Input please.. I no longer want to be Christian!

[aldar]

I haven't visited this website in over 3 months.. I guess there were a lot of reasons for me to stay away.. I no longer wanted to be a Christian.

Tracking back a bit, I was born into a Christian family, but one who never visited church or had anything to do with God or the Church except the fact that they labelled themselves Christians. In my own time I classified myself as an Atheist, but wanting faith reverted back to Christianity about a year ago. By August this year I thought I had 100% faith in God. The other christian whom I told this manipulated me and used me, with no regard for my feelings. I won't state exactly what happened, except that I was one of the lucky women who escape.

Since then I have decided I no longer have faith in Christianity for several reasons which I will explain:

1. When I left this site I did so because I felt that the majority of the community were purely focusing on one goal only: get to heaven. I disliked this, it is not what having a religion is about. Although I am still unclear as to the actual PURPOSE of having a religion such as Christianity or any other for that matter I know that it is not that.

2. The Christians whom I met have never acted like Christians, it was a label they gave themselves. Especially one person in particular, who made me re-think even more and made some doubts in Christianity even more profound.

3. I don't feel that I need a faith. I'm happy as I am, I'm perfectly fine, going through life and having my own goals and targets without having heaven at the end of it all. For one thing I do not want to live on forever, what is the point? There can never be enough to do that could last forever, and even with a heaven, and a God it does still not make like purposeful!

4. I want to make my own choices about my beliefs and feelings, not ones based on some book who's history and author people are not entierly sure of!

5. I want to live every moment of life, do what I want, by all means still be a good person, but not feel restricted by a book, and a God who can show me no PHYSICAL signs that he exists.

Just hoping for some Christian input here, feel free to ask questions, comment etc. Do you think this is the right decision for me?

well get all the good advice you can, but in the end, your going to have to do whats in your heart.

 

[MikeMcK]

2. The Christians whom I met have never acted like Christians, it was a label they gave themselves. Especially one person in particular, who made me re-think even more and made some doubts in Christianity even more profound.

There is a line in the movie, "Walk the Line", where Johnny Cash is pitching his idea for the live album recorded at Folsom Prison.

His A&R guy is shocked by this idea and says, "John, your fans are church folks. You know, Christians. And they're not going to want to hear you singing to try to cheer up a bunch of rapists and murderers".

To which Johnny Cash responds, "Well then, maybe they're not Christians after all".

Just like you say your family called themselves Christians in name, but didn't live it out in reality, so a lot of people call themselves Christians but don't walk the talk.

If you judge Christ by people, then you're never going to be satisfied because even the best people by human standards are still sinners.

3. I don't feel that I need a faith. I'm happy as I am, I'm perfectly fine, going through life and having my own goals and targets without having heaven at the end of it all. For one thing I do not want to live on forever, what is the point? There can never be enough to do that could last forever, and even with a heaven, and a God it does still not make like purposeful!

Whether or not you want to live forever is irrelevant. You're going to live forever.

The question is where you're going to live forever.

4. I want to make my own choices about my beliefs and feelings, not ones based on some book who's history and author people are not entierly sure of!

Who isn't sure of the author or history of the Bible?

5. I want to live every moment of life, do what I want, by all means still be a good person, but not feel restricted by a book, and a God who can show me no PHYSICAL signs that he exists.

What greater physical sign can there be than creation?

Just hoping for some Christian input here, feel free to ask questions, comment etc. Do you think this is the right decision for me?

You say that you used to be a Christian.

Would you mind taking a few minutes to share your testimony with us?

 

[heron]

Good quote.

 

[solarwave]

You said about not wanting to live forever, so you don't wanna go to heaven. Well the other you can have is forever and quite the oppsoite of heaven.

Just because christians round you don't act like christians that don't mean that it's wrong.

The point of Christianity is to have a relationship with God.

How about beliving in God and worshiping and loving God because it's the right thing to do?

Well hope you find what you really want. Many people are happy in this life, but this life is short compared to when you die and what follows.

Good Luck.

 

[PenelopePitstop2]

3. I don't feel that I need a faith. I'm happy as I am, I'm perfectly fine, going through life and having my own goals and targets without having heaven at the end of it all. For one thing I do not want to live on forever, what is the point? There can never be enough to do that could last forever, and even with a heaven, and a God it does still not make like purposeful!

Every living person on this earth needs love and yet much hurt comes from those who claim they love us. There is one person that loves you truly for the person you are, warts and all, the real sometimes hidden to others YOU. This person is Jesus, He loved you and me enough to die for our sins and pay the price for salvation. Christianity is a day by day walk with your creator, a relationship, a journey that will start in this life and continue for eternity if you accept Him as saviour. We are all looking for something in life, and to be honest only Jesus can fill that void.

It's not about having a faith, a religion, a belief system. Christianity is quite simple really, a relationship with God. The bible and prayer help us to learn and grow but without the relationship this is meaningless and religious. The bible is not a rule book for you to become a legalist. Yes we learn from it, but through Holy Spirit revelation. God corrects us sometimes as a parent would there children but this is not restrictive at all when you understand that He has a unique destiny for your life that only you can fulfill and wants the very best for you.

Sadly people in His name hurt others, do you not think this grieves God? People will fail you, Jesus will not. He is love and truth and will never forsake us.

Don't let your hurt and mistreated by some wearing the label of christian taint your life. They were wrong but that does not mean you can hold God accountable because some 'christians' messed up. Be honest with God, tell Him that you are angry, hurt and let Him move in your life. If you truly seek truth you will find it. Don't give up.

 

[iannassah]

Hey there!
I don't understand...why or how you feel restricted?-----Do you want someone to Kill someone you love with all of your heart? What if they stole your most precious possesion(S) and destroyed them and then threw it in your face--how would you feel? Really think about it. Let's say you were married and your best friend slept with your husband? Imagine...Has anyone ever been a total jerk to you and abused you? I imagine that you would feel violated, destitute empty, not trusting, fearful, hateful and dead! Think about why God doesn't want us to do those things, seriously. If we all love each other as ourselves this place (earth) would be pretty cool! But it's not. People's lives are destroyed daily by words, hate, molestation, carelessness, thoughtlessness.....etc.
Have you ever taken something that didn't belong to you? Even something small? Have you ever looked at a man and lusted after him? Have you ever been mean to anyone...wished your enemy dead?
"For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10
"No one is good but One, that is, God."
Matthew 19:17
Have you ever been blamed for something that you didn't do?
What was it like? Well, you are turning on God for something that someone else has done...does that make sense?
You can learn about God from his creations...like (outer) space! Has science found where it ends? Well, then maybe heaven can go on for eternity!!!
Don't give up on God because of something that some one else did...maybe they didn't mean it and even if they did forgive them! No one is perfect except for God and He loves you endlessly no matter what!!! GOD BLESS!

 

[ignight]

1. When I left this site I did so because I felt that the majority of the community were purely focusing on one goal only: get to heaven. I disliked this, it is not what having a religion is about. Although I am still unclear as to the actual PURPOSE of having a religion such as Christianity or any other for that matter I know that it is not that.

The purpose of having faith in God is to know him as the truly loving God he is. Heaven may be important to some people, but I really dont think they will enjoy it unless they trully cared for God in the first place.
2. The Christians whom I met have never acted like Christians, it was a label they gave themselves. Especially one person in particular, who made me re-think even more and made some doubts in Christianity even more profound.

Not everyone who claimes to be a christian is. Ive found that somtimes it is hard to find people who truly love God, that I can rely on and be friends with. Ive gotten very depressed before but I find at times like those I make God my closest friend . He has brough a few people into my life that truly love him and are "real".
3. I don't feel that I need a faith. I'm happy as I am, I'm perfectly fine, going through life and having my own goals and targets without having heaven at the end of it all. For one thing I do not want to live on forever, what is the point? There can never be enough to do that could last forever, and even with a heaven, and a God it does still not make like purposeful!

Ive always struggled with living forever but I think that Being with God forever will be wonderful. I cant imaging being so compleatly loved. And I dont think we will really think about time.
If you speand this life for him, you will want to spent the rest of it with him, but if you dont, why would you want to be with him at all?

4. I want to make my own choices about my beliefs and feelings, not ones based on some book who's history and author people are not entierly sure of!

Well I cant really say much to that! I have never found a book with such deep understanding and wisdom of how one can run their life. For me it really gives hope that there is more to life than this...
5. I want to live every moment of life, do what I want, by all means still be a good person, but not feel restricted by a book, and a God who can show me no PHYSICAL signs that he exists.

God has never showen me his "face" but when I have asked for things, even things that were just what I desired , he answered. For me I recive love through gifts and he has given me my hearst desires. I know he loves me and therefore I follow his word, knowing If he loves me he would do what is best for me.

 

[beth34]

I'm just kind of confused about your post. You say that you became a Christian a while back and now don't want to be a Christian anymore. So are you saying you were saved but now you don't want to be saved? Were you sincerely saved at that time in your life? You can't lose your salvation if you sincerely asked God to come into your life and save you. Don't let other people who say they are Christians but don't live a Christian life turn you away from being one yourself. There's a lot of hypocrites out there. I think you said something about Heaven and how could you spend an eternity there and not get bored or run out of things to do? I look at it this way, I am married, have two children and would love to see my kids have kids, there kids have kids, and so on, but I know our life here isn't forever, but it will be in Heaven and that sounds wonderful to me. To be able to spend an eternity with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and with other loved ones that were saved and are also in Heaven. I lost my Dad 3 years ago and I can't wait to see him again one day. I can't imagine just having him here for 31 years and never seeing him again. Our life here is ok, but it is nothing in comparison as to what Heaven will be like when we get there. Please rethink things. Pray about this.

 

[heron]

We were watching the news, and someone said "some people should not be allowed to have kids." (This is not an ethnic cleansing post -- we were talking about crack addicts.)

This relationship with God is a treasure, like having kids. Anyone can choose it, or fall into it, but who is ever perfect at handling what we have been given? The beauty is in the gift, not always in the owner.

2 Corinthians 4:7
But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.

 

[MikeMcK]

I'm just kind of confused about your post. You say that you became a Christian a while back and now don't want to be a Christian anymore. So are you saying you were saved but now you don't want to be saved? Were you sincerely saved at that time in your life? You can't lose your salvation if you sincerely asked God to come into your life and save you.

I have to wonder if the OP isn't an example of the wheat that was planted but didn't take root.

 

[hlaltimus]

I haven't visited this website in over 3 months.. I guess there were a lot of reasons for me to stay away.. I no longer wanted to be a Christian.

Tracking back a bit, I was born into a Christian family, but one who never visited church or had anything to do with God or the Church except the fact that they labelled themselves Christians. In my own time I classified myself as an Atheist, but wanting faith reverted back to Christianity about a year ago. By August this year I thought I had 100% faith in God. The other christian whom I told this manipulated me and used me, with no regard for my feelings. I won't state exactly what happened, except that I was one of the lucky women who escape.

Since then I have decided I no longer have faith in Christianity for several reasons which I will explain:

1. When I left this site I did so because I felt that the majority of the community were purely focusing on one goal only: get to heaven. I disliked this, it is not what having a religion is about. Although I am still unclear as to the actual PURPOSE of having a religion such as Christianity or any other for that matter I know that it is not that.

2. The Christians whom I met have never acted like Christians, it was a label they gave themselves. Especially one person in particular, who made me re-think even more and made some doubts in Christianity even more profound.

3. I don't feel that I need a faith. I'm happy as I am, I'm perfectly fine, going through life and having my own goals and targets without having heaven at the end of it all. For one thing I do not want to live on forever, what is the point? There can never be enough to do that could last forever, and even with a heaven, and a God it does still not make like purposeful!

4. I want to make my own choices about my beliefs and feelings, not ones based on some book who's history and author people are not entierly sure of!

5. I want to live every moment of life, do what I want, by all means still be a good person, but not feel restricted by a book, and a God who can show me no PHYSICAL signs that he exists.

Just hoping for some Christian input here, feel free to ask questions, comment etc. Do you think this is the right decision for me?

Your response sounds something like a person who is walking from Albany, New York...to London, England and doesn't see the need for any external assistance as the stroll is going just fine, for now. It just won't work...Sooner or later you will approach an impassable body of water and without external assistance you will quickly drown. Someday you will approach those awful, final doors of death and if you don't have a Divine escort then you will be in big trouble, for all of eternity. Make sure now of your reservations that you will need then and there. It couldn't be more important.