DeeEinstein
Member
So, explain to me how it is that I being a Christian feel at times I really know so little about my own faith. Not until just recently when it was pointed out to me by a Jew that I find out there are actually books missing from the Bible. Come to find out depending on which source you get your information from that there could be anywhere close to 14 books that have been kept from actually being printed and inserted in what we as Christians center our life around. Who chose for these books to not be included? Why are these books even missing? Why is the one book written by a woman not available for us to read? I was reading a forum the other day that appeared to become pretty heated on people's opinions of what they feel faith and Christianity really is. It intrigued me that the one's making the post claimed to have mostly considered themselves spiritual and not religious but yet they appeared to know more about religion in general regardless as to which denomination more so than what I did. It posed curiosity in my thoughts as to how it is since my teenage years until now that I have sat on the pews on Wednesday nights, Sunday mornings, and again on Sunday nights and there has been so much still left undisclosed. I'll have to admit though, I don't claim to be a devout theologian but I find it a bit trivial as to how those that don't even attend church (regarding the one's from the before mentioned forum) know more about religious matters than I do. I read my Bible, I pray, I fast, and I partake in communion. However, honestly upon reading I have questions that arise which seem to always go unanswered. I find some of what it says to be a bit contradictory. However, I know I'm wrong for saying that because by what I've always been told... God is who and what He is therefore causing my perception to become contradictory within itself. I tend to approach the Bible with an analytical view point which at times makes it difficult then to just take it for what it says without trying to dissect it. Although, because of my approach it then does push me away at times which then I guess would make me a bit of a hypocrite. I believe what I believe though. I confess that I'm a Christian. I believe in the Trinity being that of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. I don't believe it's wrong though to question my faith. I've attended a number of denominations such as Methodist, Baptist, Church of Christ, Church of God (Pentecostal), Charismatic, as well as Missionary Baptist. I've pretty much settled my roots in the Pentecostal Church for now. I find it to be the most open minded denomination as it is that we believe in praying in tongues, raising of hands, anointing with oil, musical instruments, singing, shouting, laying of hands, and being slain in the Spirit. Although, if you were to ask me what denomination I belong to, I'll politely just respond that I'm a Christian and that's all you need to know. I don't find the labeling process all too impressive. As it is, we are all suppose to be unified as one Body of Christ. Therefore, declaring a denomination just labels me as it only gives you the basis of what that denomination limits the way of my worship. Being Pentecostal does not identify my intimate relationship with Christ no different than if I claimed to be Baptist. These are just man's ways of dividing the Church over all and saying ok, you Baptist go over here and worship this way and you Methodist go over there and worship another way. Why then do denominations even exist? Is it only to appease ourselves as to what form of comfort we desire in worshiping our Christ? Why do we separate ourselves and take what we choose from the Bible and some churches use oil while others may find it completely uncommon? I too had another issue that use to rub me raw until just recently when it was further explained. If Jesus was a Jew why then do we as Christians not follow the Jewish faith? Why do we believe in a man who is of an entirely different religion? Why is it that Jews then don't follow the Christian faith? As I've just found out, which I knew a little of, the Jewish sector only take from the Old Testament where as the Christians take from both the Old and the New. The Jewish only believe that Jesus was a Prophet (which He claimed to be) however, they do not take Him to be the Son of God. I find that to be a bit interesting. You would think that the Jews would believe in Jesus for just who He was. You would think they would believe in His whole entirety especially seeing as how they belong to the same group of people. The Jewish faith is an interesting one yet very complex and something that intrigues my interest. The more I read the more engrossed I become in finding out the basis of where our religion as Christians derived from. In my opinion, what better of a way to draw closer to Jesus than to study the faith He, Himself was birthed into.