Just Gotta Be Honest Here.
Church confuses me. I've been in this thing all my life and it still confuses me.
I can tell you Jesus is the son of God who died on the cross for all our sins. Then, Jesus rose from the grave and in flying back to heaven he sent us the Holy Spirit to chill with us until he returns, whenever it may be. I should turn my cheek, be the good samaritan, love my mother and father, not covet my neighbor's car. But isn't there more to this?
It can't quite be as simple as some rules. Okay...it can be, but that would be dependant upon our environment, which ultimately doesn't allow this subject to remain as simple as I wish it would. Religion seems ridiculous some days. Did it not just begin as a form of fellowship and teaching? The bible, God - it makes sense to me. Don't get me wrong, I love my church, my pastors, they're all great people. There are just all these questions I have about the idea of "church". And no, it's not doubts I'm talking about, or questioning the right and wrong of the bible. It's how we're living today, as christians, in this society that never seems too stable. I've had some amazing God experiences that I can never deny, and read some things I wish the entire world would follow and maybe we'd find a little peace. How do I incorporate all this Jesus stuff into my own life though?
I haven't been able to figure it out in seventeen years (plus 3 and a half months).
Okay, I'll love people, I'll help people, I'll practice forgiveness and not gossip about the girl in the corner. But seriously, isn't there more to this?
Basically from boredom and an overload of chick flicks for one night I ended up in Google. This led to random searches for new books to read and interviews with some favorite authors. Among the many webpages I came across an interview with this guy called Shane Claiborne. You may've heard of him...he's written a couple books. What he had to say, and the ideas behind his book really got me on this questioning rant. Of course these ideas are always at the back of my mind, but it's rare for them to make an appearance such as this one.
No matter what Rob Bell, Donald Miller, or even this Shane guy tell me...these are all just their philosophies on life. And we all have to find our own to come up with a solid set of morals, or we'll be pulled from side to side in being convinced by arguments about being post-modern and bible believing. My own? I just want it to be the bible. I want to believe and live by the bible, answer God's call, and not get caught up in the denomination titles or sermon points.
I love Jesus, and Jesus loves me. That's my religion.
People (friends, teachers, parents, brothers, sisters, etc.) have tried to convince me that their guidelines are the real ones. Dating is evil, Sundays are meant for nothing but God, emergent church is evil, Church is God. It's beautiful that people dare to think and question and come up with these borders for their faith to live in. But I want to be a part of a group of people who think about sermons, not just listen to them. Who embrace the lifestyle of Jesus, not just study it. Who don't accept things as they are, but bother to seek out wisdom and different paradigms. Who want to learn all about the world, while somehow keeping and seeking and being Jesus in it.
I love Jesus and Jesus loves me. That's my religion and I guess the rest just blossoms from there.
But the questions will never quit.
It'd be sweet to hear what you have to say on this...if anybody reads this...even if you never comment just tell me. What's your philosophy? What's this all about? Help me out.
I can tell you Jesus is the son of God who died on the cross for all our sins. Then, Jesus rose from the grave and in flying back to heaven he sent us the Holy Spirit to chill with us until he returns, whenever it may be. I should turn my cheek, be the good samaritan, love my mother and father, not covet my neighbor's car. But isn't there more to this?
It can't quite be as simple as some rules. Okay...it can be, but that would be dependant upon our environment, which ultimately doesn't allow this subject to remain as simple as I wish it would. Religion seems ridiculous some days. Did it not just begin as a form of fellowship and teaching? The bible, God - it makes sense to me. Don't get me wrong, I love my church, my pastors, they're all great people. There are just all these questions I have about the idea of "church". And no, it's not doubts I'm talking about, or questioning the right and wrong of the bible. It's how we're living today, as christians, in this society that never seems too stable. I've had some amazing God experiences that I can never deny, and read some things I wish the entire world would follow and maybe we'd find a little peace. How do I incorporate all this Jesus stuff into my own life though?
I haven't been able to figure it out in seventeen years (plus 3 and a half months).
Okay, I'll love people, I'll help people, I'll practice forgiveness and not gossip about the girl in the corner. But seriously, isn't there more to this?
Basically from boredom and an overload of chick flicks for one night I ended up in Google. This led to random searches for new books to read and interviews with some favorite authors. Among the many webpages I came across an interview with this guy called Shane Claiborne. You may've heard of him...he's written a couple books. What he had to say, and the ideas behind his book really got me on this questioning rant. Of course these ideas are always at the back of my mind, but it's rare for them to make an appearance such as this one.
No matter what Rob Bell, Donald Miller, or even this Shane guy tell me...these are all just their philosophies on life. And we all have to find our own to come up with a solid set of morals, or we'll be pulled from side to side in being convinced by arguments about being post-modern and bible believing. My own? I just want it to be the bible. I want to believe and live by the bible, answer God's call, and not get caught up in the denomination titles or sermon points.
I love Jesus, and Jesus loves me. That's my religion.
People (friends, teachers, parents, brothers, sisters, etc.) have tried to convince me that their guidelines are the real ones. Dating is evil, Sundays are meant for nothing but God, emergent church is evil, Church is God. It's beautiful that people dare to think and question and come up with these borders for their faith to live in. But I want to be a part of a group of people who think about sermons, not just listen to them. Who embrace the lifestyle of Jesus, not just study it. Who don't accept things as they are, but bother to seek out wisdom and different paradigms. Who want to learn all about the world, while somehow keeping and seeking and being Jesus in it.
I love Jesus and Jesus loves me. That's my religion and I guess the rest just blossoms from there.
But the questions will never quit.
It'd be sweet to hear what you have to say on this...if anybody reads this...even if you never comment just tell me. What's your philosophy? What's this all about? Help me out.
posted by Lauren at 12:09 AM
2 Comments:
My Philosophy is that God loves me and I love him back. I also believe that he loves everyone but you have to be completely to him before you can experience his full love. This whole denomination idea is crazy and I don't follow it. However I do believe you have to follow the rules of the Lord (a.k.a. The Ten Commandments).
That's my philosophy and I believe you should follow yours.
I found you! I also saw one of your youtube thingy's for Danae... pretty creative and fun. thanks for being a great friend to our munchkin danae. It has meant so much to her and therefore has really meant a lot to us.
You R great!
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