Opinions and conclusions about Religion and God.

Religion?Religion is only as good as the people who are doing it.God?God exists for me. I agree with everything you said Phat.
I thought I was saved once, and that was it. I found out there is more to God, than just being saved.Who is saved or not? I don't even care anymore. Jesus came to save, not to judge, so why should I?

What do you mean by that? Do let people take away from you, what is yours.

Me too. My religion, or my church constantly challenges me.
Like everyone else, I desperately seek answers to the truth. I am on a journey, and it is far from stagnant. Life was simpler when I was agnostic, but God told me when I believe I met Him, that if I chose to follow Him that things would start to get hairy, but that He would be there every step of the way. I only asked for protection of my family.Above all, I don’t want to be a hypocrite. Much has happened in a very short time.

The church I go is not the kind of church that tells you things. They let you figure things for yourself. They are a "sending" church. If you feel a calling from God, they will help you get the training you need to fulfill that calling, and then send you out into the world, no matter what your skill.
Eph 4:12One of my Pastor's main rules is not to judge people in any sort of fashion, then followed by loving each other. This can be a challenge, in that we sometimes judge people and do and say things to people that may harm them, and we don't know it. We have all subscribed to speaking the truth in love to each other to lift each other up in this regard. Not an easy thing to accomplish. It's pretty cool because mostly everyone does not have attitudes, and we all get along. We want others who walk through the doors to feel the same way. The real church is outside anyway. By comparing my life experiences to the ones in the bible. Most of these "puzzles" take years to play out, until you see how things are. (for me anyway, I am thick headed). Edited by riVeRraT, : No reason given.

In the words of the youth Pastor at my church, "I'd rather sing a heart felt "shit" than a fake hallelujah"Well put Brenna, I would run far from that church. But I wouldn't give up on all churches. No matter what there will always be challenges in church. It took me 12 churches before I found one that I thought worships in spirit and truth, and accepts people the way they are.
I know you would like it. We express our love for the Lord in spontaneous music, singing, art, dance, you name it.Check out this school. They came to our church once, I liked what they are doing.
Forbidden
I believe there you would be free to be who you are in the Lord.

http://www.clcnj.org I didn't really assume anything about the church you went to. There are many churches around here that are not old stuffy churches that claim all those things too, but fall short. But things are changing rapidly.Where I live in the greater NY area, there are many liberals. Even the conservatives have a liberal flare to them. It reflects in the churches as well. Our church is mostly professional people that grew up around this area. It is a nice blend of all facets of life, and somehow we manage to find a middle ground. Just this Sunday, my Pastor mentioned the recent battle about same-sex marraige.I asked him point blank, "besides religious reasons, so we have any reason to reject same-sex marraige?" His answer was no.Then I asked, "do we have a right to force our religious views on the rest of the nation?" He answered no, and added that people just don't understand that.

Yea, I can totally relate to that. If I didn't "feel" the Holy Spirit the way I do now, then I would not be able to worship God the way I do now. I used to look at people and say "they are crazy", before I had anything to go on. How can we worship a God that we do not know?For the time being, if you don't "feel" God, then I can only humbly suggest to worship Him in spirit and truth by being yourself, but never stop looking for Him. I don't think this is a problem for you, since you have no problem being yourself, and do not want to be decieved.peace.

Operating in god's grace is a huge break through for people to accomplish. I have been to conferences specifically on the subject. It is part of the reason I have decided to be transparent about who and what I am, as you can see from these forums, I let it all hang out there. I don't care, because I know I live by grace alone. The rest is me just learning stuff.