Can you be simply Christian? (Not Eastern or Catcholic)

[stanilovesGod]

I have interesting question for you friends. I am born in Bulgaria, that is Eastern Orthodox Church. Bulgaria was socialist state, meaning relgion was, althou not banned, very very low grounded. I was born thank God after that but, most people here seem to don't understand a lot. My parents and grandparents, except from my grandmother that died while i was little (she was religioun always saying God have mission for everyone), no one really explained religion to be. Non of my friends is religious. All consider ourselves Christians, Belive in God, but thats it. Atleast my surrondings. I have to admit, since recently, when series of events brought me close to God, i did not knew neither what the commendmants were, neither what is Holy Spirit, i didnt even knew why Christ died on the cross. I only knew there was God and that we dont have to steal, lie or murder people.
I've always felt Him in my heart though, knowing what is good or bad. So i am now trying to become closer to Him. I start reading the Bible. But i dont know anything about Eastern Orthodox Church. There is a lot of corruption here in Bulgaria even in the church, i dont want to tell you but some priests were watches for 10 000$ dollars, some were guys, doing horrible things, they were exposed by the local tv. I am not saying all are like that, but i simply dont trust them. I also feel very unconfortable with Eastern Orthodox icons (painting of Christ), they don't seem right to me. I prefer to pray in a corner of my home, with a Bible or a cross. I don't turst this Church Yerarchy. I just trust in God, The Holy Spirit and Jesus as my personal savior. I started to read more about religions and it seem this is how Protestant churces are. There is very beautiful such churches in my town. I belive in a Church there should not be icons or statues, just cross and happy people. My parents say i was baptised as kid, there are also pictures, but they also are not more religious than simply beliving personally in the lord. If i was baptised as Eastern Orthodox Church, but my ways of praying are more similar to the Protestant Church from what i read, i am doing something wrong? From what i know Protestants simply trust in Jesus as saviour, that whoever belives in Him shall not perish, and that you should repent and personally talk only to Him, not to church emplpoyes or whatever their yeratchy level is. I am a bit confused. I still go to Church on Eastern, but thats the only time i ever go. Am i doing something wrong, shall i be baptised again, since i was in a way unbeliver for many years. Please give me your advices Thanks .

 

[Sabertooth]

TLDR; (Please use paragraphs)

Just as humans can be in different places of development, physically, Christians can be so, spiritually. Those that have more in common with each other form denominations.

As long as we belong to Jesus, the Holy Spirit is remaking each of us into His image, even if we seem out of sync with each other, now.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

From what i know Protestants simply trust in Jesus as saviour, that whoever belives in Him shall not perish, and that you should repent and personally talk only to Him

This is exactly correct. And how wonderful it is to be free from religion so that we can be one with Christ, even if it is in a corner.
Blessings

 

[TuxAme]

If you are Eastern Orthodox now, I don't suggest you leave it for protestantism (maybe you should start another thread in the Orthodox forum?). The reason you provide (corruption) isn't grounds for leaving your church- corruption exists everywhere, and you'll just as easily find it as a protestant than as an Orthodox.

Allow Judas to be a model. Even though he, as one of the Twelve, was a traitor, the Eleven were not. If you aren't willing to leave Christianity entirely because of the evil done by Judas, you also shouldn't leave Orthodoxy simply because you witness corruption within it. You need to report your concerns to the bishop of your diocese. If he does nothing, keep going up, all the way to a patriarch if you must. Help put an end to the corruption rather than simply seek to flee it, because you'll only find it again.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

If you are Eastern Orthodox now, I don't suggest you leave it for protestantism (maybe you should start another thread in the Orthodox forum?). The reason you provide (corruption) isn't grounds for leaving your church- corruption exists everywhere, and you'll just as easily find it as a protestant than as an Orthodox.

Allow Judas to be a model. Even though he, as one of the Twelve, was a traitor, the Eleven were not. If you aren't willing to leave Christianity entirely because of the evil done by Judas, you also shouldn't leave Orthodoxy simply because you witness corruption within it. You need to report your concerns to the bishop of your diocese. If he does nothing, keep going up, all the way to a patriarch if you must. Help put an end to the corruption rather than simply seek to flee it, because you'll only find it again.

He/ She Never knew Eastern Orthodox so he/she has a clean slate to work with. Nothing wrong with a Protestant as they try to emphasize the purity of the Gospel without human dogma and tradition.
Blessings

 

[stanilovesGod]

If you are Eastern Orthodox now, I don't suggest you leave it for protestantism (maybe you should start another thread in the Orthodox forum?). The reason you provide (corruption) isn't grounds for leaving your church- corruption exists everywhere, and you'll just as easily find it as a protestant than as an Orthodox.

Allow Judas to be a model. Even though he, as one of the Twelve, was a traitor, the Eleven were not. If you aren't willing to leave Christianity entirely because of the evil done by Judas, you also shouldn't leave Orthodoxy simply because you witness corruption within it. You need to report your concerns to the bishop of your diocese. If he does nothing, keep going up, all the way to a patriarch if you must. Help put an end to the corruption rather than simply seek to flee it, because you'll only find it again.

No no, i dont want to be a traior. I dont want to leave any Church. I also never been in one. I was baptised from what parents tell me as baby and that was all. I know nothing about Chiristian Orthodox, neither about Catholicism. All my life, i was having personal relation with God, but i knew absolutely nothing about anyhing. I did not know the comandments, i did not knew the Bible, i did not knew what Holy Spirit means, i did not knew why Christ died on the cross (for our sins), i did not knew what is difference between Christian Orthodox and other religions. The corruption is all different metter- meaning there is no one i can turn to that i will trust with my heart.
So i am not Orthodox Christian more than i am any other type of Christian.
I don't know a thing about Orthodox religioun, i only know that i belive in Christ alone and God and the Holy Spirit on the personal level, and somehow, from my heart, i feel i should keep doing it that way. Thats how Jesus came into my life. Priest and local monastiries frighten me for some reason. Not that i am afraid of God, just the temples. Not to mention the stories i told you about corrupiton and so on..

 

[mark kennedy]

I have interesting question for you friends. I am born in Bulgaria, that is Eastern Orthodox Church. Bulgaria was socialist state, meaning relgion was, althou not banned, very very low grounded. I was born thank God after that but, most people here seem to don't understand a lot. My parents and grandparents, except from my grandmother that died while i was little (she was religioun always saying God have mission for everyone), no one really explained religion to be. Non of my friends is religious. All consider ourselves Christians, Belive in God, but thats it. Atleast my surrondings. I have to admit, since recently, when series of events brought me close to God, i did not knew neither what the commendmants were, neither what is Holy Spirit, i didnt even knew why Christ died on the cross. I only knew there was God and that we dont have to steal, lie or murder people.
I've always felt Him in my heart though, knowing what is good or bad. So i am now trying to become closer to Him. I start reading the Bible. But i dont know anything about Eastern Orthodox Church. There is a lot of corruption here in Bulgaria even in the church, i dont want to tell you but some priests were watches for 10 000$ dollars, some were guys, doing horrible things, they were exposed by the local tv. I am not saying all are like that, but i simply dont trust them. I also feel very unconfortable with Eastern Orthodox icons (painting of Christ), they don't seem right to me. I prefer to pray in a corner of my home, with a Bible or a cross. I don't turst this Church Yerarchy. I just trust in God, The Holy Spirit and Jesus as my personal savior. I started to read more about religions and it seem this is how Protestant churces are. There is very beautiful such churches in my town. I belive in a Church there should not be icons or statues, just cross and happy people. My parents say i was baptised as kid, there are also pictures, but they also are not more religious than simply beliving personally in the lord. If i was baptised as Eastern Orthodox Church, but my ways of praying are more similar to the Protestant Church from what i read, i am doing something wrong? From what i know Protestants simply trust in Jesus as saviour, that whoever belives in Him shall not perish, and that you should repent and personally talk only to Him, not to church emplpoyes or whatever their yeratchy level is. I am a bit confused. I still go to Church on Eastern, but thats the only time i ever go. Am i doing something wrong, shall i be baptised again, since i was in a way unbeliver for many years. Please give me your advices Thanks .

Well sounds like tour problem is which religion you want in your life, its really not goung to make much difference. The Irthodox churches are ok as are Catholic but very ceremonial, not a lot of great teaching. My favorite part of Protestant churches is open forum Bible studies. If your unsure of Xhistian life and faith you need to learn the vook of Ephesians and Colossians. They are short books but good doctrinal teaching. Try Job and Psalms, some great lessons there. Seek other Christians whete you can find them.

Your baptism is fine unless you just want a full emersion setvice.

 

[stanilovesGod]

I've been a couple of times in Church, i never felt calm inside. Don't get me wrong, not that i felt bad, just i feel more comfortable with a Bible in a corner than in the Church. Something feels wrong to me. Priest asking you to kiss their hand, its full of candles and religious paintings, somehow i dont picture God's home like this. Its seems depressing. Again i dont want to offend God, but i cant lie either. As kid, i've seen on the movies these Chruces that are places to sit, people look happy, now i know this is the Protestant church. In our church everyone looks down, stands up and looks so depressed. I dont know what to do, i want to become good Christian, since i was never religous as i said in the past, but i dont know how to proceed..

 

[DennisTate]

I have interesting question for you friends. I am born in Bulgaria, that is Eastern Orthodox Church. Bulgaria was socialist state, meaning relgion was, althou not banned, very very low grounded. I was born thank God after that but, most people here seem to don't understand a lot. My parents and grandparents, except from my grandmother that died while i was little (she was religioun always saying God have mission for everyone), no one really explained religion to be. Non of my friends is religious. All consider ourselves Christians, Belive in God, but thats it. Atleast my surrondings. I have to admit, since recently, when series of events brought me close to God, i did not knew neither what the commendmants were, neither what is Holy Spirit, i didnt even knew why Christ died on the cross. I only knew there was God and that we dont have to steal, lie or murder people.
I've always felt Him in my heart though, knowing what is good or bad. So i am now trying to become closer to Him. I start reading the Bible. But i dont know anything about Eastern Orthodox Church. There is a lot of corruption here in Bulgaria even in the church, i dont want to tell you but some priests were watches for 10 000$ dollars, some were guys, doing horrible things, they were exposed by the local tv. I am not saying all are like that, but i simply dont trust them. I also feel very unconfortable with Eastern Orthodox icons (painting of Christ), they don't seem right to me. I prefer to pray in a corner of my home, with a Bible or a cross. I don't turst this Church Yerarchy. I just trust in God, The Holy Spirit and Jesus as my personal savior. I started to read more about religions and it seem this is how Protestant churces are. There is very beautiful such churches in my town. I belive in a Church there should not be icons or statues, just cross and happy people. My parents say i was baptised as kid, there are also pictures, but they also are not more religious than simply beliving personally in the lord. If i was baptised as Eastern Orthodox Church, but my ways of praying are more similar to the Protestant Church from what i read, i am doing something wrong? From what i know Protestants simply trust in Jesus as saviour, that whoever belives in Him shall not perish, and that you should repent and personally talk only to Him, not to church emplpoyes or whatever their yeratchy level is. I am a bit confused. I still go to Church on Eastern, but thats the only time i ever go. Am i doing something wrong, shall i be baptised again, since i was in a way unbeliver for many years. Please give me your advices Thanks .

Personally...... I got to the place where I feel free to attend and participate to the best of my ability in any church that my wife feels led to go to. Near death experience accounts taught me to not worry much at all over denominations anymore.

Friends of yours watch Heaven Is For Real and ask you about it?

 

[St_Worm2]

I just trust in God, The Holy Spirit and Jesus as my personal savior.

Hi StanilovesGod, in fairness, I believe members of the EOC or RCC put their trust in God, just like we Protestants do, not in men or in institutions, not even their church/churches (if they are, they shouldn't be).

If it is possible for you to go to church, even if none of the churches that are available to you right now seem to be the right place for you, you should go and worship God there anyway until you find a more suitable church (unless the churches you are referring to practice some form of extreme heresy or blasphemy, or are involved in some sort of criminal behavior, of course).

I started to read more about religions and it seem this is how Protestant churces are. There is very beautiful such churches in my town.

Wait, so there are Protestant churches that you could choose to attend right there in your home town? If that's true, why not go and join one of those churches instead (or at least check them out)?

I belive in a Church there should not be icons or statues...

I've been to a couple of very modern Catholic churches here in the States that are like this (no statues/no icons in the sanctuary), but I have never heard of an EOC w/o icons before. So if you are highly opposed to the presence of icons and/or statues, an EOC would probably be a difficult place to continue attending.

My parents say i was baptised..as Eastern Orthodox...shall i be baptised again, since i was in a way unbeliver for many years

You can be if you want to be, of course. Since you have already been baptized however, I see no reason to do so again.

Yours and His,
David

 

[anna ~ grace]

I've been a couple of times in Church, i never felt calm inside. Don't get me wrong, not that i felt bad, just i feel more comfortable with a Bible in a corner than in the Church. Something feels wrong to me. Priest asking you to kiss their hand, its full of candles and religious paintings, somehow i dont picture God's home like this. Its seems depressing. Again i dont want to offend God, but i cant lie either. As kid, i've seen on the movies these Chruces that are places to sit, people look happy, now i know this is the Protestant church. In our church everyone looks down, stands up and looks so depressed. I dont know what to do, i want to become good Christian, since i was never religous as i said in the past, but i dont know how to proceed..

Start with prayer.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Please give me your advices Thanks .

You were baptized. Once is exactly the right number of times to be baptized. Concentrate on living out that baptism and living in the graces of that one baptism. People will tell you that you have to be baptized this way or that way. Once is sufficient.

Jesus had something to say about religious authorities. He said to do what they tell you but do not act like they act. Pray for them. Even recognize that they are your authorities. Do what they say unless they ask you to sin. Do go to church every Sunday and not just at Easter. Pray. Read your Bible. Do acts of charity. Study. Pray specifically for bad religious authorities. You can also ask that they resign if they are bad, but do pray for them, even the worst of them.

Icons as found in the Orthodox Churches are not evil. Nor are statues as found in the Catholic Church. They point to something deeper, which directs our prayers to something deeper. Your country has much to recover from in it's Communist past. But there is an older past that was Christian. There is where your birthright is, not in the communist past but the older past.

 

[stanilovesGod]

So, if i get it right, it doesn't matter whatever church i was baptised, i can chose my own way to trust in God, dont have to bound myself to Eastern Orthodox. Yes there is protestant churces, Catholic cathedrals, everything. I haven't attended any apart from the local EO church down. Full of icons and candles, i understand its tradition, but somehow i dont feel very comfortable, escepcially when you have some problems in your mind

 

[chevyontheriver]

No no, i dont want to be a traior. I dont want to leave any Church. I also never been in one. I was baptised from what parents tell me as baby and that was all. I know nothing about Chiristian Orthodox, neither about Catholicism. All my life, i was having personal relation with God, but i knew absolutely nothing about anyhing. I did not know the comandments, i did not knew the Bible, i did not knew what Holy Spirit means, i did not knew why Christ died on the cross (for our sins), i did not knew what is difference between Christian Orthodox and other religions. The corruption is all different metter- meaning there is no one i can turn to that i will trust with my heart.
So i am not Orthodox Christian more than i am any other type of Christian.
I don't know a thing about Orthodox religioun, i only know that i belive in Christ alone and God and the Holy Spirit on the personal level, and somehow, from my heart, i feel i should keep doing it that way. Thats how Jesus came into my life. Priest and local monastiries frighten me for some reason. Not that i am afraid of God, just the temples. Not to mention the stories i told you about corrupiton and so on..

You might look at the Catechism of the Catholic Church to learn more. Unfiltered, comprehensive, accurate about what the Catholic faith is all about. Multiple languages available. Not a substitute for the Bible, but an accessory to it. Not a substitute for being at the Sunday liturgy, but a help.

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

• Catechism of the Catholic Church (version not updated)
  [Traditional Chinese, English, French, Italian, Latin,Latvian, Malagasy, Portuguese, Spanish]

• Catechism of the Catholic Church: Compendium
  [Byelorussian, English, French, German,Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Lithuanian,Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish]

 

[stanilovesGod]

My personal opinion, i may be very wrong, from what i know from history, Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox somewhere in 1000s simply could not understand each other, separating each other. And once Constantinopole fail to turks, the center of Eastern Orthodoxy turned to Russia. Is it possible, that following all those rules by both churces be somehow now what Jesus once meant. I hope i am not saying something sinful here. I am sorry if i do. I just feel like this separation and those Catholic or Eastern laws are somehow man- made, not coming from the Bible or from Jesus teachings.

 

[EzekielsWheels]

So, if i get it right, it doesn't matter whatever church i was baptised, i can chose my own way to trust in God, dont have to bound myself to Eastern Orthodox. Yes there is protestant churces, Catholic cathedrals, everything. I haven't attended any apart from the local EO church down. Full of icons and candles, i understand its tradition, but somehow i dont feel very comfortable, escepcially when you have some problems in your mind

I think if you believe in the name of Jesus Christ that's what you need but we're supposed to be part of a community. I have had my own issues with churches so I totally understand but we're also supposed to come together. I hope at least you do that here on the forum if not in person somewhere. There is also the matter of participating in the Eucharist which is a sacrament that Christ wants you to partake in. I think many churches would say you can't take it by yourself but I don't see from my reading of the bible why you can't.

 

[Radagast]

If i was baptised as Eastern Orthodox Church, but my ways of praying are more similar to the Protestant Church from what i read, i am doing something wrong?

Not at all. Praise God that you are a Christian and part of God's family.

You should pray and read the Bible. Ideally, you should attend the most biblical of the churches available to you.

You don't need to be baptised again, although Baptist churches will require that.

 

[chevyontheriver]

So, if i get it right, it doesn't matter whatever church i was baptised, i can chose my own way to trust in God, dont have to bound myself to Eastern Orthodox. Yes there is protestant churces, Catholic cathedrals, everything. I haven't attended any apart from the local EO church down. Full of icons and candles, i understand its tradition, but somehow i dont feel very comfortable, escepcially when you have some problems in your mind

So you were nominally Orthodox. If you don't feel comfortable you have to ask why. Sometimes we are uncomfortable because we are in the wrong place. Sometimes we are uncomfortable because we are in the right place but we need to make some big changes in ourselves. That's for you to figure out.

The Catholics will accept your baptism. The liturgy will be somewhat similar. The theology will be similar. If Orthodoxy is not for you, give being Catholic a try. But do find a place where prayer is important, a place that helps you become closer to Jesus. Don't be a solo Christian disconnected from other Christians.

 

[Lost4words]

Put your trust in God to guide you. Not man.

The richness of the Orthodox and Catholic churches goes back to the Apostles.

Read the early church fathers.

You will never find 'the' perfect church. Let God guide you. Pray. Ask Him.

Blessing to you on this journey of yours.

 

[stanilovesGod]

From what i have observed, at least here where i live, there is no such a community. People go to church, alone or with family, fire a candle, says a quite prayer because you cant talk in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and you leave. There is no authority that you can talk to, or maybe you have to ask someone, i've never seen a priest inside the Church exept on the holidays, just a woman in the front that sells candles. As i said, probably due to Socialist past of the country, most people are very away from reiligoun here. They dont even know what protestant or catholicism is (not all ofcourse, but the mass) There is no person here that you can go and talk to. Maybe you can somehow call a priest but from what i see they only come to ceremonies and just leave. They look as if they are doing it just becuase its their job. Again i may be very wrong, which i fear, but thats how i feel it. The protestant church in the city looks a lot better. They have site, facebook page. They look like community. They have classes, youth community, elderly community, even religious trips. THere is nothing like that in our Church. I am telling you its not what it should be. Maybe in other countries its different. I need a place where i can go and talk with people about God, like here in the forums. I cant do that in our church, its not even our just the closest one since no of my family is that religious.
When i go to Eastern Chur, i buy candle, pray in my mind quitely for what i have to pray, very quitely go around all the icons (paintings) and leave. I dont feel any confort doing this, i dont things that is how church should look like, in my opinion. It feels like i am on funeral eveytime. That what drives my heart away, i dont feel connectiion with God inside.