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Well said, Wanqsta and J, the only thing more boring than your average zealot is your run-of-the-mill holier-than-thou practicant of a religion. I go to church when i feel the urge upon me, not because i'm expected to "set an example" or because it's expected of me. If it means i go once a week or once every 6 months, it ought to be solely because i feel the need to be there.
So many people go to either show off their latest finery, or their new wheels, or to gossip before and after service. Others are there because of their hunger for position within the church, whilst a handful are genuinely there because they want to be there.
I distinctly recall one incident years ago at a church i was visiting, when a "bergie" wandered into a service. He was hustled out so fast by two deacons few people even realized he'd been in the service... Typical Christianity at work...
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"We would all love its will to reach the sun... Well, we are the rose- this is the concrete..."
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[ This Message was edited by: Kryptik on 2006-07-23 12:08 ]
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Posted: 2006-07-23 13:05:00
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@ the church thing, I used to be in a good church, but all the fakeness from a large amount of people got so annoying. (No, I want to know how YOU are doing, not if you are blessed or not!) I felt God prompted me to move to a new church which I have been attending since the start of the year...It has blown my mind! The church operates like the New Testament Church, people going round the world, preaching the gospel, or sometimes to cook for the people that do. My old church had about 2500 people or more there, this one has +-500 and weekly they send out groups to go do God's work in the world. Sometimes they have 8or more outreaches a month internationally where my old church might have had 2-4 a year...
The people at my new church are such a nice bunch! You do get your religious zealots(VERY few), but any form of ambition to come up in the church gets shot down so fast! There is no such thing as rich or educated people leading the church because they are rich or educated. There is a HUGE element of relationship, accountability(Not forced down on you) and working together. In my old church 20% of people did 80% of the work, the new place 80% of the people do 95% of the work...
With all that in mind, watched a bit of Life of Brian, and it hit me hard yesterday, how people adjust what the word says just to suit their lives:
'Blessed are the Peacemakers...' ('I think he said, "blessed are the cheesemakers" then another says "No, by that he means all general producers of diary products!")
And also how the people start to follow Brian. In the church people think when they join their every move has to be dictated by the leader, or someone. they can't even fart without getting permission. The point is they need to live their own lives. Christianity is simple, preach the word, sort out your lives, and do what God said...People overcomplicate EVERYTHING! The gospel is a simple message. Life of Brian was considered Blasphemy, but it is Heresy, making fun of the church and what it has become. It's interresting, the Pythons said one thing about the movie, 'Jesus's ways are unknockable' and they knew they couldn't make fun of Him.
The one thing that really grinds me are these people who preach a Prosperity gospel. That's all God can do, make you rich. One thing my new church is big on is the whole thing of "You might have to suffer for the kingdom, you might even die for it. Maybe you are called to bring money in, but maybe you are not. God has a plan for you, submit your own plans and ideas." It is like I said to someone recently, "I have to eat what is on my plate, not what is on someone else's plate." For the first time in my church i see people embracing Biblical principles: some have lots of money, and they lose it all, and they remain the same. Some guys make money, lose it, over and over again, and they remain the same. i have seen our elders with nice cars, and after a while, they come to church, having sold their car, and bought a car not nearly as nice. And that is just observing and talking to people. I have never met so many people together with such a heart. It is a place where I can learn. In the last 6 months of being there at least 2 couples have moved to start a new church, or join another church to help it. It is people laying down their own lives, and doing what they have been called to.
@ Brix, I do understand why the church has alienated you, and that is my biggest problem with the church today: the rituals, the ways, all made up, shoved down people's throats. It is wrong what a lot of Christians are doing. But the best thing I can do is to sort out my walk, and do what I can to make it better.
Sad thing in Christianity, people get lost in the rules and regulations, where Jesus clearly did the relationship thing with His disciples. The New Testament is all about laying down your life, but also, in doing so, being approachable, being someone that people can relate to.
And that is my Sunday post...sorry, overly long, but I like writing...Will post later on some other things...
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Posted: 2006-07-23 14:44:51
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Well,there you have folks.Going to church not knowing why you're really there is not worthy.We first need to understand the meaning of our religion first!
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Posted: 2006-07-23 16:47:00
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And after that post the elder who preached this evening just came out in full colours. wow! he just stated that we are not into mielies, but oaks. and our church slogan is 'friendship before function'. There is family there and in family you look out for each other.
how was all you others' weekends? you guys are severely quiet! hope it was good!
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Posted: 2006-07-23 22:25:23
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On 2006-07-23 14:44:51, francoislr wrote:
@ the church thing,... My old church had about 2500 people or more there, this one has +-500 and weekly they send out groups to go do God's work in the world.
@Francois....You are one lucky fellow to have a good church. Hang in there bro. Here is a definition of "Christianity" I learnt last year: Christianity is the prescribed life-style for living on Planet earth.
I don't want to start any controversy, but... the term "Christianity" is not even a accurate. It was the not the term the early church called itself. The word Christianity appears only 3 times in the New Testament. It is part of the reason why we confuse what Lord Jesus brought to be a religion, a ritual, filled with external practices instead of a relationship and life-stlyle.
Ok, no preaching from me also. Please read "I am NOT a Christian" in
http://www.yesu247.com/webministers/index_categories.htm
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Posted: 2006-07-23 23:34:24
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@francois: Although they're a bit long your posts are always good. This evening watching the news I got awfully depressed seeing all the destruction, some might say to realise some holy prophecy.
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Posted: 2006-07-23 23:51:00
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Talk about me and my nonsense, you guys know how i can argue for or against something. well saturday evening i was at a kuier and very soon i found out how negative the people there are about our country. i can consolidate with their issues, but i prefer to shoot their theories down. which i actively did. i mean, you cannot argue with experience. experience is the strongest mindset former.
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Posted: 2006-07-24 14:55:20
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@ coola, i tried following that link but could not find that article. could be because i am using my phone to do everything today as i was too lazy to go to work and decided i need a study day. now to get myself out of bed. do i really have to? the text book is calling but i do not want to answer.
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Posted: 2006-07-24 15:03:00
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On 2006-07-24 15:03:00, francoislr wrote:
@ coola, i tried following that link but could not find that article.
OOops! Just cross-checked... I haven't published it yet. Will let you know when I do.
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Posted: 2006-07-24 18:54:50
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it is cool coola,will check back soon.
my brother told me today that3of the students in his school died in a car accident. them illegaly driving drunk. it is like 4 students in the last three months.what is up with the kids?they try to live up to some standard set by hollywood,one they will never be able to live up to.what can we as adults do to make things better? got to start somewhere.
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Posted: 2006-07-24 20:23:00
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