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The great false church

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thewatchman:
It is my experience that very few people who go to church go because of the preaching of the word and fewer the number who really understand it. Most people enjoy the social activities, which could be where your family is. Social interaction can definately be beneficial. We can't all be heretical hairy faced hermits living in caves.  Why does that describe me? Hmmmm....
I do miss that part about church. But my personal scriptural convictions have drawn me away, but not everyone is like me.
Maybe have bible studies at home with your family. Sow the seed. It is God who brings the harvest.  8)

lareli:

--- Quote from: theophilus on June 25, 2014, 04:12:52 PM ---I suppose that to hear 'christians' blaspheme your heavenly Father and His Name does not make you uncomfortable. To hear that God will condemn the majority of humankind to endless and indescribable torment and suffering should make you cringe and wiggle in your seat. They are assaulting the character of God and, in response, you shout a 'Praise the Lord' ? Hmmm!



--- End quote ---


Truth is Truth and needs no one to defend it. It defends itself. No need to feel offended when someone blasphemes my heavenly father because my heavenly father can defend Himself.

If I felt threatened, offended, or angry towards them then that tells me that I am not so sure about my convictions.

I once had a guy tell me that God is an alien and that when the Hebrews were wandering the desert for 40 years that they were being led by a flying saucer beaming down a pillar of fire, etc. etc. I did not feel offended or threatened by this guys beliefs because, to me, it was all nonsense and totally absurd... I feel the same way about the church doctrine. Because I believe its totally absurd, I can hear it and not feel threatened or offended.

If you get angry when defending your beliefs, or if you feel like you have to defend your beliefs at all.. then you're not very secure in your beliefs.. In my opinion.

lareli:

--- Quote from: Moises G. on June 25, 2014, 09:46:08 PM ---
largely, if you would feel so confident about your opinion on the matter, then, I don't think you would have started this thread.

And you have got a lot of good answers... so far. I believe.

--- End quote ---

You'll get no argument from me here Moises.. If I believed %100 that my opinions were facts instead of opinions then I would not bring them up for discussion. I'm very happy with all the different opinions and perspectives that have been shared. My perspective is only 1 out of 7 billion people in the world. I'd be foolish to think that my perspective alone is the 'right' one. I'm here to learn and to gain more perspective..

lareli:

--- Quote from: thewatchman on June 26, 2014, 03:54:01 AM ---It is my experience that very few people who go to church go because of the preaching of the word and fewer the number who really understand it. Most people enjoy the social activities, which could be where your family is. Social interaction can definately be beneficial. We can't all be heretical hairy faced hermits living in caves.  Why does that describe me? Hmmmm....
I do miss that part about church. But my personal scriptural convictions have drawn me away, but not everyone is like me.
Maybe have bible studies at home with your family. Sow the seed. It is God who brings the harvest.  8)

--- End quote ---

You're exactly right on this... its not that they want to get spiritually fed, its the social aspect. My wife knows that I think its a total pagan religion that contradicts clear scripture. She believes and trusts me but she likes having friends for her and the kids.. our church friends never talk about theology or anything and like you said, I don't think they go there for that either, or even understand it..

theophilus:

--- Quote from: largeli on June 26, 2014, 02:45:22 PM ---
--- Quote from: theophilus on June 25, 2014, 04:12:52 PM ---I suppose that to hear 'christians' blaspheme your heavenly Father and His Name does not make you uncomfortable. To hear that God will condemn the majority of humankind to endless and indescribable torment and suffering should make you cringe and wiggle in your seat. They are assaulting the character of God and, in response, you shout a 'Praise the Lord' ? Hmmm!



--- End quote ---


Truth is Truth and needs no one to defend it. It defends itself. No need to feel offended when someone blasphemes my heavenly father because my heavenly father can defend Himself.

If I felt threatened, offended, or angry towards them then that tells me that I am not so sure about my convictions.

I once had a guy tell me that God is an alien and that when the Hebrews were wandering the desert for 40 years that they were being led by a flying saucer beaming down a pillar of fire, etc. etc. I did not feel offended or threatened by this guys beliefs because, to me, it was all nonsense and totally absurd... I feel the same way about the church doctrine. Because I believe its totally absurd, I can hear it and not feel threatened or offended.

If you get angry when defending your beliefs, or if you feel like you have to defend your beliefs at all.. then you're not very secure in your beliefs.. In my opinion.

--- End quote ---

Given enough time, I could argue the phrase "Truth is Truth and needs no one to defend it. It defends itself." is a vacuous one.

It is your existential experience that feeling offended when the character of your Heavenly Father is assaulted means that you are not secure in your convictions. Not mine. Otherwise, I could be persuaded to embrace the heretical teaching of hell again. At the time that I felt this way, I was still trying to convince myself that I could continue attending church to participate in group worship. In my case, the social aspect was secondary. To you the social aspect might be primary.

During some of my visits, the pastor would coincidentally preach on hell. He would even talk to me after the service about continuing to congregate, about stopping to question God and the bible, etc., etc. I, for one, could not continue doing this.

Mind you, I didn't try to 'defend the truth'. I didn't argue with the pastor or anybody in the church. I had already learned it was a fruitless endeavor.

Presently, I could attend any church service. It wouldn't bother me like it did in the past. But it wouldn't bless me spiritually either. This is MY experience. If YOU feel blessed attending, participating, taking part and communing in a local congregation, I can understand why you would continue to go. May God bless you on your journey.

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