Changing Religions

[jacketsd]

[font=&quot]Today has been one of the most relieving but most stressful days in my life. Let me explain my story, for a better understanding. My mom grew up in the north as a very strict catholic. All of her life she has been raised to believe everything catholic. When she married my father, they made a promise to God to raise all of their kids up catholic. My father has never really been too religious, although he says he has a relationship with God. So, he only attends mass with my family on Christmas and Easter. (This has been a huge struggle with my mom.) Anyways my brother is now 20, and he has never had a real relationship with God, and chose not to follow in the catholic faith. This absolutely devastated my mom. Now me being the second oldest out of five, I am kind of going through the same decision as my brother went through, but different. Today I told my mom that I did not want to continue in the catholic faith. I told her I wanted to remain a Christian, just not a catholic. Now, my mom just like many others can be somewhat stubborn. She somewhat "freaked out." We had a huge emotional "battle." She called herself a failure at life, because she is 0 for 2 at keeping God's promise. I feel as if I have betrayed my mom and grandmother, and somewhat God. I have wanted to tell my mom this news for about 2 1/2 years now, and finally built up the courage. But it was shut down. I don't know what to say to her, because she is well really upset.

So I just wanted to see what everyone thinks about my situation.

Oh, to keep the record strait, my mom ain't a psycho; she is an awesome person whom I love with all my heart.

Thanks in advance[/font]

 

[RomanPrincess]

FOCUS ON GOD AND NOT A RELIGION.
As for your mom, she really shouldn't be upset if your still want to have a personal relationship with God.Tell her your focus is on God and not a religion.That is the thing that is causing her upset, is her focus on the wrong things.............remind your mom the focus is God and not a religion.

God Bless.

 

[Nathan55]

The One who died for you is the one who died for your mother, just like what RomanPrincess said, focus on God, not the Religion.

PM me if you want to talk

Nathan55

 

[Anti Existance]

jacketsd i was a christian, then became an atheist, and then a believer, then a 'knower' , it was made clear to me that you have to choose 'God' volentarily. Your mothers promise was a grave mistake to begin with, to vow to God that her children would be christians only meant that she oppressivly would force the two of you to become something that you two totally would NOT want to be, namely christians. This goes directly against God which states that we have free will.

Your mother can't force you two to become christians, you and your bro have to choose for God when you are ready, or maby never choose for God if that is what you want.

There are a lot of Christians that would love to shovle their faith into another persons mouth, they don't do this because they want to hurt you , but its because they believe thats the way to go , however we are only here to spread the happy message, wether you accept it is up to you.

I hope you don't blame your mother, she has received many influences and honestly thought it was the right thing, however it has only put a wig and the religion only acted as a hammer driving you as a family apart, maby this was a lesson your mother needed to learn that she cannot force her believes on the two of you.

Go ahead and tell your mom you do NOT desire to be a Christian, because it hasn't been done out of your free will and that she should stop forcing people to believe things that they do not agree with. And that you have to make your own conclusions ,ask your own questions and walk your own path in life. Being an athiest was a good thing for me, because it allowed me time to make my own volentary choice to be or not to be with God, I suggest you do the same.

 

[Im-revived]

Listen Love, whatever faith/belief you have neen brought up with, the most important thing you and yor mother should consider is have you accepted the Lord as your Saviour and into your heart. There are so many different names for religions, but that is the important issue. Your mum may not accept it straight away as she also will be confused, theres nothing wrong in a change of church etc as long as you still have Jesus in your heart.

Im-revived

[font=&quot]Today has been one of the most relieving but most stressful days in my life. Let me explain my story, for a better understanding. My mom grew up in the north as a very strict catholic. All of her life she has been raised to believe everything catholic. When she married my father, they made a promise to God to raise all of their kids up catholic. My father has never really been too religious, although he says he has a relationship with God. So, he only attends mass with my family on Christmas and Easter. (This has been a huge struggle with my mom.) Anyways my brother is now 20, and he has never had a real relationship with God, and chose not to follow in the catholic faith. This absolutely devastated my mom. Now me being the second oldest out of five, I am kind of going through the same decision as my brother went through, but different. Today I told my mom that I did not want to continue in the catholic faith. I told her I wanted to remain a Christian, just not a catholic. Now, my mom just like many others can be somewhat stubborn. She somewhat "freaked out." We had a huge emotional "battle." She called herself a failure at life, because she is 0 for 2 at keeping God's promise. I feel as if I have betrayed my mom and grandmother, and somewhat God. I have wanted to tell my mom this news for about 2 1/2 years now, and finally built up the courage. But it was shut down. I don't know what to say to her, because she is well really upset.

So I just wanted to see what everyone thinks about my situation.

Oh, to keep the record strait, my mom ain't a psycho; she is an awesome person whom I love with all my heart.

Thanks in advance[/font]

 

[Darkhorse]

You must follow the approach to God that "fits" you. Start with studying the Bible, if (like many Catholics) you are somewhat unfamiliar with it. Pray from your heart, not from a prayer book. Try different Christian churches over the next several months, and consider buying or checking out books on comparitive Christian denominations. Be aware that not all churches who call themselves "Christian" are. You will find the right way.

My wife changed from Catholic to Presbyterian shortly after we met. I grew up attending many different denominations, and finally came back to my "ancestral roots". If our kids want to become Catholic (or other denomination), that's fine with us!

 

[revrobor]

Follow Jesus not a religion. Your salvation is in Jesus Christ not a religion (Roman Catholic or Protestant). Religions and their church organizations with all their doctrine, dogma, traditions, rules, regulations and icons have been established by men apparently because they needed something tangible to hold on to in place of an invisable God.

 

[jacketsd]

The whole following Jesus and not religion puts it in a way I have not seen it before. (Being Catholic my whole life.) Yall have really hit me, even though it seems like it is common sense to everyone. I do plan on attending different chuches and religions, to see which one follows Jesus. I really appreciate all of yalls help.
Thanks again,
Daniel

 

[+RubiesFire+]

The whole following Jesus and not religion puts it in a way I have not seen it before. (Being Catholic my whole life.) Yall have really hit me, even though it seems like it is common sense to everyone. I do plan on attending different chuches and religions, to see which one follows Jesus. I really appreciate all of yalls help.
Thanks again,
Daniel

I help you out on this one, but let me give you an easier approach on this.
I was born and raised Roman Catholic. I come from a House that is still very Roman Catholic. About four years ago I felt God calling me out to seek him differently. I struggled about a year with that. When I turned twenty I sat down with my Mom and told her that I was no longer going to be a Roman Catholic but an Evangelist. I told we still have the Same Jesus and Same God, just different beliefs. Her heart broke, my Dad was not so easy on me. Now 23, my mom is now accepting the idea and now considers me an Evangelist, well my Dad does not. He is very stubborn, he still considers me Catholic even though I no longer practice. Everyday I held onto God tightly and was a struggle leaving my old roots behind. I read the Bible, spoke with friends of a different Christian faith, did research on the internet and Prayed. I done it all. The thing is not finding the right Church but finding Jesus in the church. I've been to a few Evangelists churches and I never felt God there so I left. You know what, my mom now encourages me to stay an Evangelist, she even comes to my church, but still attends her own. If you have any questions that you would like to ask me just P.M. and I will help you out. You are now on the road that many have taken, ask God for guidance and he will show you the way.

Godbless.

 

[Just4Jesus]

God said to work out your "OWN" salvation with fear and trembling. I agree with the others, just too much focus on RELIGION. Sometimes I feel sick when I hear that word put into a box. Jesus made references to religious people alot and it wasn't always in a good way. You don't have to be religious, you just trust in the Lord with all your heart. Proverbs 3:5-6 says to Trust in the Lord with all your heart,And lean not on YOUR own understanding;In all your ways acknowledge Him,and He shall direct YOUR paths.He will guide you into ALL truth.

God Bless You and Yours

 

[qpmomma]

You aren't changing RELIGIONS you are changing DENOMINATIONS. BIG difference. You are still a Christian. I don't believe it matters what denom you belong to as long as you are a Christian.

Do what you feel you have to do. Don't follow a denom or religion based on "it's what I was brought up with." I went to an Independant Baptist high school and the one thing they taught us was "figure out what you believe and why you believe it b/c in the real world 'b/c my mommy said so' doesn't cut it."

 

[jacketsd]

Not sure how to P.M. quite yet, but Just4Jesus, the proverb you mentioned fits right in.

Thanks for the input,

Daniel

 

[buckshowalter]

I strongly dislike RELIGION, but love the Father, Son, & the Holy Spirit.

I feel it is RELIGION that has turned so many away from knowing Christ, it definitely got in my way, or allowed me to make my own excuses, for not getting around to starting my relationship with him...

 

[Harlan Norris]

[font=&quot]Today has been one of the most relieving but most stressful days in my life. Let me explain my story, for a better understanding. My mom grew up in the north as a very strict catholic. All of her life she has been raised to believe everything catholic. When she married my father, they made a promise to God to raise all of their kids up catholic. My father has never really been too religious, although he says he has a relationship with God. So, he only attends mass with my family on Christmas and Easter. (This has been a huge struggle with my mom.) Anyways my brother is now 20, and he has never had a real relationship with God, and chose not to follow in the catholic faith. This absolutely devastated my mom. Now me being the second oldest out of five, I am kind of going through the same decision as my brother went through, but different. Today I told my mom that I did not want to continue in the catholic faith. I told her I wanted to remain a Christian, just not a catholic. Now, my mom just like many others can be somewhat stubborn. She somewhat "freaked out." We had a huge emotional "battle." She called herself a failure at life, because she is 0 for 2 at keeping God's promise. I feel as if I have betrayed my mom and grandmother, and somewhat God. I have wanted to tell my mom this news for about 2 1/2 years now, and finally built up the courage. But it was shut down. I don't know what to say to her, because she is well really upset.

So I just wanted to see what everyone thinks about my situation.

Oh, to keep the record strait, my mom ain't a psycho; she is an awesome person whom I love with all my heart.

Thanks in advance[/font]

I believe the church was made for man not man for the church.If one has a true relationship with Jesus Christ,that one will be saved.On judgement day is it we or our church that will be judged?