Stephanie-ism, lol... or something...

[Jezus_Phish]

Hola! Well, wasn't that an interesting title to a post, eh? Well, allow me to explain myself. As some of you may know (as I happened to post about this on the Newbie board), I'm what you may call a "baby Christian," someone who is seriously learning about the Christian faith and has taken Jesus into her life. However, I'm converting from Wicca, and the path to finding that religion was not an easy one. But wait, that's STILL too early, lol! I was raised Roman Catholic, but because of some of the... "teachings" held in CCD classes when I was VERY young, I decided to stray from it at the age of 13. (I wanted to before that, lol, but I was young and knew nothing but how I had been raised.) Anyway. My friend introduced me to the Pagan faiths (before she had introduced me, the only faiths I knew of were Catholicism and Judaism), and I began to study Wicca. After a year and a day of studying, I begen to call myself a true Wiccan. I seriously believed most things in the fath, and I had no problem with it. Family, however, did... as to be expected, lol, when they're all Catholic and think that everything else but Christianity is Satan's work. I was a Wiccan for 6 years, then went to college. That's when I started to go to both masses and circles... which, as you can imagine, left me very confused.

I'm getting to the point, promise!

Anyway. Even as I proclaim myself a Christian, there are still a lot of Pagan beliefs that I have put faith in since I was a lot younger, and I have a feeling that nothing will ever change them. So pretty much what I'm saying... I have kind of made my own religion, to fit me. Does that make sense? 'Cause if you look at it, each religion suits a person... but several things fit me. So I'm incorporating many things to suit me. Also... going through such a spiritual search has made me a lot more open minded than many evangelical or uber-Christians, and a lot of my views are shunned by Christians who believe their way is the ONLY way. I pesonally don't... but that's just me. ~.^

Umm... yeah. Dunno what the point of this post is, but I'm just asking for your opinions/stories/anythings, lol. ::grins:: Thanks a million, and God bless. *^.^*

¤ Steph

 

[carolbob]

Hola! Well, wasn't that an interesting title to a post, eh? Well, allow me to explain myself. As some of you may know (as I happened to post about this on the Newbie board), I'm what you may call a "baby Christian," someone who is seriously learning about the Christian faith and has taken Jesus into her life. However, I'm converting from Wicca, and the path to finding that religion was not an easy one. But wait, that's STILL too early, lol! I was raised Roman Catholic, but because of some of the... "teachings" held in CCD classes when I was VERY young, I decided to stray from it at the age of 13. (I wanted to before that, lol, but I was young and knew nothing but how I had been raised.) Anyway. My friend introduced me to the Pagan faiths (before she had introduced me, the only faiths I knew of were Catholicism and Judaism), and I began to study Wicca. After a year and a day of studying, I begen to call myself a true Wiccan. I seriously believed most things in the fath, and I had no problem with it. Family, however, did... as to be expected, lol, when they're all Catholic and think that everything else but Christianity is Satan's work. I was a Wiccan for 6 years, then went to college. That's when I started to go to both masses and circles... which, as you can imagine, left me very confused.

I'm getting to the point, promise!

Anyway. Even as I proclaim myself a Christian, there are still a lot of Pagan beliefs that I have put faith in since I was a lot younger, and I have a feeling that nothing will ever change them. So pretty much what I'm saying... I have kind of made my own religion, to fit me. Does that make sense? 'Cause if you look at it, each religion suits a person... but several things fit me. So I'm incorporating many things to suit me. Also... going through such a spiritual search has made me a lot more open minded than many evangelical or uber-Christians, and a lot of my views are shunned by Christians who believe their way is the ONLY way. I pesonally don't... but that's just me. ~.^

Umm... yeah. Dunno what the point of this post is, but I'm just asking for your opinions/stories/anythings, lol. ::grins:: Thanks a million, and God bless. *^.^*

¤ Steph

Hi Steph! Welcome aboard!

As far as what you believe is "right", read your BIble and see if the things you question line up with the Scriptures.

 

[Jezus_Phish]

Hi Steph! Welcome aboard!

As far as what you believe is "right", read your BIble and see if the things you question line up with the Scriptures.

::smiles:: Well, this is where some of my internal... debate begins. I would read in Scripture that God love all of His children that follow Him, and I have to say... who is to say that the Pagan God/dess(s/ses... haha) or any other faith that believes in a God or Universal Spirit does not follow the same God as Christians or Jews? Jesus also says that "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life..." etc. (I don't have my Bible nearby. ^.^ sorry!), but "I" can be interpreted as "God," as Jesus is God's flesh and blood. So... about the entire Heaven issue... who is to say that only those who are Christian go to Heaven? Especially regarding Jews. In saying that Jesus is literally the Way, then there goes God's most faithful followers for thousands of years.

::shrugs:: Sorry if that wasn't relevant, lol, but I'm just trying to say that... well, I think too much, of course. ::grins sheepishly:: But there are a lot of aspects about the Bible that can be interpreted in many different ways.

Hence Stephanie-ism, lol. ::grins::

Thank you SO much for your reply, though!!!!! ::HUG!::

¤ Steph

 

[carolbob]

::smiles:: Well, this is where some of my internal... debate begins. I would read in Scripture that God love all of His children that follow Him, and I have to say... who is to say that the Pagan God/dess(s/ses... haha) or any other faith that believes in a God or Universal Spirit does not follow the same God as Christians or Jews? Jesus also says that "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life..." etc. (I don't have my Bible nearby. ^.^ sorry!), but "I" can be interpreted as "God," as Jesus is God's flesh and blood. So... about the entire Heaven issue... who is to say that only those who are Christian go to Heaven? Especially regarding Jews. In saying that Jesus is literally the Way, then there goes God's most faithful followers for thousands of years.

::shrugs:: Sorry if that wasn't relevant, lol, but I'm just trying to say that... well, I think too much, of course. ::grins sheepishly:: But there are a lot of aspects about the Bible that can be interpreted in many different ways.

Hence Stephanie-ism, lol. ::grins::

Thank you SO much for your reply, though!!!!! ::HUG!::

¤ Steph

Don't apologize, thinking is good! God gave us a brain! IF you are Christian, you follow the God of the Bible, and believe that nay other "god/esses" are counterfeit. As far as who is in or gets in heaven, well, that is not for me to say or to know. Rumor has it the Catholics think they have the monopoly on the whole salvation thing! But, don't tell the baptist! HUMOR, HUMOR, NO FLAMES PLEASE....One of those jokes you can tell and insert any denomination you want...(okay, not like you would want to tell it anyway)

 

[blessedbe]

interesting questions, but I guess the one thing that would have to be said is that you cannot serve 2 masters. As long as you realize that the other "gods/goddesses" are conterfeit, and that their is only ONE God and that God is the God spoken of in the bible, I think you are on the right track. My personal belief is that there are many in christendom who are going to be suprised at who they see in heaven with them! I do not, however believe that one can be, say, a taoist and get to heaven. I think one must follow the God of the Bible, and believe that Jesus was real and who He claimed to be. Now, having said that, I believe God leaves alot of room to wiggle in personal beliefs and interpretations of the Bible. But that is MY personal opinion, and I'm sure that there would be alot of christians who would condemn me for these beliefs, but I am sure in my personal salvation, so I will not let their opinions bother me.
I think people would be suprised if they did a questionare on beliefs in their churches and denominations that people KNEW would be confidential and consequently would honestly answer. I think that alot of people hold different beliefs then maybe what their church holds that would never risk telling anyone about because they'd be afraid they would be laughed at or afraid they'd be judged for those beliefs. Many people are totally afraid to vocally disagree with the Nicene Creed, but internally have issues with some parts of it.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that holding uncovential beliefs is not a bad thing per se, just realize that reading the bible and trying to follow it to your best ability is the most important thing.

 

[shawn_h76]

Hello ,

smiles:: Well, this is where some of my internal... debate begins. I would read in Scripture that God love all of His children that follow Him

Thats true God does love all his children. After one recieves Jesus then they become a child of God

and I have to say... who is to say that the Pagan God/dess(s/ses... haha) or any other faith that believes in a God or Universal Spirit does not follow the same God as Christians or Jews?

Jews and Christians believe in the same God. Yahweh said this,

Isaiah 44
8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

Jesus also says that "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life..." etc

He sure did.

(I don't have my Bible nearby. ^.^ sorry!)

www. biblegateway.com

So... about the entire Heaven issue... who is to say that only those who are Christian go to Heaven?

Look at it this way, only those who have repented of their sins and asked Jesus into their hearts enter heaven.

Especially regarding Jews. In saying that Jesus is literally the Way, then there goes God's most faithful followers for thousands of years.

Yes, but the Jews still want to be under the Law (old testament). The law is a curse, if you break one part of it, this is why Jesus died on the cross so he can redeem us from the curse of the law( if we recieve him).

God bless