I am a Christian, but I am done with Religion, anyone else to that point?

Question

I spent my life doing and being a good church girl. Eventually all I see is obcession with a way of life. Obcession with appearences. Isolation between churchie people and non churched people. Christians who think their attendence to church makes or breaks them. People who die for misdirected allegiences.the conservative right wing scares the crap outta me. Anyone else feel this way?

Answer 1

be done with religion, it is man made to confuse and control.

But do keep believing in Jesus, follow is 10 commandments, when broken down, are nothing more than common sense laws to keep you on the straight path.
Pray to Jesus and let him lead and guide you.

You will then view things in a lighter way and won't feel so overwhelmed and disillusioned.

I wish you all the best.

Answer 2

If you can show me anywhere in the Bible where 'doing good and going to church' makes you a Christian, then I'll accept your reasoning. Being a Christian is ultimately about ONE thing - accepting Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Good acts and going to church FOLLOWS from this. They are not the PRECURSORS, nor are they the definition of being a Christian.

'Obsession with a way of life'. That's certainly one way of looking at it. If you truly had the love of Christ in your heart, you would have a great love, if not obsession, with seeking to live a life that seeks after the way of Christ. Faith without works is dead; works without faith is false religion. Sounds like perhaps you have not actually accepted Christ as your Savior - as another here as mentioned.

As for the other things you mentioned, well the church is full of people who are not actually Christians, people who think that simply going to church and maybe reading the Bible here and there is all it takes. Those people are in for a VERY rude awakening come judgement day. Besides, the Bible itself tells you that all those things will be found in the church as in other areas of your life. This is predominantly the kind of stuff that Paul is always talking about in the epistles of the New Testament. Have you actually READ your Bible? The Bible also tells us that in the end times - which few could argue we have entered - MANY churches will become apostate - that is, they will fall away from the Truth, become filled with false worship, false beliefs, preoccupied with the 'ways of the world', just as you have witnessed.

As for the 'consertive right wing', whatever it is that scares you, political parties should have no bearing on your faith walk. Your faith walk may guide your political beliefs, however.

Regardless, in spite of ALL that you have mentioned here, I cannot imagine ANYTHING that would cause you to deny Christ, if you ever truly accepted him. In the right context, WHO CARES what OTHER people do or don't do with respect to the Christian faith? Are you really prepared to throw away your own salvation because of the actions of others? If so, there are not words to describe such foolishness and ignorance.

If you have truly accepted Christ, then know that ..."you are the light of the world, a city that is set upon a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand that it may give light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see YOUR good works and glorify YOUR Father who is in heaven..." (From Mathew - the words of Christ from the Sermon on the Mount)

Answer 3

I went through the same internal battles from age 18 to 28. I spent those 10 years reading a lot, learning what was true about christianity and what was false, based on the evidence - not based on emotions or faith. Finally I decided to reject all religions. Another 10 years passed. I was empty inside, but had no way to fill the hole. While I have kept one or two remnants of my former upbringing, they just recently have coalesced into a new beleif. One that uses reason and logic instead of emotion.

Its called DEISM.

And I love it. freedom at last. No more guilt - until the next time my religious mother starts preaching at me again.

Answer 4

I'm the same way, I live as a Christian but feel that "religion" has totally trashed society. Just look at all the death that has occured due to religion. The inqusition, Jihads, hate crimes against other religions and ways of life. All in the name of God. It makes me sick. I keep my religion to myself and do not judge ANYBODY and I mean ANYBODY!!!! I just pray and live as I believe I should in order to do the most good in this world. I never go to church and never will. I know SO many "religious" people that are going straight to hell when they die and don't even know it. They really think that they can condemn others, judge and do horrible things to other people, and really think they are saved just because they read a book re-written by political up-risers and go to church, tithing to make some church leader rich. Sorry for the diatribe, I could go on for pages :-)

Answer 5

I felt that way when I was younger. Opressed by the CHURCH and feeling guilty for just being human. For awhile I became agnostic, but then I found Wicca and through it a path to the celtic pagan beliefs which are more about understanding that you will make mistakes and that all you can try to do is the best you can, and it was like a heavy burden lifted off my shoulders. Now I'm not saying that my religion is what everyone else should follow and I respect the religion of others, until they try to force it upon me. All that I can say is that what ever your religion just try to be the best person you can. It's the least anyone of us should be willing to give, and the most anyone has the right to expect.


Blessed Be.

Answer 6

No, but I could understand why you'd feel that way.

The events of 9-11 have many people looking at religion negatively, especially since the men who hijacked the planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon claimed that they were doing it on God's behalf.

But rather than look at religion as a whole in that way I study God's Word the Bible closely. It fortold of a time when people would be wrapped up in themselves, have no natural affection towards others, be fierce and have a form of godly devotion but prove false to its power (2 Tim 3:16); with the world like this I'm not surprised at all that you or anyone else feel that religion's full of bologna.

I have decided to let God through the Bible guide me in my everyday life. I'm not perfect but I try to live up as much as I can to the Bible's principles in serving my God as best as I can. I do it because I want to serve God out of my love for him, not to make myself look good.

As for the conservative right wing...well I'm neutral to the world's affairs and look to God for all the answers instead of imperfect humans. Eventually the world will be full of righteous people who'll enjoy peace under God's arrangement. (Ps 37:11, 29)

Answer 7

First mistake was putting everything into the church. You won't find God in a church or anywhere in the outside world. The kingdom of heaven is within. (As quoted by Jesus). Sincere seeking and a sincere desire for truth is always answered. Don't be a sheep. Keep searching and the answers will come.

Answer 8

I have to agree with you, church can be that way with "holier than thou" attitudes, obsession with dress and how you conduct your life, and who you are friends with, etc. And I'm a Christian that goes to church anyway, and tries to teach others how God looks at the heart and not the outward things that people are too quick to look at first. As Christians mature, they break away from that stuff anyway, but piety comes from mentorship and guidance and the work of the Holy Spirit, not from jamming laws down someone's throat.

Answer 9

As a pastor, I would ask you to prayerfully reconsider your decision. If your church does not match your spiritual needs, it probably is an indication that, to use the Exodus metaphor, the cloud has lifted in front of y ou and God is calling you onwards. If you are this insightful when you are leaving, then I would guess many churches would be thrilled with such when you are entering. Keep your childlike thirst for authenticity and don't let the childish actions of others dictate your direction. Please trust me, they aren't worth it.

Answer 10

Candy K,
I agree with you and I say the same thing: "I am a Christian, but I am not a religious person, I don't agree with religion."
"Religion" came from Latin "re-ligare" which signifies to link again with GOD, through my acceptance of Jesus sacrifice and God´s grace and love.
But somewhere in the history of the church of Christ, this meaning changed. It became a symbol of prejudice, egoism, hypocrisy, persecution, brother killing brother, etc., like a political party or a basketball team. After this came religious wars, etc.
So, although I participate actively in my church activities, I am faithfull not to a religion, but only to God whom I serve, whom I love. And this I do loving the human beings Jesus died for.
Sorry, it is late here (I´m in Brazil) and I´m going to bed now!
May God bless you.