"You Can't Be Saved Without a Pastor."

[Amanah]

The Bible doesn't tell us to -lose- our religion, but to have true religion.

[bbyrd009]

Originally Posted by Amanah

The Bible doesn't tell us to -lose- our religion, but to have true religion.

I agree completely with the spirit of your post,
but dislike what the definition of "religion" has become,
which I suspect has changed from then, from "spiritual seeking"
to "organized system."

I'm also...skeptical? curious? about the
translation of "religion" there, considering
what Scripture has to say about religion
in other spots; although it does say pure...hmm.

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by bbyrd009

I agree completely with the spirit of your post,
but dislike what the definition of "religion" has become,
which I suspect has changed from then, from "spiritual seeking"
to "organized system."

I'm also...skeptical? curious? about the
translation of "religion" there, considering
what Scripture has to say about religion
in other spots; although it does say pure...hmm.

Far as I know, Jesus never used the word "religion" or derivatives. He had some strong words for certain religious people, of course.

[Praxeas]

The church was an organized system in the Apostles days

[bbyrd009]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

The church was an organized system in the Apostles days

Yup--and when I say that satan runs your religion, I know that sounds horrible, but it's just the way it is. Religion being "man's attempt to reach God." This doesn't necessarily mean that a lot of..."good" doesn't come from religion; people started on the path, if not encouraged to continue upon it (a little test by God, I'm thinking; the first hurdle )

Even the infamous RCC, for example.
The seat of Ecumenical Babylon, surely.
But if one is in need, with no where else
to turn, one is shortly going to be talking to Catholoics.

[bbyrd009]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Far as I know, Jesus never used the word "religion" or derivatives. He had some strong words for certain religious people, of course.

And yet He went into "their" Synagogues to teach...there ya go.

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by bbyrd009

And yet He went into "their" Synagogues to teach...there ya go.

Uh. Yeah. There ya go.

[bbyrd009]

Another thought in that vein;
even 40, 50 years ago, people
could say what they meant,
more or less--because evryone
knew everyone.

Now, this doesn't mean
that there weren't variable styles of communication
then, same as now, but what has changed is
the listener, in a subtle way--we are now
much more prone to take offense, me too,
because we have lost that life-long bond
that would allow for much more rolling off the back.

We are all strangers, now,
and feel compelled to treat each other like guests.
Now, I'm not saying that I'm not a jerk;
Prax is right. And there is certainly a time for
treating one as a guest--but for life?

I don't think Christ did this, but someone
(who hasn't put me on "ignore" )
tell me if i'm wrong here.

[AreYouReady?]

Yeah well ...I'd rather stand by Psalms 118:8.

[Amanah]

Jesus built his church by calling and discipling men and women. He told us to go and preach/teach, and baptize. I don’t think it’s possible to be part of the body of Christ without being a part of his Church, without assembling ourselves together in some manner. If we love Him, we will feed his sheep. He paid the price of Calvary so he could have a glorious Church without spot or blemish.

If everyone walks away and says “I don’t want to be a part of a Church that is made of frail humanity, which fails and falters at each step,” then how can we be the body of Christ?