This is going to be a post about something other than politics. This is the gospel according to Saint Richard:)
What makes some people want to be in complete control of everyone else? What is it that makes any of us think we have all the answers? I don't know, I'm asking any of you if you know?
Of course, I always believe I'm right or at least justified in what I do or I wouldn't do what it is I do. However, unlike some folks, I don't believe that my way is the only way. My way is the best for me but it may not be so for you. That doesn't make me more right than you it simply means I do what makes me comfortable or what I believe is best for me.
I was taught, from the time of my birth, that the religion my family practiced was the only true religion and that everyone else that didn't do what we did would surely be sent to hell. (sounds a little like the rag-heads we are currently at war with doesn't it?) As I've grown older I began to realize that I didn't agree with that sentiment and that knowledge has caused me no small amount of grief. It is a hard thing to go against my parents, especially when it comes to religion. I spent many years not going to any kind of "church" because I couldn't stand the thought of going inside and listening to what I didn't agree with. I've raised all my children to believe in God and to live by Christian principles and to use the bible as their moral foundation. Unfortunately, I didn't take my two older children to worship services very often and I think the missed out on a very good thing by not attending worship and participating in youth activites. The younger two don't remember a time when we didn't attend and take part in church activities.
I will never ever tell someone that they are going to hell just because they don't worship the way I do. In fact, if you preach "Christ crucified" I will not attempt to convert you, you are my brother or sister in Christ already. The particular religious persuasion I was taught when I was a child teaches a very strict "5 acts of worship" or you'll go to hell doctrine. I've read the bible a lot in the last 30 years and I've yet to find those 5 acts of worship listed in the context they were taught to me. I can not find a Christian "worship service", as we know it, listed in the new testament anywhere! What I do see is rules for good, happy, clean living. I do see where we are to give up our sinful nature and to take up our cross and follow Jesus.
I am a Christian now. I don't think I really ever understood what that meant until recently. Yeah, some of you who know me know what my weaknesses are, and I'm working on them. I'm here to tell you this: I'm not perfect and I don't pretend to be, but I am forgiven.
I am still a member of the same kind of church I grew up in. I do agree with it's basic principles................... or at least a couple of them. Those couple of things are a big deal to me and are the reason's I haven't left the church. On a personal note, I am a singer and I do enjoy my ac capella singing. I love to lead singing during worship service and I don't believe I could ever enjoy doing that if there were instruments involved. I don't believe instrumental music is a salvation issue, this is strictly a personal taste. One of the basic doctrines my particular kind of church teaches is that instrumental music will send you to hell. HA! Yes, I still go to the church DESPITE that.
How many people in the history of the world have been killed in the name of religion? I don't know and neither do you. I do know that Jesus did preach love and for us to live a quiet peaceful life. I do know the bible teaches that we are to work out our own soul salvation. I do know, according to Romans 14, that even when the apostles walked the earth there were people that had differences of opinion and they were told to get along in spite of these differences. We are told to live at peace, as far as it's left to us, with all men. Yes, once again, I know I'm not that peaceful of a guy, but I'm working on it really hard. I could list book, chapter, and verse for all of what I believe and will do so if you ask. I say this in all honesty with maybe a little hint of sarcasm. Honesty, because I can. Sarcasm, because the "so-called" conservative branch of my particular church like to make the same statement but they mean it in the context of some "mythical" worship service. The "conservative" branch (LOL) of my particular religion base their entire salvation on whether or not a person worships in the prescribed manner. Of course they miss the entire concept of what it is to be a Christian, in my humble opinion. These folks will deny that they don't understand Christianity because they worship in the prescribed manner. I didn't understand how mis-guided and goofy this all sounded until a few years ago. A while back I told a member of this particular "sect" that the only difference between them and the muslim clerics we are at war with is that they didn't have beards and AK-47's..haha Sad but true.
By faith I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and I don't believe there is any other true religion other than Christianity. If you don't believe that then that's your right, just know that I don't agree with you. You and I may never completely agree on what the bible says, and that's ok; just don't come to me and tell me I'm going to hell because I don't worship the same way you do. There are things we all know that are wrong and our civil law was based on the very concepts of Christian principles and indeed what is just common decent sense( it used to be anyway!). On the other hand, there is just a whole bunch of things that are left up to the individual and are not heaven/hell issues.
At this point in my life I just flat don't care if you and I agree about religious doctrine. I'm sick to death of arguing with people about traditions and other things that simply don't matter when it comes to the salvation of my soul. I'm tired of mere mortal men being arrogant and condescending towards others because others man not subscribe to their version of religion. If you are one of those folks out there that think you and your small band-of-brethren are the only ones that have the "truth" then I'm really sorry for you. Don't get up on your "high-horse" at me and tell me I don't study the bible enough or I've been led astray by some weak brethren! HA It's my opinion you old "hard-liners" are the weak brethren and I'm sorry that your life has to be so miserable. It's tough to live a happy life, and I know this to be a fact because I used to try to live it, when you believe God is sitting up there with the fires of hell in his hand just waiting for you to step over some line so he can doom your soul. Certainly we can loose our salvation but not for the reasons you people think and certainly not because I like to clap my hands during singing, or because someone plays a piano during song service. I don't like the piano either but I don't believe that God gonna send someone to hell for it.HA
Get off my back about having miked singers (praise team),hand clapping, hand raising,the Lord's Supper (actually a Catholic Sacrament we have to do every Sunday), and Sunday night small groups. I don't want to hear about any of that stuff because your arguments are based on simple tradition, not biblical doctrine! I lead singing at church quite often. It doesn't matter what songs I lead or how I lead them somebody is not going to like something about the song service. I have a certain way I like to sing (with some SOUL) and some people don't care much for that. I do, and if I lead singing that's the way I'm going to lead them when the mood strikes me just right. When I sing, it comes from my soul, and the singing moves my soul and nothing else moves me the way congregational singing does. You ought to be standing up in front of my church when I lead "This Little Light Of Mine"! Wow! How can someone not be moved by hearing that beautiful singing, I draw encouragement and strength from a good song service, just like the bible says we will over in Colossians and Ephesians.
If you don't like what I have to say you don't have to read my blog. If you disagree with me then by all means make a comment and we'll have a friendly discussion. These are my thoughts and it's taken most all of my 45 years to draw some of these conclusions or at least be able to state my beliefs.
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