Maybe I don't want to be a Christian any more

[DallasApple]

Katz ...

I started a thread one time about feeling like taking the "title" Christian off my identity.It felt like I wasnt in the "box" that other Christians expected me to be in..and as if some non Christians "assumed " I was in the box.

Either way I was being"told" or it was questioned whether or not I was a "real Christian"..or a "true Chirsitan". or you are referred to as a "supposed" Christian..It gets tiresome and sometimes you want to give up.And even start to "doubt" if you are a "real Christian".

But you "know" you are at the same time..

Anyway Im rambling..And I feel you..

(((HUGS))))

Love

Dallas

 

[Kathryn]

Yes, sometimes this forum does wear one out. But then - it IS voluntary! (Unless of course, you get banned.)

I have to remind myself of that sometimes!

 

[DallasApple]

Yes, sometimes this forum does wear one out. But then - it IS voluntary! (Unless of course, you get banned.)

I have to remind myself of that sometimes!

I realize that..thats why I left my title up.

Love

Dallas

 

[Katzpur]

Response: This may be shocking, coming from a muslim, but you should not let other christians or anybody for that matter make you change your belief. Now if you feel that the christian doctrine is not true, then that's a different story.

Fatihah, I'm not sure if you read any of my posts, but I haven't changed what I believe in the slightest. I don't feel that Christian doctrine is false, either. I clearly have some issues as to what constitutes Christian doctrine, though, and even more issues as to what constitutes Christian behavior. It is Christian behavior that's been bothering me most as of late.

 

[Quagmire]

I think one of the biggest mistakes the first Christians made is that they didn't get a copyright on the name "Christian".

As it is, anybody can use it so the name itself can mean anything (or nothing).

According to the way I read Luke, nobody really knows if they have a right to call themselves "Christian" or not.

Luke 10:22
"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

So basically, no one really knows who is and who isn't a Christian except God. the rest of us are just guessing (or bragging).

 

[challupa]

Also, Katzpur - don't let the opinions of the members of this forum unduly influence your opinion of Christianity. This place isn't the real world, and it's a known fact that people express themselves more RUTHLESSLY online in the anonymous world of the internet, than they do in "real life."

These sorts of forums can bring out the worst of human nature, and the most extreme views - many of which are not applied in the human realm.

And thank God for that.

I guess I see that as being we are just not seeing that side of them in the real world, however, it still exists to come out if they are pushed far enough. Makes you wonder just who people really are and what they really think doesn't it?

 

[Christian Pilgrim]

I think we should share what we believe with sincere and true conviction. We should not be threaten by what others share if we truly believe what we believe. We also do not have to read what other people's postings. This is a diversity website, so we should expect a clash in worldviews. As long as we all share with gentlenss and respect with each others, then we should be okay. Maybe postings that have truth from above will cause chaos and friction for some? If Biblical Christianity is not true, or if the Word of God is nothing but fables and myths, then Scripture postings should simply be entertaining for the non-Christians. IMO.. a Christian's view and opinions are meaningless if their views do not line up with Biblical revelation.

 

[ChristineES]

I hope you don't mind, Katz, if I still call you Christian. Here is a verse that Christians really need to reread:
John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
We all need to make sure things like this just don't happen.

 

[Christian Pilgrim]

I hope you don't mind, Katz, if I still call you Christian. Here is a verse that Christians really need to reread:
John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
We all need to make sure things like this just don't happen.

I agree with you that Katz is a Mormon Christian. I think the distiniction of LDS Christian is important to Mormon Christians too. Words and labels do identify what we believe, and where we are coming from. These theological labels mean something. Do you understand Mormonism is based on restoration theology where historic Christians are considered to be apostate. I don't get offended by Mormonism, even though that is what they teach and preach officially. Katz is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints which has modern day prophets which speak and represent the beliefs of all Mormons that are members of their church.

 

[Kathryn]

I think that's a good quote for everyone to read and apply.

Some other great quotes from the bible about judging:


Romans 14:13 - Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

1 Corinthians 4:3
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.

1 Corinthians 4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

 

[themadhair]

If Biblical Christianity is not true, or if the Word of God is nothing but fables and myths, then Scripture postings should simply be entertaining for the non-Christians.

Some ex-christians, who read the bible frantically in their times of doubt before losing their faith, might just disagree with that. Moreover, is it possible that since many people have access to the bible, and some have read it more than once, that your copy&pasting of its passages in lieu of a response to genuine questions not perceivable as disrespectful?

 

[themadhair]

I think that's a good quote for everyone to read and apply.

Some other great quotes from the bible about judging:


Romans 14:13 - Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

1 Corinthians 4:3
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.

1 Corinthians 4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

^ This is a great example of doing it right when it comes to biblical quotes. The quotes are directly relevant and totally on topic.

 

[Kathryn]

Thank you! I try to be accurate, ESPECIALLY when quoting from the sacred text of the Bible.

 

[Christian Pilgrim]

Some ex-christians, who read the bible frantically in their times of doubt before losing their faith, might just disagree with that. Moreover, is it possible that since many people have access to the bible, and some have read it more than once, that your copy&pasting of its passages in lieu of a response to genuine questions not perceivable as disrespectful?

I don't post scripture to be disrespectful or unkind. My beliefs are grounded in the Holy Bible, and I know we all error somewhere when we interpert the Scriptures. However, I do not want to share my personal opinion because I believe truth is from the Holy Bible and not from myself. Here is another passage to help others understand where I am coming from.

Wisdom from the Spirit

Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. - 1 cor 2

 

[J Bryson]

I don't post scripture to be disrespectful or unkind. My beliefs are grounded in the Holy Bible, and I know we all error somewhere when we interpert the Scriptures. However, I do not want to share my personal opinion because I believe truth is from the Holy Bible and not from myself. Here is another passage to help others understand where I am coming from.

Wisdom from the Spirit

Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. - 1 cor 2

It's like you're going to a random scripture generator, then copying and pasting.

 

[Christian Pilgrim]

It's like you're going to a random scripture generator, then copying and pasting.

You see, it may be random to you but not to me or other Christians on this site. The verse is saying that we are dependent on God the Holy Spirit to understand spiritual truth. Those who have not been born again and are in the flesh cannot discern or understand spiritual revelation from above. These are not random posting of the Scriptures, but relevant to the discussions. The verse is also saying that the spiritual man (those born from above) are not judged by others.

 

[J Bryson]

The verse is also saying that the spiritual man (those born from above) are not judged by others.

If you're representative of the spiritual man, then I can state with some certainty that this is not the case.

 

[themadhair]

I don't post scripture to be disrespectful or unkind. My beliefs are grounded in the Holy Bible, and I know we all error somewhere when we interpert the Scriptures. However, I do not want to share my personal opinion because I believe truth is from the Holy Bible and not from myself. Here is another passage to help others understand where I am coming from.

Wisdom from the Spirit

Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. - 1 cor 2

^ This is an example of doing it wrong. Given that it doesn't seem to bear much relevance to the comment it was 'responding' to, and that comment was expressing the thought that maybe such an action may be considered disrespectful for some, I think it says its own story.

 

[Fatihah]

Fatihah, I'm not sure if you read any of my posts, but I haven't changed what I believe in the slightest. I don't feel that Christian doctrine is false, either. I clearly have some issues as to what constitutes Christian doctrine, though, and even more issues as to what constitutes Christian behavior. It is Christian behavior that's been bothering me most as of late.

Response: O.K.

 

[Christian Pilgrim]

^ This is an example of doing it wrong. Given that it doesn't seem to bear much relevance to the comment it was 'responding' to, and that comment was expressing the thought that maybe such an action may be considered disrespectful for some, I think it says its own story.

This Forum site allows conflicting views and opinions. It's okay to disagree with each other.