Feeling like a Methodist hypocrite.?

Question

I was wondering if anyone had any advice. I have a 2 yr old daughter, who I have just started bringing to church. It is hard to find the motivation each week. I believe in God, but I'm not a big fan of organized religion. I fear the bible has been changed by too much input from men through the years, to be taken very literally. My feeling aside, I want my daughter to learn the Christian values, so prevalent in our culture (USA) & be able to decide for herself whether or not she chooses to believe later. I also want her to grow up as part of one church community. My husband's family bounced from church to church as he was growing up & he has issues about it.
I am happy with the church, everyone is nice & the kids are very involved. The church is does lots of great charities & outreach that doesn't involve trying to convert people. But I feel like a total hypocrite. Every Sunday I am "worshiping" with people who think I am like them & I feel like a fraud. Any serious advice?

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has answered so far (14). I really expected to get more people yelling at me or trollish answers about my daughter. People on the parenting section are generally much meaner. Thank you! I am literally blinking back tears. and I will try ALL of the suggested reading.

Answer 1

This is going to seem strange but I will first tell you that even though we get up on sunday morning and go to church and see the people their and worship that is only one part of being a Christian though many of us believe that's what it is all about. See The Lord wants to have a relationship with us. Like the relationship you have with your husband. See the Lord wants us to know that He is real not because we go to church and hear about Him but because we are seeking Him and calling out to Him and He resonds in only the way He can. What I am saying is that the things that are happening to you on the inside are something that if you begin to search in the word of God and seek a deeper understanding of who He is you will realize that it isn't about what we do it's about who He is. God is God and if we all could realize that we are saved from hell and have eternity to spend with Jesus, then we would look more at getting to know Him. Lastly I have to tell you that I use to believe the bible has been tampered with but I want you to know that if we don't believe the whole Word we won't ever have Victory in our life. That's why we can't just go to church listen to the preacher and continue on living. Me and you have to read the Word of God and apply it to our life and our circumstances and then you will know that man can not live on bread alone but on every Word of God. Put the Word in practice and you will do more than just feel better you will be changed completly. Remember religion is the practice of something but a relationship with God through Jesus Christ is forever you know Him and He knows you. Don't be afraid to talk with Him and ask Him to strengthen you and give you guidance, He will. Just remeber that everything we ask the Father for we do in the name of Jesus. I will be praying for yuo right now be blessed and remember God loves you so much, you are very special to Him. God Bless you...

Answer 2

I can understand what you are saying, But I also understand why you are so confused... First off lets clear this up... Your loyalty should not be to the church but to God... And yes all sects are created by man... Like the Catholic, Baptize, Methodist, Lutheran and all the rest were the creation of man... Now as for the Bible, It was the Catholic Church and its Popes That held an convocation, Where they decided that they are the current power house and the bible should lean in their direction. So their Popes decided to remove pages,chapters, and entire book from the bible. And since they were the major church of that time period, They were able to get away with one of the greatest crimes ever commited...... The Catholic Church also stated that they had had Gods permission to remove all of those parts of the bible and correct them the way God ordered them to which turns out to be another crime committed against the people.... Now that we covered that area lets try to cover this area.... Whatever is left of the bible is enough to tell us what God expect of us and getting to know God and Jesus is just one of those things.... Now whatever method you use to do that is forgiven up to the point that you start following your church and not God...... Remember that your church is just a gathering place where people get together and allow God to walk amoung them.. And all to many churches have forgotten that aspect... And becomes more involved in their collection plate.... And all that does is add to your confusion. But remember this your heart and mind is also a gathering place for God... So you must never allow any church to confuse those issues in you again ..... I do hope that I was able to help in some small way... Good Luck and always choose God over any church............................

Answer 3

God bless you, Laurie, because you are probably more honest than some of the people in church--yes, the greatest part are hypocrites hiding secret sins.

I wouldn´t go to church because I smoked and drank, but later found the truth. Wish I had believed sooner, so hang in there.

Do not doubt God´s word in the least. God has preserved His Bible, and Jesus said we must live on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

First, Laurie, you must not divide your attentions with Him. That is, watch ¨soaps¨instead of studying His word. You need to take an active part in the Methodist Church. They have many truths, and it´s founder, John Wessley, was a impeccable worker and saint for Jesus. Just remember that God will be calling His saints out of all churches in the future because religious bigotry will rise again.

To help you with doubt, I suggest you read a Bible code unfolded at http://abiblecode.tripod.com It will reveal to you God´s plan for this time of history.

Blessings, Balaam

Answer 4

I would advise you read about the people of book which are three Judaism, Islam, and Christianity via people in your community. If you doubts and have an open minded want to learn about another religion it is source you get information from is most important for you and your daughter. You are getting knowledge but you have decide in your heart and be sincere in what you want. And know the God is most merciful and forgiving of sins that humanity commits. If you need more information you can email at [e-mail] that is your decision. religion is compulsory and what we see on TV by media is always negative and never positive it bias and only represents a few that want to distort the religion and interpret the religion wrongly. take care. good luck. God with us all and only God can show us the straight path to Him. Having one Holy Book from God will clear up the confusion and doubt you have.

Answer 5

Sure
Find a church where the pastor is adult enough and a nice enough guy so you can tell him this,. Mine ( independent Baptist) would smile at you say okay and let you be =- if you have questions ask them. I think it is almost impossible to find a church today which has a good teaching ministry and does not want to control you. We have people from town who come becaue the people here welcome them as human beings and dont view them as statistics. I agree there are too many Bible versions around but the message is clear. Man is imperfect and unable to reach perfection,. To allow man to be with God, God stooped down and became one of us.
The Methodist church is pretty liberal / apostate these days but there are good men and women in all the churches. If you feel comfortable you can email me and let me know where you are State and City and I wil try and find one nearby for you. You want an independent small and loving fellowship which draws you to them because of their love. If you don't feel able to share your scars with them then that is not the right church,. You will know the right church when you feel loved and they dont ask you stupid questions. God go with you and your daughter. He will provide the fellowship if you ask Him,. And you dont have to get all Holy or embarrassed to pray - just get yourself alone into the den and ask Him.ok.
I know a lot of people in a lot of States so don't feel pressurised and I will respect your wishes and anonymity. My father was a Methodist Minister. I left the church as it was too liberal and still is so I go to a Baptist church but i will not join it as I dont see anywhere Jesus asks you to join anything. God be with you.

Answer 6

Try worshiping God as a Christian and attend the church. Being Christian involves obeying God and enjoying fellowship with like believers. Not rigid conformity. It's ok to differ in beliefs.

Answer 7

The Bible is still true, the problem is often man will take a scripture here or a scripture there and teach it as doctrine. You need to examine what they are teaching to see if it lines up with the Bible using all of the scriptures for that subject.
No matter what church you go to, you need to examine what is being taught to see if it lines up with God's word, if not then find a church that does.

Answer 8

My serious advice is that you first of all get to the heart of your own self..meaning what do you believe in ..Christ the Son of God? risen savior? have you confessed to him that you are a sinner in need of a savior and have you asked him to fill you with the spirit? God has promised us a new heart and a new spirit and it is only then.."the new birth".."born again" that we have a life in Christ. He works it out after that once you truly believe and seek him you will find him. God wants a relationship not some empty worship...when we come to him we must believe. So that is the first thing you need to do once you nail that down in your spirit and mind, then rededicate yourself to him and I would suggest a bible teaching church, one that adheres to the bible as the word of God.

Answer 9

It sounds to me that going to church does not have much connection to a relationship with Jesus; it's just something you think you should do. Lacking motivation to participate in dead religious activity is really not abnormal. It's boring and it isn't fun.

There are 2 things you can do to get rid of feeling like a hypocrite:

1) Find out what relationship with the LIVING God is really all about. God is not a concept, He is a person, and He wants to be more involved with your everyday life. He is not just for what takes place in a church building; He is for your life when you go shopping or do the dishes or have dinner with your family. Read "The Practice of the Presence of God" by Brother Lawrence (I'm not Roman Catholic--this book is for everyone).

2) Find a church which feels alive with God's Holy Spirit, which isn't just about people acting nice and doing good works, but is about bringing the messiness of ourselves and our lives before God and turning everything over to His touch.

The Christian life is not about "being good;" it's about accepting God's provision for us through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, and it's about being in relationship with God just as we are--human, imperfect, messy, broken, needy, in love with the Lover of our souls, our Creator who delights to be in relationship with us.

Answer 10

Pray. Talk to God and listen to what He says to you. Forget about what organized religion says about how to worship. What God wants is a personal relationship with you, and you can't get that if you stick to dogma and ceremonies that most churches have. Priests and pastors should advise and support you, not tell you how to behave or think. Trust in God that He will reveal to you how best to know Him.