Excited to Learn

I'm new to the group…err…pod.  I'm a life-long Christian, however, I never really agreed with half the beliefs under which I was raised.  I was raised in a strict, Southern Baptist home.  My love of animals, art, and nature were not well looked upon.  I was always the black sheep of the family and a bit of a weirdo as far as the rest of society went.  Now, that I'm a mother, I'm trying to balance my own beliefs and the ones I was raised with (the ones I agreed with, not the whole, general idea).  This philosophy is more my cuppa tea, and I'm hoping I can learn a thing or 2 here. 

Re: Excited to Learn

Isn't it odd that people worshipping the creator of all would have difficulty with someone who loves the creation?

I had a discussion with a friend today about the separation of the “sacred” from the “ordinary”, and how unnatural and alien to Christianity it is…

I too have found that raising my children and all the experiences along the way have caused me to reexamine my beliefs, many times…

Namaste,

Nicole

Re: Excited to Learn

IMO, Christianity is the hardest “religion” to be a part of.  You're sooner persecuted by your own then you are by non-believers.  A church will as soon force a poor man out for not wearing “proper Sunday attire” than help him acquire it…or even better, change their standards for the sake of sharing God's word.
For several years, I turned my back on the church for my disgust with their behavior…holier than thou, my s**t don't stink, I drive a Beamer, what do you drive? sort of attitudes.  It was a popularity contest, and I hated being associated with it.  I was raised on the front pew…white patent shoes and pink bow in my hair.  My father, the music minister, was at the righthand side of the preacher, deciding who was going to win the game that afternoon, and my mother sat primly, with her hands folded in her lap, dreaming of her next shopping spree. 
It was boring and not at all enlightening.  It was all a stageshow, and I sought something more.  Even as a child, I could not understand how people could speak God's love but show their own hate.  It made no sense to me then and even less now. 
It took me 30 years to realize that I can be a Christian without being a hypocrite.  I have to live by my own God-given standards and not those that are taught in the church.  I have to block out the hate, ridicule, and hypocrisy that comes from the mouths of other “Christians”. 
It's good to know that there are others in society that see the bigger picture of God's Word and not what they want it to be.  God bless this pod and all the others in the world with like minds!

Re: Excited to Learn

as the saying goes, ” the Church is the only army which shoots its own wounded.”

I had a bad experience myself, after many years of whole-hearted involvement in church being asked to resign from the church board. The intentions were good but the results devastating - it took me a year to recover. Now am I back to my self, my drive and confidence but it will take a lot longer to re-integrate my faith and practice.

Re: Excited to Learn

I once read a book in which the author said, “I have given up Christianity in order to follow Jesus.”

The Bible tells us how to live and the church goers get their nifty highlighters out…  highlighting the sentences they agree with and disregarding the rest.

Pop Christianity leaves no room for followers of Jesus

Re: Excited to Learn

In a way, Corey, everyone reads the Bible with highlighter in hand. I have not yet met any Christian who follows everything in the New Testament - it would be very difficult and strange, involving making sure you always have long hair or a headwrap if you are a woman, or never agree with people remarrying, etc. 

There is always room to follow Jesus, though, even if you feel out of step with everyone around you.

What do you feel truly following Jesus entails?

Love,

Nicole