I have this annoying angst with some people who try to justify their own theologies through convincing and ‘playing God’ through their religious commentaries, it is getting quite old. I usually advance to zoning out when I am faced with this so-called preaching the gospel. When are people going to realize that they are not God, and they are not called to convince me and proclaim the voice of God over me? I have heard it a billion times people say, “God told me to tell you”… Well, I usually reply back flabbergasted saying, who died and made you God? I am usually not quite that forward or rude. I may sound a little short-tempered in this post, but perhaps I am extremely disgusted with religion. Unfortunately, people use religion as their source to control and manipulate people into action. Now I see how non-believers look at all Christians and classify them all into this certain horrible category, and I don’t blame them for doing so. If only non-believers could see me differently than a lot of Christians. I hate that label. Christian. Even if its in the bible and that is what Father has called his people, but lately its such a label that I wish I could erase. I am not talking about my beliefs in Father and my relationship with him or his people, but the name Christian has really given all of us a bad rap. Or perhaps it’s the religion behind the name that has. I would probably feel much differently about the name if it weren’t a name for religious legalists. Does it ever bother you when people ask you what ‘religion’ you are? It does me. It gets under my skin so deep, and I feel like the only reply that I have is, ‘I only have a relationship with a God who loves me and cares for me regardless my sin’. I don’t know maybe Father will give me one that explains where my heart is or maybe I should say where HIS heart is in this!
Does anyone else have a good name to express your relationship with God to others?
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i am just a fellow human who is attempting to knowingly follow jesus.
Sorry Nic, but this is what comes to my mind -- “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.”
These days it is all too easy to focus on the negative in the Church (and I mean His Body not the Building) and the World but I keep feeling that doing so is really counterproductive and is not going to help us get where the Lord is taking us. I guess it is part of getting over it all but I’m ready to move on.
I think it matters very little what others call me or even what I call myself. Granted, it’s taken me a while to get there (years) and I too have been distressed with an association with the name “Christian”. Seems to represent so much less than Christ these days. Probably, if the Son of God is living in us to any obvious degree, then we’re going to be called all kinds of things. Jesus didn’t seem very concerned about what they called Him and those names were all over the map…a glutton, a drinker, a Samaritan, a demon-possessed man, a sinner, a blasphemer. Even when He would ask, “who do they say the Son of Man is” and the responses were somewhat positive, the people were not quite accurate in what they called Him…John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, a prophet. Seldom, rarely and only because of the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit did someone respond with His true identity, “thou are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
Right now I’m asking, “Lord, who do You say that I am?” His child, His friend, His treasure and a host of other amazingly positive things come to mind. I’ll rest in that.
“Only let us live up to what we have already attained.” (Phil. 3:16)
With how loaded the term christian has become in our society I think I would rather be called the things Jesus was called.
Hi Nicole
I got to your blog through "meeting of one" blog and I also know Joel.
God told me to tell you -
juuuuust joking!
I am 60 years old and wish I knew what you know at your age when I was your age. I just discovered this stuff about 6 years ago and am on the same journey as you. About 5 years ago I remember writing in my journal that I no longer wanted to be called a Christian. I don't want to be called anything - I am on a journey with my Father.
If you haven't already read it my journey is best described (except for being a pastor) in Jim Palmer's book "Wide Open Spaces".
God told me to tell you to read this book (or something like that).
Also, I know from what you wrote that you would really benefit from staying in touch with "meeting of one". Check out some of his links.
I will continue to check out your journey with the Father on your blog. I know He will bless you as you continue to seek Him.
A fellow traveller
In His love
Bob Lewis
Thank you all for commenting, I hope I don't sound too negative, I just was being real and right now I have been dealing with a lot of negative thoughts concerning anything that has to do with 'religion'.
Bob, welcome and thank you for dropping by and being so graceful towards me and this post! I hope I don't sound rude. I am really sometimes just 'fired up' because of my past experiences with religion. I will look forward to finding out more about you and your journey, for I love to discover where Father has his people, its so encouraging and delightful!
Thanks again everyone!
In Freedom, Nicole!
Hi again Nicole
You did not seem rude to me, just expressing heartfelt emotions over what religion is. I feel the same as you only worse (or better, depending how you look at it).
I have had about 30 years more of religion than you have and it makes me sick.
How did Jesus act when He was faced with religion and/or religious people. You already know what He said in His Blog (some people call His Blog the Bible). I think I remember a few times when He got "fired up". We should be fired up. Religion is giving people the wrong idea of Who God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are.
Maybe you are getting "fired up" so you will become bold and tell people the Truth of Who They really are.
In Him and Him in me
Bob
Bob,
Thank you for the encouragement. I have become bolder in this journey than I believe I have ever been. Seeing who Father really is in my relationship with him has opened my eyes to a whole new world of truth and who Father wants to be. He has given me this boldness and strength to speak out in a sense.
I do hope that you continue to comment for I am learning so much from you and everyone else!
In Freedom, Nicole!
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