Friend-of-Jesus
Well-Known Member
I have been mulling this issue over with my turtle mind and would like to add something more than the posts I made with my hare brain.
What are the real reasons I dislike church? Spiritual life, being a disciple of Lord Jesus Christ, is all about the supernatural. The Bible is full of supernatural events. Being able to have a personal relationship with God, through prayer, and being led by the Holy Spirit are amazing supernatural gifts. When I go to church I find that the supernatural aspects take second place to legalism and man-made dogma. That always looks like lack of faith to me. When we get saved and filled with the Holy Spirit we are so on fire. There is very little doubt in our minds that a supernatural event has taken place. Somehow, sitting in a pew listening to lectures week after week that Holy Spirit fire seems to die down in people? The rules, the dogma, the politics kill the childlike wonder for me. Jesus gave His gift to everybody. The alcoholic hobo can pray and connect with Jesus Christ all day long, for free. That is the gift of Lord Jesus Christ. He doesn't cut me off because I can't afford to give 10% of my income to the church. The church doesn't own Jesus Christ. The priest doesn't have ownership of the Holy Spirit and dole it out. So some will say I lack faith and am not a real Christian because I don't go to church but maybe my faith is simply more based on believing in the supernatural aspect. Without the supernatural we have no basis for faith other than Jesus was a good teacher and was killed for it.
If church increases your faith and enjoyment of it and you have a spiritual mentor through the church that is wonderful, go to church! If church slowly erodes the well of Eternal Life Water, the Holy Spirit in you then...I don't know why you want to do that. I loved church when I was a kid. As an adult I tend to prefer empty churches, empty of people that is...at least people that speak. Silent people are fine, haha. Churches tend to be locked during the day now, that is a sad thing.
I guess my point is: believe in the supernatural aspects of religion, that is how it moves beyond religion to spiritual life.
What exactly would you consider supernatural? Some people would interpret every event of life as the result of God working in their lives. Others look for specific gifts like tongues, healing, prophecy etc and to them that's the extent of the supernatural. Is it smth happening in the physical world, or more in the inner world of souls of people? What is it for you?
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