do you feel that someone that is a Christian but doesn't affiliate with a organized religion is messed up?

Question

my husband who is catholic, thinks because I dont affiliate myself with a RELIGION,(actually HIS religion) I am "f----d up".
I think that I am MORE Christian that he is, as he doesnt practice what he hears in that church at all, nor does he believe in the 10 commandments.
what do you think/beleive?

Answer 1

No, I don't feel they are messed up. I think it is more important to go by the Bible than by what some organization is trying to teach. But the Bible does say to congregate with other believers. And if he is not going to believe in the 10 Commandments, than I don't know why he bothers. The Bible is not something you can just pick and choose from. If you are going to believe part of its a lie, than why follow any of it?

Answer 2

A very general answer on my part:

I think Christians all come to God individually (i.e., the decision is made within each person's "heart," not by a group), and many of us find God "off the beaten path" outside the context of organized religion.

Church / Denominational faith doesn't make us Christians, a personal commitment to honor and love and serve God above all else does.

But Christianity is also based on community. God is a communal God (the Trinity is a community), and the deeper we go, the more God invites us into community with himself and others. A desire grows to be involved with other people.

So I guess I am saying that organized religion is not a requirement, and sometimes the church setting can foster the things that are "bad" about religion (falseness, control, expectations, etc.); but a maturing Christian usually feels a growing need to worship and share with other believers (i.e., a church context, and maybe even small group context).

That's been my experience. As a kid, I found church pointless and dry and irrelevant. In my late 20's, I really found myself desiring to share with and encourage other believers, and I also felt part of the community when we worshiped together.

I don't think you need to attend or affiliate yourself officially with a church... but as you deepen, you'll probably feel a desire to connect with other believers... and when you feel it, plunge ahead.

Answer 3

Christians are famous for being judgemental.
Your husband could use some Christian charity and humbleness.Sounds like he is struggling with his faith. Sometimes what you believed as a child, abandons you as an adult or you abandon it. Catholics have a hard time, because what they believe is difficult to keep up in the real world, and there is nothing big enough to replace it.
And why are you competing as to who is more Christian? How childish is that? You could use some charity and humbleness and forgiveness, too.
Which of the commandments doesn't he keep to your specifications? Who died and made you his judge?
My advice is for you to be the best person you know how to be and let him be the best person he knows how to be, and HELP each other, instead of competing and beating each other up over something you actually have in common.
He could be Buddhist or you could be an atheist, then you'd have something to argue about.
What are you really arguing about? He doesn't respect you, right? You don't respect him, right. He is abusive and rigid? You are a whiner?
Go see a marriage counsellor while you still care.Good luck

Answer 4

I think that God knows what is in your heart and that is what counts and not any man made organized religion. Church is great for those who need the community of it, but really your relationship is a personal and private thing and between you and God. I don't think you get any "brownie points" for attending a church. What counts is how you lead your life and how you treat others and that you believe in God.

If he does not even believe in the Ten Commandments then he himself is not a very good Catholic either. Let him tell his priest that and see what kind of reaction he gets. Sounds very hypocritical to me and not very Christian like..

Remember you can pray at any place and at any time not just in a church. And you do not have to be a member of any church or any religion to be a Christian and act like one.

Answer 5

I believe that a relationship with Christ is more important than identifying with an *organized religion*. If you have Christ in your heart, communicate with him daily and read your bible, then that is what counts most.

Having said that, it is important to attend a well balanced church where you will have a pastor to help guard your soul. There's lots of benefits to being a part of a church. Like meeting friends that are in like faith so that you can keep each other strong.

Salvation, has much as we want to believe otherwise, is not bases on your behavior but based on your belief in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Once you accept him, you will begin to change the old ways.

Be careful not to be self righteous and judge your husband for you can't judge his heart. Only God can do that.

Answer 6

Organized religions are cults, my dear, not to mention the fact that they are full of hipocrits. I think you're just fine staying away from any organized religion.

As for your husband, he can step off his self-righteous soap box, get a clue and stop being so narrow-minded. My ex boyfriend is the same way (we're still "friends"). I am "f****d up" because I believe that god loves us all no matter what religion we follow or don't follow and forgives us for the bad things we do because god created us to be exactly the way we are. Meanwhile, he is always talking about how miserable he is, how much he hates god for the things that have happened to him in his life, and regardless of how many times he goes to church he can NEVER see the positive sides to his life. It's very frustrating.

Keep your distance from religions - all they want to do is brainwash people and try to justify their actions by throwing their bible in people's faces when in reality - they know absolutely nothing about the true nature of god - they only know what they have been told by other people who have made their own assessments of the nature of god by reading a book that was written by men with agendas long long long ago.

I could go on, but I won't because it'll be hard for me to stop. :)

Answer 7

take note that there is a difference between a religion and a religious group.
One who believes in Jesus and him being the messiah is a Christian.
I am christian, though I don't attend church because I've felt that many ofthe churches I have attended in the last five years have done more harm than good.
Regardless of "the church" what happens with someone's faith has nothing to do with preachers and buildings. It is between the individual and God, with nothing in between. Preachers are there to guide people in their spiritual walk but he has no right to pass judgement on anyone, in their church or not.

Answer 8

I am a Christian but dont affiliate with any organized religion, and I get crap for it all the time from my Baptist friends. I think we are fine, maybe more so than the people who insist on living only by a pastor, priest, or congregations ideals of belief.

Answer 9

I am totally like you. So, of course, I don't think you're messed up.

I've been told I act more Christian than most who go to church regularly. I just got tired of having a biased opinion shoved down my throat when I'd rather interpret and practice the things I feel are right.

Answer 10

No, I am there.
After being born into organized religion, checking out a lot of denominations, seeing the man made doctrine differ from church to church, seeing the hate & bigotry, and the narrow minded partakers, I choose to worship with my friends.
where in the Bible does it say to go into that edifice, just worship with like minded people, if my understanding is on the mark.