Loyalty to Christianity? (for former Christians...)?

Question

for those who've turned from the Christian faith ~ or don't practice it anymore (whatever...)

Do you think that "true Christians" should be loyal to God (Jesus)?

or to a specific denomination/Group of Believers?


*** I'm a Christian, and I'm affiliated with a denomination; which I support whole-heartedly...however, my loyalty isn't to the denomination. It is to God.****

Also, my Christian faith has nothing to do with what I see the next Christian do...I will be held accountable for what I do; not my brother or sister in Christ --- Therefor, what right would I have to turn my back on God?(because of something they did/do?)

(I guess I'm asking: How can someone turn their back on God, and use the excuse that a specific church/denomination/group of other Christian people are responsible for causing them to do it?)

Answer 1

Maybe they were never followers of Jesus but slaves to a religion that disappointed them. Maybe they were just going through the motions, only knowing the Father through another persons eyes, never truly for themselves.



Just my 2 cents.

Answer 2

If someone is ascribing that kind of power to a church/denomination/group, to 'cause' them to turn their back on God, that in itself is evidence that they have turned their back on God and fallen into idolatry, and are now passing the buck, just like Adam and Eve did in Gan Eden (i.e. the Garden of Eden).(1)

The proof of the pudding here is that another person in the exact same circumstances would have reacted differently. What is the difference? Their respective perceptions of the situation which triggered the overt act of turning away.

In other words, the person has a problem with God and not with those people. Many times the problem is that they know God expects them to forgive some wrong done to them, and they refuse to do it.(2)

I mean, if it were *just* a matter of some sort of evil or unedifying behavior, they could just treat this as a signal they need to find better company to keep. Turning away from God definitely implies there was more to it than that.

On the other hand, this is a great opportunity for me (and if God so wills, anyone who reads this) to examine ourselves, to see if we are still in the faith.(3) There are many subtle ways of falling away which may not be visible to the outside observer...

Or to put it another way, when we see other people's imperfections, it is a great opportunity to be mindful of our own and take the log out of our eyes, that we may see aright to remove the speck from someone else's.(4)

Kyrie eleison.
Lord, have mercy.

Answer 3

Even though I'm not a former Christian (I'm actually a rather new Christian), may I answer your question?

If the answer is no, ignore the rest of my answer. =P

I think loyalty to Jesus should come above all else, including denominations. I actually just read something about this the other day in 1 Timothy. Hang on:

Ok, in 1 Timothy 1:3-7 Paul talks about men who have digressed from the core of the Word of God and instead focused on controversies and theological doctrines. He says that arguing about details of the Bible just leads us away from the Scriptures and can cause us to miss the intent of God's message. When denominations form and adhere to their own set of theological doctrines and practices, choosing thereby to risk bickering - or worse - with other denominations, they run the same risk of creating unecessary controversies and distracting from the true message of Christianity.

What's a new believer, searcher, agnostic, etc. to think when confronted with such a plethora of beliefs, all claiming the same foundation? It's intimidating, at the very best. At the worst, it chases some people away from Jesus. And that is one of the worst things a Christian can do. I can't remember the verse off the top of my head, but Paul - in another book - admonishes (mature) Christians who act as stumbling blocks for those young in the faith, or those still searching. We are to be aware of our actions and image, because that greatly affects all others searching for Jesus.

I see denominational splits as a representation of this very act Paul warned us about. My pastor will mention on occasion that "God doesn't care what our denomination is." And neither should we. When we put denominations above Jesus, we're showing the world how we are still ruled by our sinful flesh, falling prey to our pride and arrogance rather than submitting to Jesus completely.

Of course, in James (I believe that's the correct book) we're forewarned that the believers will split into denominations. That still doesn't make it acceptable. I see denominational splits as one of the worst aspects of Christianity, and many of the theological doctrines or traditions/observances required by some denominations can actually serve to distance an individual from God, rather than help him or her cultivate a better, more personal relationship with him.

If I could choose one major revamp for Christianity, it would be the elimination of all denominations. I must apologize for the contempt and arrogance this displays, as it shows that I prefer my own non-denominational Christianity to the denominational Christianity you mention, and I know that's wrong of me. But I truly think it would be for the betterment of Christianity and of humanity in general of we could work to eliminate these internal differences. They only drive us apart, in a world that does that more than enough for us...

By the way, to answer your "real" question, the one in parentheses, I would say that although it is a personal cop-out, many former Christians do have a somewhat legitimate reason to blame a specific denomination for their ultimate failure to follow Jesus. Like I mentioned earlier in my answer, that specific denomination may have acted as a stumbling block and ultimately been responsible for that individual turning from God. I don't think that completely eliminates personal responsibility, but even the Word of God tells us that that's possible, and does happen. It's sad, isn't it...

Answer 4

If you remain 'loyal' to any religion without truly believing in it is that really loyalty or merely lip service. I left christianity of my own freewill - no one coerced me, twisted my arm. I do not blame anyone. I just did not believe what I was being told. Simple as that.

You ask how can someone turn their back on God. Well I believe that there is more than one deity. I believe in the existence of the christian deity but I do not believe in the religion itself. I do not look at it as I turned my back on that deity, if I had done so in my own opinion than I would completely deny their existence, but I just chose another path to spirituality.

Answer 5

I was brought up in a very religious house. I left the church because at a certain point, I could no longer believe that, if this world was indeed created by a divine being, that being was deserving of praise.

Once I left, it was a relief to no longer be guilty, even by association, of the hatred and hypocrisy of the religious right.

Answer 6

How does that saying go again? "Unless you've walked a mile in a man's shoes, you'll never know where he's been..." or something to that effect.

I'm an ex-Catholic, one who was born and raised as one, and I was surrounded by a loving and devout family that came from generations of the same faith. I was such an adept that I, too, had that calling for priesthood when I joined the [SVD] Seminary in my early youth. But it didn't take long until I saw a hint of light from total obscurity that surrounded me.

That was what precipitated my spiritual quest for the Truth when I found no satisfactory answers within its hallowed halls decades ago and I decided to open my mind as a Freethinker.

I took the scenic route in my adventurous journey, visiting the major ports of religions and spending enough time to learn all I could muster about the different ideologies, philosophies and doctrines of Teachers and Prophets including the likes of Moses, Buddha, Lao Tze, Confucius, Mohammed, Zarathustra, Gandhi, and others.

And I did find a common thread in all their teachings with that of the Greatest Prophet of them all, Yeshua Messiah / Jesus Christ [PBUH], one that I had been quite familiar all along. They all spoke of Love, Peace, and Justice.

Hope was always at hand and thankfully I was guided by the Beacon of Light in the process, one that guided me in my hours of darkness as I sought knowledge and asked for wisdom.

For indeed I unearthed a litany of the ERRORS of her ways that run afoul and CONTRARY to the Holy Bible. I eschewed the RCChurch outright for ALL its errors of commission and errors of ommission. Admittedly, I was hurt and deceived by its LIES, FALSE DOCTRINES and TEACHINGS as well as being shocked at all the ATROCITIES perpetrated by the Church and had kept hidden from the billions of its faithful over the last 1700 years.

It behooves each of us to "PROVE ALL THINGS; hold fast that which is good. ABSTAIN FROM ALL appearances of EVIL," as it is written. And it is with these principles that I decided to walk out the front doors of the Church and never looked back since...

Spiritually, I now belong the Brotherhood as we commune and follow The Law according to the sevenfold teaching of Yeshua Messiah. Praise be upon Him!

God is Good and God is Merciful. Glory be to God forever!!

Peace be with you!

Answer 7

GREETINGS!...You are wise beyond many!!!!!!...Salvation is a one-on-one relationship between you and GOD! Not your minister,your boyfriend,family,cousins,buddies,girlfriends...As far as those who have turned from the Faith,take heart...GOD is overflowing in love and mercy...And furthermore,He is not interested in LOSING us--He is trying to SAVE US! But for a reason!--We are to RULE with Christ over this Earth-and THEN the UNIVERSE! This requires intense training! If you were to be ROYAL,then you would be put through a Royal Training Course! Nothing would be left to CHANCE! This Christian Life is to train you how to behave for eternity! GOD is Royal,and He expects His children to become as He is! Those who lazily just "accept Christ" and continue hurting,abusing others and themselves are in for a rude awakening! We are to REPLACE SATAN over this Earth like Christ did! This is Biblical and true! Everything else is fairy-airy tales and lullabye stories....Phantom of Truth

Answer 8

I know that i cannot live my life in a lie. I did not choose Taoism it chose me. Balance harmony and self defense when neccesary. I follow the Way of Tao. Taoism called itself the Way long before christianity. I find that most christians are very uneducated and very unspiritual. not being concieted just brutally honest.