ElizaOC

I definitely think one can be overly religious. People can practice rituals and do acts without knowing why they are actually doing them. One can be born into Christianity but not have a true relationship with God, they can go to church every Sunday and do everything theyve beem taught by their parents when it comes to a true relationship with Christ but have never truly put their trust in God. Theologians can know their bible backwards and forwards yet not love others which is one of Jesus's greatest commandments. I live in a country where most everyone practises rituals and traditions, and read their basic bible stories yet have never even picked up a bible and don't know they can pray to God for help, to me that would be the definition of overly religious. Now if you mean this James 1:27 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. Then no you can never look after too many widows and orphans and you can never protect yourself from pollution of the world too much.?

Ask and it shall be given, seek and ye shall find, knock and the door will be opened to you. Luke 11:9

Wow, thanks everyone who has commented so far! It makes such a big difference to have the support of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ!

Hello, I am feeling frustrated with God (even though I know it's not his fault) to the point where I am struggling picking up my bible. I still am praying and reading a verse or two a day, but just feel SO angry. I attended a church who's leaders all have a strong footing in Calvinism and I didn't realize this until almost two years in. We were very involved in the church and reached a decision that it affected our ability to stay there, also we happened to be moving so it just worked out that it was time to move on. There were other issues too, but will try to keep it short Before that it was a fundamentalist church Before that and so on... I have had many unpleasant experiences in the church, the first one starting when I was a kid and had to leave the church I dearly loved because my father left after he was deeply hurt by the pastor ( we helped build the church and my father was a deacon) I feel disillusioned by the church. I understand that the church is where one or more believers in Christ are gathered in God's name and that nobody is perfect, that we all fall short of the glory of God. That being said, if a churches footing is on something other than a direct relationship with Jesus, the Holy Spirit won't let me stay. I am crushed because all I want is for my daughter to have constancy and a childhood with Christian friends and happy memories and I thought I had finally found that after all these years..but now just feel disillusioned. I was involved in so many different areas and really loved it and now that's over and I feel sad. I am not a devisive person nor is my husband and we left in peace, but I have been mourning for so long now. I know it's not about the church as much as it is my frustration with God. I feel like I'm reliving my childhood. Also, on top of it all, as I study the gospels and read Jesus words (both on my own and in theology) I feel so disillusioned by my place in the church and in the world. I feel like Jesus asks A LOT and it seems like a lot of the time people just choose to focus on the feel good verses. If we are supposed to give everything to Jesus and follow him, how come it feels like the image of the church today doesn't align with these words? I take what Jesus says so seriously, and I feel like I'm sitting alone with the gospels just freaking out. Like to the point that I haven't looked at them in 3 months. They are intense! I feel so alone with this intensity, and I'm finding it hard to pray because I'm pretty sure I'm frustrated with God about it. I know Jesus died on the cross so that our sins would be cleansed. But he said and did so much and I truly want to love and follow him, but it's just too much to take in! Definitely alone.

I am struggling with my relationship with the church, what's the best forum to head to because I have a lot of questions? P.s. I'm new?