Dave from TruthForFree.com left this comment in the About page and I felt that it might not get the attention that it deserves. Have a read and share your thoughts. Thanks Dave!
Hey there Gasmonso, I have to say that I’ve enjoyed some of what I’ve watched and read on the site (especially the church lady videos – hehe) and, though I don’t agree with everything I’ve seen here, I don’t get the vibe that you are being intentionally harsh in your perspective. There is a ton of lunacy in today’s “Christian Church”. I agree with that 100% and, guess what; I’m a believer in Jesus myself. Personally, I prefer to call today’s version of Christianity “Churchianity” because it has almost nothing to do with biblical Christianity. Today’s “churchianity” is all about the organization of religion (something that even God isn’t interested in and something that Jesus never came to build). When Jesus walked the earth the Old Testament was the Covenant in force and supplemented by an earthly Temple and an entire system of institutionalized, organized religion. That “system” was fulfilled in Christ – In other words, Jesus brought a total END to organized religion. Since that time, organized religion has never been God’s interest or method for how He interacts with humanity.
The central focus of most Christians is “church world”. Virtually every activity they engage in is to feed that system of religion. Their efforts and finances are dumped into these massive money pit institutions. Somehow they get a sense of accomplishment, spiritual pride and think they are really earning points with God for participating. Rather than invest their time and finances in actual lives (which is the way of Christ Himself), their time and money goes to build bigger buildings and maintain them (such as paying to air condition a sanctuary that sits empty most of the week). Money goes to pay salaries of ministers they see as priests (whether they’re Catholic or not – most Christians expect a man to mediate their relationship with God and tell them what to do), but Jesus’ way is to come to God directly through Him (that’s why He died on the cross) and Jesus taught that it was inconsistent for a man to serve for money and ministry. In other words, the idea to salary preachers is a human invention that goes against the lifestyle that Jesus taught and demonstrated. In fact, Jesus told His followers not to be called “leaders” or “fathers” or assume any position of authority over each other because we are all brothers having the same Heavenly Father and Jesus is to be the only Leader we (who are Christians) follow.
Most Christians today have completely forgotten that Jesus said that HE would build HIS Church. Yet, somehow, they think this is now their job to take over. Not only have they taken it over, they have changed virtually every meaning in the Bible to support their traditions. Did you know that the word “church” is not even in the original text of Scripture? It’s 100% true! That word was added centuries later by religious leaders who wanted to turn men’s focus from God and His people to buildings and hierarchical church leaders.
Some of my “Protestant” Christian friends would be shocked to discover that virtually everything they do in church Sunday morning is a product derived from Roman Catholicism (a religion they think they are so different from). And as far as Catholicism goes, most of its requirements have absolutely no origin in Scripture either and many practices are actually derived from pagan practices and influences. Protestants and Catholics are in virtually the same boat and it’s a boat that God did not build. They did!
These will be offensive words to some believers because they will think I am attacking Christianity. I am not. I am exposing the myth of CHURCHianity. This is the fraud that so many Christians think is Christianity. I guarantee you that if you were witness to true Christianity in action, it would look nothing like traditional organized religion and you would be compelled by it, not repulsed. That is because true Christianity functions through sincere love, not manipulation, control or judgmental attitudes. Real Christianity is represented by people who understand that it is God’s job to change hearts, not theirs. Too many Christians are quick and ready to lop off heads for sin, while they forget that God forgave them of theirs! They still want sinners to suffer hell and pay. But justice belongs to God, not man and He knows the hearts whereas we cannot see into people’s hearts.
I look forward to a day when more Christians actually consider more seriously whose name they bear and therefore put off all this nonsense of religionizing. I have a hard time calling myself a Christian even because I know I am still so far from looking like Jesus. But I am a follower of His. I do believe in Him and His message. I have been born again and am not ashamed of Him. But I relate to the frustration so many have with organized religion and typical modern “Christianity” because I have so many of the exact same frustrations with it.
Thanks for allowing me to share this. Thanks for the humor today. God bless.
Dave
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[...] Some of my “Protestant†Christian friends would be shocked to discover that virtually everything they do in church Sunday morning is a product derived from Roman Catholicism (a religion they think they are so different from). And as far as Catholicism goes, most of its requirements have absolutely no origin in Scripture either and many practices are actually derived from pagan practices and influences. Protestants and Catholics are in virtually the same boat and it’s a boat that God did not build. They did!…. read more [...]
Are you sure that Jesus will return to save your ass from your sins?. Jesus was a magitian, crooked, corrupt. If he is alive or in the heaven, I need shred of evidence. If there is god, evidence. If there is heaven or hell, evidence.
You are crooked corrupt homosexual, pedophile & anophile who uses religion to do crimes.
Muhammed & moses were no different fron Jesus,
I agree that today many people tend to put too much stock in the earthly ‘church’ and do not pay attention to the Church (community of believers) and to reaching out to the lost.
However, you have made some very bad points. It sounds to me that you’re making the issue of “Christ fulfilled the law, so we don’t need organized religion” into a new law of “organized religion is evil!”
Point by point:
whether they’re Catholic or not – most Christians expect a man to mediate their relationship with God and tell them what to do
That is a pretty broad claim. The view among protestant churches is that people have a direct relationship with God. The pastor/minister is someone who teaches or leads worship. Is your piano instructor a mediator between you and the piano?
Also, look back at the early church. The apostles were travelling around the empire preaching to people. Congregations were structured with deacons and elders. It’s all over Acts and Paul’s letters.
In other words, the idea to salary preachers is a human invention that goes against the lifestyle that Jesus taught and demonstrated
Again, look at the early church. In 1 Corinthians, Paul talks about how other apostles (such as Peter) were rightly collecting salaries for their work. However, Paul chose not to collect a salary so that he could focus better on his ministry and having to rely on others for housing/food.
In fact, Jesus told His followers not to be called “leaders†or “fathers†or assume any position of authority over each other because we are all brothers having the same Heavenly Father and Jesus is to be the only Leader we (who are Christians) follow
Please give us a reference here. We are definitely told not to hold any spiritual authority over eachother, but we are definitely called to encourage, teach, and rebuke one another. That is exactly what the Protestant and Catholic clergy do.
Most Christians today have completely forgotten that Jesus said that HE would build HIS Church. Yet, somehow, they think this is now their job to take over.
And it’s totally impossible for him to build the church by guiding our actions? In my experience, people who are called to start a ministry or church don’t do it because they think, “hey, I bet Jesus never thought of this!” Rather, they feel that God is telling them this is what he wants them to do to further his kingdom.
Did you know that the word “church†is not even in the original text of Scripture?
That’s because the word “church” is a Germanic/English word. You can find the word all over Matthew and Acts. The Greek word used was “ekklesia” or, “those who are called or summoned forth”. It’s a word that refers to a specific group of people, namely Christians. It was replaced in English translations with the word “church.” Today, we have to differentiate between my local “church” and Christ’s “Church” because the word “church” became a common word for a specific building or institution. So in a sense, a church building or structure is never mentioned in scripture, but that doesn’t preclude the existence of a church building or institution.
Some of my “Protestant†Christian friends would be shocked to discover that virtually everything they do in church Sunday morning is a product derived from Roman Catholicism (a religion they think they are so different from)
Perhaps because even though people have sought to redefine the “church” it always comes back to a system that requires teachers and students.
Too many Christians are quick and ready to lop off heads for sin, while they forget that God forgave them of theirs! They still want sinners to suffer hell and pay. But justice belongs to God, not man and He knows the hearts whereas we cannot see into people’s hearts.
Right on.
Don’t throw away the church. Christ died for the church, no matter how imperfect she is. It doesn’t matter what it looks like, we just have to keep encouraging and praying for eachother. As soon as we start bringing in some rules about how a church should or shouldn’t be, we’re missing the point.
but Jesus’ way is to come to God directly through Him (that’s why He died on the cross)
The “through” that people throw around is a disputed translation… a much more proper translation would be “as”… which changes the meaning entirely. To me it says “live a good life and do good unto others, and that’s the path to God”.
I agree with Dave.
see what Dave talked about is exactly why I don’t go to church. I don’t see why he would be called a “homosexual pedophile” as someone else put it, but hey when every crazy can have a computer and type…you tend to get very random things!
If I remember right, wasn’t this similar to the ideas of Martin Luther. The “priesthood of all believers”?
The irony of that would be, it resulted in a schism, only with both sides sticking with the church.
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How much of an helpful short article, retain authoring better half