Why i left the church

[ReneeIW]

Can you share with us what you love about the Christian faith and why you remain a Christian despite your feelings about the Church?

I think it would just balance things out for those curious about Christianity who may visit this forum.

 

[LadyKay]

1 hour ago, Isaiah90 said:

Most Christians don’t study the Bible as i learned. They don’t even read it.

I feel this is part of what keeps some Christians in bondage.  They are told by their leaders that they must dress this way, or they must wear their hair a certain way. They must follow all these rules put on them by their leaders.  This shows me that the Word Of God  is meant  to set the Believer free! Free from the bondage that their leaders have put on them.  If they would read it and study it for themselves they would see this. They would be set free. 

 

[Isaiah90]

14 minutes ago, unworthyservant said:

Dust on the Bible, dust on the Holy Word
The words of all the prophets and the sayings of our Lord
Of all the other books you'll find, there's none salvation holds
Get the dust off the Bible and redeem your poor soul

I don't know what's worse, that or people playing with the Bible. They'll fold it like it's a newspaper or casually write things like phone numbers. They'll fold or lick the pages and treat it very poorly. 

[Isaiah90]

17 minutes ago, LadyKay said:

I feel this is part of what keeps some Christians in bondage.  They are told by their leaders that they must dress this way, or they must wear their hair a certain way. They must follow all these rules put on them by their leaders.  This shows me that the Word Of God  is meant  to set the Believer free! Free from the bondage that their leaders have put on them.  If they would read it and study it for themselves they would see this. They would be set free. 

It reminds me of Jeremiah 32 when it speaks about corrupt shepherds. Because of people's ignorance about the Word, corrupt pastors take advantage of that and present their own ideas as truth. People believe it because it seems to make sense in their minds, but pastors are manipulating them. When i say people are ignorant about the Word, i mean they're VERY ignorant. I saw one survey showed that a good number of people believe Billy Graham gave the sermon on the mount instead of Jesus haha. 

 

[Steve_S]

1 hour ago, Isaiah90 said:

Obeying Jesus commands to love one another, make disciples, preach the Gospel, pray, fast, list goes on. 

What is the Gospel?

[Isaiah90]

13 minutes ago, Steve_S said:

What is the Gospel?

That Jesus came to save people from their sins through his life, death, and resurrection.  

[Willa]

Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, Eph 5:26  that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, Eph 5:27  that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

It is important to remember how much Christ loves the Church.  That includes all the imperfect people like you and me.  If Christ lives in us, we will love His church.  We are all in the process of being cleansed and being changed into the likeness of Christ, from glory to glory.  

Eph 4:29  Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.  Eph 4:30  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Eph 4:31  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  Eph 4:32  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Eph 4:1  I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,  Eph 4:2  with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,  Eph 4:3  endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

I have to add that the things that irritate me the most about others are often the very things that God is pointing to in my own life.  Or else He is after my self righteousness, or both.  It is not till I fully realize the ugliness of my own sin that I can forbear others in love as God does.  Thanks be to God that God demonstrates His love toward us in that it was while we were yet sinners that Christ died for us!

[dailyprayerwarrior]

Most church growth comes from small groups. I know that it's not the prettiest picture when you look at how people live their lives outside of the 4 walls of a church building. I know how you feel. I've felt that way too. What I found helped was to stay in fellowship (as you are) and keep an eye out for another fellowship that is a better fit with accountable leadership (knowing that there will never be a perfect group of Believers).

I also just saw this posted recently on social media that I believe may be a blessing to you.

"Jesus didn't say follow Christians, He said follow Me."

So whatever you do, keep in fellowship with the Lord and allow Him to steer your life always. God bless you! I am praying for you. 

[Repose]

Homosexuality is an abomination, in both OT and NT. Everyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. The body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. Thus, masturbation is also a no-no.

How would you feel knowing other men have kissed your wife? I'd be a bit grossed out, honestly. I do agree that there needs to be a bit of character and personality, though. At the least, holding hands and hugging shouldn't be that bad.

Beyond that, I largely agree. Especially in particular when it comes to those who haven't even partially read the Bible. If they did, many of the issues would be more minimal. Hopefully.

Edited September 22, 2019 by Repose

[JustPassingThru]

I can understand your situation, ...approximately 3 years after I was born again I came to the conclusion that our pastor taught his ideas and opinions, ...however, ...at the same time during, the day at work, I was listening to Bible teachings on the radio and the two didn't jive, what I was hearing on the radio spoke to me, it fed me, it made me hungry for the Word, to know my Jesus intimately, ...so one day I asked the Lord to place me in the Church He had picked out for me, ...He did, He moved me 450 miles away from my personal comfort zone that I had lived in for the 39 years of my life to a small Church in a different State with only 35 Saints, ...He placed me in a family, ...it was like they knew I was coming and welcomed me with open arms the first time I walked through the door, ...so, ...may I suggest you try asking the Lord to place you in the Church He has prepared for you.

To take it a step farther..., I asked Father for a wife, my Eve, the woman He had prepared for me, ...He moved me 5,500 miles away from my Church in the States to introduce me to a Tahitian "vahine," that had been praying for an American husband for 12 years...

So,  ...how big is your God?

Lord bless