Church (Religious) People vs People who just have faith
By AidaLily
@AidaLily (1450)
United States
June 14, 2012 11:15am CST
Feel free to skip down to "Anyway" if you are easily offended and don't like things questioned about the bible. 
Now, I have been doing a lot of thinking and just reading about different issues and looking at two different types of people. I am noticing a lot of people speaking of the last days as written in the bible in a testament that was written years upon years after Jesus died. An eager student at that time or someone who felt they could change people into following their religion could have easily wrote the bible and said they were inspired by God. I could say writing this post I was inspired by God and someone could say they were inspired by God to mass murder someone. It's all in the same context. However, while I could dispute the bible and not one religious person alive today could give me true honest proof other than they were told it was inspired by God and that these people wrote it and they were supposedly holy, when in all honesty they could have been con artists. It is a very old profession... just with different names... It is called immortalizing something.
Anyway
I want to talk about church people vs people who just have faith in God.
1.) Is it me or does it seem like people who belong to no organized religion seemed to be more in tuned with the loving teachings of Christ, than those that go to church?
2.) Why are people who go to church usually the first to cast the stones and yet they are the ones who worship their religious leaders or give money to false prophets? What I mean is, God has no use for your material money and yet in some churches you are asked to make a tithing to God? I would think that God would want your loyalty and love more than something used to cause problems in what a lot of church people say is The Devil's world. Does it make sense to give God something man created? At least in biblical times they sacrificed animals that God created. Jesus was "sold-out" by one of his followers for 30 pieces of silver... why on earth would God want money? Isn't it more honest for the church to just say the church wants money?
3.) Why is it that most people who just have faith in God realize you can have the relationship on your own? Why is it that church people seem to think that they only way to contact their God is through their religious leader (e.g. the pope, priest, reverend, rabbi, etc.)?
4.) Why is it that people who have faith in God are more accepting of the teachings and not doing God's job like not judging, being kind, loving, etc. while hating the sins of others but not voicing it and treating them like human beings and believing in their rights in the world? Why is it that Church people openly protest, fight, etc. when they should be worried about fixing their own sins instead of sinning more by feeling they are entitled to do the job of their almighty God? Please correct me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure God did not deem people his judge for what he feels are sins.
5.) When asking church people why they are so pushy and sometimes harmful, the answer is they don't want to go to hell and don't want people to go there. However, based upon their own sins they will be judge by God and so wouldn't it be more Christ-like to love the person, not their sin, tell them once (maybe twice) about God and leave it be... maybe pray for them if they'd like? Believing that you will go to hell for not converting "X" many people is the same as what people were saying about muslims going to heaven and getting 72 virgins when they die. When judgment day comes... God is only looking at you and what you have done personally. Converting people means nothing if you lie including small lies like saying you are sick when you aren't to get out of work.
6.) The last thing...
Church people are more than likely to recite the one verse from Lev. 18:22 (I believe) against homosexuality.. while ignoring the REST of the book. When you point out this fact you are told - "Oh well we don't have to follow the old testament", "Oh times have changed so that stuff doesn't matter", "Oh I am a Christian so we are only supposed to follow the new testament." and other such things. Why on earth do people expect others to convert or follow when they say when they can't even practice what they preach or fight with what they follow? I could pick the parts out of a well known book that I want to follow as well.. does it make it right? No.
Now, I have been doing a lot of thinking and just reading about different issues and looking at two different types of people. I am noticing a lot of people speaking of the last days as written in the bible in a testament that was written years upon years after Jesus died. An eager student at that time or someone who felt they could change people into following their religion could have easily wrote the bible and said they were inspired by God. I could say writing this post I was inspired by God and someone could say they were inspired by God to mass murder someone. It's all in the same context. However, while I could dispute the bible and not one religious person alive today could give me true honest proof other than they were told it was inspired by God and that these people wrote it and they were supposedly holy, when in all honesty they could have been con artists. It is a very old profession... just with different names... It is called immortalizing something.
Anyway
I want to talk about church people vs people who just have faith in God.
1.) Is it me or does it seem like people who belong to no organized religion seemed to be more in tuned with the loving teachings of Christ, than those that go to church?
2.) Why are people who go to church usually the first to cast the stones and yet they are the ones who worship their religious leaders or give money to false prophets? What I mean is, God has no use for your material money and yet in some churches you are asked to make a tithing to God? I would think that God would want your loyalty and love more than something used to cause problems in what a lot of church people say is The Devil's world. Does it make sense to give God something man created? At least in biblical times they sacrificed animals that God created. Jesus was "sold-out" by one of his followers for 30 pieces of silver... why on earth would God want money? Isn't it more honest for the church to just say the church wants money?
3.) Why is it that most people who just have faith in God realize you can have the relationship on your own? Why is it that church people seem to think that they only way to contact their God is through their religious leader (e.g. the pope, priest, reverend, rabbi, etc.)?
4.) Why is it that people who have faith in God are more accepting of the teachings and not doing God's job like not judging, being kind, loving, etc. while hating the sins of others but not voicing it and treating them like human beings and believing in their rights in the world? Why is it that Church people openly protest, fight, etc. when they should be worried about fixing their own sins instead of sinning more by feeling they are entitled to do the job of their almighty God? Please correct me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure God did not deem people his judge for what he feels are sins.
5.) When asking church people why they are so pushy and sometimes harmful, the answer is they don't want to go to hell and don't want people to go there. However, based upon their own sins they will be judge by God and so wouldn't it be more Christ-like to love the person, not their sin, tell them once (maybe twice) about God and leave it be... maybe pray for them if they'd like? Believing that you will go to hell for not converting "X" many people is the same as what people were saying about muslims going to heaven and getting 72 virgins when they die. When judgment day comes... God is only looking at you and what you have done personally. Converting people means nothing if you lie including small lies like saying you are sick when you aren't to get out of work.
6.) The last thing...
Church people are more than likely to recite the one verse from Lev. 18:22 (I believe) against homosexuality.. while ignoring the REST of the book. When you point out this fact you are told - "Oh well we don't have to follow the old testament", "Oh times have changed so that stuff doesn't matter", "Oh I am a Christian so we are only supposed to follow the new testament." and other such things. Why on earth do people expect others to convert or follow when they say when they can't even practice what they preach or fight with what they follow? I could pick the parts out of a well known book that I want to follow as well.. does it make it right? No.5 people like this
5 responses
@psychoartist (756)
• United States
14 Jun 12
hi aidalily, thanks for this thoughtful and insightful instruction...i agree with you in many ways, though i feel that the people of faith are the people who live their christianity daily and have an acute sense of the presence of God in thier lives, and the religious people are the ones with the rules and who are rigid and unempathetic to others in their approach...these religious leaders, the pharisees and the saducees were the people who were opposed to jesus' ministry and the early church...i like the bible verse in james which states that pure religion in the sight of God is this: to care for widows and orphans, and to keep oneself blameless/spotless in the world...this echoes jesus' definition of christianity, first, to love the Lord thy God with all your heart and second, to love your neighbor as yourself...i ascribe to the maxim that christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship...many bad things have been done to people in the name of religion and that may be religion, but it is not christianity.
1 person likes this
@ShyBear88 (59306)
• Sterling, Virginia
14 Jun 12
I was raised in a Catholic house hold, but my parents never pushed me and my brothers in to it. Now that I"m an adult and a mother my self. I just have a faith, I don't believe in any real teaching so I don't feel I"m any closer to god then any other person that say they are. I don't love a lot of the teachings. I believe that all religions or what ever faith you want to have is, in some way or another is correct.
I don't know why people that go to church are the first to judge others or give money. I don't give money to the a church unless its going to something else like helping people that really do need that money for something. Not people that go to church are like that, I know that and it would bad of me to judge someone because they do go to church and I don't. I know many that will not judge you so quickly or give money to the church.
I guess some people feel that you don't go to church that your not really accepted god or whomever as a teacher. I disagree with that because God or whomever you believe in will always hear you no matter if you go to church or not or weather you pray or not. To believe is to believe in your heart that there is something possibly out there and if you don't believe that is okay too.
I guess even people that go to church fear what they have been taught isn't good some but not all are like that. If you are told all your life that this is this and that is wrong you will not like or accept it but there are people that see the bigger picture and will take along what they ready or taught and what is in today's life.
I agree what you ready isn't always right and it doesn't mean you have to listen to it or do as it says. You are your person with your own mind and if you just fallow what you read or told to do all of the time then you are never using your own head to choice the right path for you and what you think is right and wrong.
I try to be open about what people feel or think about faiths because all religions are a faith and you don't have to be all in one and stuff to believe in something. You should always just worry about yourself. When I talk to to other people I don't bring god in to because he has nothing to do with what you choice to do. He doesn't own you.
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
15 Jun 12
My GrandMA has always been somewhat religious, very strict and doesn't like other stuff that you do simply because she hates it. my mom had been into religious organizations lately but she doesn't talk about it with me as she knows am usually not into it. though i did tell her some of my problems and she really gave me some good advice. people should just talk it through with out always adding GOD into it, though except in most important cases, some people over use the word
@ShyBear88 (59306)
• Sterling, Virginia
18 Jun 12
There is a lot of people like that, that will bring God into everything. I think there is a time and place for that and you can always tell if someone is comfortable with talking about something like that or not. I never bring in religion or God into anything. Unless it's something like this where it's a discussion about God and what you feeling.
I see it more in the older generation that are more strong willed in religion and as you get down to the younger generation it gets less and less strict where people are more relaxed about it. I'm every open about it where I don't try to knock down other people or say they are wrong with how they feel and I would want the same respect back.
@ladygator (3465)
• United States
14 Jun 12
Good Afternood AidaLily,
I love your post! Its a very detailed and thought provoking discussion. I think that the reference regarding who really wrote the bible. As well as who is the intended audience and motive behind whats in the bible.
Now to give my opinions regarding your questions.
1.I agree with you on this first piece. I do find that people that are spiritual seem to be more personally driven just to love and accept others as they are.
2.Wow! you sure hit on some major factors and I can completely see your point on this. The first part is from personal experience, I have been judged and heard the chatter of others being judged. When this happened I often would wonder the same thing. After all the teachings through all the services, why on earth would they turn and actively go against what they deem to be lifes instructions.
3. I think that it seems like the ones that hold God in their hearts also understand that God loves them just as they are and has made them as they are. God knows who we are in the inside and to some degree I think that he knows what we will do before we do. And still loves us...
4. The faithful people dont have a stereo type to put out on in the front. They dont have to worry about what others think
5. God gives all a choice and we are allowed to make mistakes. Sometimes I think that through these mistakes we are more of a benefit to others than we know. Its where you begin to understand the battle is not ours.Its the Lords. I think that works for others becoming believers to their own understanding. No one can make another person believe. This has to come from the inside if its to be truly believed.
6. This used to be and still is really, that people would pick and chose verses. I would never understand especially when I would learn one thing and then it would say something else. Like the things that will damn you to hell and then all can go to heaven...that still confuses the heck out of me.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
16 Jun 12
You said it all and I agree 100%! I like to tell these type of Christian I rather go to hell, I am damned in their eyes already so why waste their time. It is sad they truly believe it is a contest, the person who converts the most win! They are missing the point. I always say there are many paths to G-d , pick one and be faithful! But to these poor souls they believe you Must believe what they believe or you are damned. Gues what I rather be damned! and i think that shocks them. There are more people who just have faith these days and you don't have to wonder why. People just walk away when the church goers say change or be damned! This is a great post!@AidaLily (1450)
• United States
19 Jun 12
I have to admit, Christians today make hell seem like a great place to go. I mean why on earth would I want to spend eternity with a bunch of self righteous hypocrites in my honest opinion? What I believe in is a lot more calmer than this and I am not even a christian. Hell, some of my views were adapted into Christianity many many years ago. I can't stand those people who say join this church or your soul will be dammed. It's like "well in that case... I might as well just go about living my life as I please". The sad part is every time I see them, I can't help but think... "You are judging for God? Your "creator" and you think you are going to heaven... wow I feel bad for you."
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
15 Jun 12
Hello AidaLily, I just want to say thank you for this kind of observation. As for me, I don't go to church anymore. Would you believe that i get moody or angry when ever i am hustling myself to go to the mass, and if i missed my favorite church time, i get really depressed. I remember participating on religious events like Night mass and Holyweek, i get really upset when i don't participate at least one day. i don't know, it's hard to sink in, the more you are sink in the more hypocrite you can be.
At the end of the day, it's a struggle to be a real christian, specially with these times.they're not perfect, sometimes questioning them makes them even harder to understand. probably some aren't into question, or afraid what they might get into when they stop being church goers. I know, I was depressed badly when i stop going but i saw a different side of myself, and somewhat become more patient and more understanding.
@AidaLily (1450)
• United States
19 Jun 12
I used to get angry and upset not going to church. I also used to get even angrier in church. I hated the people who were "saved" every single week and part of me just wanted to say, if you weren't serious the last six weeks, why should God believe you now? However, I don't judge people so yeah. I am also not a Christian anymore.
To me it was like sitting in churches and seeing nothing but black demonic looking beings in place of where followers of God should be. Kind of scary but the more I delved into Christianity and some of it's history or even the "holidays" that are claimed to be Christian I turned away from it. It is hard for me to find anything credible. If something is fully credible then, you shouldn't find sayings to the contrary. Some of my family is Catholic and they took me once to a mass for Christmas and prayed and all about the birth of christ and most of them would celebrate Christmas with trees and such. Needless to say at 14 I was shocked to discover things taken from Druidaism, Wicca, and so on for the religion.
I am actually a wiccan. I feel more at peace and in tune with myself and others that practice. There is nothing demonic about it as some believe and I feel closer to the Goddess than I ever felt in a Christian religion. All in all, I could be worshiping the same deity, in a completely different way, without the "tool" of the trade and living a quite peaceful and blessed life. It's all in perspective.
It is nice that you were able to see that you were more patient and more understanding after you left. It is never too late to see the good in someone or even yourself. :)
