A Sacred Space
A place where we are unified, not on the level of some specific set of doctrines but rather in our desire that our beliefs, whatever they are, help to enable us to be more open to the divine and more open to one another, exhibiting a loving, caring and Christlike way of being in the world. Peter Rollins
"Forgiveness is ... the way we stop our human community from unraveling."
Desmond & Mpho Tutu“Be kind, for most of us are fighting a great battle.” Ian MacLaren
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly." Jesus of Nazareth
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Recent Posts
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- Things are Going to Be Much Better….. February 20, 2015
- Stealing Jesus January 29, 2015
- Can ‘Love of Neighbour’ change our world? December 31, 2014
- What Ever Happened to the Good News? October 31, 2014
- YOU CAN’T SAY THAT ……… (Leaving Christianity) October 19, 2014
- Leaving Christianity October 4, 2014
- If there is a God……….. July 14, 2014
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- “At its best faith in God is about thanksgiving, shared suffering, loss, pain, generosity, and love.” June 29, 2014
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- A Prayer for Jarryd June 9, 2014
- A Year of Being Grateful June 6, 2014
- Forgiven Time May 28, 2014
- Delighted to Support Desmond Tutu’s Forgiveness Challenge May 13, 2014
- Welcome to LoveFirst May 6, 2014
Leaving Christianity
This entry was posted in Religion and tagged Christianity, Church, commandments, dream, faith, fear, God, Jesus, law, love, relationship, religion. Bookmark the permalink.
I can understand your desire to leave “religion.”
Religious habits/rites/dictates really don’t impart much in the way of having a sincere relationship with God. The formal “church” has probably alienated as may people as it has “brought to the fold.” I think the only thing God really ever wanted was for us to have a genuine relationship with Him and love of Him, which in doing so would lead us to truly love one another.
I look forward to reading more.
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Thank you for following our journey, appreciate your comments, refreshingly non judgemental or ‘preachy’.
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Interesting post. I think in part it can come down to our definition of words. For me I’ve coined “religion” as the thing you feel a need to be free of and true “Christianity” as the things I think you are saying you want to embrace. (The word use is different but I think the meaning is similar).
I came to Jesus outside church and have never felt at home in organized religion. It’s my joy to pray and study the Word every day, have experienced “living by faith” while traveling the world and partaken of so many miracles, but I seldom if ever go to church and when I do i usually have to get out fast before I say something that will cause a ruckus.
I believe “Christianity” is a way of life, it’s living in the supernatural, partaking of the power of God and if you live it you automatically win converts even in atheistic climes, folks see a difference and want it, all one has to do is explain when they ask. True Christianity is very radical and I think few folks (Christian or not) have actually tried it.
Thanks for your follow, I’ll do likewise and see how your venture proceeds.
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Though this is a painfully true and bittersweet commentary I just wish to add some thoughts in response. Be sure that you are choosing to longer be called a Christian for the right reasons. If it is because you have reconsidered the claims of Christ and decided to reject them then that is a free choice. If on the other hand, your saying, “I am no longer a Christian.” Is simply to put at arms length we- your often failing ever quibbling and sometimes, simply embarrassing brothers and sisters in the faith, then pause for a moment on the threshold. Consider that by God’s mercy He does love us, has called us to remain a family and is not ashamed to call us brothers… God bless you
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Thanks for your honesty and joining the ‘love first conversation’, let’s see where love takes us – the ‘impossible’ journey!
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Question, why do you leave religion to pursue another one? Is it because you have blind faith in God/Jesus but dislike the way Christianity goes about it?
I just don’t believe in any of it until there’s evidence (not fake evidence) because might as well believe in Big Foot eh. It’s an admirable path to choose, even if you follow only Jesus but leave out the God part because he had many good teachings, granted these similar teachings have existed before him and after by many people and nowadays you can find better more refined moral teachings from philosophers that fit our age better.
Yours Truly,
MikeDR
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Thanks for your comments and being part of the love first conversation. Like your question, and one we must ask ourselves.
Meanwhile we will continue on this experiment of the ‘impossible’ [nothing else seems to be working!] – is love able to transcend all our divisions and hate to make a better world?
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That was lovely, well said. I think Christ Himself spoke about follow me, even leaving behind your own family, letting the dead bury the dead, if necessary. Church is a bit like family and Christianity is the body of Christ, but even that must be left behind sometimes if one is to truly follow their faith.
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Thanks for your comments and being part of the the love first conversation, it is a conversation we have to have with out being shut down or shut out.
Appreciated your blog about Atheism; your ‘first hand’ experience and thoughts.
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I left religion several months ago to follow Jesus and have experienced that freedom that he and the apostles talk about. I tried expressing this same freedom as gently as possible to those still inside. A few responded but were afraid. Others outright rejected it. Ultimately following Jesus I’ve been more effective outside in reaching others than I ever was inside.
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Excited to have you part of the love first conversation, really like your blog and will be following your journey.
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Reblogged this on The Minstrel's Wife and commented:
A picture thought of my previous blog. Says it all really.
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Thank you for joining the love first conversation and reblogging our post. We are really excited and hopeful for the future.
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