Hi All, my sister is looking at various private schools in the area. I wanted to see if anyone on here has experience and would recommend (or not!) any of the following schools:
Montessori Academy of Chambersburg
Corpus Christi Catholic School
Shalom Academy
Cumberland Valley Christian School
Thanks!
It's my understanding that if a convert comes we do not recognize their baptism as valid. Why? I thought that any Christian can perform a baptism (obviously that's not ideal, ideally a priest should do it). Isn't it a heresy to rebaptize?
I feel judged sometimes when speaking in small/large groups at church. I am very conscious of what I'm saying and often feel as if I am rambling. I worry about how people are perceiving what I am saying and if I'm getting my point across in the best way. I worry that people aren't valuing my input or are just humoring me, allowing me to talk but don't really take what I'm saying seriously. I feel like an imposter, like why should what I bring to the table have much weight, whether due to my age or life experiences. No one has said anything that makes me think these things, but I feel there is some real basis for me having these thoughts. Any advice?
Would you agree with this? When you are discerning God's will and voice, that anything that creates shame, fear, despair, condemnation, or anxiety is not from God. And that what creates love, joy, patience, gentleness, peace, goodness, kindness and self control - that is from God? I generally agree with this but also feel that sometimes when we are convicted of our sin, we are going to feel some shame, fear, despair, etc. wouldn't that repentance be from God? And things that might make us feel joy, love, peace, etc. could be just us making ourselves feel good and not necessarily be from God?
Seeking advice. I was raised evangelical leaning mainline protestant. I no longer consider myself Christian most days but part of me holds onto the idea and some days I do. I've been attending a very progressive church for a while and am considering becoming a member. There is no talk of hell, sin, or redemption in that sense. Just love, kindness, and redemption as renewal of life and new beginnings. So I'm not triggered in that way when I attend. However I am very triggered, oddly enough, by how much this church has jettisoned what I know to be tenets of the christian faith. I actually get rather angry when they deny certain doctrines, or ignore huge sections of the bible, create God in their own image instead of what the Bible and church tradition say God is like, etc. I love that they are very focused on doing good in the community but it bothers me that they do it without even mentioning Christ. It bothers me that they claim to respect tradition yet they've ignored and papered over a lot of the historic Christian practices and beliefs. They claim to respect the authority of the bible and parade it around during services with a golden cover and cross themselves after reading it, yet reinterpret it in completely novel ways that no Christian has in all the faith's history. Why am I so angered by this if I don't even believe anymore? Do I need therapy? Is it not healthy for me to attend these services?
Controversial opinion- Christian divination is a thing and it's the same as "pagan" divination.
In Christian circles I participate in practices such as lectio divina, contemplate prayer, etc. I just watched someone perform a tarot reading from a witchy perspective (the first time I'd ever allowed myself to do so) and I was struck by how there's really no difference between the two practices other than the label. The same words are even used. "What stands out to you?" "What draws your attention?" "What is drawing you in?" "Sit with the text" "Sit with the image and let it permeate your being". I always find it kind of hokey, and my (overly?) rational brain never finds ANYTHING drawing my attention lol. But apparently most people get a lot out of these practices. And the super spiritual Christians I know love it. I always felt defective because nothing "bubbles up" for me. Guess the Holy Spirit just was never interested in talking to me. Anybody else struggle with ever feeling remotely spiritual instead of rational?
Lurker here... I've been exploring my beliefs and have been looking into various branches of paganism and while not drawn to witchcraft (just have a gut reaction against it being raised Christian) I do find myself still slightly afraid that it is real.
Do you have any reassurances for me that it's fake? Or that the occult isn't real? I saw some YouTube videos from a witch that was saying spells that were not outright malicious towards others but they were very selfish and not kind. I don't want to be unkind to others and I don't want to be selfish. I want to help others. Do you believe in the power (placebo really) of good magic vs bad magic?
I'm also afraid that exorcisms are real. Has anyone had any experience with that?