my family is Christian.. how do I tell them I don't believe everything they believe in and I want them...?

Question

to respect that?............ OK so I've been asking questions about Christiantity because I wanted to know if it was just me or everybody else thought the same way as I do. I’ve been Christian my whole life, but right now I’m really confused about what I’m envolved with... I go to this big church but I have realized what all Christians do is just look down on other religions and think that everyone is bad and they need to be converted etc … they can be selfish, liers, and if you dont do things or if you dont think the same way they do.. you are a bad person.. and I hate that.. I hate how they judge and push people to believe in what they believe…
I do believe in God I do pray.. but I dont think Being called “Christian” will save me… I do think Christians should not jugde other religions but be opned minded and acknowledge that the same way we believe they are all wrong, they believe we are wrong so it is all about faith and not judgement.

I dont want to contradict them.. I respect what they believe in.... I just wish I could feel free to intechange ideas and thoughts... and not just be judge by what I say.. I mean I wish I could talk my thoughts out and not get them telling me I'm going to hell and that I'm wrong and that God's gonna punish me for whatever I do .. I wish they could be just like oh ok well thats what you believe it's fine.. you know?

I know anyone could be selfish... but when you go to a church you expect to find love and acceptance but I found gossiping and judgment instead...

the fact that the thing they are wrong makes me mad.. they should be opened ... ok we got the bible and we believe what it says.. but other people got their basis and they have their own reasons why to believe in what they believe in, so Christians should be open and not jsut think everbody is wrong..

Answer 1

I would be open and hnest with them, but you do have one mistake in what you say. You are not a Christian. Now you may have been raised in a Christian home, and gone to a Christian church, but to be a Christian you need to have a spiritual birth and be born into the family of God. You have not had that so you are really judging the religion of Christianity not true body of believers in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "search for ME and you will find ME when you search with all your heart"

Answer 2

Tell them God is showing you things and you need to find a different church (if you want a different church). There are lots of churches where people don't believe as you have described, although none of them are perfect, so I hope you don't expect that. Because then only perfect people would be allowed in, wouldn't they? :) You will never find any group, religious or otherwise, where everyone behaves 100 percent as they say the should all the time. That's just human nature (but it is disappointing).

May I ask you, is there any Christian in your life that you feel you could talk to about this and share your feelings? I get the impression you are young, and at your age, this kind of questioning is actually very normal and expected. You are taking a step toward maturity. Some people leave the church altogether, but most start examining what it means to be "Christian" and often find they need to go to another denomination.

Answer 3

AMEN TO THAT, man. I feel the exact same way you do.

A lot of Christians (not saying all of them) have been pushed into believing that everyone who isn't a Christian is a baddie or that they will go to hell for doing trivial things. I love to discuss religion and see what others think. I have a firm belief that there IS a God... a Universal Spirit, but man has interpretated this Spirit in many ways... as a God, Goddess, and/or many Gods/Goddesses.

I was brought up to look down apon a lot of things, including other religions. But I'm not going to taint my faith like a lot of other Christians have done. I am a pretty accepting guy for the most part, and I'm sure there are some Christians like us who feel the same.

Equality for all, man. That's what I'm saying.

Answer 4

Plus Plus, you are correct "calling yourself a Christian" will not save you. There are a whole bunch of people who go to church in Sunday and live like the rest of the world Mon-Sat. To be a Christian is much much more than labeling yourself and going to church. You obviously do not know the Lord Jesus neither do you have a saving faith. The next question is do you want to know him and get saved? If Yes the start is to believe in God which you say you do. Simple belief is not enough . James says the devils also believe and tremble. Your belief must turn into a hunger to know who God is , what he wants you to do, and where he wants you to go. Jesus Christ is the door to salvation. You must confess that you are a sinner, that you have broken God's commandments and that you are in need of the Savior. Then you must trust Jesus to lead you, obey his commandments to the absolute best of your ability and ever seek a closer relationship thru Bible reading, prayer, fasting and witnessing When you have done this the Holy Spirit of God lives in your heart. Your name is written in the book of life and you are heaven bound. Beware though, true Christians will suffer persecution. It is no cake walk being a Christian , but the rewards are out of this world! Why not give Jesus a real chance to be the Lord of your life before you break your dear parent's hearts by telling them you are not a believer . If you choose wisely i congratulate you if not , I agree with many above that you should be honest about who you are and tell them the truth. Lies are an abomination to God and by not telling them truthfully you are breaking at least 2 of the 10 commandments ( #5 &# 9) see you do need a savior! Come to Christ Merry Christmas!

Answer 5

Sounds like you’ve stumbled upon one of the basic things that have troubled the church since the beginning - who has all the truth?

Actually, I think all churches have a grasp of the truth, but everybody sees it a little differently. I am reminded of the Indian tale of the three blind men walking down a road and coming across an elephant. One grabs the tail and exclaims, “Why, it’s like a snake!” The second grabs the elephant by the leg and exclaims, “Why, it’s like a tree!” The third grasps an ear and exclaims, “You’re both wrong. It’s like a big tropical plant.” I may not have everything just right here, but the point is, all of them were right - to a certain extent. The problem was that none of them were seeing/experiencing what the others did.

In all fairness, though, we also have to acknowledge that no one church or denomination has all the truth, but perhaps that’s by design, and not by accident. I went through much the same thing until I finally realized that there was a purpose to it all. I was looking to people for answers to such issues and, like you, I got very frustrated. It wasn’t until I finally quit looking to other people for answers and began a direct dialogue with God that I began to learn the real truth about a lot of things. No one church can truthfully claim to be the final authority on everything, but collectively all the churches put together do have the ultimate revelation of Truth.

Read, study, talk - by all means do all of these things. But ultimately, realize that this very confusing diversity of opinions, contradictions etc. exists for one very real reason - to bring you to the point where you quit relying on people for answers and seek out God Himself for them.

Keep in mind that people aren’t perfect by any means, and that includes Christians. But God is. People are like the blind men in the Indian tale, but God is complete and perfect.

Also bear in mind that a lot of people don’t WANT to think for themselves. They actually WANT somebody else to do their thinking for them because if they get something wrong, they won’t be blamed or held accountable for it. Not only that, but when you begin to ask honest, sincere questions, which you have every right to do, they’ll get mad at you for asking.

Like I said, God has all the answers, and it is through cultivating and developing a personal relationship with Him that you’ll eventually get the answers you’re looking for, which is His desire for all of to begin with.

Answer 6

Well big churches are usually bad ones, to much about the money. Lets not just say christians, using that word is very broad. Just because some christians put down other religions doesnt make all christians that way. You have more of a church issue, see in my church the pastor talks about other religions but in no way puts them down. Do I like catholics? mormons? etc. yes do I think there founders of it? the people that know what there talking about is wrong should continue? no. Sometimes is called judging but sometimes is called exposing the truth, if i was to say your an idiot because you think Jesus turned water into wine that would be judging. But what I should do is show scripture and show why it is not wine but grape juice. you see the difference? so you have to know when its judging and when its not.

Answer 7

I like the part where you say that Christians should not judge other religions and be open-minded. Yes, it IS all about faith. Sadly, what you are complaining about is the reality of the situation with all organized religions and religious denominations. They are simply intolerant (they WILL deny the intolerance) of each other because each group lays claim to being the one "true faith" while all the others are false. The only advice I can give you (since you're asking) is to overcome fear and stand up for your own beliefs, whatever they may be.

Answer 8

I told my parents when I was about 13 or so that I didn't feel like the church we attended was right for me. They then tried some other churches to see if I would like those. (I basically told them the same things you did above)

As it turned out, we didn't find one, so they agreed to let me stay home on Sundays, which I think was pretty cool on their part.

Later on, of course, the problems I saw in the church expanded into the things that I saw wrong with the RELIGION. And by the time I was 18, I realized that all of the hypocrites and liars I saw in the church were just a symptom of the larger problem.

The entire thing was a lie. And I was lucky enough to get out of it before it was too late to save my mind.

Answer 9

You are right about being called a Christian will not save you.
As far as judging someone. If I quote a verse from the bible, do you people call that judging? This is a serious question. Please tell me how you say we judge so I may better understand why you call us judges. Thanks.

Edit: When I first got saved I allowed many who were saved where not saved because they wasn't like me. As far as how I worshipped. Man was I a Pharaisee. I judged many wrongly. I have learned alot since then. I try not to do that no more. But when I quote something from what God's word says then he is the judge who stated what is right and wrong. If someone who says they are saved and have never had spiritual fruit then I wonder if they are saved. The bible tells us we shall know them by their fruits. I do not know anyone on here so would be hard for me to say what someone is. I have seen some on here who say they are saved then cuss the next breath.

Answer 10

You are just challenged in your faith. Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life no one can come to the Father except through him. That is the Truth. It's not about being called Christian. Email me, I can probably answer any of your questions with ease. Go on ahead, ask.
If you already belong in a church, instead of asking your questions here, why don't you talk to your preachers? You won't get real answers to the question you have when you have people of different faiths who will always be different.