Christian, but living your own life?

I know I don't come in here very often. I don't come in here at all, actually. But I just wanted to discuss a conversation I had with my mother a little earlier today.

We were talking about living by Christian beliefs, and your motives for doing so. She brought up the fact that she wishes she would have taken me to church more while I was growing up, so we could live like our more religious friends. I told her that we don't have to go to church to live the way we need to live. All we really need to do is live a good life and be kind to people.

She brought up the fact that my dad never liked to go to church because he believed that they were all a bunch of hypocrites, and I agree. I told her that I think it's pretty fucked up that most of the people in church are preaching about sin and how they try to live as perfect of a life as they can, but as soon as they leave church, they start doing all of the shit they were preaching against in church. They seem to believe that it's alright to do whatever they want, as long as they go to church every sunday.

I told my mom that "it is one thing to live a good life because you want to and you feel that it's the right thing to do, but it's another thing to live a good life because you are told by your religion and by society that you should". I think it is better to live by your own laws than to live by the Christian phylosophy, becaue living by the Christian phylosophy means that you are not deciding for yourself how to live; rather, you are living life like a robot and lying to yourself. People need to live that way because they believe it to be the right way to live, and just look to God for guidance, as opposed to looking to him for the answer; you have to find that for yourself.

To sum this up: I think it is better to live life the way you feel like living it, even if it is wrong, because if you're living life based on a book, then you are not really being yourself and are doing the right things for the wrong reasons. You have to decide for yourself what is right for you, and if you are a genuinely good person, then it's all gravy.

Any thoughts? Need anything clarified? I know some of it may be hard to understand, fully, because it was hard for me to find the words I was looking for.

 

That is not always the case. Often it is such as when it is forced on people, or when people are not given a genuine opprtunity to find out things for themselves. There are tons of folks who have come to the genuinely independant decision that living by Christian philoosophy is good, right, freeing, uplifiting, etc. . Please do not confuse Christian philosophy with "Churchianity" (you know, the crap you were talking about) . Living according to the teachings of Jesus is not robotic. You don't do or not do this or that because "Jesus said so" but because it turns out that what Jesus said is right, or to use your words I attempt (poorly) to live by the teachings of Christ because I "want to and feel that it's the right thing to do". I obey neither church doctrine nor pastor nor preacher.

 

Yeah, I mean, that's cool. As long as it's done for the right reasons, there is nothing wrong with living according to the Christian phylosophy. All I'm saying is that you shouldn't be living that way ONLY because you are told it is right. That should play a part in why you live that way, but the main reason should be that you just want to live that way, because it is right for you; not because the Bible tells you it's right.

In other words: Don't be God's bitch. Don't try to be his equal either, because that's just stupid. Live the way that is right for you and don't let the word of God be the sole reason for doing the things you do. It is kinda pointless to do the right things if you are doing them for the wrong reasons.

 

Nobody is "God's bitch". What you are addressing here is not people being God's bitch, but being the preachers bitch, the church hierachy's bitch. The kind of folks who might seem to be "God's bitch" often don't have much of a clue as to what the Gospel really says becuase they've been fed far right fundi bullshit propaganda as the word of God when in fact nothing could be further from the word of God. I mean, Jesus was a freethinking socialist for Christ's sake. So if you've got a fair general understanding of what the word of God is, (nobody has anything like a full understanding of it) you're not going to be God's bitch. God doesn't want us to be robots, that's why gave us free will and reason and such things. If folks aren't careful though they can easily become slave to some church or another.

 

If a person lives life based solely on the Bible then they are God's bitch. You shouldn't let what is said in the Bible dictate every aspect of your life; such as the decisions you make and the way you treat people. Believe me, there are some people like this. Sure, the bible should influence your life, but you shouldn't base your entire life around it. Your actions should be based on your instincts and your emotions, but also influenced by the bible/God's word. But if you let the Bible make your decisions for you, then you are God's bitch. Like I said, there are people like this, and if you have any observational skills at all, you will agree with me.

 

It's all in the difference between organized religion and spirituality. Many organized religions do insist on an adherence to scripture (and often then only approved translations) or to church law. They can distort God's word, and confuse living in their interpretation of 'Christian living' with living in Christ. But to go your own way and be a good person is not the answer either, because - as you've observed yourself - people will talk about how good they are and then go out and do terrible and hypocritical things anyway. People aren't good by themselves - we're born sinners, and we're very good at it. The answer is to live in Christ, to let Him into your heart - and if you do that you don't need a church (or even the Bible really) to live a better life. And if you fall, He will always catch you - God never breaks His covenant, which is more than you can say about any person.

I still recommend finding a good church, though, because being a Christian in fellowship is just as important as being saved by yourself.

 

but that is what Christianity is you see. Following Christ. You have to decide that you are not going to live life by your own desires anymore( you're not going to do it your way anymore)but by what God commands. This is what a Christian is. Basing your entire life around God and the His Word. God becomes the center of your being. This is what Jesus commands and who better an expert on Christianity that Jesus Christ Himself.

 

I think the question that you need to ask yourself is "How good is good enough when measured by God's standards?" Romans 3:23 says "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" We have all broken His law. We are all guilty before Him. God will see that justice is served. So, no amount of good deeds can erase our the sins we are guilty of.

 

That's kinda what I was TRYING to say; That living in the ways of Christ and Christianity is a wonderful way to live your life, but you should not just live that way because you are TOLD to. You should live that way because you WANT to and because you feel that it is right for you. It is better to live a life of complete sin, than to live a certain way just because you were told to. If you are a Christian just because you have always been told it is what you need to do, then you are not really a Christian, because you are worshipping with your head, not your heart. Like I have said many times in my previous posts and even in this post, you have to do it because you feel in your heart that it's right for you, or else it is pointless.

When I said you have to live your own way, I meant that if Christianity is what is right for you, then that is the way you are meant to live your life. If you don't feel in your heart that it is right for you, don't be a Christian. Follow the religion, or lack of religion, of your choosing. Don't let others, even God, tell you what is right for you, because only you can decide that. When I said "Don't be God's bitch", that wasn't meant to be disrespectful. It just means exactly what I said earlier in this paragraph: Nobody, not even God and especially not society, can tell you what is right for you, you have to follow your own heart and decide which direction you want to take in your life. Only by doing this, can you truly know whether or not Christianity is right for you.

 

i think i understand what you're trying to say. and, no, someone is not a Christian because they are told to be one. it is a decision that is made with your heart.it is sincerely putting your trust in Jesus Christ. i could hold a gun to your head and say "say 'I'm a Christian!'" but it wouldn't cause you to make a genuine commitment to Jesus.

Couldn't the God who created you tell you what is right for you, what you need in other words? The God of the Bible doesn't force Himself on you, but he does tell you how to live.

 

He can tell you what you need to do to get into Heaven and he can tell you the best way to live, but it's ultimately your decision. Based on the decisions you make, God will, in turn, make a decision about how you will spend eternity. But, like I said, it's ultimately your decision as to what you feel is best for you. God can't make your decisions for you, but he can give you guidance to help you figure out the decisions you need to make for yourself.

 

Hi there,
I don't know anyone who actually WANTS to live by The Word of God before they become a Christian. It's certainly not what you do first. Noone I know actually sets out to be their very best just so they can BE a Christian. For a true Christian, it's something that comes natural when they realize they love Him. In a way, it's like you said..."following your own heart". We all have choices to make. God doesn't force anyone to love Him. That wouldn't be real love. Would it?

 

No, it wouldn't be real love. Thank you for knowing what the fuck I mean. I do love God, and I love the life he has provided for me, but I will be damned if I believe in his word SOLELY because I am told to. Fuck that. I am a Christian because I believe in God's word and I believe it is the right path for me, regardless as to whether or not I follow every word in the bible.