Why I'm Not a Christian

[11822]

Covetousness is idolatry but coveting Gods truth written in the Holy Bible is not. We covet God when we covet His word and we're supposed to do that aren't we?

 

[11822]

Sure it is handy as a proof text if that is all you are interested in. Of course I could provide a proof text where Paul said some of what he wrote was merely his opnion.

Clobber passages and proof texts taken out of context do nothing to enhance our overall understanding of scripture.

And that would be proof texting. Paul clearly distinguishes when its his opinion. Any other time its Gods word.

 

[New_Wineskin]

I first said the sinner's prayer in a kid's summer camp.
My parents were divorcing.
I was the stinky kid in school.
I was alone on so many levels, and I just wanted to be loved.
Christ's overwhelming compassion was exactly what I needed.

I grew up to later study Christian apologetics.
In search for arguments to defend my faith, I studied.
I studied what Christians and non-Christians were saying.
It was then that I first read Bertrand Russell's philosophies on Christianity.

Bertrand Russell wrote, "Why I Am Not a Christian."
The first time I read it, and many years afterward, I adamantly disagreed with him.
He was not a Christian because of his objection to how Christians behaved.
I argued that Christianity is so much more than that.

I started college studying religion.
But I realized I couldn't make it in the Christian world as a career preacher.
I couldn't emotionally cope with the constant criticism.
I couldn't endure the objectionable way I knew Christians behaved.
So, I transferred into the business department.

In business school, I learned to use my God-given talents to help the world economically.
I feel profoundly successful, and profoundly comfortable in the business world.
I feel at home doing things I love and am good at.
I feel a way Christianity never made me feel.

I believe in the substitutive atonement for my sins that only Jesus provides.
I believe in following Christ's discipleship toward being a better person.
I believe so many Christian things.

However, my experiences have shown me how right Bertrand Russell was, after all.
Detestable Christian behavior has made it painful for me to remain active in a Christian community.
Most days, I would rather not be a Christian anymore, not because I believe any less in Jesus, but because it pains me to associate with many of the Christians I've encountered.

I love Christ, but I don't love the Christianity I've experienced.

That is why I use a capital "C" for actual Christianity and a small "c" for the religious outward christianity that the world sees .

 

[ghendricks63]

And that would be proof texting. Paul clearly distinguishes when its his opinion. Any other time its Gods word.

Just like you were actually doing hence why I drew the comparison. Note this is what I stated I was not going to do.

 

[ghendricks63]

... Its Holy Spirit inspired therefor without error. Only our understanding of the word is flawed.

The first part of your statement is correct but the "therfor" is nothing more than conjecture on your part. I believe my sunday school lessons and most of my sermons I have ever preached were "Holy Spirit inspired", but I assure you they were not "without error".

 

[Deut 5:29]

I love Christ, but I don't love the Christianity I've experienced.

You are making the very common mistake of judging
Christ by what humans do who can never compare to Him.

You look to other people instead of looking to Christ; you compare yourself, or your ideas, to other men.

You must only compare yourself to Christ Himself.

Why I'm Not a Christian

The reason you are not a Christian is either, God hasn't called you, you haven't responded in the affirmative or you have rejected His call.

 

[theWaris1]

I grew up to later study Christian apologetics.
In search for arguments to defend my faith, I studied.
I studied what Christians and non-Christians were saying.
It was then that I first read Bertrand Russell's philosophies on Christianity.

Bertrand Russell wrote, "Why I Am Not a Christian."
The first time I read it, and many years afterward, I adamantly disagreed with him.
He was not a Christian because of his objection to how Christians behaved.
I argued that Christianity is so much more than that.

I started college studying religion.
But I realized I couldn't make it in the Christian world as a career preacher.
I couldn't emotionally cope with the constant criticism.
I couldn't endure the objectionable way I knew Christians behaved.
So, I transferred into the business department.

I love Christ, but I don't love the Christianity I've experienced.

I understand exactly what you're saying. I grew up in a supposedly Christian home and was treated like a bad step child, very bally abuse was common towards me.

I was in a drug religion. My parents drug my to church every time the doors were open. Life was horrible as a child. I could go on and on about those but you get the point. I ran from God fro 2 decades though I accepted him early and was baptized.

He called me back years later and started showing me things about people and the world. One thing I learned is that most will people will let you down. I don't know of any non-Christians that are any better. I have known very few really good Christians and I'm really no better myself.

The scriptures reveal many truths that keep me looking up but I really don't care for the lack of genuine love among Christians or all the false teachers out there.

 

[Martingale]

if I weren't a christian already, and my first exposure to christianity was on internet christian forums, I'd be a stone cold atheist.

 

[11822]

Just like you were actually doing hence why I drew the comparison. Note this is what I stated I was not going to do.

No i wasn't

 

[11822]

The first part of your statement is correct but the "therfor" is nothing more than conjecture on your part. I believe my sunday school lessons and most of my sermons I have ever preached were "Holy Spirit inspired", but I assure you they were not "without error".

Conjecture? No. The bible is without error unless its a translated error. Like someone said Paul sometimes gives his opinion on a matter and lets us know its not from the Holy Spirit. But that is an opinion not an error. Although you may be a good preacher, I don't see any preachers today that can compare to the apostles. Modern preachers make mistakes and Paul did too, but not in the written word.

 

[heymikey80]

I'm not giving up on Christianity.
I don't like what I have experienced.
I am now adjusting toward being selective about who I let cast a vote in my life.

Hm. A thought experiment.

Multiply that by the number of people in your congregation.

How is this resulting group of backbiting, opinionated people different from the way you've been responded-to?

I wouldn't want to be a member of such a church. But there is a Lord in my life who suggests differently, who wisely tells me to work with such people and learn wisdom in the process.

I don't mind Bell's methods of teaching. I actually like Bell's methods. I just think he's gone off the deep end, emphasizing some to the exclusion of other realities.

With age may come wisdom with him, and with you. But only in the event he actually responds by working to see and reform toward the right. And his critiques as well would then result in reform of Christ's church toward the right. As it is, neither benefits with either.

 

[cubinity]

Hm. A thought experiment.

Multiply that by the number of people in your congregation.

How is this resulting group of backbiting, opinionated people different from the way you've been responded-to?

I wouldn't want to be a member of such a church. But there is a Lord in my life who suggests differently, who wisely tells me to work with such people and learn wisdom in the process.

I don't mind Bell's methods of teaching. I actually like Bell's methods. I just think he's gone off the deep end, emphasizing some to the exclusion of other realities.

With age may come wisdom with him, and with you. But only in the event he actually responds by working to see and reform toward the right. And his critiques as well would then result in reform of Christ's church toward the right. As it is, neither benefits with either.

Thank you for not only the content, but the loving attitude, of this response. I genuinely appreciate both.