- Oct 8, 2019
- 190
- 158
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Single
I got baptised over three years ago in a church which was adequate, but I stopped attending for personal reasons. I have investigated, and in some cases visited, numerous churches since then - Methodist, Church of Scotland, Anglican, Quakers, three independent churches*, Russian Orthodox, Baptist, Unitarian, The Salvation Army, Gospel Church and even the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses - yet I have not found a single one in which I felt wholly comfortable.
It may be that I am overly fussy, and it's certainly true that in every single congregation I met some lovely, genuine people and often enjoyed the services. I am sure people reading this forum belong to some of those churches, so I will not single any of them out for particular criticism. It amazes me just how diverse the Christian faith is!
I have felt my faith wax and wane over the last two years, and even even chatted with a Jew (online) and a few Muslims, as well as attending a Buddhist temple, however I am utterly convinced that Jesus is the Son of God and that He was God in human form. It struck me, incidentally, how incredibly similar Islam and Judaism are, and it was suggested to me by followers of the other two Abrahamic religions that Christians are polytheistic (because of the Trinity) and guilty of idolatry.
What was it I didn't like about the churches I attended?
- Many were overtly political. I believe that politics has no place in church at all. Whilst society is becoming ever more fractured along political lines - especially here in Scotland where there is the question of independence, EU membership, government austerity, etc - I don't want to hear this in church when I go to worship. Of course help the needy, have food banks, but I don't believe a sermon should ever be used to promote one's political views.
- One of the churches was genuinely polytheistic it would seem, and one no longer seems to be a Christian faith. So that I do not offend anybody, I will not elaborate upon this but will suggest that if you research all of the churches I have mentioned you will see this for yourself.
- One of the churches preached the 'Prosperity Gospel' and requested money at every opportunity, claiming that to reap a (financial) harvest one first needs to sow.
- Some of the churches have dispensed with Christian teachings in order to conform to modern standards.
- Some I just felt didn't appeal to my style of worship - sometimes it was too loud and modern, sometimes it was very antiquated with medieval chanting, incense or a bit bizarre.
There are literally thousands of denominations, so there must be one for me. My beliefs are actually very simple:
1) I believe in God the Father who was personified on this earth as Jesus Christ, His Son. I cannot say I am one hundred percent convinced of the third being, the Holy Spirit, and therefore I am genuinely unsure whether I am Binitarian or Tinitarian. That may exclude me from a number of churches - though I am prepared to be convinced.
2) I believe the Bible is the inspired word of God but that much of it is metaphorical, though obviously much of it is literal.
3) I believe in the teachings of Christ abrogates any conflicting teachings from the Old Testament - which I'd argue should be the case with anybody who calls themselves a Christian.
4) I believe that Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself to atone for the sins of man, and that we are all sinners.
5) I believe that ultimately God is merciful, as shown by the fact He was willing to sacrifice His son (and in effect Himself) for us.
6) I believe that God does not want Christians to pursue money, status and power. I believe that God demonstrated that the ego is the cause of much sin, and that we are to be humble and to serve Him and one another. For example, Jesus was born in a stable, the 'son' of a carpenter, washed His disciples' feet - including Judas' - and suffered an agonising and humiliating death.
Like all people I am flawed and still learning. However I cannot just accept what I am told. Mathew 7:7.
To anybody still reading, thank you and may God bless you!
It may be that I am overly fussy, and it's certainly true that in every single congregation I met some lovely, genuine people and often enjoyed the services. I am sure people reading this forum belong to some of those churches, so I will not single any of them out for particular criticism. It amazes me just how diverse the Christian faith is!
I have felt my faith wax and wane over the last two years, and even even chatted with a Jew (online) and a few Muslims, as well as attending a Buddhist temple, however I am utterly convinced that Jesus is the Son of God and that He was God in human form. It struck me, incidentally, how incredibly similar Islam and Judaism are, and it was suggested to me by followers of the other two Abrahamic religions that Christians are polytheistic (because of the Trinity) and guilty of idolatry.
What was it I didn't like about the churches I attended?
- Many were overtly political. I believe that politics has no place in church at all. Whilst society is becoming ever more fractured along political lines - especially here in Scotland where there is the question of independence, EU membership, government austerity, etc - I don't want to hear this in church when I go to worship. Of course help the needy, have food banks, but I don't believe a sermon should ever be used to promote one's political views.
- One of the churches was genuinely polytheistic it would seem, and one no longer seems to be a Christian faith. So that I do not offend anybody, I will not elaborate upon this but will suggest that if you research all of the churches I have mentioned you will see this for yourself.
- One of the churches preached the 'Prosperity Gospel' and requested money at every opportunity, claiming that to reap a (financial) harvest one first needs to sow.
- Some of the churches have dispensed with Christian teachings in order to conform to modern standards.
- Some I just felt didn't appeal to my style of worship - sometimes it was too loud and modern, sometimes it was very antiquated with medieval chanting, incense or a bit bizarre.
There are literally thousands of denominations, so there must be one for me. My beliefs are actually very simple:
1) I believe in God the Father who was personified on this earth as Jesus Christ, His Son. I cannot say I am one hundred percent convinced of the third being, the Holy Spirit, and therefore I am genuinely unsure whether I am Binitarian or Tinitarian. That may exclude me from a number of churches - though I am prepared to be convinced.
2) I believe the Bible is the inspired word of God but that much of it is metaphorical, though obviously much of it is literal.
3) I believe in the teachings of Christ abrogates any conflicting teachings from the Old Testament - which I'd argue should be the case with anybody who calls themselves a Christian.
4) I believe that Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself to atone for the sins of man, and that we are all sinners.
5) I believe that ultimately God is merciful, as shown by the fact He was willing to sacrifice His son (and in effect Himself) for us.
6) I believe that God does not want Christians to pursue money, status and power. I believe that God demonstrated that the ego is the cause of much sin, and that we are to be humble and to serve Him and one another. For example, Jesus was born in a stable, the 'son' of a carpenter, washed His disciples' feet - including Judas' - and suffered an agonising and humiliating death.
Like all people I am flawed and still learning. However I cannot just accept what I am told. Mathew 7:7.
To anybody still reading, thank you and may God bless you!