i battle mental health issues (OCD/scrupulsoity type, BPD, CPTSD eating issues) and physical disabilities and health conditions. i find actual religion hard- i want the kidn of faith which flows from my postion of security in Jesus. i beleive evry strongly in identity teachings (being the righteousness of Christ and holy in Him) and i find most mainstream religion difficult because they seem to condemn me for not being spiritual enough
My faith is like that, but I still consider myself religious. Of course, I don't consider "religion" to be confined to a works-based system by which God's favor is earned, either.
i have no interest in politics, "truther" theories, or anything.
Good. It's refreshing.
a lot of christians think am not spiritual enough or that am lukewarm.
Most Christians I have spoken to who use the word "lukewarm" to describe the church also include themselves in that, which I hope gives some perspective. The way I look at myself and my walk is, God had mercy on me, knowing what I have done and will do in the future, and I do not understand why. He gave me spiritual life, the unshakable promise of eternal life, and an identity to live up to. I owe him my life, and greater obedience so that I can honor him. I can always do better.
i definitely am born again my testimony proves it, but i just want to a faith which isn't exhausting, draining or makes me feel fukll of fear or trapped.
For me, believing and internalizing his New Testament promises gave me a strong faith that allows me to rest in him. Feeling trapped is from the devil, and feeling fearful is going to be from the devil most of the time. A fear that moves you away from sin I think is a legitimate tool, but a fear that shouts at you from the inside just for living your daily life and that crushes you is not going to be from God. God will rebuke us and he will challenge us, but he's not a slave-driver toward us.
i fo go dowrks because Jesus saved me. i dont do them to be saved.
I'm not sure what you mean here?
i dont believe msot modern preachers who say that most christians today aren't saved or loved God enough.
I'm not sure that most modern preachers say that. There are a lot of preachers out there, I only have the time and energy to listen to a handful.
i dont want ot go round exhausting myself by naming and claiming it, anointing evrything with oil to drive demons away.
Then don't. If people are obsessed with demons, they'll treat everything as though it has a demon, even if there's no demon there. Demons don't deserve that kind of attention, and you have better things to do with your time.
i dont believe in guilt, regrets etc the past is the past. i harmed a lot of people in my past, innocent ones, but i know i have been forgiven as Bible says if we confess our sins to God we can be forgiven.... i have just moved on, made new friends, cut ties with the past.
Not disputing God's forgiveness here, but if the opportunity arises, you may need to apologize to the people you have hurt, if they would not be harmed further by the apology under the circumstances.
i have very modern christian ideas eg i dont believe our hearts are wicked, once we born again, we have Jesus in our hearts, He gives us dreams, we can follow them as long sas we are discerning... our hearts arent perfect but we are good.
The new person God makes in us is good. Reflecting on the potential harm that my sins could cause if I allow them to fully grow though, leads me to acknowledge that I still need Jesus every single day.
i think christian life is just about loving Jesus, serving Jeuss, preaching the gospel, healing the sick, driving out demons etc the rest i have not much time for.
I think you'll see there's more to it as you grow. Before the pandemic started, I anchored myself with regular service to those in need through my church. It's good for chipping away at selfishness.
oh and yes i listen to any Christian music that ministers to my soul, read anything Christian or not that helps me, i love nay good music really, secualr or christian. i think it is pointless givng things up unless they really are sinful or unhelpful.
Agreed.
i am quite feminist- i believe women can speak in church etc i am very modern and liberal in my views which offend some christians but i expect Jesus had very similar views only He so much better at disagreeing kindly with others (am not there yet, but the Holy Spriit is working in me on that)
Well, you need to be able to handle disagreements with grace. If you can do that, you can not only better represent Jesus, but learn things you didn't know.
it really hurts sometimes oh and i also read Joyce Meyer, Graham Cooke, Henri Nouwen. a lot of whom are regded as heretics or new age or whatever. whoich doesnt bother me in the slightest. God is bigger than all those things. i wil say that i dont believe in things like yoga, tarot cards, ouija or any witchraft. i just dont think psychology, motivational speakers etc are in that caetgory and i like my faith to be practical "how do i apply thi sto my life" not a long lsit of rules or restrcitions.
I haven't heard of Graham Cooke or Henri Nouwen. I have heard of Joyce Meyer, while I don't pay too much attention to her, she seems to embrace the so-called prosperity gospel. I unequivocally condemn that message, since it proclaims wealth as a sign of living right with God, which Jesus and Paul very clearly taught against. And even worse, when people don't get the money or the physical healing that they've been wanting, they're told that they don't have enough faith to get it, or have too much sin* to get it, so it kicks them when they are down. It encourages emotionalism, and putting words in God's mouth concerning his promises, and it has people chasing money or healing if they can just be religious enough (though they may not use the word "religious"). People who are caught up in that can easily be drained, exhausted, told they are not spiritual enough, and conned by predators who call themselves teachers - which sounds like what you want to get away from. Stay away from so-called prosperity teaching.
* Yes, sin can block blessing. But so many people were not close to perfect when Jesus healed them and called them that I cannot believe that we must always be perfect to receive something good from God.