If your faith is your own, why do the churches keep trying to tell people what to do?

Answer 1

Faith defined is; trust in the existence, promise, and provision of God. If faith is my own, then it is designed by me. I believe true faith is trust in Someone who is worthy of that trust. Not because I made something up, but because He has revealed Himself to me.

The role of the church, the thing Christians are called to do, is to tell others of the work God does in their lives. In this way, we share in the will of God toward His creation. Granted, some Christians use poor methods to accomplish this or worse, assume their will is God's will, but in their eyes, they are serving God in this way.

http://judgeright.blogspot.com

Answer 2

Hi Sara,

A church is a place where believers come together to grow in God. It is your own personal faith in that you can accept or reject what is being taught. If it is a good church- they will teach God's word- and it is up to you to follow it.

Your question is similar to asking if America is a free country why does my boss tell me what to do? Having your own faith- means that you make your own choices. The church is there to encourage people to make the right choices (by following God's word). They are there to encourage people to Godly living...

Yes there are those who just accept everything there church tells them and do not study God's word, but that does not take away from whether or not it is truthful. i think people expect church to be a place where they will hear God's message and be encouraged towards Godly living (even some of my non-believing friends go to church for this reason- they expect that they will learn something about how God can make them a better person). And so i don't think it's a silly thing for churches to instruct people through God's word.

Hope that helps,

Nickster

Answer 3

If you go to a good Bible believing Church, they're going to try to teach you what the Bible says. After all, the Bible is the Word of God. What I've seen from allot of people here, they have a concept that there is a God, but they try to put their own attributes on Him. They try to mold what their concept of God should be. What they are doing is creating a false idol, and heading towards Hell, If I saw you walking in the dark, and you were heading towards a cliff, I'd try to stop you before you reached the edge. Christians are trying to stop non-believers before they fall off the edge.

Answer 4

you need to be a little more clear on this question if you ask questions about religion be specific.i have my own faith but am a catholic they do not tell me what to do.i believe in a lot that they do but some i dont.so if you let them tell you what to do then u dont have your own faith.

Answer 5

Because judeo christian religion is about interacting with a community of believers. Not just sitting in your room with your faith, all by yourself.

Faith is about personal change and growth, and about making decisions about how to interact with others.

Churches are supposed to help and guide you to make good decisions in your relationships and better choices with your life.

The fact that you honestly are confused about this absolutely mystifies me.

Answer 6

The bible is the authority! It is not the church that makes the rules, but rather making sure they are observe correctly....
Scripture says" many is the way that seems right to man, but leads only to death".
God became flesh through Jesus, that we may have life, and have it abundantly.

Answer 7

Because people put their faith in the wrong things.

Answer 8

As a Lutheran I have a personal faith that is part of a larger general statement of faith as expressed below.
It's not telling you what to do, the church is expressing it's belief system and teachings based on it's history and biblical texts. You can choose to accept it or find something else..
This church confesses the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
This church confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe
- Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnate, through whom
everything was made and through whose life, death, and
resurrection God fashions a new creation.
- The proclamation of God's message to us as both Law and Gospel
is the Word of God, revealing judgment and mercy through word
and deed, beginning with the Word in creation, continuing in the
history of Israel, and centering in all its fullness in the person and
work of Jesus Christ.
- The canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the
written Word of God. Inspired by God's Spirit speaking through
their authors, they record and announce God's revelation centering
in Jesus Christ. Through them God's Spirit speaks to us to create
and sustain Christian faith and fellowship for service in the
world.
This church accepts the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of its proclamation, faith, and life.
This church accepts the Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds as true declarations of the faith of this church.
This church accepts the Unaltered Augsburg Confession as a true witness to the Gospel, acknowledging as one with it In faith and doctrine all churches that likewise accept the teachings of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.
This church accepts the other confessional writings in the Book of Concord, namely, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles and the Treatise, the Small Catechism, the Large Catechism, and the Formula of Concord, as further valid interpretations of the faith of the Church.
This church confesses the Gospel, recorded in the Holy Scriptures and confessed in the ecumenical creeds and Lutheran confessional writings, as the power of God to create and sustain the Church for God's mission in the world.




© Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Answer 9

I see it more like a helpdesk. If you get in trouble, get in contact with the local church. They might have the answers you need.

Answer 10

Because there's a need for it. Some people don't know how to be without directions.