Question to fundemetalist or evangelical christians.?

Question

When I was in the evangelical church I found that while people preached about freedom they in fact created a whole bunch of rules and regulations.
They were thinly veiled as "the right way to live" but in fact they were more like absolute laws.

I am talking about, no swearing, no gambleing, no drinking (maybe 1), if you dont have a TV your spiritual, no sex before marraige. Better give minimum of 10% gross or chapter 11.

I know Jesus is the way to salvation however with these groups I found that was only part of it because people wanted to socialize you into their group and make everyone the same.

People would talk about evangelism but it was really apologetics or trying to convince someone that they are going to hell.

Has anyone else had a similar experience. Not all Christians are like this but a lot seem to be. And of course they turn a lot of people against God and them and call it persecution.

In fact its just a response to obnoxious behavior that anyone wouldget

Why do they act like this. Who is teaching them.

The main response I get is that Jesus pointed out what was wrong with the world but he DIDNT.

He pointed out that the Fundementalists in the Jewish Religion had set up LAWS and RULES that were too burdensome for people to bear.

If he was here today he would be overturning churches that have become billion dollar marketplaces.

Why do fundementalists think they are doing Jesus will when in fact they are often (not always) the very mentality that he came to abolish.

If Jesus walked the earth today he would be in bars with drunks and whores and not there to try and convert them and have them come to some church. He would be there to revel the reality of Gods Kingdom.

Why oh Why do these groups not get that.

Thats my question, you can call it love but its not, its not Christlike.

People flocked to Jesus the only people that didnt were the religious people who killed him.

Already I have these muppets with their stupid responses.

I love Jesus and I got to a church however I cant get over some of the people who respond.

I could debate most of them into pieces and although I do believe most of what they do I find the expression appauling.

I look at myself and I know I need a savior, I really do and I am glad I have one.

some of these guys act like they are doing well enough on their own.

Answer 1

church goers dont know how to answer questions about their faith. that is why they make rules, and rules must be followed .rule no 1 dont ask funny questions of why .just believe.

Answer 2

Wow - I've been in my church for years and have never been told I shouldn't have a TV. The other things:
Swearing - makes you sound like you don't know how to use the language (it's actually called "low language") and is offensive and crude. That's why people use ** for the middle of cuss words to be able to use them on the Internet.
Gambling - can be addictive - why would you want to give your money to someone for nothing - gambling odds are ALWAYS for the house.
Sex before marriage - well, geez, I'm sure you know those consequences - emotional and physical.
Required tithing of 10% before taxes - pretty steep, did they bill you for it, or just give you tithing envelopes and you put in what you felt was fair? Did they send you to a collection agency if you didn't pay up? Or did you just feel guilty. You know, tithing can also be done with your time and talent as well as your cash. ;)

I think it's all in what you can live with. We shouldn't forsake the fellowship of believers, but if your church makes you feel uncomfortable and it's all about money, maybe you should move on. I don't want to condemn a church, but berating and belittling are never, never effective ways to show God's love.

It's a shame that you have been made to feel like the majority of Christians are obnoxious - I hope that you can find a church community that will be able to address all your issues and help you to feel in tune with God again.

Answer 3

I believe God laid down laws for us and some people overstep those laws. You are right that they read too much into it and want robots. God wants genuine devotion and love. Nowhere does it say only have one drink, although drunkenness is wrong. I believe any church that always tells you about going to hell is wrong. That is a Judgment only God can make. God's Love and Grace should be the most important things.

There is an answerer who said they don't want people coming in and messing up their Church. I think that is one of the most unGodly statements I have ever heard from a Christian. Imagine if Jesus had turned people away like that! Church is for those who need God. We are all sinners or have we forgotten that? It seems that some people might have.

God Bless.

Answer 4

Some of the statements you mentioned are in the bible . God says do not curse ( which means have no ill will or anger toward someone ) . We attribute gambling to greed which Jesus has said is a sin . Sex is personal , and should only be between the people who are married in the eyes of God ( to which if it's a good marriage , then divorce should not be mentioned at all ) Jesus said to abstain .

How ever , the thing about the TV is nonsense and God sees the heart when it comes to paying tithe to the church .

My issue with apologetic Christians is the same as you , just like the word-faith movement of Christianity .

Answer 5

Some of those things ARE in the Bible. The Good Book condemns all sex outside the bonds of marriage (both fornication and adultery). One of the Ten Commandments is to not take the Lord's name in vain, which has been interpreted to mean no cuss words. Abraham gave 10% to his high priest as tithing, and Malachi warns that mankind robs from God when they don't pay their tithes and offerings. Since these teachings are in the Bible, any sect that even pretends to be Christian must adhere to them.

As for the social ills you mentioned, actions of the member reflects on the sect. By avoiding drunkenness, gambling, etc, they avoid the appearance of evil.

Jesus was upset that people were so fixated on the traditions (you could only walk x feet on the Sabbath) that they forgot the Law itself (keep the Sabbath day holy).

Answer 6

I cringed when I saw this question on the screen and was worried that it would be a total slam against the church. While it's critical, it's not nasty like so many of these posts. You focused on what you observed instead of making blanket judgments. For that I thank you.

As a Christian, I'm very sorry that you had a bad experience in a fundamentalist church. Let me tell you that as a Preacher's kid, I definitely have seen and did dish this out myself in my younger days. But I learned that this is not what Christ shared in his ministry on earth.

I don't attend the same extremist church as my father. In fact, I'm a liberal fundamentalist, but the difference is that in attending other churches and starting to read the Bible critically, I started to realize that what God did in sending his son to die for our sins, was not only to send atonement for our sins, but also teach us how to love one another.

As far as the response...I cannot get onto this board without seeing a nasty comment aimed at all fundamentalists. I just wish that people would realize that not everyone wants to condemn people. This cycle perpetuates the anger.

Answer 7

Yes, I experienced some of these things in some churches. I would not say it is Fundamentalism however. I was Missionary Baptist, Southern Baptist, Assembly of God, Jesus Only Oneness United Pentecostalism and churches of Christ.

The things you mention in my church experience was in the charismatic Pentecostals. While the others were more main stream.

To me the term fundamentalism lumps the whole of protestant churches together.

Yes, I left Christianity but not because of anything I experienced in any church. I have good memories and experiences and bad in each of these.
BB

Answer 8

Well, let's see, I cuss sometimes (mainly the s word), I do have Tv's, I don't drink or smoke just because I don't like the taste of it, and I don't tithe to the church. ( tithe to all my students at school whose parents are too sorry to take care of them), and I go to movies and stuff on Sunday. I don't go to church every Sunday, but I try to live like Jesus wants me to. I follow the 10 Commandments.

I never try to convert anyone. I don't try toi win souls for Christ. I live and let live. I respect and accept other's beliefs.
I don't go in for evangelism. It's a turn off to me, for they are too pushy.

Answer 9

Here is the thing. The bible talks about knowing them by their fruits. A bad tree brings forth bad fruit. A good tree beings forth good fruit. A bad tree cant being forth good, and a good tree cant bring forth bad fruits.

That being said, a person who is truley saved wont have the desire, and if they do, they will be repentant after ward, to live in sin.

Sex before marrige is a sin, and it is a law in the bible, regardless of wheater people wanna admit it.

10 percent is what is Gods, if you dont give that, you are stealing.

Drunkeness is a sin, no doubt about it.

These things are for the best. Abstaining from all APEARENCE of evil.

I want my church to stay clean. If we allowed anyone to join (anyone can, but you must continue to live a generally holy life), the church would lose its power with God. I dont want my church spiritually dead, just to let a few wild ones join...

Answer 10

Yes, I agree with you, as humans we want rules and regulations in our life, Christians face the temptation everyday to consider themselves righteous apart from God. "It is for freedom that Christ has set you free, stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."Gal. 5:1. As Christians it is easy to fall into legalism. THinking that we must watch certain things or not watch certain things, not drink, etc. etc. and this will make us more spiritual. When it is infact Christ living in us, being so in love with Jesus that we have no desire to be apart of anything that would cause us to stumble. But we still stumble and we still fall into legalism. A person's walk with CHrist is a fine balance between Grace and the Law.

Answer 11

A lot of what you mentioned is scriptural. I personally view the commandments as directions. Jesus is telling us what direction we need to put our life in to live with him. The closer we follow the directions, the better. We don't have to be perfect, just headed in the right direction.

we all still have freedom. I am still free to commit adultery, but I'm also free to be faithful to my wife. If I do commit adultery, and it causes a divorce, I longer have the freedom to be faithful.