| My Battle With Religion |
MY BATTLE WITH RELIGION
by LC
I have been a believer in Christ for over thirty years. My only desire has been to know
God, truth, and equally important, who I am. In 1986, I began pouring through scriptures
trying to make sense of it all. Soon, six years had passed and I found myself a teacher,
elder and at times a minister of healing at a local church. I saw and experienced
amazing things such as: people healed of sickness; spiritual gifts and foreknowledge
displayed openly; and powerful manifestations of God's Spirit upon people physically and
mentally. However, after several more years I knew inside me it was time to leave that
local church, and no one could understand why. At the time, even I did not know why.
Today, many former church "friends" still do not understand why! Through eyes of
judgment, they can only see me and my family as being "lost."
Now, it is easy for me to look back and see why I was to move on in my spiritual journey.
I had become a very, religious person. Religion is the false, man-made idea of who or
what God must be. However, the truth will not be found within the walls of religion. I
thought I knew God, because I knew bible scriptures. Did I really know truth or did I
simply learn too well the beliefs others had taught me? Was I willing to let go of all
doctrines and be willing for God...Spirit to show me the truth of who god is and who I am?
Did I really understand the scriptures and the meanings behind the sayings Jesus
spoke? Would I lay scriptures down and trust this same God I was taught about to not
only "save" me, but also speak to me by the voice of the Spirit?
It is safe to say that I have a very good perspective from which to write. If you think
perhaps that I lack understanding of traditional teachings and doctrines of the scriptures
let me say you are mistaken. For years, I taught the very doctrines many believe and
hold true to today. I had believed I could prove to you the doctrine was true based upon
lining up one verse of scripture with another verse. Even though I was a very good
lawyer, making my argument with a book of law known as the "bible," it did not mean I
was correct in understanding or knowing truth. When I began hearing for myself the
truth that was already within me, it challenged the very doctrines I had defended
whole-heartedly. It has taken many years for these things to be undone in me, and still
today I seek to know the answers...the truth.
This website seeks to share some of my thoughts and ideas to help others open up to
considering that perhaps they too had the wool pulled over their eyes by religion.
Today, I have found peace...more peace than I ever thought I knew as a former
fundamental christian trapped within doctrines, and surrounded by the fears of men. I
challenge you the seeker to reconsider what you know. Ask yourself the tough
questions and be not afraid of the answers you might receive. The litmus test for your
journey is simple: identify the areas where fear is present in your life and face them. Be
true to yourself by being willing to identify what is fear masquerading as something else
in your life. Doubt, worry, and condemnation are all forms of fear. Begin there, as fear
is never truth, but self-created emotional pain produced by mistaken thinking.
by LC
I have been a believer in Christ for over thirty years. My only desire has been to know
God, truth, and equally important, who I am. In 1986, I began pouring through scriptures
trying to make sense of it all. Soon, six years had passed and I found myself a teacher,
elder and at times a minister of healing at a local church. I saw and experienced
amazing things such as: people healed of sickness; spiritual gifts and foreknowledge
displayed openly; and powerful manifestations of God's Spirit upon people physically and
mentally. However, after several more years I knew inside me it was time to leave that
local church, and no one could understand why. At the time, even I did not know why.
Today, many former church "friends" still do not understand why! Through eyes of
judgment, they can only see me and my family as being "lost."
Now, it is easy for me to look back and see why I was to move on in my spiritual journey.
I had become a very, religious person. Religion is the false, man-made idea of who or
what God must be. However, the truth will not be found within the walls of religion. I
thought I knew God, because I knew bible scriptures. Did I really know truth or did I
simply learn too well the beliefs others had taught me? Was I willing to let go of all
doctrines and be willing for God...Spirit to show me the truth of who god is and who I am?
Did I really understand the scriptures and the meanings behind the sayings Jesus
spoke? Would I lay scriptures down and trust this same God I was taught about to not
only "save" me, but also speak to me by the voice of the Spirit?
It is safe to say that I have a very good perspective from which to write. If you think
perhaps that I lack understanding of traditional teachings and doctrines of the scriptures
let me say you are mistaken. For years, I taught the very doctrines many believe and
hold true to today. I had believed I could prove to you the doctrine was true based upon
lining up one verse of scripture with another verse. Even though I was a very good
lawyer, making my argument with a book of law known as the "bible," it did not mean I
was correct in understanding or knowing truth. When I began hearing for myself the
truth that was already within me, it challenged the very doctrines I had defended
whole-heartedly. It has taken many years for these things to be undone in me, and still
today I seek to know the answers...the truth.
This website seeks to share some of my thoughts and ideas to help others open up to
considering that perhaps they too had the wool pulled over their eyes by religion.
Today, I have found peace...more peace than I ever thought I knew as a former
fundamental christian trapped within doctrines, and surrounded by the fears of men. I
challenge you the seeker to reconsider what you know. Ask yourself the tough
questions and be not afraid of the answers you might receive. The litmus test for your
journey is simple: identify the areas where fear is present in your life and face them. Be
true to yourself by being willing to identify what is fear masquerading as something else
in your life. Doubt, worry, and condemnation are all forms of fear. Begin there, as fear
is never truth, but self-created emotional pain produced by mistaken thinking.
| Content copyright 2002-2009 Jesus Religion .com |
"Did you ever notice
Jesus only attacked
religious leaders and
never the common
people? Is it any
wonder that so many
doctrines and
denominations of
Christianity exist today?
Could it be that leaders
never understood
Jesus' true message as
parables needing to be
interpreted spiritually,
and not literally?"
-LC
Jesus only attacked
religious leaders and
never the common
people? Is it any
wonder that so many
doctrines and
denominations of
Christianity exist today?
Could it be that leaders
never understood
Jesus' true message as
parables needing to be
interpreted spiritually,
and not literally?"
-LC