Political Crossfire Forums

always red · Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 16 Location: South Carolina

I am curious as to how different people have been affected by the church. Whether their reactions have been positive or negative, whether they think it is an institution of rules or a house of light. I am a beliver and disciple of Christ, and I believe that the church of this generation is failing to transmit to love of Christ to the masses. Please share your experiances and reactions.

Also, I am open to any other questions about Christianity.

Thank you for posting.

sLiPpY · Joined: 24 Nov 2004 Posts: 10094

I think that anyone who has ever regularly attended a church, could characterize the experience as both positive and negative. Church's are riddled with fellowship, competition, politics, and varying degrees of materialism.

I personally perceive Christianity as being the religion of Paul and others, and not part of the biblical faith and revelation of the God of Isreal, nor is it one of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus was a jew, and I'm willing to consider the possibility he was a prophet, but in no way shape or form that Jesus is divine, or that there is more than one God.

I believe Paul of Tarsus, was a false teacher. Further, that the New Testiment is both paganistic and perverse. There is only one God, and no man is divine. No man can make you right with God, except for yourself, and only you can atone for your sins through repentance and reparation to him and your fellow man. One cannot find God, in a church or a shrine, kneeling before statues, sticks, stones, or men.

Unknownspectre · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 121 Location: Annville, PA

Each individuals Church experience will be different. I am only 19 years old so most people disreagaurd my opinions. At any rate. Most of my Chruch experiences were positive in certian Churches. The one I currently attend is a United Methodist Church. All my experiences there are quite good and the people there have helped me grow in my faith. This isn't always true to all churches. I went to another denomination and at that Church I felt like I was being hindered in my growth. So I beleive it is all in the Church.

feederband · Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 4156 Location: Florida

When I was young I went to church....But man I had a ton of questions...The only answers I would get would be more bible verses and that would just lead to more questions...Once I started to question the bible it self it was real easy to lose the faith altogether ..

Saf · Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 377

The church too often gets in between man and God by instituting policy or dogma, such as the trinity, prohibitions on abortion & sodomy, establishing cannon, &tc.

connermt · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1526 Location: CMH OHIO

I think the original concept of 'church' was a good idea. Over the course of time, the 'church' seemed to become more of a 'power institute' than anything. Currently, while the 'church' has lost some of its power from long ago, larger individual churches & their leaders have become power & $ hungry, which is making these churches more like a country club with some political power than what they should be. And that is very very sad.

feederband · Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 4156 Location: Florida

connermt wrote: I think the original concept of 'church' was a good idea. Over the course of time, the 'church' seemed to become more of a 'power institute' than anything. Currently, while the 'church' has lost some of its power from long ago, larger individual churches & their leaders have become power & $ hungry, which is making these churches more like a country club with some political power than what they should be. And that is very very sad.

Yes very sad...Have you seen the size of some of the churches....I almost want to open up one...

guantanamo on toast · Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 10:01 am Post subject:

Mafia.

connermt · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1526 Location: CMH OHIO

feederband wrote: connermt wrote: I think the original concept of 'church' was a good idea. Over the course of time, the 'church' seemed to become more of a 'power institute' than anything. Currently, while the 'church' has lost some of its power from long ago, larger individual churches & their leaders have become power & $ hungry, which is making these churches more like a country club with some political power than what they should be. And that is very very sad.

Yes very sad...Have you seen the size of some of the churches....I almost want to open up one...

Many large churches seem to be always asking for $. The World Harvest Church in my area is just like that. Oh the stories I have of that place......

feederband · Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 4156 Location: Florida

connermt wrote: feederband wrote: connermt wrote: I think the original concept of 'church' was a good idea. Over the course of time, the 'church' seemed to become more of a 'power institute' than anything. Currently, while the 'church' has lost some of its power from long ago, larger individual churches & their leaders have become power & $ hungry, which is making these churches more like a country club with some political power than what they should be. And that is very very sad.

Yes very sad...Have you seen the size of some of the churches....I almost want to open up one...

Many large churches seem to be always asking for $. The World Harvest Church in my area is just like that. Oh the stories I have of that place......

We just had a church buy a large church near where I live..15,000,000 bucks...And the head of the church is also moving this way he purchased 5 acres for 325000 and is building a house that is going to cost over 600000...Mean while the poor saps that are tossing their money in the plate can barly put food on their tables...

connermt · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1526 Location: CMH OHIO

feederband wrote: connermt wrote: feederband wrote: connermt wrote: I think the original concept of 'church' was a good idea. Over the course of time, the 'church' seemed to become more of a 'power institute' than anything. Currently, while the 'church' has lost some of its power from long ago, larger individual churches & their leaders have become power & $ hungry, which is making these churches more like a country club with some political power than what they should be. And that is very very sad.

Yes very sad...Have you seen the size of some of the churches....I almost want to open up one...

Many large churches seem to be always asking for $. The World Harvest Church in my area is just like that. Oh the stories I have of that place......

We just had a church buy a large church near where I live..15,000,000 bucks...And the head of the church is also moving this way he purchased 5 acres for 325000 and is building a house that is going to cost over 600000...Mean while the poor saps that are tossing their money in the plate can barly put food on their tables...

And like many church-goers, they don't see the obvious

always red · Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 16 Location: South Carolina

I was afraid that people would respond like this to the church. I guess the whole reason that I brought it up was because it is something that has been burning me lately. Whenever people want to curse God, or curse Christianity, they seem to turn to the church. The attacks are usually similar... the church has too much $, its a house of rules, everyone is so hypocritical, I dont want to go somewhere to be judged..blah blah blah. Not that I was baiting anyone for this response (though it seems like I hardly had to), but it does prove certain points. I am seeing, as a believer, that the church as a whole is failing to do its biblical job of service. Some of you, I dont know what you are even talking about, but others, I must say that I do.

Heres a new question.

Was there a specific thing that happened in your life, or a certain reason while you turned from the church? Do you agree that the church is in need of reform, or does it not make any difference to you?

feederband · Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 4156 Location: Florida

always red wrote: Was there a specific thing that happened in your life, or a certain reason while you turned from the church? Do you agree that the church is in need of reform, or does it not make any difference to you?

It makes no difference to me...I've said before what turned me from church and God was the simple lack of answers...I had tons of questions and only got bible verses that meant nothing on the subject i was discussing in the first place...They just like you guys (the believers) just kept saying I will never find any true answers to my questions..I just had to have faith and God will show you the proof...Well it never happened for me or any of you because you still fail to show or have proof that God has shown you anything...You say he has but you show nothing but small little prayers that you say have been gods work...I'm sorry I'm just starting another kidney stone episode. I'm sure someone will say it gods wrath.....

The church failed me because it only seemed like a little club with set rules that made no sense so I quit the club...

LostSoul3412 · Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Posts: 8951

I grew up in a Catholic family, with both my parents attending Catholic schools all the way to college (save my dad and high school). I was confirmed into the Catholic church under the name of St. Francis of Assisi, and I celebrate the holidays of Easter and Christmas.

But that does not make me christian.

Much like feederband, I found the Catholic church to be arrogant in their teaching, proclaiming that everyone will be saved... as long as their Catholic. Personally, I believe that everyone, regardless of creed, race, beliefs, or personality is equal. On a cosmic, divine, level, we are all the same. That applies to nature as well. A plant is still life, and a creature is still life. The only difference between man and beast is our own perceptions, so I found myself at odds with the fundamental basis of the church. On top of that, I do not believe that the Pope is a better person than I am, and I believe that "God" is not an entity, but rather an energy.

In response to all of these grievances, I decided that I am not christian, and that any organized religion leads to corruption. I follow my own faith.

perdidochas · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 15424 Location: Florida

feederband wrote: connermt wrote: I think the original concept of 'church' was a good idea. Over the course of time, the 'church' seemed to become more of a 'power institute' than anything. Currently, while the 'church' has lost some of its power from long ago, larger individual churches & their leaders have become power & $ hungry, which is making these churches more like a country club with some political power than what they should be. And that is very very sad.

Yes very sad...Have you seen the size of some of the churches....I almost want to open up one...

Elron Hubbard beat you to it...... He had that idea 50 yrs ago...

feederband · Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 4156 Location: Florida

perdidochas wrote: feederband wrote: connermt wrote: I think the original concept of 'church' was a good idea. Over the course of time, the 'church' seemed to become more of a 'power institute' than anything. Currently, while the 'church' has lost some of its power from long ago, larger individual churches & their leaders have become power & $ hungry, which is making these churches more like a country club with some political power than what they should be. And that is very very sad.

Yes very sad...Have you seen the size of some of the churches....I almost want to open up one...

Elron Hubbard beat you to it...... He had that idea 50 yrs ago...

True....I'll just have to find a better nitch....Maybe my church will have open bars and pool tables.... :lol:

connermt · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1526 Location: CMH OHIO

Quote: 1) Was there a specific thing that happened in your life, or a certain reason while you turned from the church? 2) Do you agree that the church is in need of reform, or does it not make any difference to you?

Here is my personal experience:
1) I have always had, & will continue to have, questions. Not many of these questions have been sufficiently answered by going to church. Therefore, I have taken what I have heard in church (and what I have NOT heard in church), read & understood & what I have been told by science & learned on my own & created my own personal beliefs. While I believe in God, I think many, if not most, people on the planet don't fully understand God & what he wants from us. There is just too many differences in people's beleifs for me to believe otherwise.
2) I think the church needs to change some to meet the demands of today's society. Meaning, they need to embrace science more, reachout to the young people more, all the while holding onto the 'old ways'. Is this a simple task? Not by a long shot. But if 'the church' has any hope of surviving, IMO, these things are a good place to start.

On a similiar note, people need to be responsible for their own actions. Blaming the 'church' isn't always correct in the same way people try to blame GWB for ALL the problems in the world (I say this even thought I am NOT a GWB fan & I believe him to be less than an idiot, but not EVERYTHING is in his control. The same can be said of the church.)
IMO, people look at the church (meaning people of the church) & see it getting so defensive & many times, rude & irritable in defense of their beliefs. Instead of smiling & trying to show others their POV w/ peach & understanding more like Jesus taught, W/O being condesending. This is something many people need to work on.

thefranzkafkafront · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 11:29 am Post subject:

Little, most churches seek to take the individualism out of christianity, often with extremely bad consequences.

I don't rember the bible justify a class of clerics.

If I was to become a christian again, I would have nothing to do with any church.

feederband · Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 4156 Location: Florida

thefranzkafkafront wrote: Little, most churches seek to take the individualism out of christianity, often with extremely bad consequences.

I don't rember the bible justify a class of clerics.

If I was to become a christian again, I would have nothing to do with any church.

True...I see know reason for a god needing his worshipers to goto a church...They can do the same at home...

perdidochas · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 15424 Location: Florida

feederband wrote: thefranzkafkafront wrote: Little, most churches seek to take the individualism out of christianity, often with extremely bad consequences.

I don't rember the bible justify a class of clerics.

If I was to become a christian again, I would have nothing to do with any church.

True...I see know reason for a god needing his worshipers to goto a church...They can do the same at home...

God doesn't need us to go to a church, churches are set up for our benefit. They make it easier for us to do what we should be doing.