I was born and baptized in a catholic church. My father was catholic and my mother protestant ....she switched to the Church of God which is Christian but has few followers. She explained to me that the rules of church's are always changing and she doesnt believe these people have the right to make these changes. Why does it seem like in order to believe in God you have to be a part of some religion or church? Can't I just believe?
2006-07-20 03:45:04 · 12 answers · asked by akiastatz 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
yeah, Jesus said that you dont have to be in a church to pray. The belief comes from your heart and from your soul. You don't need a middle man to be there. It would be best to have a direct connection to him.
Churches are businesses now. They rack in so much money yearly, its unbelievable. Whats worse, these priests swore an oath of poverty. Yet they have lavishing homes and fancy cars. They live better than most people. That to me is F'd up!
Im not religious by any means. But to be hyprocrite is the worst thing they can do. They need to practice what they preach!
2006-07-20 03:51:20 · answer #1 · answered by Mac 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Believing is not enough. You must hear the Word of God, as every human should eat something, therefore you must go to a church or be in a group study. Church means group of people.
As more and more sectarians pop out like mushrooms, it is difficult to know the sincerity of the church and it's committee.
Believing in God is not enough, we should live our life for Him.
Repentance, Constant Prayer, read the Bible for more support as it is the sole source of people who believe in our God. and spreading the Gospel not only by evangalizing but by being an example.
Best English version is the New King James Version, though it is not in modern layman's words- the message is somewhat obvious. Most verses can be counter checked in other verses of other books within.- this version is the most unbiased of all- nearest to the orginal language... check it's history at the preface of every N.K.J. versions.
Read / research through the net about other churches (but first pray for wisddom, to avoid being led astray)
2006-07-20 10:59:25 · answer #2 · answered by Greenolivia 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All church's probably should run more efficiently like a business,only for the mere fact that so much more is at sake.
The human soul and spirit are paramount to God.
We do not need a building to build our belief system,how ever for spiritual growth we do need a place to gather to learn from one another.
The bible say that all the goodness of God works by love,so where do we learn how to love?
we learn how to truly love by interaction,fellowship,etc.
If we want to be a proper vessel for God to use, we must be sharp to help someone else become aware of the presence of God,so we need to be sharp at what we are doing.The bible Say's "iron sharpens iron"
Prov 27:17
Take it from me if you've ever been a part of a church before you've got to know that there's no better place to work on your love than being next to another believer......(smile)
My point is that the believers need one another and we do need the resources to out reach to those who are in need of help.
Also understand church's do have to pay rent and other expenses.
So show a little mercy for God's church(smile) It's not perfect but one day we are all going to need it.
peace out.
2006-07-20 12:01:52 · answer #3 · answered by tomio 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well sure, why not ?
I mean before you believed, did you attend a church or was it before you went to a church, did you believe ?
The main thing is to know in your heart, right ?
But if you dont go to church you may lose what you have, or have been given.
2006-07-20 11:01:11 · answer #4 · answered by Catt 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think that lot of churches run more like a business,especially Catholic church,it is like some corporation,fighting for their buildings,estates and so on...here where i live they have big influence,they receive money from lot of ppl,and they are very close to the ppl who run our country,politicians.i think it is awful,church and religion shouldnt have no connections with state.it is abusive towards other religion.personally i was born in Catholic religion,as most of ppl here.but i dont believe in it,mostly cos of church and bible.sometimes i question god,but i m not yet sure if he exists or not...for me,i mean.if some1 thinks opposite,i wouldnt wanna offend him...
2006-07-20 10:55:34 · answer #5 · answered by shinka 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God wants us to not only believe, but to also worship. We are told to be around people of similar beliefs, pray and worship together. Believing is just one thing, accepting Christ as Lord and Saviour, living for him, putting him first and praising him are very important to a Christian faith.
2006-07-20 10:52:05 · answer #6 · answered by jah live 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can just believe, but we also were commanded to gather together:
HEBREWS
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised;
24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another;.....
The book of Timothy gives the order of the church and how it should conduct itself.
2006-07-20 11:02:07 · answer #7 · answered by righton 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, churches that are run like a business are not true churches of God. A true church of God is run by the Holy Spirit in accordance with the guidelines given in the Bible. Here is a link to the beliefs that the church I attend operates under.
http://www.alcf.net/pages/page.asp?page_id=2541
Secondly, while a person has a personal relationship with God that is independent of their affiliation with other people, when they are born again by the Spirit they are given gifts to be used in the body of Christ and so a believer is called to worship and fellowship with other believers.
1 Corinthians 12:4 Now there are varieties of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are varieties of activities, but the same God works all in all. 7 But to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the profit of all). 8 For to one is given a word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another a word of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 and to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another discerning of spirits, and to another different kinds of tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 12 For just as the body is one and has many parts, but all the parts of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and we were all given to drink into one Spirit.
2006-07-20 10:54:32 · answer #8 · answered by Martin S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only true religion is a relationship with God, through His Son, Jesus Christ. Just believing is probably the best thing you could do, because as the website www.jesus-is-lord.com puts it, "religion didn't die for you".
2006-07-20 10:52:13 · answer #9 · answered by Nowhere Man 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Churches are businesses! And I believe that where ever you are practicing love and forgiveness is where your temple is.
2006-07-20 10:49:44 · answer #10 · answered by lonna b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋