How to be a Christian and follower of Jesus Christ
Hi All,
I was born and live in London, was Christened into the “Church of England” as a child, and occasionally attended church on a Sunday over the years, mainly for weddings, funerals etc.
During my teenage years, I studied EndTime prophecies as a “hobby” and generally treated as the whole things as a great Sci-Fi tail.
I’m now in my mid 30’s and over the past couple of years have returned to the prophesies as I can recognise these events as predicted appearing on my TV news and newspapers everyday and have since taken this as a sign to take things a little more seriously.
I have spent a great deal of time over the past 2 years, reading the Bible, talking to others, reading websites etc. I have read about a third of the Bible, and have listened to the whole Bible being read out on MP3 in this time too.
AND IM STILL CONFUSSED
I believe that Jesus is my Lord, that there is only One true God, I recognise the 10 Commandments as a Law that I must adhere to, rest and study the Bible on a Friday evening and Saturday day (sunset to sunset) and generally have a good, healthy and satisfying life. I have begun to teach my children the Bible lessens, but don’t have a church to go to as they ALL seem to contradict themselves somewhere.
I am struggling with the rest! Personally, I’m not expecting this thread to really answer my questions as I’m confident that I will receive 100 different answers to my questions, but just in case I’m wrong, here goes.
WHAT ELSE SHOULD I BE DOING?
Every direction I turn, I am receiving contradicting instructions.
As a “Gentile” (me I presume as I’m not a Jew) Some say I can eat Pork for example, others say NO.
I have read in the Bible to pay Tithe (10% of earnings) to a church, and also that this is just a command/tradition just for the Jews.
Some say I should be a vegetarian, others say not.
Some say I should keep the festivals, others say not.
My question:
Can anyone point me to a reliable “list” of do’s and don’ts as a follower of Jesus Christ? I appreciate that different opinions will come from all the 1000’s of churches but how am I supposed to find the one thing I’m after, THE TRUTH AS TOUGHT BY JESUS ?
At this point in time, I believe I’m looking for a church which teaches/believes:
A: Christian Church
B: Sabbath on a Saturday
C: Keeps to the 10 Commandments / Laws
D: Can eat whatever you want (including pork if so desired or offered)
E: Do NOT have to keep the Jewish festivals
How far away am I from the truth so far?
Sorry for the long message. I do hope that I may find some answers here, or at least some direction to follow up on.
God bless you all, and may thanks for any assistance you might be able to offer.
To me, this verse, in context to the whole chapter would suggest that we mustn’t follow only the written text of the Bible and that “we” aren’t meant to. Rather that we follow with our hearts, the spirit of its teachings and that this will lead us to salvation. That by following only the texts will not save us.
I can accept that, and understand it’s meaning, and at this present time, probably already follow this line of belief. I believe in Jesus as my saviour and try to do good in everything I touch. As you have read in my first message, I consider myself a good man, with a good heart, and follow the Laws, but this alone doesn’t make me welcome in most church’s. Am I supposed to simple follow these church’s traditions when in attendance so as not to offend, but in my heart think they are misinterpreting the Bibles meaning? I believed I’m not to follow the “Traditions of Man”
I would like to congregate with others on a Sabbath, to study and worship in truth, but so far, all the church’s have “frowned” upon areas of my life like not keeping certain festivals, the fact I may give someone a gift in late December, or that I may eat the occasional bacon sandwich. I live in peace with everyone, and afraid of offending the Lord through my own ignorance.
There are two schools of thought on this scripture. One is close to your understanding. The other is that letters like the ones we have today in the NT were coming into the churches that were teaching a form of religion based more on the traditions of the time than on the gospel of Jesus and the doctrinal teachings of Paul.
Some think that this passage is a warning against these mixed religious texts.
Today we have the same issues. People find religion in the OT and then apply the NT to to the religion of the OT. They miss the good news in many ways.
Do me another favor.
Read Romans 5 and 14, let's talk about these a bit.
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