The Lie: Christianity Is A Religion - The Truth: Christianity Is A Relationship
27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:27
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:1-5
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:10-13
23 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. Mathew 23:1-4
13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Mathew 23:13
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! Mathew 23:23 & 24
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Mathew 23:27 &28
As you can see, man made religion is good for nothing and only does more harm than good to people. A relationship with God through Jesus Christ by His Holy Spirit will do more good than all the man made religions put together.
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@GodSpeed63 Gosh, there you go. I state the obvious and you go on the attack again. Better to be the centurion of Capernaum than any ordinary Pharisee. Even Jesus had a religion :-)
@Stargazer89 It's my fourth language and I don't take crap :-) that's all. Telling everyone that religion is somehow not needed, that's really not rational, not for someone like myself who actually is part of a christian denomination and has had numerous courses on theology and spirituality. Somehow I would go with science and not the alternative facts people either. I'm sorry but there's no room for people just wondering off into nowhere land
@Gloomy No thank you, I don't copy and Jordan Peterson isn't right on all things either. He's wrong about not adhering to a religion. That way you're proven wrong yet again
@val70 Religion is nothing but man-made philosophy that claims one must earn their way to heaven. God said that is not possible. I would rather believe Him, over man, any day. Men will never be, nor has he ever been, smarter nor wiser than God.
@val70 No. Jesus doesn't believe in religion....man-made philosophy. He said there's a way that seems right unto man but the end thereof is death. Physical and spiritual death, because that's what sin brings to this world.
It was you who went on the attack, by judging that he needs peace, just because you didn't like his post.
@LadyGrace What, not to like alternative facts? I wonder. I'm just stating that nowhere land has no peace. It isn't just a switch. It's much more than just saying here I am and I don't need that stuff. I don't need religion, I don't need tradition, I don't need anything that could define me outside the stuff I like. Anyone can believe but to adhere to a religion is the real exercise needed. But yes, I find peace in that and I like to share it
@val70 it's okay not to like the alternative, but as far as facts, that comes from one's perspective, whether they feel they are, or they aren't facts, and that's all good, but we try not to make it personal, to where we think we know what a person is, or what they have. I think that's why it's important to stick to the topic and not attack anyone's "person". Notice he never said we have to agree with him, and that's great, because everyone has such a different opinion on this site, and that's great, too. He was simply sharing his views. Nothing says we have to agree with him, but we can agree to disagree in an amicable manner. I think that's something we can all use a brushing up on, including myself. The real problem here is, we can't hear "tone of voice" or how something was meant to be heard by the receiver, which throws us off and sometimes into the wrong direction, thinking that we're being attacked. This is very easily done. Which is why I have learned to always stop and read the person's reply to me or my posts, at least three times, so I can look at it objectively instead of how it may appear to read. That's not always easy to decipher, so that means I have to be more careful, because people use sarcasm and then lie and claim later that they weren't being sarcastic, and so one never knows unless they come right out and show their obvious reason in posting was to argue or to bully.
@LadyGrace The heading of this forum is spirituality, and someone claims that he has the truth about my religion from the outside of it. I wonder if there's indeed much less going on here about tone of voice but intention. What's the intention saying to me and many, many others that our believes of our own religion aren't the truth? Did I say "read the book"? No, I saw the total disorder and upset in the intention. I said that gaining peace was the solution. I gave that as a true christian. There's no christanity outside Christanity, tout court
The heading of this forum is spirituality, and someone claims that he has the truth about my religion from the outside of it. I wonder if there's indeed much less going on here about tone of voice but intention. What's the intention saying to me and many, many others that our believes of our own religion isn't the truth. Did I say "read the book"? No, I saw the total disorder and upset in the intention. I said that gaining peace was the solution. I gave that as a true christian. There's no christanity outside Christanity, tout court.
Say what you may, you still attacked his person....."YOU need peace." That word "you" makes it personal. How would you know? Do you know him personally? He didn't attack you personally. He was merely sharing his beliefs and he has a right to do that just as you do or anyone else on this site.
First thing is, yes... I posted under the right heading and it's obvious that if people aren't interested in this type discussion, they are free to either pass it by or not read it at all. No one's forcing them to do so.
Secondly, nowhere did I mention that I know you, what you believe, or why. Nothing in my post was addressed to any one individual, but to the general population on this site, just as all the others who post here, are. As a poster in this forum, I have the freedom to post about any subject I like, or care to, just like everyone else. Yet I noticed when it comes to the heading of "Christianity", all of a sudden it is viewed as "offensive" or "pushing ones beliefs". If that's the case, then everyone on this site are guilty of "pushing their beliefs", including you, yet no one says a word to them. Christianity, because it is not popular, seems to be singled out as atrusive. In that case I would suggest that people move on without the necessity of judgment.
Thirdly, and all my posts I always am careful to mention that my content may not be for everyone and it is only my beliefs. No one has to agree, but if they choose to disagree, that's okay too, but I think that should be done in a respectful manner, just as I treat others with respect. All criticism is absolutely welcome, as long as it is constructive and people don't try to attack another's "person". Mine, or others, that reply under my post.
A most important point that I've always made claim to is, that I will never say that only I am right or that only I know the truth. To be clear, my claim is and always has been, that Jesus is the truth and the only truth, and only He knows the truth, and that truth is what I share in my posts, coming straight from His Word and His thoughts alone, of which I agree. I love to share the word of God and my love for him and I will never apologize for that. If someone thinks differently, that's up to them, I have absolutely no problem with that, but I don't feel that warrants personal attacks from those who may see things differently than I.
@LadyGrace Alright, I like to close this with a prayer. O God and Heavenly Father, Grant to us the serenity of mind to accept that which cannot be changed; courage to change that which can be changed, and wisdom to know the one from the other, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Telling everyone that religion is somehow not needed, that's really not rational, not for someone like myself who actually is part of a christian denomination and has had numerous courses on theology and spirituality.
That's very surprising, coming from someone like yourself who claims to be a part of a Christian denomination and has had numerous courses on Theology and spirituality, that you don't know the difference between religion and a personal relationship with God. There's a huge difference and you should know that. Salvation has nothing whatsoever to do with religion. Did religion die on the cross for our sins? No. Jesus did. He needs complete credit for that and honor and praise. Salvation is never based on our performance, per the scriptures. Religion is described as man-made philosophy. Religion has nothing to do with salvation. Jesus died for the whole world not just for some, or a certain denomination. His plan of salvation does not include man-made philosophy. Religion claims that one can get to Heaven by their own self efforts, and that's totally opposite of what God said in His Word. That's why the distinction is needed. Many will not make Heaven because they thought they could get there by their own self-efforts, so it's important that the gospel, the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, is conveyed. That's what he told his disciples to do... spread the good news of the gospel and God's saving grace ...yet you criticize that?
