Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
A dictionary definition of "religion" would be something similar to "belief in God or gods to be worshipped, usually expressed in conduct and ritual; any specific system of belief, worship, etc., o...
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Ron Ray
Believe in Jesus, not in religion. Place your faith and trust in Christ, not in man. Now, that being said, you might have really been asking "Why should I participate in an organized Christian church? If this is really the question you're asking, the answer is that it is important for all of the body of believers to come together to worship God in a corporate voice. The Bible states that no man should prevent the assembling together of believers. Think about it. Christianity is not a "solo" show where all believers are on their own. The physical church provides a place for the spiritual church to come together, to gather and gain strength from one another, to be of one accord as the 120 believers were at the start of the Christian faith in the second floor of that building a long time ago. We are all parts of one body, and Paul made it clear that every part of the body needs the other parts in order to function properly and to have the effect that Jesus wants from us. We are not blessed with all the gifts of the Spirit. We are blessed usually with "a" gift whatever it may be. Teaching, preaching, evangelizing, hospitality, adminstration, etc. When we come together as we will in heaven, the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. When we come together here on earth, our effect to others in our community in outreach and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ is exponential. However, always make sure to filter everything you hear and read through God's Word to ensure it is correct and according to God's Will for your life. Just because someone in the church says it or writes doesn't make it true. That's why God's Word also tells us to "test everything" and then to hold on to that which is true. God bless you in your search for a church home where real family exists.
D W
Supporter
Don't believe in organized religion. Place your faith, hope and trust in Jesus. We Christians are not members of any "religion." We are saved, sanctified, soon to be glorified, simply because we trust Jesus. "Religion" implies structure, rules, regulations, commandments, a hierarchy of leaders, committee's, decision-making as a group. We Christians are saved one-by-one. Our only allegiance is to our Savior. He takes care of the rest.
Vin Smith
At one point in time, organized religion had me in a tailspin. Then I met a guy named Tom who has become a lifelong friend. He drove a car almost exactly like a car I had once owned--a Javelin. I purchased my Javelin so new to its introduction in 1968, that it might well have been one of the first several dozen on the road. I soon noticed Tom's bumper sticker. Wow... Did it resonate with me! YOU TRIED RELIGION... NOW TRY JESUS... I have followed my personal savior since; without the interference of organized religion. Jesus really did not endorse such artificial alignments. They almost always becomes power-wielding monoliths.
Steve Nearman
There are thousands of religions organized by men. Outwardly, "These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh." Col. 2:23 There is only ONE organized by the creator of heaven and earth. We read about the contrast between man’s religion and God’s in James 1:26-27 "If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 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." Part of keeping oneself unspotted from the world is to avoid man made denominational religious systems. Many have true Christians in their ranks, an unholy mix of blood bought saints and unbelievers. 2Corth. 6:14-18 God’s exhortation is "let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and SPIRT, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” How inconsistent some people are who claim to believe in organization! Yes, they actually go around trying to tear down and destroy the organized church! They pose as Christian workers, but just ignore God's organization and treat it and its author with contempt. "The Church," which is "Christ's Body," "the household of faith," the "Spiritual house," "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone," "the general assembly and church of the first born which are written in heaven;" such a church they declare to be no church, and laugh to scorn the man or woman who is content with membership in such an organized church as that! "Why don't you join an organized church?" they say. When God has already "set the members every one of them, in the body as it has pleased Him," and "in one Spirit (not water) were all believers baptized into one body" 1Corth. 12:13 they come around and very solemnly say to these members of Jesus Christ; "Now since you are a Christians, don't you feel it your duty to join an organized church? How can you feel safe outside the church?" They claim to believe that nobody can save people from their sins but God, but when it comes to organizing, they can give Him all kinks of pointers, and show Him how to make a church that is truly organized. Thus these enemies of God's church organization (whose object is "to draw away the disciples after themselves.") Acts 20:30 "by good works and fair speeches deceive the harts of the simple." Rom. 16:18. "… but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.." Eph. 4:11-16 This glorious organization is no idle dream or fancy sketch, or untried experiment. In actual results no other organization on earth is comparable with it. God does not want anybody united as Christians who are not held together purely by "love shed abroad in their harts by the Holy Ghost." While they have this, they are perfectly united and organized, when they lack it, an outward organic denomination organized by men, no mater how sincere, is a farce and a delusion. It is amazing to see how successful Satan has been in making people believe the awful lie that God's Church on earth could not exist but for these worldly corporations that divide and blind God's people apart, and yoke them up with unbelievers! Psa. 133:1 "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" as compared to the artificial man-made sects and cults.
Tony Railton
Christianity is not a religion like Buddhism, Islam, or Hinduism. These religions rely on their believers doing “works” and “good deeds”, although Christianity is a part of that, it’s not everything Christianity entails. Christianity is about faith, trust, gratitude, thanks, praise, worship and love for what Jesus did for mankind (and womankind). People are unable to pay the cost God demands and the Father and Jesus’ love is so great that He was willing to give up His own life for our sins and and evil deeds. It’s like a child going away from a loving parent, not knowing which way to go, and the parent dies and pays the price for the child’s criminal conviction and sentence.
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