I consider myself spiritual, because I have a personal relationship with God, but not religious, because I don't believe the only way to be with Him in the afterlife is through any particular organized religion. As long as I "believe", and cultivate that love by the way I live my life, and the way I treat those around me, with love and respect, I will be saved. And if anyone knows how to move this to the ncr thread, it probably belongs there now!
I'm not a church-going person. I've always felt that it was wrong to join a church and then tailor my beliefs to fit those of that church. I think it should be the other way around. I've examined numerous churches and beliefs over the years but have yet to find one that believes as I do.
My beliefs are rather eclectic and wide-ranging and I doubt I'd ever find an organized church that believes the same as I do. I'm happy with that. I can deal with it. And I guess that might possibly place me in the spiritual camp rather than the religious one. So be it.
I can pray wherever I happen to be and when I feel the need to commune with my Creator more directly I'll get out in the forest or near a stream somewhere. That's more of a church to me than a building somewhere.
Here is my 2 cents from 46 years of being in church and raised in church on religion and spirituality. Religion = traditions, rules, obligations and fear Spirituality = relationship, love, and knowing the God you serve
Just like marriage, I married because of love, relationship and because I knew who she was. I just couldn't live without her. I didn't marry because I was afraid of being alone, persecution or fear of People thinking I'm gay.
I think its important to search the scriptures to understand what God says about what it takes to be saved rather than a church or some leader of a church. Did the thief on the cross say a fancy prayer? Did he have a chance to treat people with respect and love to be saved? No, he was a their hours away from death and all he said was that this man (speaking of Jesus) was innocent. He acknowledged they were there because they deserved the cross. When he looked at Jesus and asked him to remember him when Jesus comes into His kingdom, Jesus could see this mans heart and that he believed who Jesus truly was. Jesus responded, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." There are many verses that talk about salvation but this one in Romans 10:9 I believe is what the thief on the cross experienced and why Jesus saved him from hell. Romans 10:9, "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." No, you dont have to go to church to be saved. There are many biblical verses that speak of the importance of being around other Christians. Here is just one: 1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing." Being around other sinful people that have been saved by God's grace is a wonderful thing to experience and true friendships are developed and that is awesome to behold.
No one ever learned anything by doing right the first time!
It is strange. I often have this argument with myself and in my younger years dabbled and studied in some serious stuff. I have come to learn some hard lessons. People who wear their religion on their sleeves I usually find wanting in spirituality. I don't care what you say on the subject, I will react to what you do.
Last week I had the sidewall on a tire blow out, because some jerk driving a truck had a spill and did not bother to clean it up. A guy I have never seen before (Dereck) saw me sitting on the side of the road and pulled over to change the tire for me. He would not take any money, just my sincerest thanks and a handshake.
You are exactly right! Talk is cheap and anyone can say anything. Its how you live your life and how you treat others that does all your talking. No one cares what you know, until they know how much you care about them!
No one ever learned anything by doing right the first time!
Comments
My beliefs are rather eclectic and wide-ranging and I doubt I'd ever find an organized church that believes the same as I do. I'm happy with that. I can deal with it. And I guess that might possibly place me in the spiritual camp rather than the religious one. So be it.
I can pray wherever I happen to be and when I feel the need to commune with my Creator more directly I'll get out in the forest or near a stream somewhere. That's more of a church to me than a building somewhere.
Religion = traditions, rules, obligations and fear
Spirituality = relationship, love, and knowing the God you serve
Just like marriage, I married because of love, relationship and because I knew who she was. I just couldn't live without her.
I didn't marry because I was afraid of being alone, persecution or fear of People thinking I'm gay.
There are many verses that talk about salvation but this one in Romans 10:9
I believe is what the thief on the cross experienced and why Jesus saved him from hell.
Romans 10:9, "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
No, you dont have to go to church to be saved. There are many biblical verses that speak of the importance of being around other Christians. Here is just one:
1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing."
Being around other sinful people that have been saved by God's grace is a wonderful thing to experience and true friendships are developed and that is awesome to behold.
I have come to learn some hard lessons.
People who wear their religion on their sleeves I usually find wanting in spirituality.
I don't care what you say on the subject, I will react to what you do.
Last week I had the sidewall on a tire blow out, because some jerk driving a truck had a spill and did not bother to clean it up.
A guy I have never seen before (Dereck) saw me sitting on the side of the road and pulled over to change the tire for me. He would not take any money, just my sincerest thanks and a handshake.