Should I leave the church?

[Magna]

What does this mean? I don’t understand.

From my understanding it means that believers (considered by the writer to be lawful, the "light", good) are not supposed to live their lives closely with non-believers (considered by the writer to be lawless, the "darkness", bad). They're not supposed to be friends with them, fraternize with them, etc. They're supposed to distance themselves from them. Believers are the living, non-believers are the dead. Jesus said: "Let the dead bury the dead.", etc.

 

[Tony Ramirez]

From my understanding it means that believers (considered by the writer to be lawful, the "light", good) are not supposed to live their lives closely with non-believers (considered by the writer to be lawless, the "darkness", bad). They're not supposed to be friends with them, fraternize with them, etc. They're supposed to distance themselves from them. Believers are the living, non-believers are the dead. "Let the dead bury the dead.", etc.

That's crazy and stupid.

 

[NB79]

From my understanding it means that believers (considered by the writer to be lawful, the "light", good) are not supposed to live their lives closely with non-believers (considered by the writer to be lawless, the "darkness", bad). They're not supposed to be friends with them, fraternize with them, etc. They're supposed to distance themselves from them. Believers are the living, non-believers are the dead. Jesus said: "Let the dead bury the dead.", etc.

I think it means you shouldn't marry or make serious big compromises with unbelievers.
The yoke, is like when there were two ox 'chained' to each other when they were working the land.

 

[autism-and-autotune]

Lately church has been making me feel worse than better. I actually started to watch porn again this weekend and yes I have all the filters like APF in place and sound off.

Just today there was one woman who came up to me last month. She did it again two weeks ago. I thought I could get to know her as she also likes cats. Today it was all for nothing I wanted to talk to her but I saw a wedding ring on her left hand. It made me mentally meltdown after seeing face masks too. I just hope I don't have to meet her husband I think I will just bolt if that happens.

All I know since I been going to church and church groups I been leaving in a worse mood than when I entered. Like the time I thougt I connected to a woman who needed help entering the building for life group. I was talking to her real good then in the group she mentioned a husband. The following week I meet him at church and I had to pretend I liked him. Now he is in lifegroup and talks so much I get a headache. Then I have to hear in group how they meet their spouse and falling in love.

I know it's against God but I don't care. I been having a better mood and spirit after doing yoga. I have good conversations with my teachers and they support me. When I leave I am in a better mood unlike Christianity which puts me in a rotten mood.

If there's something which dampens your mood, then it's better left out of your life.

Theoretically, doesn't god want everyone to be at peace, and be happy? Do yourself a favour and get out. Maybe I'm cynical because I don't believe in religion and this affects my words, but...if this were a secular situation, my advice would be the same: for your own happiness, you can leave this behind.

 

[The Pandector]

What does this mean? I don’t understand.

Sorry. 'Yoked' is from the practice of harnessing together two beasts of burden with a yoke. Paints life as a long row to hoe. Teaming up with someone lightens the load. Here, Paul is warning believers not to go through life bound to someone who is not a believer. The obvious application is marriage, but Paul goes on to illustrate the principle applies to partnerships and friendships.

Reasonable believers might disagree on how strictly to interpret this, but Paul states it as a general principle to be reckoned with. Paul typically spoke to believers on a deeper level, using terms to be applied on that level. He makes clear in other places that having 'friends' in the world is fine, but speaks here of life's deeper entanglements.

Had to explain that, because it sounds terrible when taken out of the context of his general teachings. I know I sound all pontifical, but it's the only way I know to state things clearly. Thanks for asking.

 

[Rodafina]

Sorry. 'Yoked' is from the practice of harnessing together two beasts of burden with a yoke. Paints life as a long row to hoe. Teaming up with someone lightens the load. Here, Paul is warning believers not to go through life bound to someone who is not a believer. The obvious application is marriage, but Paul goes on to illustrate the principle applies to partnerships and friendships.

Reasonable believers might disagree on how strictly to interpret this, but Paul states it as a general principle to be reckoned with. Paul typically spoke to believers on a deeper level, using terms to be applied on that level. He makes clear in other places that having 'friends' in the world is fine, but speaks here of life's deeper entanglements.

Had to explain that, because it sounds terrible when taken out of the context of his general teachings. I know I sound all pontifical, but it's the only way I know to state things clearly. Thanks for asking.

Thank you for explaining. Your words make more sense to me.

 

[The Pandector]

What do you mean by "social diet"?

I'm the wrong guy to go to for justifications of how congregations behave these days, meaning, in these times. But, I think I'm qualified to comment on the Bible's instruction to the church. So, that's all I'm trying to do.

We think of 'church' as a building or a group or a social event. The Bible defines the church in literal terms as the body of Christ on earth. When you become a believer, you are endowed with the Holy Spirit, who dwells within you. He bears a new life within you, destined to grow and overtake your old life.

That's one impact. Another is that you are assigned an active role in the body. This is the true meaning of becoming a 'member' of the body of Christ. This is repeatedly stated in the most literal terms. In fact, upon rebirth, you are given abilities which you are to utilize in your assigned duties. No denials; you've been assigned.

Like a liver, kidney, hand, eye, mouth, you have a role to play. That role will contribute to the overall health and mission of the body. The Holy Spirit has gifted and assigned everybody in such a way that all pieces supply one another with everything that's needed for good health.

Which isn't to say not to go out into the world; rather, it's an explanation of how the Holy Spirit is the forming and guiding principle in the body of Christ, a self-contained unit. Within the body, you get all the social nutrients needed for good health.

 

[Slime_Punk]

As a believer in god, I can assure you that he or she doesn't care whether you go to church or not.

The best way to tell if you should continue doing something is if you're getting something out of it and it's enhancing your life. For a lot of people, church can be a wonderful way to do that, especially when everyone shares a similar faith and lifts each other up in the process. But as you said, so can yoga, or even porn sometimes.

We can put deeper levels of neuroticism onto this if we want or not, and create any types of rules for ourselves that we wish, but when true evil likely exists in our realm, do you think not going to church is going to be God's dealbreaker? And if your god is that much of a monster, is it even worth it trying to appease them?

 

[Tony Ramirez]

What annoys me is the people who tell me to stop watching porn are happily married.

Also there is this one woman yesterday who even during the pre service prayer which I am not going to no more because of a older woman wearing a mask. But anyway she went to the lent prayer too. She was crying all the time. What is she crying for? She's got a husband, two healthy normal kids with no disabilities and is well of financial. God has giving her everything she wants. Unlike me where he practically gave me nothing.

 

[The Pandector]

What annoys me is the people who tell me to stop watching porn are happily married.

Also there is this one woman yesterday who even during the pre service prayer which I am not going to no more because of a older woman wearing a mask. But anyway she went to the lent prayer too. She was crying all the time. What is she crying for? She's got a husband, two healthy normal kids with no disabilities and is well of financial. God has giving her everything she wants. Unlike me where he practically gave me nothing.

Maybe there’s a lesson in the story of the crying woman. She’s married with two children and a bankbook. However, you conclude the Lord has given her everything she wants; her tears tell a different story.

It seems the Lord gave her everything You want. Now, you have solid evidence that possession of those things does not guarantee contentment. Something to consider.

 

[Tony Ramirez]

I just cringe everytime I see a woman with that diamond or gold ring on the left hand to the left of the middle finger.

 

[NB79]

What annoys me is the people who tell me to stop watching porn are happily married.

Also there is this one woman yesterday who even during the pre service prayer which I am not going to no more because of a older woman wearing a mask. But anyway she went to the lent prayer too. She was crying all the time. What is she crying for? She's got a husband, two healthy normal kids with no disabilities and is well of financial. God has giving her everything she wants. Unlike me where he practically gave me nothing.

Porn is harmful for healthy sexuality even if you don't marry and spiritually, i know, i was enslaved to that garbage for years, a couple of years ago i got free though with the help of God after lots of prayer.

 

[Tony Ramirez]

Maybe there’s a lesson in the story of the crying woman. She’s married with two children and a bankbook. However, you conclude the Lord has given her everything she wants; her tears tell a different story.

It seems the Lord gave her everything You want. Now, you have solid evidence that possession of those things does not guarantee contentment. Something to consider.

No God blessed her. There is no reason for her to be crying. If anything I should cry to God but he has forgotten me so heck with him.

 

[NB79]

I just cringe everytime I see a woman with that diamond or gold ring on the left hand to the left of the middle finger.

I can see how it can be painful, i relate a lot, but swimming in the misery and complaining a lot is not to help i think.

 

[The Pandector]

No God blessed her. There is no reason for her to be crying. If anything I should cry to God but he has forgotten me so heck with him.

If you are in a place to deny others the right to cry - to deny that another person’s pain is legitimate because your pain trumps theirs - then maybe you should address that issue before seeking romantic relationships.

Your pain is very real, my brother; so is mine and so is that of the crying lady. She may have been crying over all the world’s lonely people; that would be understandable and totally Christian.

 

[Tony Ramirez]

In Thursday life group I told them strait that I am angry at God for being single and that when I go to Church there are couples to the left of me, couple to the right, couples in front and couples in back and that I am tired of making friends with new ones. I may have even offended the leader but I did not care. I said this after a couple was again going on about how they meet. Even thought they felt sorry and they still want me in the group. They pray for me I did not feel it.

 

[KingDiamond]

Lately church has been making me feel worse than better. I actually started to watch porn again this weekend and yes I have all the filters like APF in place and sound off.

Just today there was one woman who came up to me last month. She did it again two weeks ago. I thought I could get to know her as she also likes cats. Today it was all for nothing I wanted to talk to her but I saw a wedding ring on her left hand. It made me mentally meltdown after seeing face masks too. I just hope I don't have to meet her husband I think I will just bolt if that happens.

All I know since I been going to church and church groups I been leaving in a worse mood than when I entered. Like the time I thougt I connected to a woman who needed help entering the building for life group. I was talking to her real good then in the group she mentioned a husband. The following week I meet him at church and I had to pretend I liked him. Now he is in lifegroup and talks so much I get a headache. Then I have to hear in group how they meet their spouse and falling in love.

I know it's against God but I don't care. I been having a better mood and spirit after doing yoga. I have good conversations with my teachers and they support me. When I leave I am in a better mood unlike Christianity which puts me in a rotten mood.

It's entirely up to you what your beliefs are. You have free will. But it's not healthy to blame God for your problems if you don't believe he's real. I'm going to shoot you a message. You seem like you need a friend.

 

[KingDiamond]

What annoys me is the people who tell me to stop watching porn are happily married.

Also there is this one woman yesterday who even during the pre service prayer which I am not going to no more because of a older woman wearing a mask. But anyway she went to the lent prayer too. She was crying all the time. What is she crying for? She's got a husband, two healthy normal kids with no disabilities and is well of financial. God has giving her everything she wants. Unlike me where he practically gave me nothing.

Instead of judging you, why didn't they offer to set you up with a lady? They probably cheat on their wives.

 

[The Pandector]

Instead of judging you, why didn't they offer to set you up with a lady? They probably cheat on their wives.

This is exactly the kind of reasoning that keeps Tony imprisoned. It leaves him as the victim of other people’s inaction. Your response suggests that responsible, spiritually oriented people should find a mate for a man that is demonstrably Not of a spiritual mindset. That would be morally and Biblically unacceptable.

You then leave him with another example of his own brand of thinking; those people who won’t do Tony’s bidding are evil. Oh, and hypocrites, as well. Sour grapes. Wife beaters and cheaters.

So I will ask. Why do you think people of faith would or should busy themselves finding a romantic partner for an individual angry at God? They might befriend him, pray for him, counsel him… but absolutely Not hook him up with any woman who claims faith in God.

Sorry, @Tony Ramirez, to talk in front of your back, but listening to advice that only confirms your own failed mindset is not in your best interest, no matter how good it feels to have the public agreement. If you’re after a woman, keep hunting, but don’t expect Christians to provide your prey; a church is not a hunting preserve for angry men. If you’re after God, I will guess those Christians can help and will jump at the chance.

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

Or, don’t. It’s up to you.

 

[Tony Ramirez]

I have to give you a update. I am not seeking a relationship. I am not angry at God any more after hearing from God after hearing from an married associated pastor who told me that his wife was sick and he does not think God is mad at him. It was a wake up call. Also the thing with Kyle and the female friend I blew way out if proportion. They don't even hang out any more. They really bairly even talk or sit with each other after service.

Also I might have heard from God saying that when I am ready I will be in a relationship. It can be next week, next month, next year or never. Whenever I put my trust in him.

Right now I want to exercise to improve my health, mood and appearance. I thought I had the whole porn thing taking cared off but I fell gard this week back to the old habits watching it again after going over a month not watching that garbage.