

The longer I was in the church, the more I began to wonder about things. Of course I did not dare ask the questions I had since people would be questioning my faith, or think I was questioning the pastor.

When I read that Christ was the head of His church, I wondered why the pastor seemed to get credit for that position.

I read that we should call no one father (or pastor) other than God, and I again wondered why people in position of leadership and authority in the church wanted to be called pastor or apostle or elder.

We are told that the Holy Spirit is our guide and teacher, and we do not need anyone other than him. Yet, we look to the pastor, or an elder, or some big name evangelist to find all the answers to our questions.

I began getting dissatisfied with having these questions and not letting them surface enough to come out and be asked. I began to realize I had more and more questions, and fewer and fewer answers.

I finally started coming across books and websites of people who seemed to be in the same boat. They were wondering and questioning and being open with their questions. Some of them seemed to actually come up with some answers that made sense to me.

The more I thought, questioned, and read, the more I began to realize that our traditional church system is really not what God intended for the church. I also realized that questioning is not a lack of faith. God can handle our questioning; in fact, most of the time Jesus taught more with questions than answers. He wanted people to question and reason over things.

True Christian Leadership

The true Church that Jesus is building is not a brick and mortar place. The head of the Church that Jesus is building is not a pastor, pope, elder, or apostle. In fact, the head is not a man or woman at all.

Leadership in the Church of Jesus is not what we have always thought of either. When we realize Christ is the head and leader of his Church, we begin to realize that man has no business demanding or expecting people to follow them and put them in the place of Christ.

True Christian leadership is not an office of authority. It is not a place for only a few who are specially trained at a man-made Bible school. True Christian leadership is for all of us who are members of the Church of Christ. We are all kings and priests; we are all holy and righteous because of Christ. To be clear, when I say Church of Christ, I’m not talking about any denomination or physical building. The true Church is a community of people who are following Christ, and He is our head. All the rest of us, men and women alike, are equally functioning body parts of his Church.

My Christian leadership story

No person has a place of authority over another. That is the world’s way of doing things. That is the business way of doing things. Needless to say, there are a lot of churches and religious organizations that are acting like big business with their presidents and CEO’s, but that is not how it should be.

Christian Leadership as God intended is the Spirit working through the different body parts, leading by example. They are encouragers and teachers from a place of love and experience, not a place of authority and power. Each of us are leaders at one time or another in this sense of leading by example, experience, and love. We come in contact with those who need encouragement or a little guidance, not from someone who thinks they know it all, but from someone who has been there. A person who, out of love, wants to see the best for everyone.

True Christian leaders will not demand your loyalty. They will not want your allegiance to them. They will not rule over you with authority and expect you to follow them no matter what. True leaders will want to lead you to the head and true leader of the Church, Jesus. It is time we stop looking to men and women as our guides and leaders, and look to Jesus. We need to listen for the leading, guidance, and teaching of the Holy Spirit who is actually God within us, rather than seeking the knowledge and wisdom of mere men.

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Michael Donahoe was added as a writer as his views fit perfectly with those of Done with Religion. He also writes on Substack at https://personalmeanderings.substack.com/

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Why Doesn’t God Prevent Evil And My Suffering?

Posted in christian living, Love of God, religion, The church, tagged , , , , , , , on September 29, 2024|

By Mike Edwards

Many don’t have more of a relationship with God because they can’t justify why an all-loving, all-powerful God doesn’t prevent more evil in this world. Anyone inclined to believe in a God likely believe such a God must be all-loving. No other God is worth believing in! So, why doesn’t a supposed all-loving/powerful God intervene in evil or suffering more than they do. Any human parent that has the power to prevent a rape, murder, sexual assault and doesn’t isn’t truly loving. Why would we judge God any differently if a Creator surely created us to love like them?

If God Is All-Powerful …. 

Most who have grown up in the institutional church have been taught that God is all-powerful. God can cause miracles without any human help or cooperation. It seems only intuitive that an all-powerful God can control suffering if able to create, be in all places at one time, resurrect Jesus from the dead, etc. But it is obvious God doesn’t answer many prayers to relieve suffering.  One may claim God is all-powerful or Omnipotent to show respect, but a God acting arbitrarily toward human suffering isn’t easy to answer – unless blame unanswered prayer due to one’s sins.

Maybe God can’t be all-powerful 

A less popular assumption is that God can’t be all-powerful. Logically, how can God be all-powerful and humans have some freedom/power? Besides, a perfect God’s love can’t be all-powerful. See here. Suffering (prayer unanswered) may be because God cannot intervene single-handedly. God can’t physically interfere in evil or suffering without human help. See here.

Don’t miracles prove God is all-powerful? 

I believe in the possibility of miracles but lots of prayers asking for healing aren’t answered. Is God’s love infrequent or arbitrary? Do miracles not happen because some people are less sinful or beg better at the feet of an arbitrary God? I believe a better explanation for healings is that various biological and environmental factors are involved such as cells and organs.  If God doesn’t deny human freedom, it may not be a stretch to say God has to account for natural freedom as well. Perhaps miracles can happen when God’s love aligns with countless factors known and not known. God cannot intervene singlehandedly, but a loving God always wants to intervene whenever circumstances will allow. 

Who do you imagine God is like?

The Bible can’t be the definitive word on God since subject to interpretation and questioning if God agrees with all written about God. We are free to speculate. Most Bible-quoting folks believe we are made in the image of God. If a Creator exists, perhaps that Creator informs us through our moral intuitions how we ought to love others. Image bearers should act as we think a loving God/human parent should act. I am convinced God is always seeking to intervene when possible.  We don’t have to assume God can answer our prayers but doesn’t for some unknown reason. God suffers with us, but the unfortunate truth in a free world is suffering happens. Lean on God and others for emotional support and encouragement in difficult times.

Why Doesn’t God Prevent Evil And My Suffering?

Mike Edwards has been writing for Done with Religion for some time and has been a great addition to the site. He couldn’t find enough people to discuss God openly so he started blogging years ago. Mike also has his own site where he writes that can be found at What God May Really Be Like  He can be contacted by email at: medwar2@gmail.com

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We Are Called to Love

Posted in Acceptance of Others, christian living, Love of God, tagged , , , , on March 21, 2024|

by Jim Gordon

Jesus told us in the New Covenant to love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind, and to love others as ourselves. So why is there so much disagreement and arguing over matters that none of us really have any control over?

Even Christians cannot seem to get along. There are so many different denominations and groups, all because we cannot agree on our doctrines and interpretations of the Bible.

I think we are all, Christians and non-Christians alike, people of some kind of faith. We all have faith in something. The thing is, we fight and argue over our faith and beliefs, yet none of us can prove our faith one way or another.

We get mad at each other because we have different views. We separate ourselves and think less of each other, yet we cannot prove what we believe. We will condemn and convict others, yet there is always the chance that what we believe may be wrong.

Why is it that we cannot just accept one another. We can have our beliefs, interpretations and ideas yet not force them on others. We should not expect everyone to believe just like we do. We are constantly learning as light is shed on new truths over time as we are ready for them.

Rather than fight and argue over what we believe and try to force our beliefs on others, why can’t we love one another just like God asked? Why can’t we just love God and others and accept them for who they are, where they are and leave the rest to God.

Rather than look at people of this world according to what they believe, and who or what they have faith in, I think to be more like Jesus we should be loving and accepting of them just the way they are. This is not to say everyone can live the way they want without consequences. It is not to say everyone will come to God in their own way, that all roads lead to God. Christ came for the purpose of restoring fellowship between people and God. It is by grace, provided by Christ, that we come to God.

Reading about the life of Christ, we see a man who loved people. A man who accepted people for who they were. He did not condemn them nor did he separate himself from those who were different. Jesus loved them. To be Christ-like in our world today, I think we should do the same.

No matter what we believe, what our faith is in, what interpretation we have, none of us can prove a thing. None of us has any control over it. It is all in God’s hands. So why spend so much time fighting and arguing. Let’s allow the love of Christ to flow out of us to touch a world that is so desperate for true love and acceptance. Let’s remember that everyone is entitled to their opinion and view on faith. Whether we all agree on God or not, we can agree to treat one another with kindness, respect and in a loving way.

Jim Gordon and his wife left the institutional church after spending over fifty years within the system. Jim wanted a way to express his thoughts and concerns about the religious system and why he and his wife decided to leave the institution but not their faith in God. Jim can be contacted by email at: jimgordon731@gmail.com

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