Personal relationship with God vs. organized religion?

Question

To all religious denominations (particularly Christians): Do you think it is possible to have a personal relationship with God, yet denounce organized religion?

For example, do you think it is possible to pray regularly, read the Bible and embrace a personal relationship with the Lord, but not go to Church on a regular basis, disagree with some pastor's or reverand's teachings, and/or not be part of a particular religious denomination?

Answer 1

It is not only possible, but probably the best way to serve the lord. Churches are just full of fake, self loving, fashion show models, hypocrites, that feel better because they attended their social club the ONE day of the week they remembered GOD!

Answer 2

I struggle with religion as a whole but I do recognize the importance of church. I think if I didn't attend my church I would be missing out on alot of great things such as.....

Support. After I had my child my church brought me dinners for two weeks
Accountability. If I'm struggling in my faith or wandering my church family is there to encourage me and pray for me.
Friendships Really deep amazing friendships. We have the Lord in common and we can connect on a spiritual level. It's a huge blessing!

I think finding the right church for you is important and you should not seperate yourself from your fellow believers. Do some research I am sure you can find a place that will suit you.

Answer 3

Personal relationship with God is independent of being a Christian, because you have to bypass Jesus and discover the falsehood in the Old Testament and some incongruities in the statements of the disciples of Jesus in the Bible. Between an organized religion and personal relationship with God, the latter is preferable since the former is the means for the latter as the its end.

Answer 4

I think it is possible, and many of the people here that claim that type of belief system, tend to be a little more reasonable than those who are entrenched and labeled with a denomination.

The scary part of being on your own is that there is no-one to talk you out of a perceived revelation of God's will.

If you are in a church or denomination and you tell them that God told you to burn down a hospital because abortions are performed there, chances are there will be a few people that will question that vision or understanding of God's will. Without a church, people can get a little out there. Not all of them, but some.

Answer 5

I think its much more important to have a personal relationship with God than to just show up at church once a week. Lets face it, some people are in church for reasons other than worshiping. You can disagree with the pastors point of view on something. You and I could read the bible 15 times a piece, and still have a different opinion about a certain chapter or verse. I think of the pastors message as conformation rather than the perfect interpretation.

Answer 6

I think it is imperative to have a personal relationship with God. As far as organized religion, that should be for fellowshipping and edification of the soul. I do not believe in a paid clergy and so that eliminates most denominations. If some pastors or reverends teach doctrine that is apposed to what the Holy Spirit has witnessed to you beware of them.

Answer 7

Christianity is unique among all other faiths, because Christianity is more about a relationship, rather than religious practice. Instead of adhering to a list of “dos and don’ts,” the goal of a Christian is to cultivate a close walk with God the Father. That relationship is made possible because of the work of Jesus Christ, and the ministry in the life of the Christian by the Holy Spirit.

Answer 8

That is what the book a course in miracles is all about.

It teaches you how to have a close personal relationship with God with out all of the control, guilt and other nonsense that religion as brought into the mix.

Logic tells us that the various flavors of religion with their drastically differing ideas and messages about God can't possibly all be correct. The dogma and theology is just to diverse, often diametrically opposed. This is made even more comical by the absolute determination of so many of them that theirs is the truth and all others are wrong.

The only logical conclusion is that religion must be a lie about God.

It seems to me that the only way we can have a close personal relationship with God is to do it without religion. The bible being a product of roman catholic origin makes it too suspect from my perspective. It appears to be a guilt enhancing tool that makes Jesus out to be something other than what he said that he was. It pretty thoroughly contradicts and disproves its self.

If you want the actual words of Jesus without all of the nonsense introduced by religion I suggest the course in miracles.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 9

Though I am not a christian, I understand what you are saying. Purpose of pursuing an organized religion should be
devloping a personal relationship with God Almighty. But some times the two become irreconcileable, because often organized religion is not what God actually wants of us. And this is so, because some priests and saints included their thoughts or understanding in the body of religion.

It is therefore sometimes necessary to leave what certain
priest or saint says and go towards what your heart suggests to be the correct path. God is nearer to us than anyone
else. Defy any one, but do not defy Him who is sheer love and
Mercy to His creatures.

May God Almighty help you.


Javed Kaleem

Answer 10

Was Christ’s Church hierarchical? Yes. He chose twelve apostles, made Peter the leader, and gave them authorities that all the other disciples did not have. Later, in the book of Acts, the hierarchy develops further. The apostles appoint Deacons (greek - diakonos ), Priests (greek - presbyteros ), and Bishops (greek - episkopos), and each have different duties. It is the same today in the Catholic Church

The Biblical Church is an ORGANIZED Church