Religion VS Relationship

Wagonmaker said:

No sir. I went through the process in order to understand more fully the doctrines of the church. I have been baptized (in the name of the father, Son, and Holy Spirit), but I have not joined the Church.

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May I ask you a question?

How do you define the word "freedom"?

Wagonmaker said:

No sir. I went through the process in order to understand more fully the doctrines of the church. I have been baptized (in the name of the father, Son, and Holy Spirit), but I have not joined the Church.

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You were baptized so you are considered catholic

Wagonmaker said:

I am called to a different path

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Yes, the broad road of truth in all religions.

Wagonmaker said:

Liberty within the sheep pen with Christ as my shepherd.

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Listen to Him ...

And ask Him to give you the grace to love the virtue of obedience.

How does that sound to you?

Wagonmaker said:

Sounds great. I'm confused by your post though. What makes you think i don't listen to him or obey to the best of my ability?

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I don't know, ... I guess I got the impression that you like your own way of doing things and that you don't do too well with Authority?

I could be wrong, ... you let me know, ok?

Wagonmaker said:

I would like to pose a three part question to those who have perhaps been affiliated with religion for the better part of one's life.

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my 65-year old affiliation with religion is as it's adversary on behalf of finding the few saints of God as Jesus commanded ...

1. ) Do you feel that religion has been more helpful or more harmful to your personal journey in this life?

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religion is a worthy adversary ['satan' in Hebrew]for the perfection of Love in saints, just as Jesus and God intended and stated it would be... baptism of fire. the trial that perfects Love...

2. ) Start your response with a definition of religion, since this can be a broadly understood concept. This will shed light on what follows in your response.

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religion is what sinners do [in place of doing what Jesus commanded] in sinners' vain attempt to find God by what they see as an easier way than giving up sin and roaming the world looking for the House of Israel's lost descendants amongst all nations and serving the poor and needy and meek ...

3. ) In one sentence, what is the key, or secret to a fulfilled life? In other words, if you could transform someone's life for the better with the instruction or proclamation of one sentence, what would your advice be?

2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal ... The Lord knoweth them that are his... and let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

I look forward to your thoughtful responses. May you be illumined wherever you may be.

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it is simple really, just take the first step , foundation, given by God, stop sinning as a first step toward obeying Jesus and God by being Loving to all... then God will baptise of His spirit to know all truth [John 16:13, so that one can defeat Satan head to head in temptation as Jesus did using the Truth of God given for free to anyone who stops sinning...

Wagonmaker said:

I would like to pose a three part question to those who have perhaps been affiliated with religion for the better part of one's life.

1. ) Do you feel that religion has been more helpful or more harmful to your personal journey in this life?

2. ) Start your response with a definition of religion, since this can be a broadly understood concept. This will shed light on what follows in your response.

3. ) In one sentence, what is the key, or secret to a fulfilled life? In other words, if you could transform someone's life for the better with the instruction or proclamation of one sentence, what would your advice be?

I look forward to your thoughtful responses. May you be illumined wherever you may be.

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2) Religion is belief in action. Not all belief is beneficial.
3) Gnosis. Accept no substitute.
1) As I have gotten older, circumstances and education have changed my beliefs from discounting religious mythologies as children's stories, to actually finding the messages that the mythologies carry and putting them into action. Once one has learned to see beyond the mountains of lies that have come to surround the various mythologies over the centuries, I have found that they change from tools of oppression and ignorance into vehicles for personal, spiritual and philosophical growth once the falsehoods have been peeled away.

- it's put rather well in scripture ...

1 Corinthians 7:33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

Wagonmaker said:

I would like to pose a three part question to those who have perhaps been affiliated with religion for the better part of one's life.

1. ) Do you feel that religion has been more helpful or more harmful to your personal journey in this life?

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Both.

2. ) Start your response with a definition of religion, since this can be a broadly understood concept. This will shed light on what follows in your response.

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I define religion as a systematic set of beliefs that may or may not revere some deity(s).

3. ) In one sentence, what is the key, or secret to a fulfilled life? In other words, if you could transform someone's life for the better with the instruction or proclamation of one sentence, what would your advice be?

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Love everyone.

In response to the title of the thread;
My relationship with God dictates my belief. Ironic, because it's religion that offers a relationship.

Peace be with you.

Soulgazer said:

2) Religion is belief in action. Not all belief is beneficial.
3) Gnosis. Accept no substitute.
1) As I have gotten older, circumstances and education have changed my beliefs from discounting religious mythologies as children's stories, to actually finding the messages that the mythologies carry and putting them into action. Once one has learned to see beyond the mountains of lies that have come to surround the various mythologies over the centuries, I have found that they change from tools of oppression and ignorance into vehicles for personal, spiritual and philosophical growth once the falsehoods have been peeled away.

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I would rather accept the Bible the way God intended, as His words to us in truth. Sorry, I'm not pulling punches when Paul and the Apostles were very clear in stating that it was an actual event, not a mythology. Besides, fishermen versus armed Roman soldiers, guarding a dead man behind a boulder that weighed at minimum a ton.If the resurrection was false, the Pharisees would have exhumed and shown the body off for all to see.

the Truth is available beyond debate and religious deceit to anyone prepared to stop sinning and give Love a TRY instead :-

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

but most are not even ready to give up fornication, let alone capitalism and its lies....
religious soothsaying is long established and folks do not mind that no two stories are the same, right down to individual level...

so God knew long ago that few would Love and so follwo Jesus in this world, most would die still sinning and be destroyed with this earth and heavens -Matt 7:13-14

to be a saint is to long for when men relate together by Love in the kingdom, but to know that the few must Love now in order that that can happen... thus Jesus came first for the few that will build and run the kingdom come in the new earth, the many are saved only after the Millennium once this earth has gone and he actually RULES as king of kings... but few even ask who do the kings he rules over rule over :-

Revelation 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.
...
13 ... and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works...

most do not even notice that the many are not judged by grace, but by works after death frees them from sin [Rom 6:7] so god knew long ago they never needed grace in this earth...

it would be a foolish man indeed that did not realise this has a MAJOR affect on relationshops in this earth, whether one follows Jesus in Love now, or in the new earth kingdom, or indeed later still ...

Wagonmaker said:

I would like to pose a three part question to those who have perhaps been affiliated with religion for the better part of one's life.

1. ) Do you feel that religion has been more helpful or more harmful to your personal journey in this life?

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Harmful.

2. ) Start your response with a definition of religion, since this can be a broadly understood concept. This will shed light on what follows in your response.

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Religion: A system of beliefs and precepts to follow. Philosophical system called "theology" is considered to be the truth to know.
Christianity: A person to follow. God's Son is considered to be the truth to know.

In Christianity, a person teaches us. A person leads us. He is God's Word and to know him is to know God's Word of Truth since he is that Word of Truth. His sheep know his voice.

3. ) In one sentence, what is the key, or secret to a fulfilled life? In other words, if you could transform someone's life for the better with the instruction or proclamation of one sentence, what would your advice be?

I look forward to your thoughtful responses. May you be illumined wherever you may be.

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Get to know the meaning of everything: Jesus.

TruthMiner said:

Harmful.
Religion: A system of beliefs and precepts to follow. Philosophical system called "theology" is considered to be the truth to know.

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What is considered to be the truth by sinners ... is that any use except if one wants to sin all one's life and pretend it is Loving ?

1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil

simply observe there is but ONE Truth of God and billions of religious individuals , many with their own individual beliefs... how many even could be true ? ... now you get it ? -Rev 13:3-4

Christianity: A person to follow. God's Son is considered to be the truth to know.

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Jesus NEVER had anything written down because he promised Godwould teach ALL the saints of God Himself -John 16:13

so why would anyone believing in Jesus not accept his foolproof way of absolute Truth, PURE teaching individually by God Himself ?

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

In Christianity, a person teaches us.

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only in Satan's fake version of Christianity...

A person leads us. He is God's Word and to know him is to know God's Word of Truth since he is that Word of Truth. His sheep know his voice.

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if you believe this then you will indeed follow the antichrist when Satan manifests to lead all the world astray...Rev 13:3-4

Get to know the meaning of everything: Jesus.

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the only way to do that though is God's way, not yours of choosing the method of sinners who in turn learned it off Satan...

2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

The authoirity of God is God , not men.... Jesus made God available to men to teach them , spirit baptism... so why go back to learning from men ?????