r/Christianity

Good afternoon all,

This will be a fun one. I interact with a lot of Christians saying "I don't need a Church my relationship with God is all I need".

We all need to remember:

Jesus casted out demons.

The Apostles, through Jesus, casted out demons.

Ordained Catholic Priests, through Jesus, perform exorcisms.

Lay Catholics like myself can cast out evil spirits in the name of Jesus. But not demons.

As a Confirmed Catholic, I have the same Holy Spirit as the Apostles at Pentecost, through Apostolic Successions and "Laying of Hands" which originates from the 12 Apostles.

Protestants retrace their lineage to a Catholic Monk.

I’m an atheist, and I keep trying to come back to Christianity but I feel like every time someone tries to convince me it sounds like they are telling me something made up. I find it hard to believe the stories in the bible for example Jesus walking on water, or a talking snake. I want to believe but I can’t get my mind to convince myself to believe these story’s when science based facts are right there.

Definition: Dating for fun, companionship, or to learn about compatibility without an immediate, guaranteed path to marriage

I'm not in a place right now to get into a committed relationship, though I usually date to marry. I'm in NYC right now for work, surrounded by interesting, beautiful people.

>This has me wondering... "Can Christians casually date?" Particularly in a God-honoring way. Or do you think the whole thing is a contradiction?

I'd love to hear your thoughts, hot takes, and personal experience!!

I’ve been an atheist most of my life, but as I’ve gotten older and read some of the chapters of the bible I’ve found myself more drawn towards god.

At one point not so long ago I felt like I was on the right path. The signs where there and things were going ok in my life. Business was good, I was getting on with everyone around me in my family and social life. But recently I’ve felt myself drifting, becoming detached and indifferent to everything in quite a self destructive way.

At the moment though I’m going through a rough patch. I’ve just turned 30 but I still feel like an 18 year old. I feel my life is lacking direction and I find myself giving in to drink, drugs and gambling more and more frequently.

I’m trying to find my way back on the right path but it’s like I can’t see the woods for the trees.

If someone could recommend some chapters from the bible that I should study and meditate on I would be forever grateful.

To preface, nothing bad happened to me, the whole thing just left a bad taste in my mouth and I’d love to discuss with some people and see what their thoughts are. I’ll describe my experience and condense my thoughts at the end. 28M if it matters.

So for some background, grew up episcopal, then non-denominational before being an atheist for ~10 years. I’ve made my way back to faith and along with my girlfriend am currently exploring as many denominations as I can to try and give everything a fair shake (She grew up Church of Christ, I am currently leaning towards Catholicism)

This weekend, after a year and a half, we decided it was time for my gf to meet my parents. So we flew down to Tampa for the weekend. Part of this was to invite ourselves along to church with them both to make mom happy and to check out another denomination.

We arrived at Calvary Church in Clearwater Florida. The building was very impressive, huge auditoriums, a small cafe, huge daycare center, the works. We grabbed some food while watching the service on a TV screen which is what a decent number of people seemed to be doing (I did not like this). We eventually made our way into the auditorium for what was the worst sermon I’ve ever heard. If my mother hadn’t been there I would have walked out.

It was by Willy Rice who I found out is the senior pastor of this church AND president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Didn’t even realize this church was *Southern* Baptist but that’s on me. The service ended and we made our way out and my girlfriend and I were appalled at the whole experience. Here are my thoughts

1. Megachurches feel incredibly bad to me. I don’t need a cathedral but as my girlfriend put it “It felt more like an airport terminal than somewhere to worship”

2. I was shocked at just how political the sermon was. In my mind, the church is above politics, we should talk about specific issues sure but to stoop to the point of bringing up “Socialistic communism” (lol) 4-5 times? Gross. I was genuinely shocked he didn’t start naming politicians. And the fact that during some parts he’s up there just lying.

3. Idolatry. I’m never one to make an idolatry accusation but I just couldn’t shake that thought while sitting there. From where I’m sitting there were 11 full size American flags at the front of the room (including the one projected behind him). We read more founding documents of the US and heard more about the founding fathers than we did about Jesus or the bible. I get that it’s Fourth of July, I love that, I’m active duty army, I love this country. God and Faith is bigger than that. It just felt like we were making an idol out of our country during this service (and that Mr. Rice had made one of himself).

4. Convenience. This is the one that really hit me the most and I think really shook me. Everything about this experience was designed to be convenient. For me, understanding my faith has NOT been convenient. It has required me to look deeply and challenge what I believed about God, Politics and a lot of things in my life. Whereas, probably because this is a megachurch, it felt like this experience was designed to be convenient. Yes the cafe is nice but can we not eat before or just wait until an hour after? Yes I’m sure it is nice to wear PJs to church but can we not just throw on shorts and a collar in the lords house? I got the feeling that the sermon that day wasn’t about teaching but just confirming what a lot of these people (my mother included) seemed to already believe. Part of me was jealous, I WISH that I had a church that perfectly held all the beliefs I already do so I didn’t have to change anything.

I would love to hear everyone’s thoughts, if they e been to churches and had a similar experience, how I should learn from this, denomination recommendations, etc.

A rule must be put in place about all these inappropriate posts. I understand people struggle with temptations and look to our sub for guidance, and while I respect that, I’m sick of seeing graphic masturbation posts that often at times seem like they are written as some sort of erotic novel.

I am not saying people cannot post seeking guidance. But they do not need to get into the nitty gritty. Just plain and simple: “I’m addicted to so on and so forth and I want help” THE END.

TMI people. TMI

Anger stayeth in the heart of a fool but without anger sometimes we feel walked on and taken for granted, and I understand this is our pride talking but being seen as inferior sometimes hurts our ego and self respect which is one trait great people of the past possessed. Can someone speak on this?

My loving brothers and sisters under Christ, please be aware that this subreddit is full of people that seem to hate Christianity and seem to make it their life mission to condemn it. But do not hate!

Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

This world is spiritual and demons use people in every way possible to fight against the truth, so that people will not get saved. Pray for them, everday! (Edit: I do not call people demons here, they influence people in lots of ways, no possession needed)

We need to be aware that we will find lots of false advice here, false facts and other false things. I don't want Christians losing their faith because of this subreddit. Keep on looking for Truth, for the Bible is the Truth. This world is truly absolutely more than we made to believe since our childhood. It's truly like a matrix, it's satan's matrix.

Matthew 10:16

"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves."

Be wise as serpents guys and remember, the ruler of this world is satan. His lies are truly everywhere, absolutely everywhere.

Luke 13:14 "Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, i tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able." -Jesus, King of Kings, the One true God.

Matthew 7:14 "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." - Jesus, King of Kings, the One true God.

Most of the world lives in satan deception, so be wise and think for yourselves and most importantly, pray for discernment and wisdom! Also be aware that we are just humans, born into this world with no skills nor knowledge. So it is also important to be aware that there is so much stuff that we don't know.

Proverbs 3:5

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;"

Romans 1:21-22

"For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools."

Proverbs 9:10

"“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

The "beginning" even. One who is not with God and does not fear the most High, Jesus Christ, is not wise. So do not let them teach you anything about our God and the Bible.

I love everyone one of you, Christian or not. God bless ☦️❤️

Edit:

Luke 13:3 "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived: Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."

John 10:30 “The Father and I are one.”

Philippians 2:5-6 “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.”

John 1:18 “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.“

Colossians 2:9-10 “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily. and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.“

John 10:33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.“

John 5:18 “This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.“

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.“

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.“

1 John 5:20 “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.“

Exodus 3:14 "And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you."

John 8:57-58 “The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!” Revelation 2:8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.“

Isaiah 44:6 "This is what the Lord says, the King of Israel and its Redeemer- the Lord of the Heavenly Armies is his name- “I am the first and I am the last, and apart from me there is no God."

1 John 4:8: "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love"

Revelations 19:16 "And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."

Revelations 1:5 "and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,"

I recently reconnected with my faith, after having lost it in my younger years and am now looking for a new church. I was raised Lutheran, but that church is way too woke, for me to even consider joining back in, they for example support pride events, even working on supporting a pride event with the literal CHURCH OF SATAN. So, the I thought im conservative, let's look at the conservative churches, but Both Catholics and the Orthodoxy have saints, which i do not agree with it, and Catholics hold a earthly leader at a higher spiritual position, which i also dont agree with. As an European, these are the only churches I know of, and i just need help deciding what church to go for. The point is Conservative, no saints. Or I'll need to become one of those "I dont believe in religion, I have a relationship with God." Christians, which you do you, but community is a big part of Christianity.

Hi everyone.. I’m asking for prayers for my boyfriend’s 11-year-old dog who is going into surgery tomorrow. We recently found a growth in his nose and the vet is concerned it could be cancer.

He’s been such an important part of my boyfriend’s life and we’re both really scared but hoping for the best outcome and some more time with him. He’s still eating and acting like himself. This surgery will remove it and tell us what it is. we don’t know what they will find.

I’ve been praying for him but I also know there’s comfort in asking others to pray too. If anyone could pray for him, for the vets performing the surgery, and for peace for my boyfriend and his dog, I would really appreciate it.

God bless you all 🤍

I've grew up in the church, I still am in the church. Pride month was last month and once again my lasted did his service on homosexuality, All he says about it is true which makes it worst for me. I know better. But yet I continue to have feelings for women and other homosexual behavior.

I'm 12-15 (Not giving real age) And I've had feelings for girls since 2 grade. That's the earliest thing I can remember. There was this one time in 2nd grade where I wanted to be "Friends" with this very pretty girl and was holding hands with her. That's when it started, a small homosexual spark that's now a wildfire I can't control.

None of the adults in my life know about this (Except teachers) I have kissed a girl, Nothing past that. The sad thing is that I WANT to go past that. I can't to have sex with a female the only thing that's stopping me is knowing that once I go there I can't turn back. I currently Saying pansexual (Which means you like someone regardless of gender identification or like expanded Bisexual) And I've tried to say I'm straight and get my mind on the right path, But it's hard.

I've never like guys, And I know I don't have to worry about any type of love life but it worries me. I get scared that if I don't figure this out while I'm young then I won't ever fix it when in grow. I can't built a chain with a weak link. Being homosexual is like smoking, Once you get a taste and you figure you like it you keep doing it and doing it and doing it till even if you really want to quit you cant.

I know people makes excuses like "God made me this way" and "I was born a homo" but I do feel like that's not true. God wouldn't make you a sinner (Besides being born one) He wouldn't choose a path that takes you to hell. I do wish I could come out and not be put up with the homophobia but I know if I came out and they accepted me I would become more comfortable in the spot im in.

I am in a relationship and I did take her to my church and she is Christian, but she doesn't know I want to stop being homosexual, I don't wanna stop loving her. I want to spend the end with her which makes is 20 times more complicated. 😥

Any Advice??

EDIT: I'm not here to have the whole "Homosexuality is not a sin" Debate you can send me links but what I think about THAT is certain.