Religious Affiliation

[Janet]

My family are members of the First Church of the Nazarene. I started there as a child. Now, I attend (and not every Sunday) a nice country church a couple miles from us...Hopewell United Methodist Church. The people there are all my neighbors and a lot of the families whose kids ride my bus. It's not very big, maybe 100 or less members, but it sure feels good to be there.

aw Dobie, I'm sorry! Thats what I tell my mom........she is a charismatic holy rolling believer, and when she found out I was converting to the "great whore in the book of revelations!" she almost had a stroke. In fact I need testimony from family members as to why my previous marriage ended. Getting testimony from family members so you can become catholic when they think you should have stayed in the relationship has proven difficult in the extreme. Never mind that he settled arguments by pointing a gun in my face on more than one occasion. Had I had the sense god gave a monkey he would have done time for aggravated felony domestic assault. But its in the past now, and I wish him only blessings.
Anyway, after we split, most of my former friends and family totaly turned against me. So I told my mom, that while I would never set myself on the level of god himself, that like him when he said "these wounds I got in the house of my friends". thats me. every bad thing that has ever happened to me has been at the hand of a so called christian. I have learned that most have forgotten that christian is suppose to mean christ like.
My desire to become catholic, is that they are an extremely formal church and I believe it is a human need to have a ritual of worship. I find that there. My personal convictions of my inner soul are simply between god and myself. he knows me, the good the bad and the ugly, and amazingly enough he still sent his son to die for me. thats all I need.
Thanks for sharing Dobie. I needed that! {huggie}

[katcarasella]

I'm a Roman Catholic.

[Gina]

I'm a Roman Catholic .

These kinds of threads scare me, lol. I guess I will just say that I take things from a lot of different religions and incorporate that into what I believe or not believe. There's at least one thing in each religion that I can agree with, as well as at least one thing that I don't

[pearl]

Originally Posted by Gwen

These kinds of threads scare me, lol. I guess I will just say that I take things from a lot of different religions and incorporate that into what I believe or not believe. There's at least one thing in each religion that I can agree with, as well as at least one thing that I don't

i'm kind of there too, gwen. i'm a blend! sometimes my beliefs don't make sense to other people, but only what works for me and what i can hold on to and live by is what's important.

[Ponyup]

Organized religion makes me nervous as well. I do believe in God, I do believe God sent his son to die for me. I also think however, that the bible might have been manipulated by the original translators to get the people to do what they wanted without a revolt. Because the leaders could say don't get mad at me this is coming from God, like the scripture that says to pay your taxes, don't know exactly what verse it is, but I know there is one because it was brought up in my church not too long ago.

I was raised methodist, I loved the old hymns we sang, we had wonderful singers, my grandma was one & a wonderful organist. That chuch however believed that drinking, gambling, & smoking were sins along with tattoos & multiple other things. I have come to the realization that where they got these sins was because it says that God should be #1 in your life. If you become addicted to any of the things mentioned they will take that #1 spot from God. So rather then saying these things are fine in moderation they deemed doing them at all sinful & evil. My family also have something against the catholics that I don't understand. I do not understand the catholic faith therefore i can not judge it. In fact I don't feel I can judge anyone or anything that's not my place. My current church is a missionary church, i like the music & most of the services, some of the things they preach i do not agree with, but I enjoy the fellowship there.

Ponyup.......dont know if this will help but I think that after the original christians came out of the catacombs, Catholicism was the first organised church. Therefore all the protestant churches of today came from catholic originally. Thats not my opinion it is a historical fact. Naturally they had a reason for leaving or they would have stayed. I think most protestant groups have a long history of dislike for catholic and alot of misinformation. The catholics do not have a clean history either. historically they did many evil things. However there isnt a religious group that hasnt. your religion is only as nice as the peole who claim it. if your evil, then the religion you claim becomes evil as well.

[DianaB]

Organized religions are scary because we tend to follow them without checking things out for ourselves. How do I know if what I believe is correct? Go to your Bible. I believe that it is the inspired Word of God and He can speak to me through His word. The "correct church" is the one that lines up with Biblical teachings. You'll find that sometimes religions interpret things a little differently but the basics are still there:

1. Admit that you are a sinner.
"There is no one righteous, not even one......for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:10, 23

Ask God's forgiveness and repent of your sins.
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" Romans 10-13

2. Believe in Jesus (put your trust in Him) as your only hope of salvation. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Become a child of God by receiving Christ.
"To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12

3. Confess that Jesus is your Lord.
"If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

So you see, whether you have music in church or don't, if you go to an organized church or a church that is freer in their worship doesn't matter, but what does matter is if I have asked Jesus to forgive my sins and invited Him into my life. That IS what's important!!!!!!

great post Diana!!! can I just add.........(LOL! my pet peeve.) If you claim to be a "christian, at least attempt to act like Jesus! Jesus forgave the people who murdered him, he loved Judas who betrayed him. He hung out with a tax collector, became friends with a prostitute, he died willingly between thieves. I do realise some christians are into charitable works, and maybe go to the shelter to fix a dinner for the homeless, but when was the last time they invited the dirty lice infested homeless person into their home?

[Ponyup]

Originally Posted by CoyoteQueen

great post Diana!!! can I just add.........(LOL! my pet peeve.) If you claim to be a "christian, at least attempt to act like Jesus! Jesus forgave the people who murdered him, he loved Judas who betrayed him. He hung out with a tax collector, became friends with a prostitute, he died willingly between thieves. I do realise some christians are into charitable works, and maybe go to the shelter to fix a dinner for the homeless, but when was the last time they invited the dirty lice infested homeless person into their home?

I could not agree with this more. WE should reach out to the people who are struggling not condemn them. We should love everyone has ourselves so that they may see the love of God radiate through us.

& Coyote that you for the insight on the Catholic faith, my parents main problem is they allow drinking. When I brought up that they drank in the bible she told me they weren't drinking actual wine, now I don't know if she actually believes this or if it was just what she told a questioning child.

[katcarasella]

QUOTE=DianaB]Organized religions are scary because we tend to follow them without checking things out for ourselves. How do I know if what I believe is correct? Go to your Bible. I believe that it is the inspired Word of God and He can speak to me through His word. The "correct church" is the one that lines up with Biblical teachings. You'll find that sometimes religions interpret things a little differently but the basics are still there:

1. Admit that you are a sinner.
"There is no one righteous, not even one......for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:10, 23

Ask God's forgiveness and repent of your sins.
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" Romans 10-13

2. Believe in Jesus (put your trust in Him) as your only hope of salvation. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Become a child of God by receiving Christ.
"To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12

3. Confess that Jesus is your Lord.
"If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

So you see, whether you have music in church or don't, if you go to an organized church or a church that is freer in their worship doesn't matter, but what does matter is if I have asked Jesus to forgive my sins and invited Him into my life. That IS what's important!!!!!![/QUOTE]

Diana,
I needed that!

[Janet]

Amen, Diana!

[Tiramisu]

I'm the good ole Southern Baptist, married to a Methodist, so we don't go anywhere. I watch TV on Sunday mornings for Houston Second Baptist's preacher and then Joel Olsteen @ Lakewood Church. My Dad always called me a closet worshipper because I read my Bible and worship God in private. I do witness, but don't go out of my way to do so. I do talk alot to my g-kids about having Jesus in my heart!

[goofywife]

Diana, My company had a booth at the last general assembly. I worked it. Did you go?

Originally Posted by DianaB

We attend the Assembly of God church where my whole family attends, from my Mother to my grandchildren. Our church is a very active church and there's always things going on to keep you busy. Right now I'm teaching a Sunday School class (You only have to teach for 6 weeks at a time.), I sing solos, I'm suppose to be helping in Children's church (just started), and I try to help where I'm needed. We have a great pastor and my church family feels like family to me.

I am a Spirit-filled, born again believer. I love the Lord with all of my heart and my desire is to live a life directed by Him. The Lord has been good to us. I have a family that was always brought up in church and my family life has been blessd by God. To make things short, we have the kind of family that most people would want to be a part of. I can only give the credit to God.