Christian, do you ever feel this way?

[Master Vigil]

I don't think anyone will every find a denomination that they agree 100% with unless they start their own. Hence all of the denominations.

[SonOfNun]

When you take into account what it is we are "fighting" here on earth seperating yourself from other believers isn't a good idea. That is, our greatest enemy here on earth is our will, or what we want to do. Christianity is all about killing our will and submiting and immitating God, or becoming an extention of his will, something you can only do if you have the Holy Spirit. When we seperate ourselves from other believers we are taking away a valuable asset. Other people do not face the same problem we do, so they have a clear mind when it comes to certian problems. I know personally that I can be tempted by sin vary easily and it effects how I think. After the temptation has passed I think how could I ever think that way. This is why God says not to forsake the gathering of yourselves together. ALL the rules God has handed down over the years, old testament and new are for our benefit. Their sole purpose are to help us return to that submissive relationship that Adam and Eve had in the Garden.

It comes down to who are you going to trust, God's word, or yourself... I don't know your entire situation... I don't know what the churches are like your way. Good churches are hard to come by. I am a fairly conservative guy in an ever growing libral world.

I hope this helps.... I am not trying to be judgmental... just don't do it a lone!

[UltraViolet]

Originally Posted by Master Vigil

I find no music outside the boundaries of tradition. And the music that does deny tradition sounds horrible. And I have heard some of your music, and I believe you rely much on tradition. You are subject to note lengths, tones, augmentation, scale, etc... There is that saying that "nothing is new" just a twist on something old. It is an evolution, and that evolution is tradition. Just as martial arts must rely on the natural way the body moves, and the practical application of that natural movement in regards to manipulation... so does music rely on the scale and notes on which rest in the scale. One can change what makes the sound of the note, but not the note itself.

By this thinking there is practiclly NOTHING that we do that is not rooted in "tradition". Just using the English language means that everything we say--all of our speech-- is rooted in tradition. We dress by tradition, walk by tradition, think, talk, eat with a fork and knife, sit on chairs, and sleep in beds by tradition.

This was not at all what I was pointing to.
I was speaking of the ineffable...
God as Source direct.

(While we may play on pre-existing instruments,
Music itself CAN be made on the transcendent level.
It is it's own syntax, it's own tendency, and it makes itself... through the musician.
At best, it is the musician who becomes the instrument of the Music.)

[leahrachelle]

Originally Posted by Master Vigil

I don't think anyone will every find a denomination that they agree 100% with unless they start their own. Hence all of the denominations.

True. Which is another reason it's hard to actually find a church you agree with. There are millions of things religions break down into and everyone has different opinions.

[Scuba Pete]

I attend the Altamonte Chapel, but I don't think that I could become a member. Good points and bad points. I get a lot of fellowship right here and with others that I hang with. That's enough for me.

All you need is Love!

[madhatter85]

Originally Posted by dawny0826

I posted this in another thread but I'm curious if anyone else ever feels this way.

Currently, I'm not a member of a church and am not affiliating myself with any particular religious denomination.

I have issues with organized religion. I'm a very spiritual person and I do believe that there are significant benefits to praise and worship in groups but I find it hard to root myself in a church.

I find that I'm more at peace when I simply live my life in love, as instructed...without adding traditions and sermons to the mix. Sometimes, just clinging to Christ...believing and doing the best I can each day feels more real...more solid than going through this phoney show at church.

I feel more honest with my God when I worship on my own.

That seems really awful, doesn't it? But it's the truth.

In LDS belief we are supposed to worship on our own, the only reason we meet together is to edify one another spiritually. we each learn from eachother and can help one another through our trials. It's like a support group, you make friends, you learn about eachother and grow close in that respect.

I reject alot of religions because they distance you from your Father in Heaven. being LDS it is completely the opposite. It is personal between you and the Lord, there is nobody that acts as some sort of "intermediary" for you to feel the spirit.

[Jeremy Mason]

Originally Posted by madhatter85

In LDS belief we are supposed to worship on our own, the only reason we meet together is to edify one another spiritually. we each learn from eachother and can help one another through our trials. It's like a support group, you make friends, you learn about eachother and grow close in that respect.

I reject alot of religions because they distance you from your Father in Heaven. being LDS it is completely the opposite. It is personal between you and the Lord, there is nobody that acts as some sort of "intermediary" for you to feel the spirit.

While not all Christian churches behave this way, I find that most of them are cold and unwilling to help one another in times of distress. What a shame.

[DarkLink2135]

In response to OP:

I definitely feel this way, pretty much all the time. I enjoy fellowship with other believers, and learning in a smaller group setting, maybe even one-on-one, and by myself as well. I've got plenty of issues with organized religion that would take too long to type up here .

I don't think the Bible is as adamant on attending the modern concept of "church" as it is simply worshiping with other believers.

Not to say that you can't learn anything on your own, but I believe from the Bible and my own experiences that SOME fellowship with other Christians is necessary, for good spiritual growth.

[Mon Jihad]

In response to the first post:

I feel that if you are true to yourself in Christ, and know what to do you really do not need a church. Although church is a good place for community if you are set with what you are doing, and know how to follow Christ fully I do not think you need a church at all. I keep going to church because I am new still, but someone who might know what they are doing, and know what is going on would not need a need in church like I do. Just my 2 cents.